Threads Used: crewel wool
Designer: Barbara Jackson
Kit Details: Strawberries - American Legacy Collection. Historic Needlework Guild (c) 1997
Stitch Count: not applicable
Stitches Used: New England Laid (Romanian Stitch), Stem Stitch, Satin Stitch, Split Stitch, Seed Stitch
Modifications Made: none
I'm not really hugely big on freestyle embroidery, because I find it all a bit too unpredictable - the repetitive nature of cross stitch on a grid (even if the fabric is fine) means I can switch off my brain to some extent and reach a meditative state, whereas with embroidery I have to concentrate a lot more on getting my stitches even, going in the right direction etc etc.
This is the result of my first completed attempt at traditional crewel work - the finished piece is about 3 inches square. I've done some of the stitches before, but I'd never attempted New England Laid stitch before, which was used to fill in the berries - I was pleased with how they turned out.
I find stitching with wools not very relaxing either, as they need a bit more effort to get them through the fabric, and they wear quite quickly - so you need to use shorter lengths, hence finishing off and starting off more often too!
I may finish this as a pincushion, or as the centrepiece of a larger cushion.
2 comments:
I love this one!
I'd really like to do stuff like this, but my eyes/brain can't do concentrating on close up detail :(
Helen xx
I think it's a question of finding out what you can do best - despite learning to knit when I was four, I can't knit using four needles, I just can't co-ordinate it, so anything sock like is out of my reach, whereas you do some incredible socks and stuff!
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