Wednesday 16 October 2013

WIPW - The Weight of a Good Book, or Two

WIPW stands for Work In Progress Wednesday, a smart challenge at Pintangle.

 Christmas Mobile

Last week I mentioned I had problems with how to manage the paper for the Christmas mobile I am stitching. Thank you for your suggestions.
In the end I got my inspiration from the sandbags that I have seen at Sue Hawkin's stand at FOQ in Birmingham. Her upholstery frames and sandbags are such a good idea and I have been drooling over the beautiful selection several times. Due to lack of space in my luggage I have yet to get a set.
Anyway I thought I would use her 'sandbag' method and pulled out two heavy books from the shelf to place as a counter weight on the paper that I had extending from the table top.

It worked like a dream! No fuss, no mess, no frustration, and the speed that I have been able to work at! As you can see, I have completed the six larger wreaths and am almost done with the first of the six medium sized ones.
Isn't the weight of a good book (or two) great?!

Kafferepet

I have added more embroidery on the border:
Bluebells with Running Stitch (TAST #10) and Detatched Chain #7
Upper stem: Scroll Stitch #63
Lower stem: Cretan Stitch #4
French Knots #15 for the Daisies
Upper stem: Feather Stitch #3
Lower stem: Couching #9
Flowers decorated with: Whipped Buttonhole and Straight Stitches, and French Knots #15
Leaves: Fly Stitch #1 and Chain Stitch #8
Upper  stem: Knotted Cable Chain #48
Lower stem: Buttonhole Stitch #2

Swedish Cushion


I started work in another corner, here a heart in Spiked Knotted Chain #84
It is such a lovely stitch, both to work and to look at, don't you agree?


28 comments:

Julie Fukuda said...

How can anything be too pretty? You are about there!

margaret said...

lots to see from you today Queenie, you have been busy. One of Sue`s sandbags would be very heavy too for taking on a plane, excess baggage charges are not something you want to incur. I am a big fan of Sue`s her work is so unique and beautiful. Your flowers are all lovely, bluebells are on of my favourite flowers, love to see them in the woods in spring time.

Anonymous said...

The simplest of methods are usually the best and in this case the book has done the job!
I like the look of these decorations they are something different and the flowers on your quilt are just lovely.

Elizabeth's quarters said...

I absolutely love your cushion and Kafferpet project–both are so elegant but quirky too–really unique and I can't wait to see the finished projects.

Angela said...

Wow! Nice work!

Queeniepatch said...

Using the books as a counter weight for the paper embroidery made all the difference - it not only speed up the process but I think the stitches are more even now!

Queeniepatch said...

When Sue sends her embroidery frame and sandbag to international online shoppers, the bag is empty and you have to fill it yourself with sand. Her work is VERY attractive and I always stop by her stall to look.
The bluebells are important Swedish flowers so I had to have them on this quilt.

Queeniepatch said...

Yes, the books worked perfectly and I did not need to buy or make anything.
Thank you for your kind words on my projects.

Queeniepatch said...

Sorry Elizabeth, you will have to wait for finished projects! There are two sides of the borders left on Kafferepet and the cushion will just take as long as it takes...

Annet said...

Great idea to use the books this way! Love the new stitches on your Kafferepet, expecially the orange flowers. And you're right, spiked knotted cable chain is a great stitch.

Lins Artyblobs said...

A simple but clever idea with the books. I love bluebells too.

carorose said...

You have achieved so much on these pieces I am green with jealousy. I can see that the cushion is going to be stunning.

Pamela said...

Good idea and nice progress on all your projects!

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you, Angela.

Queeniepatch said...

The orange flowers are the most fun to work, but they are fantasy ones, unlike the daisies and bluebells, so I can allow myself to embellish them any way I want!!
The Spiked Knotted Chain has such a nice FLOW to it, the needle is in auto-pilot!

Queeniepatch said...

This is a summer quilt, and although it feels funny to work on bluebells in autumn I hope to display it in the right season.

Queeniepatch said...

Oh, usually it is ME who is green with envy of YOUR productivity!

Queeniepatch said...

You have such a lot of variety in your needlework, and should you ever do cross stitch on paper and have my problem, try to book trick!

Shami Immanuel said...

Gorgeous pieces Queenie.

Juno said...

Lovely work Queenie. I especially like that you have used different stitches for each of the stems. The Spiked Knotted Chain looks really good, will have to give it try.

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you, Shami

Queeniepatch said...

The Spiked Knotted Chain, according to Sharon of Pintangle, is a bit difficult, but I found it easy and almost 'self sewing' Please give it a try.

Mrs. B. said...

Enjoying seeing your progress. I really like the cushion and looking forward to seeing the quilt.

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you, Lilian, for your kind comments. I, too, am looking forward to seeing the quilt completed! I still have two borders to embellish = the flowers and 24 TAST stems, then I can get on with the sandwiching and start quilting...

Stitching Lady said...

I am impressed by the book-weight method. It is something which I better keep in my mind. Stitch no.84 very effectful, indeed.

Queeniepatch said...

I can highly recommend the b-w method. It has meant I can stitch much faster and keep the thread under control.

Anita said...

Your cushion is coming along beautifully.The spiked chain looks good on a heart pattern.You've done lots of stitching on the appliqué,can't decide which stitch I like the most.

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you for your kind words, Anita.
There is still a lot of work on both the cushion and the quilt before they are completed.