Wednesday 14 January 2015

WIPW - Growing Redder

In Japan, New Year is celebrated over more days than in many other countries, and a popular way to spend the first days of the new year is 'ne shogatsu', roughly translated as a sleeping New Year. It means you just relax, 'chill out' in front of the TV, eat and drink and take a nap, spend a leisurely time with the family and doze off whenever you feel like it...

When you spend the start of the year in such a lazy way, your needle and thread take a break, too, as does your blogging habits... Sorry I did not reply to any of the kind comments you posted on last week's WIPW post.

With New Year well behind me, and at least, now that the needle and thread have returned to some kind of normality, I can report the following Work In Progress:

TASTy Beads Galore
I added a flower made with TAST #37 Beaded Hedebo Stitch.

Pile 'em On
Just a bit of progress on the Window Filling pulled work.


Growing Red
A lot of work, however,  has gone into this project in the last couple of days. I am working with wool yarn on a thin red wool crepe.
There is a floral design
and here are some close-ups:


I drew the design with white charcoal pen directly on the fabric and then added or subtracted some details as the fancy took me while stitching. This is a very relaxing way to work.


27 comments:

Renee said...

I love the idea of beginning the New Year in such a relaxing way! Wonderful.

Your TASTy Beads Galore piece just amazes me every time I see it. I love the flower you created with TAST stitch #37. It is so cheerful and bright!

I have never tried pulled work. Seeing yours makes me want to try it one of these days.

And your wool work is all fabulous! The time you spent on it really shows. Your flowers are fantastic. Beautiful work!

Annet said...

I like the stitches on your new project. I hope to have WIPW progress next week.

https://linsartyblobs.blogspot.com said...

It looks like you've got straight back to stitching since your chilling out! I've hit a wall [with the stitching] I want to do some but can't make up my mind what to do.

carorose said...

What is this about chilling out? You seem to have done a lot of work, a lot more than me. It is all looking lovely.

Queeniepatch said...

I chilled out the first week of the year, consequently had no WIP to report last week, then tried to catch up to have something to prove that I am out of 'chill out mood'.

Queeniepatch said...

I dived straight in at the deep end and hope to make up for my New Year laziness!

Pamela said...

Beautiful stitches, as always! The red project is very interesting.

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you. I saw your beautiful Randje progress - impressive!

Queeniepatch said...

It is the 'traditional' way to celebrate New Year in our family (and in many other families as well).
The TASTy Beads Galore is a real challenge. Many of the beaded stitches are difficult to shape into floral designs.
Pulled work is relaxing and in the case of this 'messy' piece, can be pulled unevenly; you could call this Yanked Work!
More Red Growing, watch out for next week.

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you. All embroidery on Growing Red is now complete. Isn't it nice with a rainy day when you have no 'choice' but to stitch!?

Chris(craft) and Dave(photos) Richards said...

Loving your 'Red ' project' especially that very pretty flower in the last pic !
I've got three new projects on the go and cannot focus wholeheartedly on any one of
them, maybe I need a spell 'ne shogatsu', Looking forward to seeing more of your delights,
hugs
Chris Richards
xx

Julie Fukuda said...

Well, I got in a few partial days of visiting but the only chilling is what the broken heater provides. Looks like you have well made up for lost time.

Séverine said...

I love your red project, the flowers are beautiful.

Queeniepatch said...

Thanks. I've enjoyed this project tremendously, and it is almost complete!

Queeniepatch said...

Hi, Chris!
Yes, after a spell of 'sleeping New Year' I had a real craving for needlework. The red wool was expensive but oh, it's like stitching though butter... I think that flower is maybe the best, but I've made a similar one (on show next Wednesday) that I'm pleased with as well.
Why not work for a bit every day on your three various projects, or do you need to concentrate on only one at a time? However, have fun!

Queeniepatch said...

If your heater is broken then you must have had a really chilly day today; it was brrr here all day, IN SPITE of our heater!
Yes, I have been working double time on the Growing Red project, and I will actually finish it tomorrow!!!!

Anonymous said...

Love your Growing red project. fantastic creative embroidery, the pulled work looks lovely.it is hard to use beaded hedebo stitch in this circular formation. you have done a great job. good start for the new year.

Janie said...

I like the idea of a relaxed new year, great idea. Your 'red' project is filled with delightful color and interesting design.

Chris(craft) and Dave(photos) Richards said...

There aren't enough hours in the day Queenie............(sigh )
Dont you just hate it when life gets in the way........(.another sigh )
Have a lovely week dear friend xx

Queeniepatch said...

Preparations before the New Year are tough (cleaning, sorting out unfinished business, cooking...) so it is kind of natural to go into slumber mood.
The red project is growing redder and is almost completed!

Queeniepatch said...

The Beaded Hedebo stitch is a tricky one, on a straight line but especially on a curved design. Here it looks a bit quaintly modern, 'soft geometric' maybe. The biggest trouble for me with BHS is to remember that it is not the ordinary Buttonhole stitch but Hedebo with that extra loop.

crazyQstitcher said...

I'm amazed how often you turn an ordinary stitch into art. The flowers on the red fabric are wonderful. I imagine wool crepe is difficult (soft) to work on without a hoop.
I found BHS tends to twist but you managed to tame it well.

I see a few comments,above, about starting new projects and have just read some good maxims for this problem at
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com.au/ I've printed it out for myself as encouragement to 'get on with it'

Queeniepatch said...

The wool crepe was WONDERFUL to work with, albeit a bit thin so care was needed. I always use a hoop, also on this project.
Beaded Hedebo Stitch surprised me; it looked quite strange when worked in thin silk and on a curve. Previously I have used it with perle.
I'll have to go visit the blog you mentioned, although I often find it is a lack of time that prevents me from 'getting on with it'.
Have fun Maureen, and Get On With It!

Anonymous said...

This is a lovely project, I like the use of wool and what you have stitched is lovely, all the different stitches that you have learned are proving to be very useful!

Queeniepatch said...

Thanks Susan, but actually I have not used as many TAST stitches as I really wanted. Stem stitch has by far been the best for the woollen yarn, Fly Stitch and Buttonhole, too, but Twisted Chain and Berry Stitch made the yarn tangle.

Anita said...

Your red project looks interesting and the pulled thread one is coming along beautifully.
Lovely flower,thanks for the close-up image Queenie :-)

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you very much Anita for you kind comments.
It is the first time I am doing pulled work and I enjoy it tremendously, although it is hard to pull evenly - I need more practice and will start another section today with a new stitch.
The Growing Red project has also given me a lot of pleasure - the fabric is so easy to stitch.