Wednesday 15 April 2015

WIPW - Returning

Work In Progress Wednesday!
How nice to write those words again, and return to blogging. I've been, and will continue to be, very busy, so my report today is not so 'rich'. Let's hope for more progress in the coming WIPW reports.

Pile 'em On
While entertaining my house guests, a few chunky stitches were added to the circle, and a small flame of slanting stitches made.


I also started on some Canvas work in one corner. I just wanted to try out this form of needlework, and selected an easy stitch, the Twill Stitch.

Completed! TASTY Beads Galore
As we have learned 17 Beaded TAST stitches so far, I decided to make a frame out of 17 pieces of blue cotton and for each seam added the UNbeaded TAST stitches.
The list is long, so I won't bore you with details, but show you a close up of TAST #138 Barb Stitch:

Special project
My visitors from Sweden wanted to try their hands at indigo dyeing. We went to a workshop in Tokyo and apart from tie dyeing this T-shirt
I asked to dye some embroidery cotton (Perle #5 and Coton a Broder)



28 comments:

Pamela said...

It's good to see your progress and hear from you again! I'd love to try indigo dyeing.

Queeniepatch said...

It was great fun, and we learned about the good properties of indigo: 1) strengthens the fibres, 2) repels moth and other insects, 3) does not show blood stains (used for samurai soldiers' uniforms in the olden days), 4) a natural 'deodorant' (clothes do not smell of perspiration, so suitable for kendo uniforms (bamboo sword fighting sport))...

Julie Fukuda said...

It'll be fun to see what you do with that thread. A great activity your guests will remember.

Séverine said...

Your TASTY Beads Galore is beautiful. I love your indigo dyeing, you'll do wonderful embroideries with the threads.

Janie said...

Good, you're back! I've missed your inspiring beautiful stitches. Nice indigo projects too.

carorose said...

That dyeing looks great and you made all the mess in someone else's place.

carorose said...

And I meant to say welcome back, we missed you.

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you! I'll try to find time at the computer.

Queeniepatch said...

It is a great place for the occasional 'dip in the vat' without having to stain one's own home! You can select T-shirts and other items from the shop to dye, or bring in your own fabric or clothing. The latter is charged according to weight.

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you. I hope I will have time to post and visit blogs regularly...

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you. YOU have inspired many of the flowers on the TASTy piece, and the frame was needed to remove some of the strong impact of the red fabric.

Queeniepatch said...

Yes, they enjoyed the process but especially the result. The things they dyed were soon used daily.

Renee said...

Pile 'Em On is looking great! Love the canvas work. Your TASTy Beads Galore is still one of my favorites. I love, love, love the way you created the border. And, I cannot wait to see how you use the lovely perle cotton you dyed!

crazyQstitcher said...

Welcome back Queenie. Your flames are looking good. Tasty Beaded Galore is so joyful and using the blue fabric frame is a great way to highlight the threads.

I thoroughly enjoyed shibori dyeing recently and was astounded at the unwrapped results. Your threads have turned out nicely too.

Queeniepatch said...

I am struggling with the Canvas work! The fabric is too uneven for neat stitches, but it IS a training cloth, an ort dump and a place to 'let off steam' so it's OK!

Queeniepatch said...

I liked the combination of raspberry red for the beaded work and the tealish blue for the frame.
There are many ways to wrap cloth for shibori; that day the shop only offered beads and rubber bands. I'll try another method next time.

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

I see you're back and busy! I look forward to seeing what you do with blue threads.

Queeniepatch said...

I am now contemplating what to use them for...

Lis Harwood said...

Lovely, lovely work, the depth in your embroidery is really exciting to look at.
How great that your visitors wanted to, and were able to dye with indigo. The thread you dyed will become part of something interesting I'm sure. I have an indigo dyed scarf that I did with Bryan (three years ago, amazing) and I'm sure it protects me from sore throats and various germs.
Have a relaxing weekend, enjoy the sakura.

Queeniepatch said...

Hi!
Thank you for your kind words.
On a previous visit to the indigo studio, I dyed a scarf and it is lovely to wear.

Annet said...

It's good to hear from you again, I missed your blogposts! You have great eye candy today. The pile them on is getter prettier every time, it's so creative. Fun to see the first needlepoint in it, pretty pretty! I like the finished bead gallore, it has a nice CQ border. And now you have some yummie dyed thread to use. Do you know what you're going to make with these?

Queeniepatch said...

It's good to be back, although my time spent at the computer is limited.
The canvaswork on Pile 'em On's slightly uneven fabric is growing on me - I want to use canvas work on real canvas now!
The TASTy Beads Galore just begged for that border, and the beads in the centre panel gleam in the sunshine.
I have yet to think up a project for the dyed thread, I want to make full use of the variegated thread. I think a darkish background would be best. Any suggestions?

Anonymous said...

Nice to have you back, your pile em on is looking very creative and colourful and the finished bead galore looks great with the border. I think your guests will have had a great holiday, they must have enjoyed the dying!

Queeniepatch said...

I am really enjoying the new section on Pile 'em On - the canvas work!
My visitors are already talking about new things to dye in indigo!

Annet said...

It's always difficult to decide what to do with variegated thread. I'm sure in time you will find the right project for them!

Tanya said...

Your stitching looks great! And what a great idea to using the stitches in your background seams. I'd love to try some indigo dying... There are always new things to try!

Queeniepatch said...

I learned a lot of the good properties of indigo (see my reply to Pamela's comment at the top), and it was fascinating to see the greenish dye turn bright blue when it was 'aired' with oxygen, a kind of magic!

Lilian said...

Love your TASTy Beads Galore project! It's so joyful.