Well, never mind. Here is my report on the progress I have made on the wool embroidered wrist warmers.
I really enjoyed embellishing these two rectangles of black cashmere. Although I had a rough sketch, and marked the fabric with white pen, most is free style embroidery.
Next up is lining them, and then making a fringe with the help of an ice cream wooden stick (see above). It is a first for me, and I am not sure if I can understand the instructions! Queenie, just bite the bullet and get on with it!
To see Sharon's Work In Progress report about shuffling furniture and tidying up, go to Pintangle.
Wow! They're beautiful. What progress you've made in a week!
ReplyDeleteIt has been such fun doing this, time just flew!
DeleteWell, I think we are in the same time-zone now. I like the chain stitches at the edges of the flowers , never seen this before. I'm very curious how you're going to make fringe with the help of that wooden stick!
ReplyDeleteTraditionally there are only four stitches for this kind of folk costume embroidery; Stem, Straight, Chain Stitch and French Knots, so I had to mix them to my own liking. The Chain edge is quite impressive, don't you think?
DeleteNext week you will see how the stick transformed the yarn into a fluffy fringe, and made my fingers bleed!!!
O dear, I have a nice plaster for your fingers:
Deletehttp://fat-quarter.blogspot.nl/2009/07/contemporary-embroidery-1.html
Ha, ha! Yes, an embroidered plaster would be nice!
DeleteThey are looking very pretty. {you wouldn't need wrist warmers here(UK)at the moment, its unusually hot for a change}
ReplyDeleteI know! I have got reports about your heat wave. Hopefully it cools down before I arrive.
DeleteThe wrist warmers will be needed later in the year back in Japan, as it can be freezing - indoors!
Send some of that heat here, please. I hate getting out of bed in the morning but the days are nice.
ReplyDeleteI see that you have used canvas work (tapestry) wools for your stitching. I have Appletons crewel embroidery wool for mine. I have drawn up six designs and now have bite that bullet as well. You are right, getting the design onto the black wool isn't that easy. Looking forward to seeing the fringe.
I have used 'whatever' I got my hands on, but I had to split a lot of the wool to get even thickness. Hopefully this will give these wrist warmers an authentic look. They used to be part of the male folk costume in some parts of Sweden.
DeleteMy fingers are bleeding from the fringe making! More on that next Wednesday.
Lovely colour combinations
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteBlack is such a difficult colour to capture on 'film' and the colours are actually even more vibrant in reality.
What a wonderful way to relax and have fun. Those wool strips must be feeling very special about now with so much attention.
ReplyDeleteStitching the flowers was relaxing and fun; now making the fringe is another matter entirely! Bleeding fingers and stiff muscles are neither relaxing nor fun.
DeleteYou are right, I will show off the completed items to all my Swedish friends and they (wrist warmers) will soak up all that attention and give off a warm glow when I am back in my chilly, draughty Japanese home in winter.
this is turning out so very well, lovely stitchery and now puzzling about the fringing with the lolly stick. Will be great when the cols weather comes.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am rather pleased with the result, myself.
DeleteI have started on the lining and continue to injure my finger while making the fringe. Report on that next Wednesday.
You must be very pleased you have stitched a beautiful design. I like your choice of material it goes so well with the wool. Have a nice time in Sweden!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan.
DeleteThe material is very traditional and part of a folk costume, but I have made the design myself.