TAST #85 is called Raised Cup,
and it was a learning curve - or rather a learning cup!
A cup full of mistakes and frustration, a cup full of disappointments and re-trials, a cup full of envy and self-pity (why do others make such perfect cups? check out Annet's beauties)... In the end it became a row of cups with a drop of satisfaction at the bottom...
Look, what an eyesore!
I stitch away from the computer screen and had memorised Sharon's stitch instructions incorrectly, and used Buttonhole stitch instead, so these must be pink 'Buttonhole Triangular Circles'.
I didn't think of rolling the needle, either, and soon built up a twist in the thread, resulting in wobbly mess.
After studying Sharon's instructions on the website again, I wrapped the thread correctly round the needle so the stitch itself was right, but the resulting cups in the top row are still deformed; I mean they should be circular, eh?
I then dug out various stitch dictionaries and tried the cups in orange. They became very triangular in shape!
Finally I brought the embroidery frame to the computer and while watching the tutorial video at Needle 'n Thread I studied in great detail and stitched right there, the row of green cups at the bottom.
Finally I got something that looked like circular cups.
So what did I learn that made the difference?
1) Don't cram the stitches on the bar.
2) Leave enough thread between each stitch so you have a 'bridge' to use for a second round of stitches.
3) Once you have made a knotted stitch on the foundation bar, pull the thread away from you.
4) Use your needle to prod the cups into shape.
Now I used the expression 'eyesore', but of course any wonky stitches would be perfect on a Sumptuous Surface Embroidery piece. They wouldn't be out of place here, or what do you think?
23 comments:
thanks Queenie you have given so many helpful hints and will refer back to your blog when I have a go at this stitch. I rather like the buttonhole triangular circles. You really have a great collection and variety and they all look good to me, you do not want them all exactly the same, no 2 flowers are identical are they.
Of course Margaret, no two flowers are identical, and no two Raised Cups will ever be EXACTLY the same, but it would be nice to be able to control the work and shape the cups into what I want them to look like.
I quite fancy the wonky ones, on free form embroidery.
Well done, Queenie! I'm glad you persisted and mastered the raised cup. As I already wrote in my blogpost, I always use only one round in my raised cup stitches. Then it's possible to cram the stitches and make a nice circle. If I want to use more rounds I switch to the trellis stitch, wich has nicer knots.
You make stitching into a science, Annet! Now I need to check out the Trellis stitch!
I agree it is hard to control things but I like to think the stitching is spontaneous and that makes for originality and creativity.
...and I like the wonky ones, because they make me laugh. But ernestly, your hints are so helpful. I made the stitches as well - no shooting yet -- and I like them as flowers, or dots in the landscape, and mine are wonky.
I think wonky cups on some embroideries would be perfect such as on the sumptuous embroidery.
I agree with your comments about the Sumptuous Surfaces class, great notes and the class really makes you learn. And your cups, great.
Thanks for all your advice along with the photos. I'll reread your post when I get ready to do my samples of this stitch.
Give them a try from Sharon's instructions first. In case you have trouble, check mine, or other alternatives.
I treat my blog as a personal journal to remind myself of MY problems with a stitch. If I sat by my computer or read more carefully I might have had fewer problems. Time to learn from your mistakes, Queenie!!!
Stitching is very personal, we need to find our own way of reading instructions and trying out a stitch. I think I have learned an important lesson!
I think with a bead inside the stitches will be PERFECTLY round and neat! A mix of beaded and bare, wonky and neat, would make a lovely bunch of flowers.
I was very impressed by all the support Sharon gave to each and every strudent. Apart from that the great notes and all the ideas was indeed great. I'd recommend this class to anyone who wants to do rich and 'overdone' embroidery.
Practice makes perfect Queenie, you got there in the end and the cups look perfect!
your comments on the raised cup are very helpful, I think I'll try again mine, they are not very pretty.
You are so right, we have to do things again and again before they sink in!
I found this a very tricky stitch, although it is actually not very complicated. Good luck!
where did my comment go? lovely explorations and valuable explanations. Thank you
Chitra
Once I'm done all my owls then I'm going to give the Raised Cup stitch a try. I think I tried it once before but can't remember. They would be perfect for Sumptuous Surface Embroidery.
I got two versions of your comment. I am sorry I could not 'approve' of it earlier, as I was asleep. Most comments from countries west of Japan arrive when it is night here. The trouble of time zones!
Anyway, thank you for your kind comments. Did you enjoy working with the Raised Cup?
Do try the Raised Cup stitch. It is probably only me who was having problems with it. I think my main problem was crowding too many stitches on each foundation bar and that I could not find a 'bridge' for the second row of stitches to be worked over, if you understand what I mean. If not, Mary Corbet's video tutorial is great to watch.
I can't fully say i enjoyed working on it, but i liked the stitch. I understand the approving part.generally there is some indication that the comment needs to be approved, i didn't see it. So i assumed i did bungled up somewhere.LOL!
I think you need to look at your own blog on someone else's computer to understand what is required for leaving a comment. Blogging is still a mystery to me!!
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