Pages

▼

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?


at

28 comments:

  1. Julie Fukuda16 October 2013 at 13:51

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch16 October 2013 at 23:27

      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!

      Delete
  2. margaret16 October 2013 at 14:36

    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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch16 October 2013 at 23:30

      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.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous16 October 2013 at 20:57

    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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch16 October 2013 at 23:32

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

      Delete
  4. Elizabeth's quarters16 October 2013 at 21:27

    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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch16 October 2013 at 23:34

      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...

      Delete
  5. Angela16 October 2013 at 23:06

    Wow! Nice work!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Annet17 October 2013 at 00:57

    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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch17 October 2013 at 10:07

      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!

      Delete
  7. Lins Artyblobs17 October 2013 at 03:17

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch17 October 2013 at 10:08

      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.

      Delete
  8. carorose17 October 2013 at 06:14

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch17 October 2013 at 10:09

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

      Delete
  9. Pamela17 October 2013 at 08:57

    Good idea and nice progress on all your projects!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch17 October 2013 at 10:11

      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!

      Delete
  10. Shami Immanuel17 October 2013 at 13:12

    Gorgeous pieces Queenie.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Juno17 October 2013 at 15:42

    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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch17 October 2013 at 15:50

      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.

      Delete
  12. Mrs. B.19 October 2013 at 06:15

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch19 October 2013 at 08:20

      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...

      Delete
  13. Stitching Lady19 October 2013 at 20:48

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch20 October 2013 at 08:09

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

      Delete
  14. Anita22 October 2013 at 23:23

    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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Queeniepatch23 October 2013 at 09:58

      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.

      Delete

Thank you for dropping by and adding a comment.


Says Google: European Union laws require you to give European Union visitors information about cookies used on your blog. In many cases, these laws also require you to obtain consent.

As a courtesy, we have added a notice on your blog to explain Google's use of certain Blogger and Google cookies, including use of Google Analytics and AdSense cookies.