Work In Progress Wednesday - Freeform Embroidery

For holiday, how about an embroidery project that is totally free of planning, a stitch-as-you go, stitch-as-the fancy-takes you project.

I started out with a circle and filled in the line with Mountmellick and Portuguese Stem.
A number of lines sprout out from the circle, one with Twisted Chain, another with Basque and Up and Down Buttonhole.

Two of the lines start from the circle, at the same point and fan out, then meet in the middle and change tracks, eventually they will maybe form a figure 8.
I used the following stitches, Whipped Running, Detached Up and Down Buttonhole, Laced Running

 This is what I have for Work In Progress Wednesday this week.

Sunday Stitch School - Closed for Summer Vacation

Sunday Stitch School is closed for summer vacation.

Back in September.

Friday Revision Homework - Stitches 101 - 105

I promised a Sunbonnet Sue dressed in white, and here she is, at Wimbledon!

Sunday Stitch School is now closed for summer vacation. Lessons start again in September. Enjoy a homework-free holiday!

But, don't forget that July 30 is World Embroidery Day!

Manifesto
for World Embroidery Day 30th of July
Textile reflects our world; embroideries can show the expressions of our time. Embroidery and textiles can focus on the social injustices between countries.
By the means of embroidery we can draw attention to the necessity of engaging in the force of textile in global trade and with it in world peace. Textiles is a power and let us use embroidery as an inspiration for people to engage in creativity that leads to a better understanding between countries and between people.
To embroider is a peaceful occupation. It can be traditional made from a common remembrance, drawn designs, from a pattern, or from your own imagination. You em- broider for joy, beauty, decoration and for the creation of identity.
Stitches can be decorative, beautiful, comforting, repeating, healing, telling, plea- surable, rebellious, caressing and perfect.
People embroider out of joy, as a hobby, professionally, for the bare necessities of life and as an act of freedom. You embroider together with others or in meditative solitude.
We want to acknowledge embroidery as an act of free creativity, which can lead to free, creative thoughts and ideas. We want to tie our embroidery threads from the privi- leged northern hemisphere together with stiches that are sewn by embroidering sisters and brothers all over the world.
We want to be part of a joyfully creative peace movement.
The initiative came from Skåne Sy-d, a local group of Broderiakademin, the SwedishEmbroiderer’s Guild. The first World Embroidery Day took place in Vismarlöv, 30th July 2011. The importance of embroidery must be made known and World Embroidery Day will spread around the world. Make 30th July a day filled with creativity for the sake of Peace, Freedom and Equality.

www.broderiakademin.nu

WIPW - One More Stumpwork Portrait

For this week's Work In Progress Wednesday I can report on yet another

Stumpwork Portrait

In this case, the draping of the green silk is the main feature. It is simply a piece of scrap left from the latest Crazy for Crazy octagon block.

I have also made a beaded trim for the edges on this and the previous cards:

I learned this technique from Pamela of Hokkaido Kudasai. You will find it here.

Freeform Embroidery

I have started a freeform embroidery on evenweave. I will ignore the grid and stitch as I like, choosing stitches from Sunday Stitch School and TAST. Mainly Perle #8 will be used.

Crazy for Crazy

has been shelved for the time being - as summer 'gets in the way'.

I will take things easy for a bit, enjoy a rest, and my blog activities, both writing and reading, will be put on the back burner.

Sunday Stitch School - Revision: Stitches 101 - 105

Time for a wee bit of revision, namely of stitches 101 - 105.
Click on the name for each stitch to get to instructions, pictures and homework.

101 Rose Leaf Stitch
This is a nice idea; make a leaf out of a tuft of loops. However it is harder than expected to get the loops neatly arranged. I found that a pair of pliers worked well, but this surgical tool (blood vessel clamp?) is even better.

To recapture the instructions:

102 Knotted Sheaf Stitch
Knots are always good to keep the thread in check. 
Apart from that, this is an easy and fun stitch.

103 Triple Palestrina Stitch
Just add an extra knot and you have this knobbly stitch.

104 Fly Stitch Filling
Isn't this a very beautiful grid with its soft lines?

105 Burden
Actually this is not really a stitch, but a technique. Either way, the result is nice.

Homework:
Sunbonnet Sue is dressed in white, but it is not June so it can't be a wedding dress. So what is she wearing, and why?

Friday Homework for Lesson 105: Burden Stitch

By using three different threads, this stitch can get so many variations. I have played it safe with Coton a broder, Perle and stranded floss.

Aida Sampler

Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart

Canvas Sampler

WIPW - Another Stumpwork Portrait

Wednesday = a Work In Progress Wednesday report.

I had to make a
Stumpwork Portrait
to give away.

Crazy for Crazy
These are the seams I have added.
The beads come from two toy necklaces. The button and tassel were made from variegated thread.
I made use of two commercial ribbon flowers (in the shape of Suffolk Puffs)

This block is now completed.

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 105: Burden Stitch

I found today's stitch in Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches.
Within the text there is also a bit about the background of this stitch: Burden Stitch has a long history, and was used in the Middle Ages in Italy and Germany for embroidery used in churches.
The sister-in-law of William Morris, Elizabeth Burden, made the stitch popular again when she taught at The Royal School of Needlework. The stitch is named after her, rather than any burden of stitching it (which does not exist!). Read more about it here.

Updated: Mattia, who knows French, gave me this information:  couchure Burden
et aussi point de Burden

Although Burden Stitch has been around since the Middle Ages, it is looking very modern here, I think.

First make rows of long straight stitches.

Make a column of Straight Stitch over every other blue bar.

Change to a contrasting colour (if you want a striking look)
and stitch a column in the same way but alternating the spacing.

Finished. I love this look of fake weaving.

Partnership Quilt Project for Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival 2020

The theme for this NHK charitable quilt project is MY FAVOURITE ANIMAL.
Well, for me that means the CAT, and the CAT is taking a CAT nap in her special CAT corner.
It must be Swedish midsummer as the sky is blue and the flag is flying.

To read more about the Partnership Quilt Project, click on the NHK tab at the top of this blog.

Friday Homework for Lesson 104: Fly Stitch Filling

This was so fun to make.

Canvas Sampler

Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart

Aida Sampler

WIPW - Vaxholmskudden Constructed and Completed

What's on the menu for Work In Progress Wednesday this week?

Crazy for Crazy
I just added a few basic seam lines which I will add beads or other stitches to later.

Baby Rubik's Cube

Many readers have been fascinated by this soft toy and I have now made a tutorial of sorts for it. 

Click on BABY BLOCKS TUTORIAL tag at the top of this blog, to see, and hopefully give it a try. Be prepared to work slowly and carefully. It IS tricky!

Vaxholmskudden

I have worked hard to finish this wool embroidery project, based on Karin Derland's style.
After completing the embroidery, I have constructed the cushion, added the back which has a zip, and made the inner cushion.
Vaxholmskudden is now ready to be wrapped in tissue paper and fancy gift wrapping, and fly off to Vaxholm, a charming town in Stockholm Archipelago.