Friday 31 December 2021

Friday Finish Just Before the End

I don't usually have a Friday Finish post, but as it is Friday today and I have finished the Log Cabin Challenge quilt I just wanted to prove that it is finally hanging on the (glass) wall. 

I am delighted to have finished it just before the end of 2021 - there are about 90 minutes left of the year for us in Tokyo.

A better photo and more details on the next WIPW report next Wednesday.

Enjoy what you have left of this year, and let us look forward to a great one 2022.


Friday Revision Homework - Stitches 191 - 195

The final Sunbonnet Sue for 2021. She appears one week too late, but shows how she spent her recent holiday.



Some of the Double Drizzle stitches have been anchored to form the twigs of pine of the candle stick. Other stitches used are Stem Stitch and Lazy Daisy Stitch. The dress and boots were coloured in with wax crayons.





Wednesday 29 December 2021

WIPW - Cutting the Wadding

This is the last Work In Progress report for 2021.


Log Cabin Challenge

I have started to cut off the excessive wadding, and will then do the same with the fabric of the back. After that I can fold it over and stitch down the edge (a fake binding).

In the top half of the picture you can see the blue fabric I will use to make the hanging sleeve.


Sunday Stitch School Stitch Sampler

There is now a new area where I have placed an oval of #182 Snail Trail Stitch. With this as a base I will build something with various stitches, just like I did with the star and the four hearts.




You can see how difficult it is to photograph this wool fabric, neither picture shows the true blue grey shade!



Friday 24 December 2021

Friday Revision Homework - Dispensation

This should have been the Friday Revision Homework report for stitches 191 - 195, but Sunbonnet Sue is asking for dispensation. She is only half done, see the back and you find a lot of the stitching is not done yet.


 

Instead Sue and Queenie would like to extend Season's Greetings to all of you.

Sunday Stitch School will take a break during the holiday so no new stitch on Sunday this week, sorry.

Let's all take a rest until the new year. Enjoy the season. Stay safe.




Wednesday 22 December 2021

WIPW - The Last Stitch

Work In Progress Wednesday.

Log Cabin Challenge

I have taken the final quilting stitch, a Herringbone Stitch in gold metallic thread. Phew!


Remaining work: binding the edges and attaching a hanging sleeve and a label on the back.


Sunday Stitch School Stitch Sampler

I have not had time to do much work. I simply added #21 Upright Cross inside those three leaves.



Sunday 19 December 2021

Sunday Stitch School - No School Today

There will be no new stitch today. Homework for the revision lesson has not been handed in yet. Until Sue has put on her Sunbonnet, and the pincushion has awaken from its nap, there will be no new lesson! Sorry!




Wednesday 15 December 2021

WIPW - All Sorts of Things

This Work In Progress Wednesday report contains all sorts of things.

Log Cabin Challenge

I have had little time for the quilt, and only managed two more columns of Herringbone quilting stitches. Seven more to go...

Sunday Stitch School Stitch Sampler

On this project as well, I was not able to spend a lot of time. I only added #154 Plucked Knot Stitch inside the leaves and berries.

and #177 Double Seed Stitch inside these leaves.

Christmas Cards
Postal service is getting poorer and less reliable. I decided to send most of my Season Greeting cards as ecards. For a few elderly relatives without internet though, I made these of cardboard, felt and beads.



Thank You Gift
I had to make a Thank You gift for a friend who loves reading. The obvious present was a book cover.







 

Monday 13 December 2021

May I Suggest...Monday?

Every Monday I want to promote blog reading. The names of blogs I like have been written on pieces of paper, and today I picked the last slip of paper in the box.



That means that this is the last suggestion for the time being. When I stumble upon another interesting blog I will share it with you.


Be Be Bold

Jane MacDonald of Australia has made a delightful blog on Japanese textile. Attractive photographs, stunning work, plenty of videos and a Block Of the Month project. The online shop stocks books, kits and supplies for Japanese Kogin and Sashiko embroidery among other things.


Sunday 12 December 2021

Sunday Stitch School - Revision: Stitches 191 - 195

You know what happens after we have learned five new stitches? Yes, it is time to review them and make a Sunbonnet Sue sampler.

191 Plaid Filling Stitch

This overstitched grid makes a nice check, even something like tartan if you plan the colours and placements carefully.













192 Astypalea Stitch
This stitch is named after a Greek island. It is made up of laced small V:s.






A bunch of these will 'grow like mushrooms' out of your foundation fabric.







194 Magic Blanket Stitch

A fascinating stitch that makes you wonder and ponder 'How on Earth is this made?'.

It's just an easy trick behind the magic.





195 Misako Mimoko Lacing Stitch

If you are looking for a nice border stitch, here is one that can be impressive, colourful and structured. You need small foundation stitches and then lace them evenly. Excellent to use a metallic, fluffy or tricky thread for the lacing.












Homework:

Make a Sunbonnet Sue seasonal portrait. Take your time, I know it will not be completed by next Friday, but try to have it done by Christmas Eve.

Friday 10 December 2021

Friday Homework for Lesson 195: Misako Mimoko Lacing Stitch

The base stitching takes time, the lacing is easy and fast.

The wider the space between the two rows, the more you notice the base thread, and the two lacing threads show off to their advantage.

Use three colours of great contrast for the best impact.

Aida Sampler

Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart
I like the second row best.


Teal Wool Tailoring Scribble Cloth

Wednesday 8 December 2021

WIPW - Angelina

Welcome to another Work In Progress Wednesday report.

Log Cabin Challenge 

I have quilted the three last horisontal rows and then five of the longer vertical ones. Nine left... 

I am rather pleased with the result, even the back is attractive with the little glint of gold thread.



Sunday Stitch School Stitch Sampler

Reading blogs will give you inspiration and information, but it will also remind you of what you have in your stock. 

I was reading how Angela of Princess Bubbles Creates was using Angelina, and that made me think of my stock of these synthetic fibres. They have been slumbering in a cabinet and as soon as I pulled open the drawer they were in, they called out: 

'Wrap us in baking parchment, warm us up with an iron, flatten us, make us into useful fabric, put us on the Sunday Stitch School Sampler. '

Of course I had to obey!




I cut out drop shaped pieces and attached them with various stitches from the Blanket/Buttonhole family.

#66 Berwick Stitch

#194 Magic Blanket Stitch

#134 Slanted Buttonhole Stitch

#167 Fringed Buttonhole Stitch
















Tuesday 7 December 2021

May I Suggest...Monday?

Every Monday I want to promote blog reading. The names of blogs I like have been written on pieces of paper, and today I picked a slip at random from my box.


Today's suggestion is the same blog as I mentioned yesterday -

Misako Mimoko

where I found that interesting laced stitch.

Eva Monleón has a lot of 'young and modern' ideas. Her dolls are cute and charming, her embroidery is simple, but impressive. There is a very fresh feel about everything. I also get the impression that Eva uses modern technology, social media and business ideas to promote her work in a way that appeals to the younger generations. It is good when there is a new wind blowing...

Sunday 5 December 2021

Sunday Stitch School: Lesson 195 - Misako Mimoko Lacing Stitch

I picked up today's stitch on Pinterest, the link led me to Misako Mimoko's blog. Eva Monleón from Barcelona is a creative young dollmaker and designer who often promotes hand embroidery.

There is no name for this combination of stitches so I will name it Misako Mimoko Lacing Stitch. Any knowledge of the origin and real name, please let me know in the comment field below.

This is best done on a fabric with a good grid like Aida, or use waste canvas.

Make a row of upright Straight Stitch.

If you intend to do the lacing with a thicker thread, I suggest you stitch over a needle to have more space for the thicker lacing thread.


Make another row parallel to the first.

Remove the needle you have stitched over.

Lace the first thread (light blue) according to the picture.


Change the colour (light green) and lace the second thread.

Notice carefully how to weave the needle over and under the light blue thread.


Anchor at the end of the line.


This example is a little bland - the more contrast between the three threads, the more impact.

Homework:
Add to the samplers.