WIPW - Growing Red, Growing Old

Work In Progress Wednesday, my weekly report on needlework projects, today contains:

Pile 'em On
I parked a few stray thread ends in the circle and worked more pulled stitches in the 'flames' going out from the circle.

TASTy Beads Galore
This time I used TAST #98 Beaded Shell Chain to stitch the stem and the flowers.

Growing Red
This project is now completed.
First let me show you details of the latest wool embroidery. The fabric is a beautiful wool crepe that has been a delight to stitch.

From that embroidered fabric I then constructed a special waistcoat, called chanchan-ko'. Mine is a modern version.

Such a red waistcoat, often wadded, was in former days in Japan, presented to those who had reached three score. It was a sign that they had taken a back seat and let the younger generation take over work, responsibilities and power.

Or it might be seen as a warning sign - here comes someone who is a bit gaga, do odd things and must be given leeway...

However old I've grown, I hope I will be given plenty of odd, gaga leeway in my future embroidery projects, and I have no intention of letting anyone take over my needlework, responsibilities of my sharp scissors or power over my stitching fingers.

I am also so pleased that my chanchan-ko goes well with the collar and cuffs completed earlier.

WIPW - Growing Redder

In Japan, New Year is celebrated over more days than in many other countries, and a popular way to spend the first days of the new year is 'ne shogatsu', roughly translated as a sleeping New Year. It means you just relax, 'chill out' in front of the TV, eat and drink and take a nap, spend a leisurely time with the family and doze off whenever you feel like it...

When you spend the start of the year in such a lazy way, your needle and thread take a break, too, as does your blogging habits... Sorry I did not reply to any of the kind comments you posted on last week's WIPW post.

With New Year well behind me, and at least, now that the needle and thread have returned to some kind of normality, I can report the following Work In Progress:

TASTy Beads Galore
I added a flower made with TAST #37 Beaded Hedebo Stitch.

Pile 'em On
Just a bit of progress on the Window Filling pulled work.

Growing Red
A lot of work, however,  has gone into this project in the last couple of days. I am working with wool yarn on a thin red wool crepe.
There is a floral design

and here are some close-ups:

I drew the design with white charcoal pen directly on the fabric and then added or subtracted some details as the fancy took me while stitching. This is a very relaxing way to work.

WIPW - The End of 2014

This Work In Progress Wednesday report falls on the last day of 2014. It has been a great and positive year. I've completed needlework projects that had been going on for far too long, like the quilt 'Kafferepet'

and the Swedish Cushion'.

I made a collar in wool embroidery

to accompany the wrist warmers I made last year.
To celebrate new life at spring I made an abstract Sumptuous Surface Embroidery picture with cherry petals,

For the Hina Festival I made a fish,

and my contribution to NHK's Partnership Charity Quilt project was this block of Swedish peppermint sweets,

I created a few new stumpwork portraits

and birthdays cards.

I made the TAST Reference Chart,

I started a Beaded TAST sampler

and a Free Form embroidery

where I can just pile on stitches made from short left over thread ends...

and I visited a number of quilt shows, where I had the chance to enjoy the company of my many friends.

'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-

So what have I produced in the last week of this year?

TASTy Beads Galore
I used TAST #37 Beaded Hedebo Edge to start this flower.

Pile 'em On
Some more stitches were added to the 'mess' in the centre. I also started on another pulled work area, using Wave Stitch Filling.

Growing Red
I have measured,

pinned,

pressed,

marked,

and started stitching a bit on this 'mystery' project.

I'm a lucky girl who received lovely Appleton wool for Christmas; perfect for this project.

Work In Progress Wednesday was started as a support program by Sharon of Pintangel. It helps you focus on working towards completing a slow or stagnant needlework project, by reporting on your progress each Wednesday. It has worked wonders for me. Try it!

Wishing you all a good last day of 2014 and a bright, creative New Year.

WIPW - Kafferepet Completed

Work In Progress Wednesday, that was started by Sharon Boggon of Pintangle, has been a great way to spur us on, to work towards completing needlework projects that have been taken too long, or even taken up long term residence 'on the shelf'.

For me, one such project was a wallhanging called Kafferepet. I made the first block in the summer of 2007!, and with the help of Sharon's WIPW I have now reached the goal and the quilt is completed!

I have made progress on other projects, too, but let's start with:

Kafferepet
It all began in 2007 when I made a block for NHK's Partnership charity quilt project. The theme was 'Tea Time', and I made a platter of seven 'goodies' usually served at a traditional, and slightly old fashioned, Swedish coffee gathering, known as Kafferep in Swedish.

Kanelbulle, Schackruta, Vaniljhjärta, Uppåkrakaka, Chokladsnitt, Gaffelkaka, Syltgrotta are the names... (For NHK's Partnership Quilt Project 2008)

Once the block had been donated to NHK I knew I wanted one for myself and made a new one.

The cinnamon roll was replaced with a biscuit called Kongress. 

As I love the china that the biscuits are on, I decided to make a small quilt featuring the cup and coffee pot as well.

 From there the project grew with blocks of buns, cup cakes,

raspberry cordial, spoons and all the other things connected with this kind of coffee party.

From the ladies of my family I had been given lots of hand made lace that I used for the sashing. I backed the lace with blue and yellow fabric, the colours of the Swedish flag.  

The quilt was extended with a border of appliquéd summer flowers. 

By the time I had joined TAST (Take A Stitch Tuesday) in 2012, I started embroidering stems by using 48 different TAST stitches. 

Another border, with bobbin lace held down with other TAST stitches, completed the top.

Now in the last week I have worked on the back; the hanging sleeve was stitched on and the label completed.

Lace, appliqué and TAST stitches, all in celebration of Swedish coffee culture.

The front looks like this:

(measuring 100x105 cm)

and here are some details of the quilting

As can be seen, all quilting is done with embroidery stitches.

To celebrate the completion I just had to arrange a Kafferep and set the table.

'Coffee is served!'

TASTy Beads Galore
This week I used TAST #107 Beaded Loop Cretan

Pile 'em On

Apart from adding some more stray stitches and the speared orts, technique here, I began on some pulled work outside the circle.

New Growing Red

Here are the goods for my next project, red wool en mass, fabric and yarn.

 Wishing those who celebrate Christmas a Jolly Holiday, and wishing you all, Jolly Stitching!