Monday 31 December 2012

Embroidered Peacock - A drawstring bag

As a part of Red Work course at stitch map, I had to stitch a draw string bag to hold my pattern weights. I chose the peacock motif for this bag for two reasons  -

I wanted to choose one which were not stitched by any another stitch map member so far.
I have a huge peacock pattern with me for the past 2 years which I wanted to try out on a bed sheet sometime this year ( or next year).


Here is a close up picture of the peacock motif




I have used 2 ply of floss across the peacock. 

Peacock Body part
Stitch
Crest Tip
Detached chain / Lazy Daisy
Crest Lines
Back Stitch
Body outline and filling
Stem Stitch
Wings Outline
Chain Stitch
Wings Filling
Outline Stitch
Beak Filling and Outline
Fly Stitch
Legs
Fly Stitch
Feathers Outline
Chain Stitch
Feathers innerpart Outline
Whipped back Stitch
Eyes
French Knot (3 Wraps


I did not get it right and beautiful this peacock motif at the very first trial. I had to remove the stitches some 2 or 3 times, to get the right look.  Thanks to my mentor Anita .  She really encouraged and suggested me some tips to get this peacock right.

My initial version of the peacock was this above picture.  I managed to use only cool colors blue and green. This was kind of  very dull looking - especially the eyes done in light blue floss..

Anita suggested me to use black floss for the eye and to use a hint a bright yellow in the feathers.  The yellow contrast worked the magic in this peacock and it made the peacock little more lively.  I also wanted to do the legs in black as the light blue floss on a off white fabric made it very dull.

After this rework, my peacock looked like this


Again after this rework, we both were not satisfied.  I wanted to remove the light blue floss entirely and use black instead.  So, I removed those stitches and did it again with black crest lines, dark blue crest tip, dark blue beak with a hint of yellow in it.

After all these rework, this is my final peacock. I was finally satisfied with the outcome after making the changes Anita suggested. Thank You Anita.












Thursday 27 December 2012

Pattern Weights

As a part of stitch map Red Work course, I had done all these pattern weights. For the past two and half months I was completely into this Red Work Course and was focussing on completing it within the end date.  The Red Work course was a great course, which covered the very basics of embroidery - like how to wrap the hoop with the fabric, how to do knotless embroidery.  The stitches covered in this course were the basic stitches like - running stitch, back stitch, split stitch, outline stitch, stem stitch, seed stitch, feather stitch, chain stitch, detached chain stitch, blanket stitch .  I have also made a draw string bag to hold these pattern weights. More  on the embroidered draw string bag in a separate post soon.



Sunday 7 October 2012

TAST 40 - Beaded Hedebo Edge

Here is my trial on this edge.  This is a new stitch for me and it took me sometime to understand and try. I need more practice to perfect this edge.

Monday 1 October 2012

Pachis work - Zippered Pouch

I have done a small zippered pouch with Pachis Work.  This was done as a part of Pachis Work Challenge announced here.  Its a great thought from Shari to try Pachis work in a Gingham fabric.

The tutorial for Pachis work can be found here. The tutorial for zippered pouch is here.  My phone snugly fits in this .


Friday 15 June 2012

TAST 24 - Buttonhole Wheel

Here is my stitch sampler for buttonhole wheel..  I like this stitch and I have already used it before.


1) The center button wheel circumference is made of  seed beads.   I added two beads in the strings every time before picking the fabric from the centre.
2) The red button wheel is a simple ordinary initial trial
3) The dark green button wheel next to the red one has alternating button hole stitches varied in length.
4) The orange button wheel is worked initially and on the spikes created the ribbed spider wheel stitch is woven.  Care needs to be taken here as when we start weaving the circle formed is pushed to the front.  I had to stop weaving in the middle for this same reason.
5) The cream color button wheel next to orange is worked with the spikes apart and inbetween the spikes French knots are done.
6) The green color button wheel with the orange center is worked using woven spider wheel.
7) The pink color button wheel has it spikes made of bullion knots.  When the fabric is picked from the center to the circumference you wind the thread around the needle to make these bullion spikes.
8)The last Grey button wheel has chain stitches in the circumference.  After the fabric is picked from the center to the circumference and the thread pulled through , a small chain stitch is made in the circumference before proceeding.



Sunday 3 June 2012

TAST 22 - Knotted Cretan Stitch

I had a busy week and could not do much with this stitch.   It was easy as I had earlier done the Cretan stitch in  TAST.   I have combined the knotted cretan stitch with Mary Corbet's  Stitch Play .  



First, I stitched a row of Knotted Cretan stitch.  Then I took two different varigated orange and pale green Perl cotton threads and weaved them in the bottom straight line made by the Knotted Cretan Stitch.  Then I weaved the top straight line of Knotted Cretan Stitch with scarlet and dark green Perl cotton threads.

I should have placed my knotted cretan's near to each other, to get a better look of  this trial.


Friday 25 May 2012

TAST 21 - Butterfly Chain Stitch

This stitch is a new one for me and it was quite simple and easy.  I tried this with stranded cotton threads of 3, 4,5 straight stitches in different directions.  I drew 5 circles 1 centimeter apart.  The inner most circle has 3 tiny straight stitches.  The outermost circle was done with 4 straight stitches of varying lengths.  Here is the picture.



Saturday 12 May 2012

TAST 19 - Half Chevron


This is a new stitch for me.  It was easy as I had earlier done the Chevron stitch in TAST.  Here are my trials with the stitch.

1) Half chevron stitch in dark blue was a trial learning this stitch

2)I went through Sharon's stitch guide to learn this stitch.  It was mentioned that unlike Chevron, this stitch curves very well.  So I tried doing this stitch  in a wavy / scallop pattern.  Two scallops of  Half Chevron was done and in the middle Chain stitch is done with the black color floss.



3) I tried this stitch around two circles.  Half Chevron stitch in the two circles not facing each other.  In between   I have stitched a outline of this circle with the back stitch and the centre of the circle is stitched in round button wheels stitch.

4) I tried using this stitch as a filling one.  So, drew a small tree and tried it...



Here is the overall sampler for this stitch.




I have missed TAST 16,17,18 due to professional commitments and I need to catch up fast.

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Lesson - Chikan SAL completed!!!!

Hi,

I have completed the final Lesson of Chikan SAL today.  I was fascinated by this new Eyelet stitch....consisting of simple running stitch around the circumference and filling the radius with the satin stitches.  Eyelet stitch is really cute.  This stitch reminded me the round button wheel stitches.

I tried the wave filling stitch some 3 times in my doodle cloth.  The white voile fabric which I am using is very delicate, so when I tried to place the grid points near to each other, it did not look that very appealing.  So, I have placed the grid points little apart in this paisley design heart.

Here are few photos.




Thank You so much Anita for this opportunity to learn Chikankari work.  I thoroughly enjoyed these two months of Chikankari SAL.  It is a very professionally done course with all necessary documentation and timely posts , patiently replying to all my queries over email along with your feedback & guidance.  Your tutorial was very simple and clear as well.

Sometime in the future I will stitch me a tunic with this Chikankariwork.




Saturday 5 May 2012

Lesson 6 & 7 - Chikan SAL

Hi,

After a month long break from embroidery, I am back with the thread and needle.  I had to appear for a professional exam which is quite tough as the pass mark is 90% .  I have paid this certification money in dollars (I earn in Rupees),  so put my heart , soul , time and effort.. (and everything else too) for the past month in this preparation.  It was an online exam, and after pressing the submit exam and those couple of minutes when I waited for my result , I decided - "If I fail this exam I will never appear for any other exam in my life".... Wow...I cleared the exam with 92% aggregate..and hooray.. All tensions relieved and this even motivated me for a BIG BANG exam.. which I may take within a couple of years.  None in India is certified in this so far, If I clear this BIG BANG exam I will be the first one .. .... (sounds good.. but I am already dreading the hours of effort, preparation, tension, frustration, shouting at children, getting irritated easily....  Its a part and parcel of exam... )

Over this weekend, I focussed on completing this Chikan SAL.But managed to complete only Lesson 6 and Lesson 7.  I could not take separate photos of lesson 6 and lesson 7 as I stitched this while I was waited to pick up my son from his violin class...and forgot to take the camera with me.

I really enjoyed stitching Lesson 6 & 7 as these are new stitches to me - Straight Stitch variation, Over Cast Variation and Satin Stitch Variation.  The Straight stitch variation was really a lovely one.. with this simple stitch you are just creating a unique motif.   I have never tried / liked the idea of stitching with all 6 strands..however this stitch was looking really cool with all 6 strands...

 Over cast stitch variation was appearing like machine embroidery stitch after the finish.  My stitching is not so perfect, as the shapes of the tear drops and straight stitch motifs are not similar, but now that I have completed this I am feeling confident to use them properly in my next project.

So, here is the picture of Lesson 6 and Lesson 7.

I will complete Lesson 8 this week and post the pictures soon.

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Chikan SAL - Lesson 5

Hi,


Here is my Chikan SAL Lesson 5.  I have delayed the progress due to my busy schedule in my professional front.  I am planning to get some time off tomorrow to complete Lesson 6 and post the pictures.

Wednesday 4 April 2012

TAST 13 - Satin Stitch

Here are my trials for TAST 13 - Satin Stich.

1)  In this below picture, I have used Slanting Satin Stitch in stems,leaves and petals.

           
             2) The below butterfly is couched using satin stitch.  I have used a single twine thread as the base of couching.


3) The below flowers is one more sample done in Satin Stitch

4)  The below Lotus flower is embroidered in Encroached satin stitch.  I have used 2 skeins of pink varigated stranded cotton floss for this lotus.  Each layer of satin stitch is then outlined with small running stitches.


These are my satin stitch samplers done last year.  

Thursday 29 March 2012

Chikan SAL - Lesson 4

Hi,

I have completed Chicken SAL Lesson 4 with the whipped back stitch, Roman Stitch and Detached chain stitch variation.  Roman Stitch is a bit too bulky with all 6 skeins of thread.  I liked the look of the whipped back stitch.


Tuesday 27 March 2012

Royce Bunny SAL



Here is my week 4 of the bunny project.  I really enjoy doing this small bunny .  We are just a little away from the completion of this bunny. 

Monday 26 March 2012

Chikan SAL - Lesson 3


I completed Lesson 3 over the weekend.  It really took some hours to finish this week's lesson. 

Saturday 24 March 2012

TAST 12 - Barred Chain Stitch

Here is my small sampler for this week's Barred Chain and Alternating Barred Chain stitch.  This is a new stitch for me.  I got this design from Mary Corbet's site in one of her earlier posts.  These are stitched in 2 skeins of anchor stranded cotton floss.

Barred Chain


Alternating Barred Chain



Saturday 17 March 2012

TAST 11 - Whipped wheel


Here is my sample for whipped wheel.  I have used a single red crystal bead in the center.  It is not clearly visible in this photo.  I have used 3 skeins of varigated stranded cotton skein for the whipped wheel.  To deck this up, I have added an outline of red crystals with beaded back stitch.  This could be used as a motif in tunics.



Thursday 15 March 2012

Chikan SAL - Lesson 2


Lesson 2 is very simple with chain stitch and stem stitch.  I was able to make it quickly.

Wednesday 14 March 2012

Royce Bunny Project - SAL

Hi,

I am stitching along with Royce on her Bunny Project.  Its a simple cute bunny - stitched using double back stitch  and pattern darning.  As I am taking part in Anita's Chikan SAL, the double back stitch in this bunny project was pretty easy and fast.  Recently, in TAST 2012 when Sharon announced the running stitch I was so mesmerised about pattern darning and wanted to do something with it.  Royce has provided the initial trigger to start with pattern darning. Thank you Royce.

There is a small story behind this bunny.  Recently, I read my younger son a lovely cute story about a bunny.   The bunny's name was Daley-B.  Daley-B did not understand that he was a rabbit and started living in a tree seeing the birds building their nests on the tree.  He started eating acorns like squirrels.  My son was so hooked on to this particular story - I ended up reading the story some 60 times.. (per day some 5 times)..


After the completion of this bunny project, I am planning to give it to him as a little surprise.  :) .   Hope he would like it.




Monday 12 March 2012

Artistic Fingers - Chicken SAL - Lesson 1

Hi,

I have joined Anita's chicken SAL and here is the stitch for Lesson 1.   All these little tear drops are stitched in double back stitch.  I have used mal cloth which is quiet transparent.

This is the view in the front side of the design.



This is the view of the reverse side of the cloth.



Sunday 11 March 2012

TAST 10 - Running Stitch

Hi,

(For everyone who has commented on my chain stitch  - A big  ThankYou).  I am a new blogger and I found difficulty in replying to your comments. Connie - Thanks for being my first follower.  I will post my chikan sal lesson 1 pictures soon)

Here is a small fence in running stitch.


The below sampler was done last year using running stitch and herringbone stitch.





Thursday 23 February 2012

TAST 8 - Chain Stitch

Hi,

Here is my work for TAST 8.


In the below flower, the filling for the leaves and the stem are done using normal chain stitch.  But the petals an d the center of the flower is done by just interlacing the chain stitches done before.  Thats the reason for the raised effect.


TAST 7 - Detached Chain

Hi,

Here is my work for TAST 7.  I stitched this last week.  I have tried it with anchor stranded cotton, silk thread which is used for machine embroidery and even cone thread .  For the stems I have used chain stitch, stem stitch.

Below are my samplers done as a part of my course work while learning embroidery last year.  The second one is done with double detached chain stitch.



TAST 6 - Chevron Stitch

Hi,

Here are my trials for TAST 6.  I tried this stitch with the tube beads.  Initialy it was a taking a tilted shape.  After 4 chevron stitches in beads I got the hang of it ....

TAST 5 -Herringbone Stitch

Hi,

Here is my sampler for TAST 5.  

TAST 4 - Cretan Stitch

Hi,

Here is the Tast 4- Cretan Stitch Sampler.

TAST 2 - Button Hole Stitch

Hi,

Here is my sampler for TAST 2. This was also done as a part of my course work.

TAST 7 & Beyond TAST 7 - Detached Chain Stitch & Barred Chain Stitch & Alternating Barred Chain stitch

 Here is my TAST 2021 sampler with this week's stitches.