Part of my goal for this year is to learn more about working with pastels. Some of these colors are pastels. Some are more jewel tones. I like my embellishment to show against the background, not fade away, so this is making it very difficult for me to work in pastels. There are moments when I wonder why I ever set that goal!
I have used a combination of Sassa Lynne and DMC perles, 8 and 12, on the block so far. I like that look better than floss. I suppose I should have made "use more floss" one of my goals, too, since this project is about stretching my comfort zone - but I didn't.
For tools, I used Carole Samples' templates, Strips for Success templates, and a book called The New Anchor Book of Free-Style Embroidery Stitches is responsible for the butterfly design - except I added the French knots to decorate the wings a bit.
There's nothing here I dislike, but I did seem to take forever to decide what to use where and how to accomplish it. I know that some stitchers plan every stitch, even sketch them out before they begin. I have tried, and that doesn't work for me. I wind up changing it even if I do plan and sketch. Part of the reason is that, for me, the process is about adding a bit, standing back and contemplating what looks good with that bit, then going on to the next thing, sort of building a consensus of stitching, if that makes sense.
10 comments:
I like it very much. Your stitching is lovely.
It's very pretty and delicate. Your stitching is accenting your fairy block nicely, and I like the way you framed the pic with your fabrics.
I stitch the same way.....I don't think I'm accomplished or experienced enough to try to plan each stitch ahead of time. Luckily, I can always cover up anything that doesn't suit, or remove it if it doesn't work, which I have done. ;-0
I think you have a wonderful start!
Just because you are working with pastel fabrics doesn't mean your threads have to all be pastel. You can have darker threads-especially if you decided, for instance, that the frame around the fairy was going to be darker and stitched all the blocks like that. I think it's more about stitching a general color pattern & palette over the entire surface.
I like your fan/fly stitch combo-I need that with my snowflakes.
It is hard to believe you aren't comfortable with pastels. You are doing a fabulous job! I don't plan out my stitches either but rather stitch and add embellishments intuitively as I go. I do have a very general direction or plan in mind when I start however.
It's beautiful! I'm not really a planner either and sometimes it catches me. Love the fairy and the pastels even though I'm more a jewel tone person.
I really like the fly stitch fans.
HI Susan,
Looks to me like you've definitely got your stitching mojo back! Love this fairy block. And I agree with you that perle works really well for CQ, the sheen and thickness. IMHO, floss doesn't show off the lovely stitching as wll, so it works best on a plain background. To me, the beauty and fun of CQ, and I am just a novice, is the freedom to create and plan as you go. You may have to frog, but so be it!
I agree that I want my stitches to show and often pull out the perle cottons over the DMCs unless I use 4-6 plies of the DMC. Lately I've been trying to twist some finer threads in with my other plies and that's producing some nice effects. It's so easy to read hints and then never try them! 2012 is the year to try everything!
Susan, your fairy block is gorgeous! I really look forward to watching this project develop!
Susan, I work the same way you do. If I start something and don't like it, I rip it out and do it over. That's my "sketchbook." I think the shine in your threads creates contrast with the fabrics. Very pretty work.
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