For the feather stitch I decided to use the Closed Feather and the Chained Feather to stitch the border around another of the ornament central blocks.
I couldn't get the hang of it until I added some interior parallel lines. I certainly like the boldness of this stitch done in 6 plies of DMC.
I've discovered it is better to handstitch the trims down and not rely on the embroidery to hold them in place. Here's the interior with trim and the Closed Feather Stitch.
I'll have to figure out some corner treatments later. I was a little unsure how to move the stitch around the corners gracefully.
I tried lemon juice like Barbara suggested on the little cross stitch angels and have been waiting for some sun so they can go outside. One was in pretty good shape so I transformed her into a covered button. Love it!
I also found some fashion jewelry on clearance this week so now I have a few focal point pieces for the CQ blocks. I found some pretty lacy snowflake earrings too that I'll use.
Comments welcome! Here's the link to other group member posts showing the feather stitch.
I've discovered it is better to handstitch the trims down and not rely on the embroidery to hold them in place. Here's the interior with trim and the Closed Feather Stitch.
I'll have to figure out some corner treatments later. I was a little unsure how to move the stitch around the corners gracefully.
I tried lemon juice like Barbara suggested on the little cross stitch angels and have been waiting for some sun so they can go outside. One was in pretty good shape so I transformed her into a covered button. Love it!
I also found some fashion jewelry on clearance this week so now I have a few focal point pieces for the CQ blocks. I found some pretty lacy snowflake earrings too that I'll use.
Comments welcome! Here's the link to other group member posts showing the feather stitch.
14 comments:
Yet another success!
I like your closed feather stitch. It looks really good on that golden trim.
Love the purple in the center ornament and that little angel!
The covered button worked out sweet! Your block is coming together so nicely. From the photo your corners look really nice, but maybe you are seeing something in person that doesn't show on the photo. I love that CQ can incorporate just about any material we find and your finds look perfect! (BTW, I was happy to work out the trees and snowflakes for you~lol)
Absolutely stunning!! Love the button, the feather stitch...well, everything about this block. Wonderful finds, too.
Love the way you incorporated these variations into your blog, Debra, especiallyt the closed feather. Very cleve to use the braid as your parallel "lines"! I'm glad you are using some of the cross stitch pieces, again in a clever way. I'd never have thought of making them into covered buttons. How big is the button? It's hard to tell from the close-up. This is going to be an extraordinary quilt!
It just so happened that the little cross stitch angels were the exact size for the #60 covered button. It finishes at 1½" --my intent is to use them as part of some button clusters-as the focal point. (Or not, depending how the wind is blowing that day!)
I had originally thought I would embroider a little motif to use as a button but when I found these at the thrift store for 12¢ & they were so perfectly cute, I knew they were going to be my covered buttons. I'm just happy they worked out sizewise.
Collecting stuff for CQs is the only reason I make them!
Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
You are so good with your spacing on all your handstitching Debra. What are you using for spacing and if not, geez, you are awesome at eyeballing ! You sure scored on the doo dads for adding pizzazz and that button is too cute.( hope those clean up good for you).
You ask about the corners.. I only see the left lower in the pic that looks like it didn't come together... the other side looks like it meets up pretty squarely... maybe thats it, square it instead of rounding it??
These are going to be awesome to look at!
Your bold stitching really stands up nicely to the embroidered motifs. This piece will be the perfect place for Christmas jewelry. That sparkly Christmas tree is the best.
Very nice feather stitches here Debra. I didn't get to try the feathered chain stitch, but seeing your sample has made me want to try it too.
I see your border feather stitch corner as a great place for one of those gorgeous sparkly treasures, or even that sweet angel button.
Except for the parallel lines I drew for the chained feather, the rest is all eyeballed. I had a pretty good rhythm going!
I have a pretty good collection of gold buttons so they may show up as button clusters on those less than perfect corners. I saw where a person used nail polish to cut the gold on some charms so maybe I'll mess around with that idea so they are various shades of gold.
My mom made me buy that tree. Barbara! It was $4 & the rest were $2--big spender that I am!
I love the way the button turned out! I find that parallel lines work very well when I want a straight feather seam that doesn't wander. I like the boldness of the larger stitching, too. Or maybe it only looks larger in comparison to what's around it, but I like it anyway. I think the corners on the inside border are fine, though.
Thanks, yes, I am trying to increase the scale on the stitches around the ornament blocks. I used a dark variegated thread for the feather and I really like how it looks--very subtle but cool.
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