CQJP Update
french knots
a raised seam treatment from my hand-made seam binding
more bullion stitch
a faceted snowflake attached with a blanket stitch 'rope'
it can seem to change colour
There's more I'd like to add before I'm finished.
I've been considering that my stitching may be too small for the wall hanging, and that perhaps I need to be bolder in my approach to the embellishments. What do you think? Would the blocks have more impact if all the seams were done in the same colour of thread? Your thoughts and comments are most welcome.
Here is a link to my TAST: Feather stitch.
Thanks and hugs from Suz
18 comments:
I would tack it up and step back to look at it, then you could tell if your stitching needs to be larger or bolder. I think the width may be what you are wanting. Not sure about it all being the same color though, but then I love a good rainbow!
Just looking at this photo and not seeing the actual block, the seams running diagonally, both to the left and the right of the red embellished seam, seems a little weak in comparison to the center red seam, the lower left with the flower type stitches and the raised seam treatment in the upper right which have much more impact. It may just be the photo and this is just my personal observation. Whether or not to use just one color as opposed to a variety of colors for embellishing depends on ones own taste. I tend to like a variety because it allows you to bring red into green areas and greens into red patches etc. to help balance the block more. The crystal is a nice addition to add a little sparkle (and I love crystals and sparkle :-))
I don't think there is anything wrong with having elements that need a little closer examination; it sort of adds to the "depth" of the piece. Sometimes I don't have enough contrast between the stitching and the background. I think that is why the red seam looks so great in this piece--it stands out.
I think any time you work with a subject that is so recognizably traditional that the stitching and embellishments are expected to be traditional to match.
My recommendation would be to choose one of your dominant fabrics and stitch predominantly with those colors. A Christmas theme can stretch through all shades of green, red, gold, browns & blacks, like that Hoffman pinecone fabric. Push yourself to explore a really wide color range and a different scale of stitches and weights of thread. Add some ribbons over the seams too. This will help give the seam some automatic definition and then the stitching is a second layer of interest.
Unless your stitches are in your face bold, it's difficult to see them against busy fabric. What are you planning to put in the patches? I see that you have quite a few blank spaces that can also be developed. It's a tricky balance getting plain fabrics to play well with printed fabrics. I struggle with it all the time.
You might also pick one or two motifs that you can embroider in each block for some continuity.
I love your raised/detatched bullion stitch! That is so hard to do without it falling apart and your lazy daisies are totally round. I think it was Judy who said hers fall flat, mine do too. What is your technique for those Suz?
I love the snowflake, you're right about the light... do you have more? I would probably add to the 1. They say, do things in odd numbers, 1,3,5,7... of course we know in CQ 1 is not in our vocabulary LOL
I agree with Debra... don't be shy with mixing your color up.Bring some of the lighter to the left and darker to the right and you'll be fine. I know you're holding out on your tatted motifs, LOL. Those will be awesome in some of your patches!
Thank you for your thoughts on my CQ block, everyone. I've been thinking of putting tatted snowflakes on some of those open spaces. My thought was to use the same pattern in different sized white or off-white threads, and sometimes with beads to match, and some crystals. That would add some continuity to the wall hanging, I think. I have a dozen or so crystals to use either as a dangle, or else a center in my tatted snowflakes, and about 8 more of the faceted snowflakes.
I shall, in the meantime, try some thicker threads, as well as some ribbon. Thanks so much!
Jane, for the raised bullion stitch I make the bullion much longer than the length on the material, holding the wraps on the needle while I pull the thread through tautly (sp?). I hope that makes sense. The lazy daisy stitch is shaped and the thread pulled to the size of petal I want, then I hold it in position with my left thumb, and then make the loop to anchor it. As you can see, I still have to practice that better. Hope that answers your question.
Love that little snowflake, even though I've seen enough real ones to last a while, and the clever way you attached it. I too like lots of color rather than a single one. Can't wait to see your tatting!
I like all the individual seam stitching that you have done. In my opinion the variety you have here makes an interesting block, and I would definitely like to see more stitching added to it. I especially like the raised seam binding. It adds a bold quality. It needs more bold treatments in other areas to balance the block.
Thanks Cy! I like that binding, too. I may have to spread it around to some of the other blocks. I haven't made anything larger than individual blocks in CQ, so I'm feeling my way. I appreciate your comments and suggestions.
Hugs from Suz
Thanks Judy. I hope to have the tatting done for next week. Thanks for the support.
Since you live in a cold, snowy place, having a snow theme for your wallhanging makes perfect sense. Maybe you can challenge yourself to see how many ways you can interpret snow or snowflakes. One simple way would be to embroider the snowflakes on that one fabric and then have a few falling off to some other fabrics.
One of your blocks could have a picture/image of a snowy tree--maybe as your focal point.
You could also use a stitch (probably the feather) for an embroidered pinecone border or a cluster of pinecones.
You could cut little felt or fabric holly leaves & add french knots for a holly cluster in a plain patch.
There's a lot of inspiration to be had from that Hoffman fabric. You could also cut some of the motifs out and stitch them on as broderie perse. I'd do something with the apple, if possible.
It looks like you could easily develop the "nature" Christmas theme with the supplies you have on hand. I have some bird Christmas fabric I can share with you. Just let me know.
Wow! Wonderful ideas, Debra! I'm considering using quite a few. Or maybe all of them!
I had thought of doing the snowflake theme, but your ideas develop it even further. Thank you so much!
No problem! Thinking up ideas is easy -- you have to stitch them! Ha! ha!
I think the stitching size is okay, but it's going to leave some space for motifs to be added. If you leave so much space, it will not appear finished. I'm not one for "encrusting" or overly embellishing, but I think you do need more. I liked Debra's idea of having snowflakes fall off into adjacent blocks, too.
One of the bird fabrics I am sending has some nice large cardinals and blue jays so they would be good as the center of some blocks, if you were so inclined.
Sounds great Debra! I was thinking that myself....imagining a block or several as a central theme with a tree, maybe decorated, and some birds perched on the branches..........brings to mind all sorts of options! Looking forward to it!
Looking at some of the recent feather stitch variations I am reminded of pine boughs--I bet you could stitch some of those pretty easily. I may give it a try too.
I stitched 4 snowflakes last night -- turned out pretty.
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