Having got about as far as I could on my own with embroidery, I bought two embroidery with the aim of expanding my skills. I picked them out based on a combination of affordability, cuteness, and being-achievable-while-teaching-me-something.
They both came with all the necessary fabric, yarn, needles, and in one case even a hoop. And detailed instructions - an essential for a learner like me.
I started out with the "coffee" kit, mainly because it was explicitly described as an introductory piece. You may have seen some of the "in progress" photos if you follow me on Twitter.
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This taught me some techniques called satin stitch, stem stitch, and french knots. It was surprisingly quick, taking me less than a week of evenings to finish the actual design.
The kit didn't provide enough thread for stitching over the writing, but I thought it would look better that way, so I went out to buy some extra brown. That was when I discovered just how many different shades are available for every colour, even in the one small sewing shop I visited. Quite overwhelming - and since I didn't have the original with me, I had to guess. I think it looks okay, though.
The writing was quite fiddly, and took longer than the main design to complete!
It's now just waiting for me to iron it and frame it.
The second kit is a Hardanger - something I'd never heard of until I saw it on Elizabeth's blog, but which seems to be a generally rather beautiful style, if slightly more structured than I would normally choose.
This kit was always going to be harder because there aren't any lines to fill in - just a pattern, and instructions on how to do a few more types of stitch. This involved a lot of counting stitches and counting the gaps, something I can only do by running the needle along the fabric and feeling the bumps, because I can't see that level of detail. Nevertheless, it all seems to be working out, and I'm absolutely in love with it:
The next part is really scary, because it involves taking scissors to the fabric! I can't attempt that until I buy some better scissors, but I'll be sure to let you know how it goes........
29 comments:
You're so good! This looks amazing!
I love these. Very cool. I used to embroidery. I should get back into it. Thanks for the post.
Mary
P.S. Your mum is very cool! Thanks for recommending her.
those both look great. i couldn't see the details either, so i bought a pair of reading glasses and it worked wonderfully.
I love hardangar embroidery. It always reminds me of church linens. Yours is lovely - I see why it would be scary to cut it.
Am glad ur feeds fine...mine still isnt :-(((
Absolutely amazing embroidery u have here-u have it in ur fingers gurl...i love needle work and the likes too but am always pouring over pots and pans and my studies and put it down to 'no time issue' but where theres a will theres a way right......
My mom makes the most beautiful embroidery too and yeah coffee is to be shared and if its with ur best fren ,then fantastic....
Very nice - you do beautiful work!
Stopping by from Fri Follows - I'm a new follower! Love to have you stop by:
http://dimes2vines.com
How wonderful to have such skills.
Lovely lovely embroidery, and I can understand why you're worried about cutting.
It look so good...you are doing a great job. I used to do this all the time...it was relaxing (or at least took my mind off of every thing else).
You do beautiful work!
Thanks for visiting my blog on my SITS day!
thanks for stopping by my blog and helping make my SITS feature day special! I was lucky enough to have old aunties, a Nana and a mom who embroidered, so I know what a wonderful, enduring and satisfying art is is. I treasure embroidered things made by family members that must be at least 80 years old by now. have fun!
They are beautiful! Seriously, you are good at friggin' EVERYTHING!! ;)
Very nice work. I used to do cross-stitching, but between it killing my eyes and my relationships I gave it up!
That Hardanger design is truly beautiful, and I cannot wait to see it finished!
How do you find embroidering? Is it as much fun as you believed it would be? I find that it's quite relaxing, although I don't spend as much time embroidering as I'd like to... There are so many other things to do!
In regards to the flower... It is coming along, albeit slowly. I have finished eight petals (chapters), which I am reasonably content with, enough to actually move on to the ninth! I work on it as soon as I have a few spare minutes, although my coursework takes priority. But I am making progress, although I started over from the beginning a week or two ago.
It looks fantastic, Rachel!
It's superb. I wish my daughter could see it. She has taken to sewing and knitting recently. Many thanks.
Greetings from London.
these look really nice! well done, and i agree with the filling the rest of the letters on the coffee one.
great blog!!please visit back mine!!
I really need to get back on this. I used to do it all the time!
I'm impressed! I've always thought that you needed to have someone teach you - that the guides would be to complicated without direction. But maybe I could try that...
Lovely, well done:) I still have the cross stitch designs that you did when you were about six!!! xx
I found your great blog from Follow Friday Blog hop. Now following!
http://bloggerchixdesigns.blogspot.com
I admire your patience and skill to embroider, I just don't have that patience.
That looks gorgeous! I love the coffee design, and I agree with you that this particular color looks good for the lettering.
Wow! I am so impressed with your crafty-ness. I used to cross stitch some but gave it up a while ago--you maybe have inspired me to start back! (I am studying Industrial Engineering! Thanks for following!)
I've always wanted to try embroidery. I love the coffee design!
I'm impressed! Well done.
They are lovely :) I do cross-stitch and have never tried embroidery.
you're really good. awesome stuff. i wish i could do such a wonderful job.
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