WIPs

Over 80 blocks now complete so just over half done for a finished size of 40" x 40".  However, I need a finished size of 50" x 52" so an extra 80 or 90 blocks by my reckoning.  I could use a border (or two) to speed things up but not sure if it would look quite right.  I really could do with a large pin board to put these up and see how the ratio of shades and tones is working out .  Never mind!  Thankyou for the comments and thoughts everyone.  On the iron .......... think I will stick with what I've got for now and just remember to switch it off regularly.

This weeks contribution to the "Rainbow" .............. some detatched chain stitch.  The hand stitching is such a struggle.  I'm not entirely happy with it and the rhythm of the needle dancing in and out of the fabric is lost now that I'm having to use a magnifying glass.  This is so disappointing and I'm really not sure how to progress from here ..........

The beginnings of a bag being stitched at 1am this morning - something to satisfy my rainbow thing of the moment?  I don't think I even like it now 

What to do?  Join a postcard challenge!  I am really looking forward to thinking these out and hope to work on one tomorrow.
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"Anemone"

It's finished and I love it!

This is me or at least I think it is - texture, dimension, a favourite colour combination and the sea. Now to try get on with some of the more mundane things in life, time management is not my forte, drizzle stitch is much more exciting!

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I've been using a laptop of late so find it difficult to see if the colours are accurate but I think this one is ok.

Seam Treatments

All the seams now have the beginnings of some stitch on them. I've not used silk velvet in any type of crazy patchwork/quilting before and probably wouldn't do so again if I remember (it would appear to have a mind of it's own) and find something else for contrast texture instead!

Elegant - yes the jacket pattern is Gina but I'm not sure "I do" elegant these days lol! I was aiming for the look of the brown view so will have to rethink fabrics having bought some silk over the net which turns out to be totally the wrong colours from what I wanted!

More Cutting Up .........

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Margaret was asking what camera I use - nothing fancy an Olympus FE-115 5.0 megapixel. Some days the pictures are brilliant whilst other times not so good. I suspect it may be something to do with the lighting (todays photos were taken outside and it is totally overcast) and it might help if I looked into using something other than the automatic mode at times!

Cutting Things Up!

Although it was fun stitching "Sea of Stitches", I never was that happy with the finished article. Having no design plan and stitching whatever wherever didn't really work for me this time. I actually liked most of it but the composition just wasn't right to be of use for anything so I've started to cut it up!

He asked "Are you happy now?", I said "yes" and he replied "How long for?" ............... I think he knows me! I'm happier than I was so I think that's progress!

UFO

Whilst sorting out some fabric for my next project I came across this unfinished object earlier today. Since it has lain stuffed in a bag for a year (or two!), I thought blogging about it might give me some inspiration for the next stage.

Why did it get abandoned? A design from one of my own photographs, it was originally going to be paint over stitch hence the rather plain colours of the shells but then I got all precious over the silk velvet and the modelled limpets looked much larger when covered with stitch so until inspiration strikes again ..............

The Changes

Thinking it looked a bit top heavy, I've changed it .................

Still not entirely happy with it and not sure if it's an improvement or not but then I wouldn't be me if I were!

Sea of Stitches

Part way through the month I realised that this was going to take me a while (longer than I anticipated anyway) so I gave myself a deadline for the end of the month and have been stitching like mad these last couple of days to get it finished. Well I think it's finished - I could add more but where does one stop?

Is it a crazy quilt? I'm not sure - it doesn't much resemble most of those that I've seen. Would a "Sampler of Stitches" on a patchwork ground be more apt? It was going to be a cushion but that's out the window now - it wouldn't stand up well to the laundering it would need in our house!

edit - oh why do my paragraphs disappear every time I post this? (sigh)

Nearly There .............

Drizzle Stitch with beads. Only one more seam to treat + a few beads etc. here and there and I hope it's finished.

Microwave Dyeing

It's ages since I did any dyeing in the microwave so following the quick, easy & no mess method here was a very welcome and rewarding break from stitching!

Algerian Eye stitch thus another patch completed.

First Patch Finished

One patch of the 10 is (I think) finished - the top left hand corner. More Up and Down Buttonhole on the seam with some beading and more line stitches (at the bottom of pic from left to right) - Chain, Pearl (Reverse Palestrina), Backstitched Chain, Backstitch (2), Threaded Backstitch, more Chain & Backstitch.

This blog is getting a bit monotonous but I shall continue to post as I stitch for the time being in order to cross reference from the list of stitches.

Needlewoven Picots

Another stitch to cross off the list .............

Some New Stitches

The stitches as they appear from left to right at the top, Back Stitch, Basque Knot, Coral, Portuguese Stem, Palestrina, Twisted Chain and Stem.

I don't remember having used the Palestrina and Basque Knot stitches before (if I have it must have been a long time ago) so that was interesting - rather similar to Raised Chain Band.

Couching

Having decided on the motif (spiked shell), stitch (couching) and thread it was a case of where best to site hence the removal of two clusters of detatched chain. From what I have read, the sequential working of crazy quilting is usually to treat the seams and them embellish - I don't think that is necessarily my ideal way of working!

Lots of Stitches Today

Working my way through the "Stitch Along" stitches is rather slow so I've made an effort to cross off quite a few in one day. The stitches from left to right, Detatched Wheatear, Fly, Chained Fly, Knotted Fly, Wheatear, Threaded Fly, Feather, Twisted Fly and Arrowhead.

I couldn't find instructions for the Chained Fly and Knotted Fly on Sharon's list so I have stitched what seemed most logical to me ie. anchored with a chain and anchored with a knot.

Participating in the Stitch Along is very much a personal challenge to a) keep focused on textiles ie. do something every day where possible and b) blog more - I'm really pleased that I've managed to keep up to date with both so far.

Shisha

Shisha mirrors attached with Cretan and Buttonhole stitches + a few bullion knots. Mental note to self not to cover the whole thing with Shisha!

Something new learnt today - the photo was taken at dusk with flash and it shows the sparkle in the sheer nylon fabric overlay nicely!



For Jo, a pic taken before I decided to add another Shisha and the little Bullions.

Thankyou for all your lovely and encouraging comments everyone - they are very much appreciated!

Seahorse

Not much new here - some more Colonial knots and Satin Stitch plus a little bit of Padded Satin Stitch for the eye (mostly hidden by the bead) and some French Knots for the coronet (I just looked up what the sticky out bit on top of the head is called)!

I had got my Shisha mirrors out ready to stitch some next but I hadn't thought about putting one in the middle of the starfish - thanks for the idea Gina! I have some teeny weeny ones - will just have to see if I can manage to stitch one in the centre.

The lace wouldn't colour with transfer paints so I presume it was acrylic or something and I was never really happy with the colours achieved with fabric paints so it's gone. Another task now - cover that seam!

Raised Chain Band

Raised Chain Band in progress ............... not sure what to do with the centre parts yet.

Lump Fish

Colonial Knots for the body, Satin Stitch fins and Bullion Knots for the mouth - I'm really pleased with the fish.

Detatched Chain Stitches

Getting just a little lost now. Some more Cretan and I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the Detatched Chain stitches so I think it's time to do something different next .............. a motif.