Flower Stitch 4

Today, I would like to share with you another flower stitch tutorial.This stitch is actually based from a mirror/shisha work that I learnt many years ago.Those of you in India must be familiar with the mirror work.I’m planning to teach you the mirror work in one of my future posts.

Divide a 3cm diameter circle into 16.Bring out  the thread at a point about 2/3 OA (2/3 the radius of the circle).Bring down the needle at O, take a small stitch pointing towards B.Wrap the thread under the needle and pull through.

Go down at point B and come up close to the right of the thread (again, 2/3 radius).

Go down at O, take a small stitch pointing towards C and wrap the thread under the needle.

Go down at C and repeat the process.

The flower is beginning to take shape.

For the last stitch, take a small stitch pointing towards A, slide the needle under the first stitch and pull through.

Enter the fabric at A.This is how the flower looks like in the end.In my next post, I’ll show you a variation of this stitch.Hope that everyone will try this easy but beautiful stitch and please do share your work with me.

Goldwork Peacock - Part 5

HAPPY 4^th BLOG ANNIVERSARY

Hi everyone.It  has been quite some time since I last blogged.During summer, I deliberately stayed away from the internet because I had so much of work to do.When I was a bit free, I found out that my PC hardware had crashed, so it had to be repaired.Unlike most bloggers, I don’t post often.That’s why even after 4 years, I haven’t reached the 100^th post.But I’m really happy with the support that I get.I value your precious time, that’s why I publish a post only if I feel it’s necessary.For me, quality is more important than quantity.

I’m glad to say that I’d finished my goldwork peacock project.Today, I would like to share with you the progress of this project.

For the ‘eyes’ of the tail feathers, my choice was stem stitch filling worked with 2 strands of silk thread. 

I went on to embroider the flowers and leaves.The flower petals were worked with check purl, the leaves and stems- smooth purl and stones for the center of the flowers.Here, all the stems are straight which was a mistake – I should have curved them a bit which you will see in the next set of flowers and leaves.

 I’d completed the tail feathers, worked with smooth purl.Each purl piece had to be measured,cut, stitched, shaped and glued to the fabric.You can say it’s back-breaking work!

As you can see here, the stems were stitched, curved and glued to the fabric.I feel they’re better than the previous ones.

Mirror work 7

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

Today, I would like to share with you another mirror/shisha work tutorial – needlewoven picot mirror work.

This mirrorwork is my own creation.You are not allowed to copy the tutorial and produce it as your own whether on print or electronic media, on your blog or youtube channels.You are allowed to show the finished work but please link back to this page for the tutorial.

I’m using A 1.25cm diameter mirror.Mark the points for the tip and base of each petal.Fix the mirror onto the fabric with 4 straight and 4 diagonal stitches.Position the pins as shown for the petals.Bring up the needle to the right of the base of the first petal.

Bring the needle under and over the foundation stitches, work a back stitch, wrap the thread under the needle and pull through.This is actually the blanket/buttonhole stitch.Go back under the foundation stitches and continue in the same manner.

You will need 5 blanket stitches at the base of each petal.At the end of the 5^th stitch,wrap the thread under the pin and bring it down at the beginning point.Bring up the needle in the center (through the 3^rd blanket stitch).

Wrap this thread under the pin and start weaving over and under from tip to base.

You should end your weaving at the right side of the petal.Insert the needle into the fabric and bring it up through the last blanket stitch.Take the needle under the foundation stitches and continue as before for the second petal.

Remove all the pins.You can leave it like that or hold the petals down onto the fabric with a small stitch at the tip of each petal.