Smooth purl & check purl

A few weeks ago, I’d written a post on smooth purl.Today, I would like to give more details on that.Smooth purl is widely used in goldwork embroidery.In Indian goldwork embroidery, it’s called zardosi thread and can be seen on sarees and dresses.The purl is actually a spring-like metal that needed to be cut into small pieces and then sewn onto fabric.Some even stick it with glue.Great care must be taken when handling this purl because it can become damaged easily.

The smooth purl normally comes in small packets like these.Each packet costs me Rs 2.50 (US 5cents?).

This is the length in each packet.This piece is quite perfect but most of it are damaged.When cutting, you’ll have to discard the damaged parts.

It’s actually like a tube and you can insert a needle and thread into it.

When pulled, the purl will never go back to its original length.

This is another type of purl – the check purl.

Close-up of check purl.

I’d tried a few flower designs out of this purl which I would like to show in my coming posts.

A sneak peek into my latest project which uses purl.It’s still in it’s early stage.Not having any experience with purls before, God knows how it will look like or whether I’ll be able to complete it.Just wait and see.

Barbara's peacock

Shown below is the completed work of my embroidered peacock project.To download this free peacock pattern, please click here.

Here are the steps that I took to embroider this peacock :

Step 1 – Head and body

Step 2 – Wings

Step 3 – Flowers and leaves

Step 4 – Peacock’s tail

Chikan Embroidery - Part 1

I was one of the lucky few who managed to register for Anita’s first Chikan embroidery SAL.I found Anita’s blog when she commented on mine.At that time, she was still new to blogging.I feel that’s the power of commenting – it will bring readers to your blog.I love to have people come and commenting on my blog and you’re mostly welcome to ‘advertise’ your blog while doing so.Your support is one factor that keeps me going and something which I value the most.

I’m quite sure most of you must have completed Anita’s class.As for me, I lag far behind because of lack of time.At the time of writing this post, I’d just finished lesson 5.Today, I would like to show you my work after completing the first lesson, which was double back stitch or even known as shadow stitch.

The biggest problem I faced was to trace the design.I don’t have a printer so I had to place a clear plastic sheet on my PC monitor and trace it.The difference wasn’t so obvious when I traced it but realized something was wrong when started to embroider.Most of the time, I’d to redraw certain patterns before embroidering.

This is one embroidery that I enjoy working.In Chikan embroidery, everything has to be perfect or else it will show on your work.We need to practice, practice and more practice and I sure need more of that.In my opinion, this embroidery makes us more disciplined.No wonder, Anita’s works are so perfect that you could hardly find any flaws.Hats off to you Anita and thanks for this wonderful lesson.

Barbara's peacock - final part

Hi everyone.I’m back!Today, I would like to show you the final part of my peacock embroidery.Before that, to all of you, peacock lovers, there’s an article on peacocks and embroidered peacocks on CQ mag online.Please click here for more details.Oooh, I just love the gorgeous peacock feather wedding gown!For tonnes of ideas to embroider peacocks, please click here.

For the tail, I’d decided to embroider the ‘eyes’ first.This was done in satin stitch with 2 strands of silk thread.

Then, I embellished each ‘eye’ with a sequin.The rest of the feathers were fly stitched, also with silk thread.

This is the completed peacock tail.Want to see how the peacock looks like?You’ll have to wait for a while.Till then, have a wonderful day and happy stitching!

To view completed project, please click here.

Goldwork wheatear stitch

For the past few weeks, I’d been experimenting with smooth purl which is normally used in goldwork embroidery.Since embroidery materials are really hard to find in my small town, it came as a surprise when I found this purl.Unfortunately, only a small amount was available.When Sharon revealed this week’s TAST challenge, the wheatear stitch, I thought I had nothing interesting to show.But then, I decided to experiment this beautiful stitch with my precious smooth gold purl.

This is one example.Care should be taken when working with purls.Once a purl’s pulled or stretched, it will never go back to its original length.It should be cut with a pair of very sharp scissors.I made a knot at the back of the fabric after each wheatear stitch.

This is a combination of gold purl and silk thread.You can even try another method – work the loops with thread and the straight stitches with gold purls.

 

And a goldwork wheatear stitch flower.

Barbara's peacock - Part 3

After embroidering the wing, I couldn’t decide whether to embroider the tail of the peacock or the flowers.Since the tail will take longer to stitch, I thought it would be better to start work on the flowers and leaves.

I made the flowers and leaves using this technique.Since they’re so tiny, only 1 strand of pearl cotton no:8 was needed.

Although I followed the pattern and embroidered 6 petals for most of the flowers, I feel 5 petals should be enough (6 petals look so crowded for this technique).
 

To view completed project, please click here.

Barbara's peacock - Part 2

Today,  I’ll show you how I’m going to embroider the peacock’s wing.

The lowest part of the wing should be dark blue but since I don’t have that shade of blue, I’d used the same thread that I’d used for the body.For the rest of the wing, my choice was buttonhole-knot method.I made one straight stitch and worked buttonhole knots on it.This was done with 3 strands of stranded cotton.

Alternate between white and black.

One row completed.

And, the remaining rows.

Whenever I admire a peacock’s beauty, I used to wonder – “Why did God decide to create these black and white feathers?”I mean, they’re dull looking, boring and not shiny like the rest of the feathers.I even had to think twice before embroidering these.I guess, maybe it’s one way of God telling us – ‘Hey, nobody’s perfect!’

 To view completed project, please click here.