Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Block 15

Good Afternoon, Ladies!!!

Here is Block 15 of the Midsummer CQ... if it seems like I'm going backwards, it's because I'm embroidering the blocks in the opposite direction of the numbering... or something like that! Anyway, this block is finished and I really like some of the seam treatments that came out of it (as always, click to embiggen).
Block 15
Since these blocks are now all moonlit, I'm trying to make the seam treatments a little softer and I'm putting in more curves. I don't want to go overboard, though, since this is supposed to be very much in the background. I'm going to have to do something about the seam treatment in the upper right hand corner... the stitches should have been along the top of the seam, rather than on the bottom where other seams join it. I'll probably just mirror the existing stitches along the top of the seam... it will look much better. Ah, well... it is a learning process, isn't it?

Here are a couple of closeups of various seam treatments:
Block 15 - Pekinese stitch
This is Pekinese stitch using silk floss and #5 perle cotton. It's rather fiddly to get the loops to lay just right but it really makes a nice seam treatment.

Block 15 - woven chain stitch
Here is a woven chain stitch made with Caron's Watercolours (I think). This was just playing around but it worked!

Block 15 - long-armed feather stitch
I like the different looks that you can get with feather stitch, in this case it is a long-armed feather stitch in a varigated floss. On the right is a laced chain stitch with lazy dazy stitches, made using silk floss and #8 perle cotton.

I'm coming in to the home stretch on the border blocks... I am soooooo ready for some color in my stitching!!! Don't get me wrong, I love the monochromatic work I've been doing, but it sure is getting boring. I will be very glad to venture into the center blocks with lovely greens, teals, pinks, & purples! WooHoo!!

Hope to be back in a few days... work has been keeping me chained up, but hopefully things will die down a bit (just not tooooo much!) I hope everyone's 401K is still alive and kicking, that all companies are solvent, all significant others are employed, and you all have a full tank of gas. ;0)

Take care and I'll talk at you later!

8 comments:

Rissa said...

The next installment is just lovely!

Jane said...

So glad to have stumbled across your blog. This is beautiful. Looking forward to keeping up with progress

Susan Elliott said...

This block looks very rich and elegant. It's beautiful...I want to sprinkle it with toffee colored pearls...ooops, oh yeah, it's not mine..

Threadspider said...

The purity of the colours and the skill of the stitching is enchanting. I know what you mean about adding colour, though. It is nice to go wild with colour after a period of monochrome.

Debra Dixon said...

Your stitching is just some of the most beautiful I have seen in blogland! So even, subtle and elegant.

allie aller said...

This is completely yummers.

Anonymous said...

Oh, yummy yummy. The subtle tones of white with just a hint of color are so lovely.

Anonymous said...

I really like that version of the feather stitch. Your threaded stitches are great, too!