What's everyone doing?
I am planning to go to a swim meet over the weekend with dd and another family. Will take a surface project with me - my dd picked a rather cool looking tree for me. I'm debating if I should go get some canvas-y type material to make her a new drawstring backpack bag - it would look good on that, but don't know if I want to sew the bag. Anyone have an easy pattern for one?
Linda
buy a bag, stitch a piece that would fit, and then use fusible something to attach the stitching to the bag.
LOL - Just what I thought!
I'm procrastinating and not doing the brazilian embroidery projects that I resolved to do. I will never enjoy cross stitching but I'm drawn to canvas work with fancy stitches, even though I'm not good at it. I've been struggling with a freebie found on the Caron Collection. It might have been better if I had the canvas count called for but I was bored the other day after a storm and decided to use 24 count Congress cloth. When I've done something wrong, the stitches don't nest against each other and because I'm not confident in my ability to translate the graph to the ground, I'm using Needle Necessities overdyes and whatever else I come across in my stash instead of the recommended threads.
Here's a link to the piece:
I'm making a doll for my imminent DSGD (Dear Step Grand Daughter). It's about fifteen inches tall and has an embroidered face. Since the DSGD will be called Dorothy, I'm agonising over whether to make her a Dorothy (blue gingham, long plaits, Toto-in-a-basket and ruby slippers) or just a little girl. I'm thinking I could do the Wizard of Oz quartet for later birthdays.
The only problem is I bet she's going to get enough of that. . . how about Dotty instead?
Linda
Doing this piece on 24 ct may be tough - be careful with the thread plies - probably for most, 2 plies. You'll have to try, 4 plies of Waterlilies is very nice coverage, full, on 18 ct when you basketweave (won't show ridges of canvas behind). So, likely 2 of Threadworx cotton will work, or you could try - if you have - 1 of Perle 8, or Impressions or Wildflowers (both Caron). Also, you may want to open the hole in the center on the stitches which have you going down multiple times - just open it a bit with a 24 needle - because one you start laying all those threads in it can get harder to see. Personally, for the stitching, I'd use a 26 needle, and 2 plies
-but, then again, I'd play as I was doing it.
I'm sure it will be fine. Just enjoy - and don't try doing this in hand - these stitches will lay better on the congress cloth if you do it on a frame.I'm absolutely sure you'll end up with some lovely fun little stitch sampler. Looking forward to the pic of the finished piece!
Ellice
I think this piece would be totally cute as a bag decoration! I've been pondering all afternoon how I would go about making it big enough and how I'd finish it off. I'm thinking diagonal over the shoulder black fabric strap and backing. Thanks for the link!
Jinx
Why not just keep adding successive borders in the stitches already used on the piece? Those 'leaf stitches' are pretty spectacular and I could imagine them surrounding the piece in a row or in groups of two or three. Or, you could work up a bargello pattern and flame-stitch all around to a depth that pleases you. Well-chosen colours would look spectacular on the black. Another idea might be to sew the finished piece onto a toning printed fabric that would then be attached to the bag. In that way, the featured piece would be central, but the printed fabric would add to its size and highlight its colours.
HTH, ;-D
LOL! I hear what you're saying. D'you mean make a *doll* called 'Dotty' or call the *kid* 'Dotty', short for 'Dorothy'. (I've been calling her 'Little Dorrit' and her mother is getting quite humid about that).
You're right; it would've been easier to follow the design on the suggested canvas count. I cut a larger than necessary piece of Congress cloth and didn't bother to find the center. I started in the upper right and didn't do any math to 'compensate' the sizes of each element. I quickly saw that my interpretation was quite diffferent than the original due to my less than perfect spacing and threads/colors used.
"Sampler" struck a chord and gave me permission to play ;-) I pulled out several books to find stitches to include. The elements are all small -- I totally mess up if I have to go over more than 4 or 5 threads, especially on diagonals.
Most likely, I won't frame the results but will use it to embellish a spring/summer purse but I reserve the right to change my mind.
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