WIPW - Change of directiion

I quite put myself off my stride when I couldn't find the felt for the appliqued rabbit.  So I have put this one aside to rethink.  I know I could use another fabric for this I just have to convince myself that I will like the result.

So I have moved onto the next panel whilst I think this through.  This one doesn't require as much thought as those that have gone before.  It looked very simple and in fact a bit ordinary but ordinary is sometime what we need to stitch.  I started with back stitching the outline of the flowers.  Then I realised that the green leaves were a bit different.  I decided to embroider them in outline stitch using a single thread and that seemed to work.  I have never used a lot of outline stitch in my work always defaulting to stem stitch for leaves but the more I stitched the more I came to appreciate what a nice stitch this is.  So I used it for the interior of the petals, again using one thread and a different shade of blue for the lines on the inside of the shape.  I am now working on the centre of the flower using a combination of bullion and french knots and enjoying every moment of it.

I think what these simple embroideries are teaching me is that although the illustration is simple, as are some of the stitches, how I approach the use of that stitch is important.  Basic stitches can be just as beautiful as the most complicated and there is always another facit  to be explored in each one.

WIPW

Still working on that simple stitching, that seems to take forever!!..  You know I really hate isolated stitches?  That starting and stopping drives me mad.  Lots of them in this piece.  It is a sweet design but a bit boring to stitch.

The other thing I'm working on is my knitting.  I have the second mitten to finish.

I am also working on my next quilt but as the power keeps being turned off and on by the tradesmen working on the new bathroom I have put this aside until they leave.

WIPW

My knitting projects are progressing nicely.  I still have to make the pom pom for the hat and finish the mittens.

The cardigan is blocked and I have to add the buttons.

I have had these buttons in the button box for a while but I think they suit this cardigan.

I'm not real happy with the cardigan but it will do for my walks around the island and on cold days.

Now onto the next project.  I made sure that I swatched each of the wools before I started and there was quite a difference, even though they are both 8ply and from the same source.

I think the type of fibre plays a big role in how they knit up.  The green yarn has bamboo included in it.

Whilst the other is pure wool.

I will have to be careful knitting the sweater for my husband.

And I am nearly finished the simple embroidery, that was not so simple.

WIPW

I have my quilt now ready for quilting but that is still a while away until it is finished and pretty uninteresting at this point.

I am still working on the bunny, but again, there is still a lot to do on this.

And then I am auditioning some fabric that I want to experiment with.  There was a dog print as well that I think I should go back and purchase.

I got thinking about fabric and how I have to use up what I have but with this lock-down and the shutting of the borders it may be some time before we see anything much that is new.  We may even run out of fabric!! 

Day dreams me thinks or maybe a good excuse to buy more fabric?.

WIPW

Back to working on the embroideries for Quilt No 3.

There is so much more stitching involved than I thought.

As this is a child's quilt I couldn't resist giving her a fluffy tale and I think her name if Florence.

WIPW

 

This is last weeks post but I was ill and had to take to my bed. 

The second Quaker cross stitch is finished.  What I'm not sure about is how I am going to get this to the framer.  It may have to wait until the lock down is lifted but listening to the news that could be some time.

 

I am also working on my first embroidery for Quilt No 3.

And although it is very late in the season, almost Autumn, there is a new clutch of ducks.

As to the unpicking of the heart quilt that continues.  It is soul destroying work.  I thought I would zip through the task on the week end.  How optimistic was I?  Now I have set aside 2 hours every day for the task.  It is slow work.

WIPW

Firstly, I'm still walking!  I had a horror that my body might close down after all that exercise yesterday but no, I walked around the block.  My feet are sore though.

And after that thread arrived I have been stitching.

I can actually see the bottom of the pattern but still a couple of weeks to go yet. 

WIPW

Whilst waiting for the threads to arrive I have returned to embroidering the seams of the patchwork quilt.

And have pulled out some old cross stitch to break things up.

And the knitting is back.  It took me some time to work out just where I was on this pattern.

And I have finished piecing the back of the donation quilt 2.  I also came across some free cross stitch patterns for this time and am considering stitching this one.

You can find the pattern and instructions  at the blackberryrabbit.com

 This is part of the "Be Well Movement".  No rest for the wicked.

WIPW

I am now to the half way point on my Quaker sampler.

I love this central medallion.  I think it could make a lovely embroidery on its own.  I might have to do something about the scale as that stitching over one stitch does hurt my eyes.  

The other thing I have been working on is the next scrape quilt.

I have now got the first 5 rows together and just the bottom 3 to go.  I don't think I have any thing quite right for the borders.  I picked these pieces from the stash.  The bottom piece is for the backing, the other 2 for the binding  and borders, I think.  The pink is a Beatrice Potter print.  The colour is right but I'm not sure about the subject matter.

As I am keeping to the house as much as possible I don't want to buy more fabric and besides, that would defeat the purpose of using what I have, so this might have to do.

WIPW

I am nearly finished quilt No 1 that I am stitching using the on-line classes I am doing with Phillipa Naylor. 

Not quite there so I will show that later in the week.  So the only other thing in progress is the cross stitch.  I am ready to move the work down.  In the next section that lettering come in again.  The perfect recipe for going cross eyed.  It is a lovely piece to stitch.

Every morning I cut my length of stranded cotton, divide the strands between three needles and stitch while I listen to Classic FM music.