Between Projects

I hope you had a lovely Easter break - I am not quite where the past week went?


We have had the most beautiful autumn and I have spent quite a bit of time scratching around in the garden. It is a funny time of year, it is cooling down but it is still ever so dry. I think I have lost more plants in autumn than in summer because I forget I still need to water.
I did quite a bit of writing and drawing for projects and patterns, and also managed to pick up my knitting needles. I haven't knitted much in years and it was really nice to get into the clickety-clack of the needles again. To me knitting is a little like starting a good book, once I pick it up I find it hard to put it down. I managed to finish a pair of socks (love knitted socks in winter) and have started a long jumper / vest kind of thing. It is based on this pattern but I am using wool and partially changing it as I go - time will tell...


I also picked up my long time 'in-between' project. This one has been on the go for years (literally) - picking it up every time I am 'in between' other projects. At one point is was halfway finished but in much darker and more muted tones. I didn't like it so I pulled it out and started again.
One thing I have become really, really good at over the years is 'reverse stitching'. I no longer hesitate in ripping stitches out and starting again. Embroidery simply takes too long and involves too much effort to end up with something you are not happy with.


I love my new colours and am really enjoying working on it again. Who knows, I might even finish it this time. It is funny when you don't work from an existing pattern - some times choosing stitches is easy and at other times it can take me forever to find just the right stitch for what I am working on.


I had no idea how to work the wing feathers. I didn't want to fill them all together, but the stitches that first came to mind - fly stitch and feather stitch, didn't quite seem right either. Somehow I decided to give wheat-ear stitch a try - not at all sure where the idea came from - but I am really, really glad I did. Do you like them?
It is one of those stitches you look at and wonder how and where you would ever use it but it
is such a great stitch. It is really quite easy and fun to work and the result is this amazing textured / patterned line of stitches. I haven't put a stitch how-to up for a while, so perhaps this is a good one for tomorrow...?

Happy Stitching,
Anna x

Comments

  1. Lovely in-between project, Anna! Somehow the wheat-ear stitch looks more 'feathery' than I imagine the other attempts looked - but how is that I wonder? Such similar stitches, yet the tiniest of differences changes the look entirely...that is what fascinates me with embroidery! I look forward to seeing more! Chrissie x

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  2. I love the colours in the tail feathers, and the wheatear stitch is an excellent choice for the wings. I always have difficulty selecting stitches for hand embroidery which is probably why I opt for the free-motion machine kind most of the time!

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  3. Yes, please do show the wheat-ear stitch instructions...it's lovely!

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  4. What a gorgeous bird. The tail plumage is stunning - and wheatear stitch just right for the wings. Funny. I have often thought it looks an interesting stitch but have never used it. Maybe...

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  5. Like the others Wheatear Stitch is not a 'go to' stitch for me but this seems to be the perfect place for it. As you say it gives a lot more texture than fly or feather stitch. Interesting ... mmmm, will definitely try this one. Thanks once again for sharing.

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  6. Love the wings, that bird is beautiful. And I agree with you about knitting, I always think: just one row more before I put it down, just one more row... :)

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