Chip, chip...

... chipping away at it.

I may not have managed a lobe a day, but the piece is coming along. Filling the first centre with chipping was rather fun and relaxing after all the pesky ends.

For those who are not familiar with goldwork, 'chipping' is a technique where you cut purl threads (hollow, springy threads), usually check purl because the rough surface plays so beautifully with the light, into tiny pieces - each roughly as long as the thread is wide. Then you stitch the pieces onto the fabric one by one, each at a different angle until the area is filled. 

I really get a bit of a buzz from stitching this puzzle and fitting them all in tightly. The end result is a textured filling that contrasts beautifully with the smooth areas of laid threads.

 

Next another lobe covered with laid work. For this one I used a medium weight imitation Jap thread and couched in a traditional brick pattern. 

The shades of thread used for the couching stitches is slightly different in each row but it doesn't really show as well as I had hoped for. Am I about to unpick it? I don't think so!
From this point on, the idea is to repeat the same fillings. I think that if each was different the overall look of the piece could very easily become messy and busy.

After the brick couching came a second padded satin stitch lobe, followed by more chipping. The laid thread with the stripes of couching on the next lobe is done and all left to do on that one is the outline.

I was not going to reveal the whole piece until it was finished, but I can't wait. When you just see it bit by bit the patterns all look so much the same. It is not until you look at it as a whole that the effect of the repetition of patterns make sense. 11 down - only 4 to go...

Best stitches,

Anna x