Simple stitches

After a couple of really busy weeks writing instructions, drawing and working on patterns (not only my own but also those for the next issue of Inspirations magazine) I am back to doing what I love most - stitching! Remember this one...?

  

Since then I added a border to the Festival Flower and once Shelly Penko's fabulous fabric arrived from Spoonflower I made the piece into a small lined pouch that buttons on the back - perfect size for a tablet. 

 

Originally the piece was designed as a teaching project for the classes I have been invited to teach at Pak-ka-paohouse studio in Bangkok and Chang Mai in September (Soooo super, very excited!) - but on second thought, wool is really not the greatest fibre when it comes to humidity. 

Simply restitching the original design in cotton wouldn't work - the dimensions are all wrong and I know it would look terribly - so it was back to the drawing board. After letting the thoughts of change brew at the back of my mind for a week or so this is what emerged one late evening on a piece of scrap paper...

I really enjoyed stitching with these bright and cheerful colours and was determined too keep the selection of stitches similar to those of the crewel work version. 

I haven't worked in stranded cotton for some time but it is coming along well and I think it will look quite sweet when it is finished.

This piece is designed as an introduction to surface embroidery with a twist of Jacobean crewel work. It may look intricate but only uses six different and very basic surface embroidery stitches: Blanket stitch, Chain stitch, Detached chain (lazy daisy), Fly stitch, French knot, Stem stitch plus a basic couched trellis for that distinct Jacobean crewel work look.
I am really enjoying stitching it and hope the students will as well - beats doing a row by row sampler wouldn't you agree?

With only the flowers left to do, I am itching to get back to it.
Happy stitching,
Anna