Getting started

I have made a good start on my new crewel work design and just quickly wanted to share a snippet of it with you.

I started with the main 'trunk'. Partly because it was the one element that I knew exactly how I wanted to embroidery, but also because it is the most centered element and I like to try and stitch from the center outwards.

The trunk is stitched in very close rows of stem stitch. I know, I have said it before, but I just adore the way stem stitch almost looks woven when used as a filling stitch and you can achieve the most incredible shading.

Next was the large scrolling stems on each side. For those, I first stitched a line of ordinary chain stitch. It looked ok, but I felt it needed a little more texture, so I added back stitch over the top in a slightly lighter shade.

It gives the chain stitch a little more body. I still feel the scrolls need 'something', but I am not sure what, so am leaving them for now.

I then moved on to the sepals. As always when I work the colours and textures start very rough feeling  of what I am aiming for. These shapes are both pointy and some quite curved, I knew, I had to choose stitches and textured that would support and perhaps even accentuate these qualities. 

I wanted the outlines of the shapes to look 'firm' if that makes sense, so again opted for the trusty stem stitch. I have used two shades of grey and a pale blue-grey. As you can  see in the (slightly fuzzy, sorry) picture below, working out the order of colours and how many rows of each, happened progressively. 

I then stitched the center veins in coral stitch with the darkest of grey. Both the colour and texture of the stitches are a nice contrast to the outer edges and I think the knots are quite decorative in their own right.

So this is where I am at, and I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying stitching this piece.

The colour palette is a little different to what I have been working with lately; steel blue-grey is the primary colour (I think) with golden/brass yellow accents and grey-green used to tie it all together.

The inspiration for this colour scheme was borne some time ago during a workshop where I asked participants to stitch one of my designs but using their own colour sheme. A number of the ladies were using grey. It is not a colour I naturally gravitate to, but I loved the contemporary and classy twist it added to the project, so I am looking forward to giving it a go. 

Next up, I think, are the two large leaves...

Have a lovely weekend.

Stay safe and keep stitching,

Anna X