Module Two - Chapter Four

Hi there, here I am again two months later after the last chapter. It does seem to take about 2 months for me to get through a chapter, so I'm sure I'm getting behind. I know we all lead busy lives but it is difficult to sit down and spend a whole morning on something. A lot of bunting has been sewn since the last chapter not to mention creating a group of scarecrows for the village Jubilee celebrations last weekend. The theme was a musical 'icon' from the past 60 years so we thought that 'The Jam' would be a great subject as an offering from our WI so here they are in all there glory.  We had a great deal of fun making these and I think they are hilarious!  As they were placed on the main road through the village I'm surprised we didn't have any car accidents.  Many apologies to them anyway and those of a nervous disposition.   

So enough of them and on with the serious stuff.  Just want to say how much I have enjoyed this chapter but am realising just how much sewing is required and I'm sure it will only get more intense. 

Cable Stitch with Presser Foot on using a variety of threads stitches and fabric; calico, felt and transfer painted fabric.
Page 58 of Module 2

Cable Stitch with presser foot on using a variety of threads, fabrics and stitches

Cable Stitch - Automatic Patterns

Page 60 of Module 2

In the first line of stitching I used a red Perle cotton in the bobbin with a green thread in the needle.

The second line was stitched with 2 different colours of Madeira Lana wool wound onto the bobbin.  I really like this effect.

The third line used the above colours and then a different combination of colours stitched over the top.

In the fourth line I used the same automatic pattern as above but reduced the width and length.  Halfway through the top thread broke and when I restarted I found I was stitching on the right side of the fabric instead of the back but the gold thread showing doesn't matter, it just adds something else.

The fifth line shows the same pattern but reduced further.

The sixth and seventh lines are different automatic patterns using the same double threaded Lana wool.

Experimental cable stitch using free embroidery
Page 60 f Module 2

Cable Stitch with free embroidery

Strips of fabric bondawebbed to a background
Page 61 of Module 2

This was a piece of purple felt with strips of purple quilting cotton bondawebbed to it, then cable stitched using a variety of thread and colours.  Great Fun.

First piece of bondaweb and cable stitching

This was such fun to do.  I used bondaweb to attach some silk scrim and leaf decorations to the calico.  I also used a bit of sparkle in the circles.

Free embroidery cable stitch using strips of bondaweb fabric on calico

Exercise Stitching Cable Stitch in a Grid using different thicker threads to see the effect
Page 62 of Module 2
This was very enjoyable and gave me lots of practise at winding bobbins with thicker thread and to see completely different outcomes according to thickness of thread used.  You will see from the first example how easy it is to completely go wrong by sewing the entire piece from the front and not the back.  However I have ended up with a nicely stitched grid of whips stitch and feather stitch!

Stitching Grid using fine thread - but not cable stitch!

Stitching Grid using medium thickness of thread

Samples 4 & 5 of Grid experiments using very thick thread

Cable Stitching a Design Photo and Drawing

Page 63 of Module 2

Cable Stitching a Design

Page 64 of Module 2

I have had better success with transfer paints, not sure why.  Anyway I had this small piece of lovely green transfer painted fabric and thought this would look good with the gold/sandy colouring of the seed head.  I traced the design from my drawing on to Stitch and Tear and cable stitched the outline of the image.  I then cable stitched all the other areas using the already stitched outline as a guide.  So I was actually working on the back of the fabric throughout.  Goodness knows how this was going to turn out.  I was absolutely delighted with the result even though I got some of the stabiliser caught up around the front of the work and had to cut it out carefully.  I enjoyed using different thickness of thread and colour matches to try to get the papery feel of the seed head. 

Cable Stitching the Design

Cable Stitching the Background of a Design

Page 65 of Module 2

I chose purple, green, orange and red to begin with and then thought the colours a bit boring, so I changed to a pale blue/grey colour which reminded me of the concentric circles of a smooth pebble.  I added a bit of glitz and then thought of a star fish shape to add to the middle.  I think all the colours work well and complement the colour of the fabric.

Using the stitches from Chapter Three and Chapter Four

Page 66 of Module 2

Using all the stitches from Chapter 3 and 4 - drawing for sewing the first piece of stitching

Using the stitches from Chapter 3 and 4 (first piece)

I spent a long time thinking about the colours to use.  Should I keep them true or experiment.  I decided to stay true to the photograph as the orange pink and purple colours added vibrancy to the rather dull background.

I decided to outline the shape of the fuchsia in cable stitch so I drew the design onto Stitch and Tear so as to stitch the outline from the back when I was ready.

The main part of the flower was filled with layers of granite stitch, first in red and then in purple.  The central part of the flower was filled with layers of granite stitch in purple and crimson.  I wanted to achieve a solid fill of colour.  The upper part of the flower was stitched in feather stitch with a layer of whip stitch in purple.  The whip stitch is hard to see and is quite delicate.  If I had used cable stitch instead of whip stitch I think this would have been too heavy.  I really like the delicacy of the purple whip stitch on top of the granite stitch.  Although in the photo it is much more defined.

I was quite pleased with the work so far, whilst the colours created a solid effect it still had the delicate feel of a flower.  I wish I had scanned the work before I outlined the image in cable stitch. I used this in order to fulfil the criteria of this section of the chapter but I don’t think it adds anything to the embroidery.  The reason for this is that the thread I used is too thick.  I was seduced by the colour and the feel of the silk and wanted to use it for something but I was in two minds about using it.

I’m not sure why I chose to stitch the stem and left side of the upper flower in orange other than I thought there was too much purple.  It’s OK but should have been blended into the purple.  The stem is also cable stitched.

The colour chosen for the dangly bits is a mistake.  The tone of colour is wrong and I should have been more careful in my colour selection.  At least fuchsias do have an amazing array of contrasting colours.

The vermicelli stitch used in the background did not go very well the main reasons being I forgot to add a more substantial stabiliser and as a result there were tension and puckering issues.  I also find vermicelli stitch a ‘self conscious’ stitch by that I mean that I feel very self conscious trying to fill a large space with nice curvy curves.  I did try to just think of one small area at a time but not very successfully.  Another puzzle is why does one’s brain say stop but the message takes a few seconds longer for one’s foot to come of the foot control!

Using Stitches - A Second Piece

Page 69 of Module 2

Second Piece of Stitching

This final piece I like very much.  Again I spent a long time thinking about the colour scheme.  I wanted to make it less bright and use more subtle colours.  I more of less followed a similar pattern of stitches as the example in the chapter demonstrates.

I used granite stitch in purple and a lovely yellowy green in vermicelli stitch to enhance the background.  Both fuchsias were outlined in cable stitch using a fine wool thread.  I wish I had used something as fine as this for the previous piece.  The main bulk of the flower heads were filled with feather stitch using a lovely dark green top thread and gold/yellow in the bobbin.  I used two layers of feather stitch for this.  I didn't want too solid a feel but one layer of stitching wasn't quite enough.

Both stems and upper flowers were stitched in whip stitch which turned into feather and moss stitch purely because of tension issues.  I especially like the subtle colour scheme which gives a lovely rich brocade feel.  I remembered to use a more substantial stabiliser which gave a more satisfactory result.  I prefer this piece to the previous one but I wish I had used more purple granite stitch over the stem and upper parts of the flowers just to add a little more balance.