Hello again! I have been off enjoying a wonderful summer holiday in Budapest, Vienna and Prague. After coming back last weekend, I have finally been able to spend a bit of time relaxing and getting back into my stitching. Whilst out walking the dog today, I was thinking that it has probably been a good couple of months since I have stitched with any amount of regularity, and I have to say, I have really enjoyed the process of stitching again this weekend!
I have been getting back into the swing of things by working on the purple pansy by Tanja Berlin. I was hoping to have the leaves all finished off tonight, but after yet again unpicking half of one leaf, that is looking a little unlikely! I just can’t quite get the stitch direction right, and when I think I have that right, I don’t like second colour, as I’m not quite following the rules of long and short stitch. This is what getting back into the swing of things is about I suppose!
I’m reasonably happy with my attempts on the right hand leaf. Still some improvement to be made, but I’m hoping that when I add in the vein lines, some of these things will ‘correct’ themselves. I will wait and see, but I’m not ready to pull it out just yet.
The left leaf. What can I say other than I’m banking on third time lucky? As I was pulling out the stitching again, I decided that I will do things a bit out of order for my head, and will add in the second colour on the bottom half of the leaf and see if that helps. It can’t hurt anyway! I’m also going to adopt a technique I learnt at the RSN in the crewel work day class I did, and start in the middle of the leaf, and work ‘up’, before working the lower half. I’m hoping this will help with the consistency of the stitch direction, which is the main problem I’m having at the moment. I am optimistic about this third attempt!
Just a quick update today – I should be able to get back into both regular stitching and updating you now!
The post Sunday stitches – Back to stitching at last! first appeared on Hillview Embroidery.
16 thoughts on “Sunday stitches – Back to stitching at last!”
Very pretty, I love the shading on the leaves.
Thank you! I’m getting there with it and am enjoying the learning process
Long and short stitch can be tricky, but I do think you are getting the hang of it!
Thanks! I don’t think having such a long break from it helped. Despite the troubles I am enjoying it ?
I feel your third attempt is wonderful. At times it does take a little tie to get back into it.
Keep up the good work.
Kathleen Mary
Thanks Kathleen Mary ? I’m hopeful ? it does take some time to get back into the swing of things sometimes!
Welcome back, I’ve missed not seeing what you’re getting up to!
I think you are doing a great job of the leaves, but if you are like me, you will have an ‘idea’ of what you want them to look like, and sometimes it’s very difficult, or even impossible to achieve that ‘idea’. They are looking really good and I cannot wait to see the finished project.
Thanks Ann! I couldn’t believe it had been a whole month since I had posted anything! You are absolutely spot on about having an ‘idea’ of what something is going to look like before attempting anything – we certainly don’t make life easy for ourselves do we?!
Those leaves look beautiful to me. Then again, I am not very adept at embroidery. I look forward to watching this flower emerge.
Thanks Cathie! Let’s hope they grow nicely now
Your leaves are amazing the shading is just right too.
Thanks Deborah. I’m doing my best at the shading – a little more work required!
The leaves are very pretty. My long and short stitches don’t look so neat.
Thank you! I’m having doubts about it all at the moment but hopefully tonight I can make some good progress
Looks lovely catherine, I need to practise my shading
Thanks Maura. It’s tricky but rewarding. I’m about to start it at the RSN which is a tad intimidating!