Patterns of the Orient - Still a WIP

Another area done but more to go.  Some day this project will be finished and I'll be able to work on the umpteen other things in my stash. 

Currently working in the lower right hand quadrant on the area with red topped with blue and gold trellis.  Tony said the tie downs were trickier than they look.  He was right!  But, I found a way to do them that makes it work.

Patterns of the Orient

This piece gets more and more beautiful with each completed area.

I finished all but the goldwork touches on the upper lefthand border.  It's a very pretty pattern based on a vase pattern used on Chinese sleeve bands.

Now working on the lower righthand border, a pattern from a Korean blouse.  I'm on step 10 of the 12 step process!!!

Diagonal Brick/Byzantine Variation/Condensed Byzantine

This versatile stitch works well for almost everything!

It's a diagonal stitch, but the overall effect is non-directional.  It can be done over two or more diagonal intersections in one, two or more colors.

I've used it for bells, toys, clothing, furniture, architectural features, animals, plants, and even fur on Santa's coat.

Patterns of the Orient - Continued

Well, the leaves are done, even if they do look dorky.  Piercing congress cloth while doing ombre' shading is HARD!  I just have to stitch the veins, stems and background in this area.  YEAH!!!   It's the last area that was covered in the first two-day session.  Next weekend we'll learn how to do the rest.  I wonder what challenges face us then.

This piece gives meaning to the phrase "blood, sweat and tears."  I've sweat bullets doing the leaves and shed tears when I pricked my finger with a chenille needle and a drop of blood fell on a completed leaf.

Patterns of the Orient

This is a glorious, though challenging, piece from Tony Minieri.  It's a study in Chinese, Japanese and Korean textiles.  Each area represents a different pattern used in contemporary and ancient fabrics.  I think I'm enjoying it ... some days it's way over my head.

Ways to Improve Your Stitching

Here are a few simple suggestions for improving your stitching. More to come in the days ahead.

1. Use a new needle for each project. The plating on tapestry needles wears off amazingly fast. If the plating is gone, the needle may leave a black mark when you stitch. Metallics and other rough fibers can nick the needle eye. If this happens, it will rough up your threads and will contribute to pilling.
2. Use the correct size needle for your canvas. In general, use a size 20 for 13 mesh, 22 for 18 mesh, and 24 for Congress cloth. A slightly larger needle can be used when stitching vertical and horizontal decorative stitches.
   
3. Work from light to dark colors. Fuzzy threads like wool pick up fibers from existing stitches. So, if you've stitched red and then stitch around it in white, the white may pick up little bits of the red, leaving a pink smudge.
4. Clip the threads close to your stitching on the back so you don't "pick them up" when you stitch the next area.
   
5. For best results, stitch on a frame. Stretcher bars and scroll bars keep the canvas taut so the stitches don't distort the shape of the canvas.
6. Work with clean hands.
7. Protect your work from animals, spills, and other accidents.
8. Work in the best light you can manage.
9. Choose to stitch only things you're crazy about. There's nothing worse than dreading a project because you don't like the design.
10. Try something new. Take classes. Try new threads, new stitches, new techniques. If you always stitch painted canvas, try a charted design. If you always stitch from charts, try a painted canvas. Try blackwork, Japanese embroidery, bargello, goldwork, stumpwork.