tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-139752642024-03-19T09:16:44.763+00:00Sew in LoveElizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.comBlogger700125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-17986591902341975802021-03-01T09:30:00.005+00:002021-03-01T09:30:00.589+00:002019 Needlecrafts Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z08vjONgWEk/YCluiak9VFI/AAAAAAAAO9Q/S2uM5zzX_jQ0-wfAZu3Kny95EsECaIKygCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Emily%2BBag.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="2048" height="452" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z08vjONgWEk/YCluiak9VFI/AAAAAAAAO9Q/S2uM5zzX_jQ0-wfAZu3Kny95EsECaIKygCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h452/Emily%2BBag.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One last annual catch up post: We've made it to 2019! I seem to have photos of all the finishes from this year, except one super chunky knit cardigan, which photographed very badly indeed.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first one, above, was a wedding handbag I made for my bestie when she got married in June, just 6 days before our 20th wedding anniversary. I designed the floral embroidery myself and painted the appliqued silk, all based on the floral design on her bridal gown, but in the colour of her afternoon dress. The bag construction wasn't stellar, but it did the job and I was pleased to see her using it.</div><div><br /></div><div>And now, after being in progress for around five years, we present:</div><div><br /></div><div>The completed Paradise Island cross stitch!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qYuGKAey6s/YCluokJvKWI/AAAAAAAAO9k/I1yFIO7E17Ug6R1PRxoVB6Q5E6BG7IUhACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Paradise%2BIsland.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2007" data-original-width="2048" height="628" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qYuGKAey6s/YCluokJvKWI/AAAAAAAAO9k/I1yFIO7E17Ug6R1PRxoVB6Q5E6BG7IUhACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h628/Paradise%2BIsland.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1gaMbizg9zQ/YCluhFjZGCI/AAAAAAAAO9M/CFoLu6Dses8D13CzrzuKvOKQb4gLUxQJACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Balloons.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1gaMbizg9zQ/YCluhFjZGCI/AAAAAAAAO9M/CFoLu6Dses8D13CzrzuKvOKQb4gLUxQJACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/Balloons.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div>I was really pleased with how it turned out, especially as I'd had to design quite a bit of the lower sky myself (it was designed on blue Aida, but I'd done it on black Jobelan instead). It looks great in a gold frame with a white mount.</div><div><br /></div><div>For the above mentioned 20th wedding anniversary, I made this card for Sir, which he was pleased with. Each part was cut out and the fabric stiffened before being glued to the paper sky background. It was something quite different for me to do, so it was enjoyable - even if the kite tails didn't quite behave as I'd hoped.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-rEHLaq9s4/YCluql3mL2I/AAAAAAAAO9s/79zfomxSnbUd3mScUxOBJSZgYS7bhnewgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1198/WinterTrees.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">I <img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1184" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-rEHLaq9s4/YCluql3mL2I/AAAAAAAAO9s/79zfomxSnbUd3mScUxOBJSZgYS7bhnewgCLcBGAsYHQ/w395-h400/WinterTrees.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>This last cross stitch piece for the year is one I'd been drooling over since I saw it sparkling in the lighting of a stand at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate a couple of years before. I finally bought the kit and stitched it up. I haven't framed it yet, but I'm thinking a small silver frame with bright white mount. The fabric is actually a pale lilac. It would have been the perfect match for the early February weather, no?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Part cross stitch, part hardanger and part other counted thread stitch work was this rose cushion. This was a quick stitch and I'm pleased to say it took first prize in the cushion class at the 2019 Bingley Show. It now lives in our bedroom.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0f6W4Ra1X30/YClzNCadK3I/AAAAAAAAO-U/osq8T9UpQiAGij1p-paSjZVN0xVcET-awCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Rose%2BCushion.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2024" data-original-width="2048" height="632" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0f6W4Ra1X30/YClzNCadK3I/AAAAAAAAO-U/osq8T9UpQiAGij1p-paSjZVN0xVcET-awCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h632/Rose%2BCushion.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The final stitchery piece for the year was the 'Hardanger With Bling' bellpull that now stands out nicely against the red of our living room feature wall. This is only the top section as I don't seem to have any full photos to hand, but I will share some more later on.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JOtV1yLMJ_s/YClugQieNvI/AAAAAAAAO9I/5XS1wflub6w3nUyeEn6wTmNz4pG7Z5bhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Blling%2BTop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1799" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JOtV1yLMJ_s/YClugQieNvI/AAAAAAAAO9I/5XS1wflub6w3nUyeEn6wTmNz4pG7Z5bhQCLcBGAsYHQ/w562-h640/Blling%2BTop.jpg" width="562" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If embroidery is your only interest, then this is where you exit as we now move on to knitting and no less than seven adult garment completions this year, although two were begun (including one almost finished) in 2018. The five chunky jumpers are worked in my favourite King Cole Tweed Chunky, three of which were for friends. It's virtually impossible to get actually warm woollens, so I take orders from close friends.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bMkddezNvhc/YClufrxTEhI/AAAAAAAAO9E/4nEOrVwvdc8XmSFvrb3ily8QbJwXZdZwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Black%2Bfleck.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1744" data-original-width="2048" height="544" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bMkddezNvhc/YClufrxTEhI/AAAAAAAAO9E/4nEOrVwvdc8XmSFvrb3ily8QbJwXZdZwwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h544/Black%2Bfleck.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cQwvNJNPrQQ/YClujVa2jhI/AAAAAAAAO9U/cGqg_oWGWtgfO_xZKI51tiq31XL_ewgRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Emily.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1811" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cQwvNJNPrQQ/YClujVa2jhI/AAAAAAAAO9U/cGqg_oWGWtgfO_xZKI51tiq31XL_ewgRQCLcBGAsYHQ/w566-h640/Emily.jpg" width="566" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2UaJwQ-DRAY/YCluqlO853I/AAAAAAAAO9w/pRvccHnp6iAVfUhkfz0NQ5eyiWKy2aNNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Red%2BMoss%2BStitch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1791" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2UaJwQ-DRAY/YCluqlO853I/AAAAAAAAO9w/pRvccHnp6iAVfUhkfz0NQ5eyiWKy2aNNwCLcBGAsYHQ/w560-h640/Red%2BMoss%2BStitch.jpg" width="560" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AJIBgV0XBjI/YClunYb8GQI/AAAAAAAAO9g/69nGIlwTHrggHhkKAO_wjQtFvJNJlYDawCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Lilac%2BDK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1767" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AJIBgV0XBjI/YClunYb8GQI/AAAAAAAAO9g/69nGIlwTHrggHhkKAO_wjQtFvJNJlYDawCLcBGAsYHQ/w552-h640/Lilac%2BDK.jpg" width="552" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BU-3hVfRQJI/YCluj0qcqYI/AAAAAAAAO9Y/s7ESWM6NcikXPWzVSSYvk1K2_s-p3xSzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Jenny.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1930" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BU-3hVfRQJI/YCluj0qcqYI/AAAAAAAAO9Y/s7ESWM6NcikXPWzVSSYvk1K2_s-p3xSzgCLcBGAsYHQ/w604-h640/Jenny.jpg" width="604" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jo9RqqAm9JM/YClulqvqpXI/AAAAAAAAO9c/AR_s-nuvqTcv-fVm8Jz4juJhPI8rZk9QwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Katy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1643" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jo9RqqAm9JM/YClulqvqpXI/AAAAAAAAO9c/AR_s-nuvqTcv-fVm8Jz4juJhPI8rZk9QwCLcBGAsYHQ/w514-h640/Katy.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><div>My first adult DK finish was the lilac shoulder cable jumper for me. I love this one and wear it a lot. Some of it was a challenge to do, but I love that I learn something new with each garment.</div><div><br /></div><div>The grey cardigan was worked in Brett's Chunky with Merino and, again, was for a friend. Jenny had admired my black cardy I was making with the same yarn and kept stroking it, so I ran her one up in a colour I was sure she would like. It made a nice surprise for her when we met in the summer.</div><div><br /></div><div>The dark green here was one of the woolies for cold friends, as was the cream one below and the violet one near the top of this section.<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pceSMdea8cw/YCl0MrWDnPI/AAAAAAAAO-c/YyBjSO7q-uoZKeGLNIu3NsV6V3qyE8p_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Rachel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1883" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pceSMdea8cw/YCl0MrWDnPI/AAAAAAAAO-c/YyBjSO7q-uoZKeGLNIu3NsV6V3qyE8p_gCLcBGAsYHQ/w588-h640/Rachel.jpg" width="588" /></a></div><br /><div>That's all for the catch up posts. The next annual needlecrafts review will be at the end of this year or the beginning of next. Hope you've enjoyed seeing some of the things I've been busy making. Some will be featured in their own right with more detail, so look out for some of those in Friday Finish and Sunday Yarn posts, as well as ongoing projects in Work in Progress Wednesdays.</div><div><br /></div><div>Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2021</div></div>Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-8588556216292100702021-02-24T08:56:00.001+00:002021-02-24T08:56:02.220+00:00Work in Progress Wednesdays - 24 February 2021<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n_hMKKqpCUA/YDJqf4qKs4I/AAAAAAAAPAk/8D93yq08mgs-UwjOgE71WiAkDWo1-BmswCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201028_102722_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="2048" height="582" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n_hMKKqpCUA/YDJqf4qKs4I/AAAAAAAAPAk/8D93yq08mgs-UwjOgE71WiAkDWo1-BmswCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h582/20201028_102722_edited.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1k18K_wlQuY/YDJpJ0k1HgI/AAAAAAAAPAE/Z4tcE48OIBU3QpLlBqqkWYhaNP5hNRYfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201102_092100_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1726" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1k18K_wlQuY/YDJpJ0k1HgI/AAAAAAAAPAE/Z4tcE48OIBU3QpLlBqqkWYhaNP5hNRYfQCLcBGAsYHQ/w338-h400/20201102_092100_edited.jpg" width="338" /></a>Anyone who knows much about my embroidery work knows I love hardanger. It's quite quick, it looks great and is deceptively simple to work. So, when I saw this kit going on LoveCrafts.com, I instantly fell for it and bought it with my anniversary money last summer.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At first I thought I'd make the square mat up as a dining table centre or something like that, but it really didn't feel right. So, I decided to omit the edging and make it up as a scatter cushion cover for the sofa, even though it will work out as a rather larger one than I'm used to having.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Naturally, starting out with the white diamonds and the linking segments, then moving on to the coloured work in cross and back stitching.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Below is all the surface work completed. As you may be able to see, I changed some of the colours in the cross stitch. I didn't really like the blues in and around the flowers, so replaced them with pale yellow and a light yellow-lime.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mNpcUgFT90c/YDJpYKaGDyI/AAAAAAAAPAM/5-uK2REr_loimWtH-goMokpLXr5hmHIvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201225_151440_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1879" data-original-width="2048" height="588" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mNpcUgFT90c/YDJpYKaGDyI/AAAAAAAAPAM/5-uK2REr_loimWtH-goMokpLXr5hmHIvwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h588/20201225_151440_edited.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p8VPH33Yfi0/YDJpYpd0meI/AAAAAAAAPAQ/MG3bqlsfWp0x11-DmG_Ds4t5K4H-zb9zwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210120_163040_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1870" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p8VPH33Yfi0/YDJpYpd0meI/AAAAAAAAPAQ/MG3bqlsfWp0x11-DmG_Ds4t5K4H-zb9zwCLcBGAsYHQ/w365-h400/20210120_163040_edited.jpg" width="365" /></a></div>Beginning with the cutting and removing of the threads. I know a lot of stitchers find the very idea of this part quite unnerving, but I'm OK with it. You just have to bear in mind the traditional carpenters' saying: 'Measure twice, cut once'. In this case, count twice, cut once. It really helps to avoid mistakes if you double check at every stage of a counted thread project - especially when it comes to things that would be hard to hide, like taking out one thread too many! It's possible, but I don't recommend it. ;)<br /><div><br /></div><div>More on this one soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>Again, just over four years since the last Work in Progress Wednesdays post! I can't promise them weekly from hereon in, but it may be possible, even if I don't fancy doing a full blown multi-photo post, to do a brief one with one image from the Blogger app. It's quite basic, but will allow for that nicely.</div><div><br /></div>Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2021Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-12027262246022364342021-02-22T09:30:00.008+00:002021-02-22T09:30:02.332+00:002018 Needlecrafts Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Azt0T1nh7hk/YClnwYeWeOI/AAAAAAAAO8M/Q0XmJx1g2LIktS1Sc_6hdMrKRyp8FFdnACLcBGAsYHQ/s1971/Dog%2Brose.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1670" data-original-width="1971" height="542" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Azt0T1nh7hk/YClnwYeWeOI/AAAAAAAAO8M/Q0XmJx1g2LIktS1Sc_6hdMrKRyp8FFdnACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h542/Dog%2Brose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UbSmpQWXyBQ/YCln0q4dZFI/AAAAAAAAO8o/zj8IxVfSCLI2KDRh8CsbM6bVObA2gg7XwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Wild%2BPansies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1990" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UbSmpQWXyBQ/YCln0q4dZFI/AAAAAAAAO8o/zj8IxVfSCLI2KDRh8CsbM6bVObA2gg7XwCLcBGAsYHQ/w622-h640/Wild%2BPansies.jpg" width="622" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lZfgfMBnvlg/YClnwwmXtOI/AAAAAAAAO8U/lL7L0cG6A4gUFryabzhM-wrLJqz9XokFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Garden.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1532" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lZfgfMBnvlg/YClnwwmXtOI/AAAAAAAAO8U/lL7L0cG6A4gUFryabzhM-wrLJqz9XokFwCLcBGAsYHQ/w299-h400/Garden.jpg" width="299" /></a></div></div>2018 saw one more embroidery finish tham 2017 with a grand total of six, but some of them were definitely more labour intensive than those from the previous year.<div><br /></div><div>I had two needlepainting finishes, again from the Trish Burr 'Beginners' book. I changed the designs slightly in each case (the shape of one rose leaf spray and the purples of the pansies) and I was flattered that my husband told me that my shading skills had improved when he saw the leaves on the pansies. Do you know, I think he may even be right. Both pieces ended up in special cards.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Another special card was this window 'look through' one that was my own design for our 19th wedding anniversary. She didn't have windows like this, but the garden was my idea of what mum's could be like when we'd finished renovating it. Unlike a few of his cards to me, which contain photo collages of the previous year (and are great!), this one was meant to be a year forward. Of course, the garden didn't develop to this point, but it was a fun project anyway.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ASWB_q2K2_U/YCln0I99j1I/AAAAAAAAO8k/dtsOHgT8AbMv7JAkTYvL_XF46yXqN4S8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1984/Ribbon.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1984" height="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ASWB_q2K2_U/YCln0I99j1I/AAAAAAAAO8k/dtsOHgT8AbMv7JAkTYvL_XF46yXqN4S8wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h310/Ribbon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br />I can't remember who got this card with the ribbon work in, but it was a kit from Crafty Ribbons. It was quite hard work to stitch and I had to pad the backing in order to make it an even finish (the ribbons bunched up behind somewhat), but I thought it came out well. I have a red one somewhere. Poppies, I think....</div><div><br /></div><div>This last project was these two lavender bags below - one for me, one for my mum. To be honest, I have no idea where they are now. Seriously, you can tell I've gone through the change in recent years as my previously flawless memory is annoyingly patchy!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxHXm7gK-BI/YClnwcEzozI/AAAAAAAAO8Q/4YZY4qFqXAQXzkqIJEr34nWCSwYLOYIFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Lavendar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="2048" height="384" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxHXm7gK-BI/YClnwcEzozI/AAAAAAAAO8Q/4YZY4qFqXAQXzkqIJEr34nWCSwYLOYIFgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h384/Lavendar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Moving on to knitting, which is all adult garments this year, but still rather lacking some decent photos - or any at all of two projects.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N10lVhf60bE/YClnygIbvjI/AAAAAAAAO8c/7kfBbwQGYSkgUGR3Gtr9_RHgioLnzDJ7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1776/Marble.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1776" height="554" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N10lVhf60bE/YClnygIbvjI/AAAAAAAAO8c/7kfBbwQGYSkgUGR3Gtr9_RHgioLnzDJ7gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h554/Marble.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GxBSo2DDFG8/YClnyjz3NII/AAAAAAAAO8g/_Nbe2jGDoNEkpi67u3YuSm_MntiCOX4rACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Martin.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1516" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GxBSo2DDFG8/YClnyjz3NII/AAAAAAAAO8g/_Nbe2jGDoNEkpi67u3YuSm_MntiCOX4rACLcBGAsYHQ/w296-h400/Martin.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>Above is a Brett Marble Chunky cable knit I sized up from a girls' pattern and wear myself. It's all acrylic, so it's good for mid-seasons rather than winter.</div><div><br /></div><div>The one you see Sir modelling here is wool blend and this type of yarn has come to be a personal favourite. It's King Cole's Tweed Chunky and it's 25 or 30% wool and is machine washable. Both warm and easy care.</div><div><br /></div><div>Both of the above ended up with sleeves slightly too short, but Sir doesn't mind as he says it's more jacket length and looks good with a shirt. Later in the year I made him a matching scarf in double stocking stitch, which he gets good wear out of in the very cold weather.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also did a new black cardigan for myself with simple, directional cables like the lemon baby one I did in 2017. Again, the sleeves are too short, but it's very usable nonetheless.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nvIehTZMGvQ/YClnyWE7cqI/AAAAAAAAO8Y/M45tmDmm9lEGbKiDFPZaeARQCEdk0E47wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1794/Mum.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="1505" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nvIehTZMGvQ/YClnyWE7cqI/AAAAAAAAO8Y/M45tmDmm9lEGbKiDFPZaeARQCEdk0E47wCLcBGAsYHQ/w536-h640/Mum.jpg" width="536" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This last piece was done for my late mother at her request. During the last year or so of her life, she wore it as often as she could and loved it. Medical visitors would often exclaim, "Oooh, I love your waistcoat!", which was nice for me to hear. As was her proudly explaining, "My daughter made it for me." As you can see, it was made from oddments left over from the marble jumpers, and the edgings came from the purple jumper and black jacket that I mentioned in the 2017 review.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">During this year I also ran up a couple of simple scatter cushion covers and finally hemmed a black/rose print raglan sleeved t-shirt I'd done most of at a sewing with knit fabrics workshop from the previous summer. I'd put it off so long as I'm not good at sewing in a straight line, but I finally took myself in hand, but my double needle stuff in order, drew a line on the fabric as best I could and got on with it. It waggled only once - right front and centre, where the dip actually looks like it could be part of the design! </div><br /><div>Look out for 2019 next Monday.</div><div><br /></div>Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2021</div>Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-61396011057619441512021-02-21T13:51:00.001+00:002021-02-21T13:51:15.727+00:00The Sunday Yarn - 21 February 2021<div>It's been two days over <i>four years</i> since my last Sunday yarn post - wow! As knitting is something I'm doing regularly these days, and plan to get through a good amount of this year, I expect to have a fair few update posts on how projects are going. If yarncrafts aren't your thing, please feel free to just skip this post. I know not everyone is interested in knitting or making clothes in general.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Si9pAziQKAk/YDJiDOuc4MI/AAAAAAAAO_c/-oA5QAtZg_goTo95Ornp84hLO8xqc-9fgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191126_090645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Si9pAziQKAk/YDJiDOuc4MI/AAAAAAAAO_c/-oA5QAtZg_goTo95Ornp84hLO8xqc-9fgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/20191126_090645.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Today I'd like to share the completion of a long knitting project. This first photo I took of this jumper was date stamped 26 November 2019 and it was finally completed last month, in late January 2021. I wasn't working on it all that time. In fact, there was a long break between what you can see here and taking it back up in either late April or early May of 2020 after we'd moved and I'd completed all those chunky knits you may have seen in my <a href="https://sew-in-love.blogspot.com/2020/12/review-of-stitching-year-2020.html" target="_blank">2020 Needlecrafts Review post</a>. There was another break late autumn when I had some pain in my shoulders.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once I'd exercised that out so that I could knit comfortably again, I finished it up as soon as I reasonably can (when you consider I had 8 needlework projects on the go at one point!) and now it's in use. I'm happy to say that Sir was wearing it this morning.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w3u4O7GJT7o/YDJjwqAjAGI/AAAAAAAAO_o/-Jb9-jCoGTwsQC12OovNYeXTZmzLoLK8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1289/20210127_144854_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1289" data-original-width="967" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w3u4O7GJT7o/YDJjwqAjAGI/AAAAAAAAO_o/-Jb9-jCoGTwsQC12OovNYeXTZmzLoLK8gCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/20210127_144854_edited.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C_g91473_uI/YDJjwtLxD0I/AAAAAAAAO_s/q4nhgxai25wQB1yp4hrOkS4xxBlnHRfJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1062/20210127_144922_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="945" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C_g91473_uI/YDJjwtLxD0I/AAAAAAAAO_s/q4nhgxai25wQB1yp4hrOkS4xxBlnHRfJwCLcBGAsYHQ/w570-h640/20210127_144922_edited.jpg" width="570" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-smWm-Ah6bmI/YDJjwg_lIeI/AAAAAAAAO_w/oZqFpxpDJSYXyaE1kcW9WGuFxtBYuYORQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1520/20210129_095015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="1140" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-smWm-Ah6bmI/YDJjwg_lIeI/AAAAAAAAO_w/oZqFpxpDJSYXyaE1kcW9WGuFxtBYuYORQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/20210129_095015.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>Knit in Wendy wool blend aran from a Hayfield Bonus Aran pattern downloaded from Lovecrafts.com When I got it, it was free, but later appeared for sale. You may be able to still get hold of s free copy if you're interested in making one yourself. The sizes go from child to men's, with a choice of V necked, round necked and collared versions.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've already begun a soft mulberry pink, round necked one for me. :) More on that in a future Sunday post.</div><div><br /></div>Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2021Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-73393282433861418662021-02-15T09:30:00.001+00:002021-02-15T09:30:06.686+00:002017 Needlecrafts Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YlWRqV4lIcg/YClgnSdZ8HI/AAAAAAAAO7U/2OpUWvxse6wCfByJhLZR0HuIa8kZJACMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1462/Violets%2Bcard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1462" data-original-width="1454" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YlWRqV4lIcg/YClgnSdZ8HI/AAAAAAAAO7U/2OpUWvxse6wCfByJhLZR0HuIa8kZJACMQCLcBGAsYHQ/w636-h640/Violets%2Bcard.jpg" width="636" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MEqPCdBMa5w/YClgkyE86NI/AAAAAAAAO64/Ka6sT5RwxLUW3KhDKjve1WFjzS-JNOnBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1648/Hardanger.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1648" height="373" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MEqPCdBMa5w/YClgkyE86NI/AAAAAAAAO64/Ka6sT5RwxLUW3KhDKjve1WFjzS-JNOnBwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h373/Hardanger.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Welcome to 2017!!<div><br /></div><div>This is the year the Big Blog Break began in, so those of you who are kind enough to have taken an interest in my creations over the years will have seen some of these pieces in progress. I don't expect you to remember any of them though, as I had a couple of surprises when I went back through my Instagram feed to see what had been finished during the year!</div><div><br /></div><div>It was more of a knitting than a stitching year, but I'll present the 4 embroidery finishes first as that's what most visitors are most interested in, I think. There were only four finishes, all of which ended up in cards, but at least they were all different styles.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sZ6w_iTkMgk/YClglXaJHwI/AAAAAAAAO7A/BSDoocciKnssaxtAFLT57W6iEGVNXx-LgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1301/Heart%2Bcard.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1301" data-original-width="1240" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sZ6w_iTkMgk/YClglXaJHwI/AAAAAAAAO7A/BSDoocciKnssaxtAFLT57W6iEGVNXx-LgCLcBGAsYHQ/w381-h400/Heart%2Bcard.jpg" width="381" /></a></div>First above is the violets thread painting from Trish Burr's 'Needlepainting Embroidery - Fresh Ideas for Beginners'. I had some trouble with the bud on this one and put it on hold for a while (from 2016, if I remember correctly), but I cracked it in the end and it served well as a baptism card for a Chinese friend.</div><div><br /></div><div>The green based hardanger piece I believe was a sympathy card, but I can't quite remember for whom.... Anyway, it was nice to work with this colour scheme instead of always on white.</div><div><br /></div><div>This beaded, coloured blackwork style piece I confess to having copied from a picture I saw somewhere. Pinterest, probably. It was quite hard going, but it made a nice anniversary card for Sir.</div><div><br /></div><div>This last one, a cross stitch 'Forever Friends' bear, was for friends' 10th wedding anniversary.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcnH_-2mv2E/YClgkawCzvI/AAAAAAAAO6w/H8G560jfBj8Kt2RdIi98ZYZBomFctwlcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1637/20170921_091600-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1637" height="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcnH_-2mv2E/YClgkawCzvI/AAAAAAAAO6w/H8G560jfBj8Kt2RdIi98ZYZBomFctwlcQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h600/20170921_091600-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Onto knitting, which was much more prolific. If you're not interested in yarn crafts, feel free to exit here. </div><div><br /></div><div>In 2017, I knitted no less than seven baby jackets from two in premature sizes for charity, to two 6-12 months sizes. One had a matching hat and several of them had embroidered trims on them.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qct0Pc0UXTg/YClgkEcfltI/AAAAAAAAO6s/KuGCU2VVM-Ee4zu9-GCEVbTIB84t311vQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2022/David.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1701" data-original-width="2022" height="538" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qct0Pc0UXTg/YClgkEcfltI/AAAAAAAAO6s/KuGCU2VVM-Ee4zu9-GCEVbTIB84t311vQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h538/David.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fM2jszg1n04/YClgmcU5ctI/AAAAAAAAO7I/vPSW-xq1Qr4fpNVRiz2MQtcvgBp0Z8zpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Shakila.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1594" data-original-width="2048" height="498" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fM2jszg1n04/YClgmcU5ctI/AAAAAAAAO7I/vPSW-xq1Qr4fpNVRiz2MQtcvgBp0Z8zpwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h498/Shakila.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-etOOXwL4mmQ/YClgmuZEGxI/AAAAAAAAO7M/StN9QZmgpYEZoPfk3UXIaGw1jw9k7Fw_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Sofia1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1652" data-original-width="2048" height="516" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-etOOXwL4mmQ/YClgmuZEGxI/AAAAAAAAO7M/StN9QZmgpYEZoPfk3UXIaGw1jw9k7Fw_wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h516/Sofia1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pODHpehH1QQ/YClhqtQZmiI/AAAAAAAAO78/cuSzcjnQmJA8q4PmrAqFxGfAbMpVaarZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1603/Sofia%2Bhat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="1603" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pODHpehH1QQ/YClhqtQZmiI/AAAAAAAAO78/cuSzcjnQmJA8q4PmrAqFxGfAbMpVaarZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Sofia%2Bhat.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p--nlDQHqOI/YClgnZUH2JI/AAAAAAAAO7Q/t1NSg3z89RMT-YUBQXymSp-SW5JgGP47QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Sofia2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1325" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p--nlDQHqOI/YClgnZUH2JI/AAAAAAAAO7Q/t1NSg3z89RMT-YUBQXymSp-SW5JgGP47QCLcBGAsYHQ/w259-h400/Sofia2.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SAoCCHyCILI/YClgnuA32TI/AAAAAAAAO7Y/WbiTW53AoDwsdoNCKlWpSyARWt4sxa2rQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Sofia3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1550" data-original-width="2048" height="484" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SAoCCHyCILI/YClgnuA32TI/AAAAAAAAO7Y/WbiTW53AoDwsdoNCKlWpSyARWt4sxa2rQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h484/Sofia3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1664" height="369" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ch3xT88McY/YClhx_K9o-I/AAAAAAAAO8A/OVqSkGZW42o58XWNIPfmJdggYJpU6L_wgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h369/Blue%2BPreemie%2BFinished.jpg" width="400" /></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ch3xT88McY/YClhx_K9o-I/AAAAAAAAO8A/OVqSkGZW42o58XWNIPfmJdggYJpU6L_wgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1664/Blue%2BPreemie%2BFinished.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div style="text-align: left;">There were also three adult garments, but I don't seem able to find any decent photographs of them. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The first completed one was for a cold friend and was a simple chunky, purple jumper with a basic double cable up the front. Started before that one, but finished afterwards was a black chunky jacket/cardy for me. Both were done with budget yarns, but seemed to come out OK,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The third was worked with James C Brett's marble chunky, which hasn't photographed well so far. I'll have to try again some time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last up is the bamboo cotton scarf that I made for myself, but which really isn't warm enough for winter use. It's really only useful as a trim, but it's a glorious colour. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7O9AEUzqfw/YClglMStf5I/AAAAAAAAO68/eEMRQOomuZosErcpVvkVzYhFQoHocBREgCLcBGAsYHQ/s738/Pink%2Bscarf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="738" height="533" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7O9AEUzqfw/YClglMStf5I/AAAAAAAAO68/eEMRQOomuZosErcpVvkVzYhFQoHocBREgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h533/Pink%2Bscarf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>That's it for 2017. </div><div><br /></div><div>Catching up slowly! Look out for 2018's review this time next week.</div><div><br /></div>Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2021</div>Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-56602306752525827722020-12-29T14:22:00.005+00:002020-12-29T14:25:36.898+00:00Review of the stitching year 2020<div>Well, hello! Here I am, still alive and crawling out of an almost 30 month silence to present a mammoth needlework year review. I may not have been blogging here, but my needles - of various types - have been busy just the same.</div><div><br /></div><div>I managed to complete 27 things over this last year, but it's not quite as impressive as it sounds when you realise that 14 were fairly quick sewing tasks, such as finally finishing up 3 of those Lizzie*Kate 'Button Up!' seasonal cross stitch pieces as hangings which are changed with the natural season and hung on our coat rack (and are a lot bluer than they seem here):</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MG6vTvWCzFI/X-oz_xYwMwI/AAAAAAAAOr4/4yV9mPOYyqQy52MeJLUV7lBoLICuW8q1QCPcBGAsYHg/s4128/20201001_133049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MG6vTvWCzFI/X-oz_xYwMwI/AAAAAAAAOr4/4yV9mPOYyqQy52MeJLUV7lBoLICuW8q1QCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/20201001_133049.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The other 11 were 4 Bible covers:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqRNtjgXxaE/X-o1aJ_dv7I/AAAAAAAAOsQ/6___a77sPhEuiVGCL_6ZpkwycVVsGoIiQCPcBGAsYHg/s4128/20201118_092821.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqRNtjgXxaE/X-o1aJ_dv7I/AAAAAAAAOsQ/6___a77sPhEuiVGCL_6ZpkwycVVsGoIiQCPcBGAsYHg/w480-h640/20201118_092821.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">4 quick cushion covers (not the white one, that comes later) - the black ones don't even have zips:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XnEZKeVUR_A/X-o1h-ZI3RI/AAAAAAAAOsU/in90k1Ro49g39gh2c34rlhdI-L1lN0obwCPcBGAsYHg/s4128/20201228_144634.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XnEZKeVUR_A/X-o1h-ZI3RI/AAAAAAAAOsU/in90k1Ro49g39gh2c34rlhdI-L1lN0obwCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/20201228_144634.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A padded, drawstring bag for my hubby to take his visualizer to work safely in:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lk9pkuTfwWc/X-o1szcEvoI/AAAAAAAAOsc/5arK8ZCw05cwyN3gsJSpe0kRuyleJI7vACPcBGAsYHg/s4128/20201130_102144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lk9pkuTfwWc/X-o1szcEvoI/AAAAAAAAOsc/5arK8ZCw05cwyN3gsJSpe0kRuyleJI7vACPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/20201130_102144.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>And 2 pillowcase liners, which aren't shown here as they're on the pillows!</div><div><br /></div><div>Knitting was productive too, with 4 adult garments done and 2 small girl's cardigans. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPnMh0Vc6W4/X-smaySevTI/AAAAAAAAOtQ/NYzemLxq5J4tRGztmqb3PQLQIz5JBERRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/1588169992813%255B1%255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPnMh0Vc6W4/X-smaySevTI/AAAAAAAAOtQ/NYzemLxq5J4tRGztmqb3PQLQIz5JBERRwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/1588169992813%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_pkrqBglNE/X-smlrTmLRI/AAAAAAAAOtU/2lis3MSNivQIOiBD0JZDhsa5P_ajDtjGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/1609168163701%255B1%255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_pkrqBglNE/X-smlrTmLRI/AAAAAAAAOtU/2lis3MSNivQIOiBD0JZDhsa5P_ajDtjGgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/1609168163701%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /></div>I'm also half way through the last piece of an Aran jumper for Sir, but that'll obviously come in on next year's list.<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Embroidery finishes were 5 cards, all for wedding anniversaries:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mb0YuFuwTlc/X-snVcjTD7I/AAAAAAAAOtg/7TY7Xujr31g_3VlsmrVtFkc0plmbU2DlACPcBGAsYHg/s2048/1593608544369.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mb0YuFuwTlc/X-snVcjTD7I/AAAAAAAAOtg/7TY7Xujr31g_3VlsmrVtFkc0plmbU2DlACPcBGAsYHg/w640-h640/1593608544369.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">And, finally, one hardanger scatter cushion cover:</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ADD50xXPjD4/X-s2bPW5l1I/AAAAAAAAOt0/VP7vMOW4qGwIigiOqvvh75IxOQjwivvJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Lilac%2BLace%2BCushion.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1953" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ADD50xXPjD4/X-s2bPW5l1I/AAAAAAAAOt0/VP7vMOW4qGwIigiOqvvh75IxOQjwivvJgCLcBGAsYHQ/w610-h640/Lilac%2BLace%2BCushion.jpg" width="610" /></a></div><br />
<div>I'll try and get back in a few days to start sharing projects from mid 2017 to the end of 2019, so you can catch up with what I've been working on whilst my tech was sub-functional. Afterwards, maybe I can get back to periodic updates on current projects as before. I can't promise prolific posting, as I'm really out of the habit now and building up a blog is no longer a priority as it used to be back up to 2015, but I'll try my best. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, look me up on Instagram, which is much more up to date. You can click on the link at the top left of the blog, or search @sew_in_love_stitch_art from your IG account, if you have one.</div><div><br /></div>Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2020</div>Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-62909185304011485422017-07-12T16:29:00.001+01:002017-07-13T11:13:16.790+01:00Welcome visitors from Pintangle!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thank you very much for clicking over to see me. ☺<br />
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I was very flattered when Sharon asked to include me in her <a href="http://pintangle.com/tag/tast-interview/">TAST interview series</a>, especially as I haven't been able to join in as much as I'd have liked to. Also, if you've read the interview you'll know I'm not very good at the exploratory process - I'm very different from many of the artists featured thus far! However, I do like to learn new things and develop as much skill as I can, so <a href="http://pintangle.com/tast-faq/">TAST</a> is one of the challenges that offer a constant opportunity to move forward. I'm planning on looking more closely into the <a href="https://embroiderersguild.com/index.php?page_no=227&page_menu=distance-learning#">Embroiderer's Guild distance learning courses</a> towards the end of this year, so they may provide the needed impetus.<br />
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If you'd like to know more about the wedding dress panel, you can see <a href="http://sew-in-love.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/CE1">my series of seven posts on the project</a>, or hop over to the <a href="http://kreinikthread.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/an-embroidery-adventure-that-ends-with.html">Kreinik Threads Blog to read their interview with me</a> about it. ☺♥☻<br />
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I'm having some technology problems at the moment - both my laptop and my digital camera urgently need replacing (the camera I can only use if I seal the battery door up with duct tape, and the laptop is exasperatingly slow, no matter how much I delete, disable or otherwise clean up), so blogging has been rather neglected of late. It takes a lot of patience and planning to get anything done, so there are a few projects waiting to be published. Assuming I get my tech up to speed in the next few weeks (as I very much hope to, and Sir has agreed the funds for it ☺) , here's a sneak peek at what's coming up soon:<br />
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Here you can see some previews of counted thread and freestyle embroideries, sewing and knitting projects, and preparation for entering some local summer shows.<br />
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I'll be blogging all of these projects and more in the near future, including my sewing workshop days and some overviews of all the handicrafts exhibits at the Bingley and Ryedale Shows held later this month and the Shadwell Flower Show in mid August.<br />
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You can subscribe using the e-mail service (just remember to complete the verification process, or you won't be signed up), or any of the usual reader services. There are widgets for some of the most popular part way down in the side bar. I'm also on Instagram.<br />
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If you'd like to know more about my work, please do feel free to have a look at the gallery pages which you can find links for just under the blog header image.<br />
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My apologies for a relatively short and dull intro post, but I seem to be in for a bout of tonsillitis (or a cold at least) and I'm feeling just that little bit ropey today. However, thanks very much again for calling in and I hope to host you in my web home often. ☺♥☻<br />
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If you haven't seen the interview I'm referring to in this post, <a href="http://pintangle.com/2017/07/13/interview-elizabeth-sew-love/">click here for a look</a>!<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-35342150222926633262017-06-27T09:25:00.000+01:002017-06-27T14:35:41.326+01:00Welcome readers from the Kreinik Threads Blog!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thank you for following the link on <a href="http://kreinikthread.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">the Kreinik Threads blog</a> to come and visit me here. I hope you enjoyed the brief review of the wedding dress panel project that the lovely people over at Kreinik kindly took an interest in, and that you'll find more to stimulate your imagination here today. ☺<br />
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As you new visitors are fans of metallic threads and what they can do, here are a few of the projects I've completed over the past decade or so which feature lots of sparkle - often courtesy of good ol' Kreinik.<br />
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This first one, a couched dragonfly design was done in the same threads as the wedding dress panel - Kreinik Japan #1, #5 and #7 - only in gold this time. The blue and black ones are Anchor Marlitt, which is a very shiny, rayon thread and features in this next project too in two pretty purple shades. The inner silver outlines and gridlines are various Kreinik braids and are couched with their Cord in silver. The outer, thick thread is a silver goldwork twist thread, and the French knots in the middle are two of DMC's Light Effects range.<br />
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Here's something a little more unusual and unexpected - metallics in hardanger! The centre eyelet and the square filling stitch are in a fine, gold metallic, very probably Kreinik Cord in 002C. The red hearts were worked in one of Anchor's pearl metallic mixes - basically a red #5 pearl cotton with a red metallic filament mixed in.<br />
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This was for a Chinese couple's wedding day as red is their colour of joy and celebration. ♥<br />
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The dragonfly and waterlily piece uses a variety of metallic thread brands and types including Kreinik Japan #5 in gold, and #7 (or maybe both #7...) in silver, Coats Reflecta in pink and silver, a Kreinik thread in turquoise, and bright check purl chipping in the centre. I can't remember what the dragonfly was made out of as it was something I worked back in 2009.</div>
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These fish fins and tail are worked in the beautifully fine gauged Kreinik Cord and there's a thicker braid outlining the body - probably Very Fine Braid in 001C or Cable in 001 or similar. This one is from 2008 too and also includes shiny Anchor Marlitt and some of their cotton threads.</div>
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Lastly is a piece I worked just over a year ago and it's some outline lettering in Kreinik Fine Braid 102C, couched with Cord in 102.<br />
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I think I've remembered all those details correctly, but you get an idea of how they can be used in all sorts of embroidery styles.<br />
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I've been doing some form of embroidery for the last 15 years, progressing from cross stitch through hardanger and various freestyle techniques to raised work. I love metallic threads and use them wherever I reasonably can. <br />
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You'll be able to find lots more projects with and without sparklies of some sort by clicking on some of the subjects under the heading photo and feel free to subscribe to my blog via the e-mail service or any other way that works for you. I'm dealing with some health problems and a variety of other types of chaos (including the fact that I rather need a new laptop and camera) these days, so updates are a little less frequent than I'd like them to be. However, stick around, I'll be back!<br />
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In the meantime, if you'd like to read the full series of seven posts about the wedding dress project, <a href="http://sew-in-love.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/CE1">click here</a>. NB. They'll show in reverse order.<br />
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If you didn't arrive here from the <a href="http://kreinikthread.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/an-embroidery-adventure-that-ends-with.html" target="_blank">Kreinik interview article</a> and don't know what I mean, why not make their blog your next stop today? ☺<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-83509671929509693452017-05-16T19:19:00.000+01:002017-05-16T19:19:12.874+01:00Third Baby Jacket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here's another baby cardy - a 'regular' one this time, as I selected the 3-6 month size. After putting in loads of work on making a 0-3 months layette for a Chinese baby a few years ago - thinking an Oriental baby was bound to be nice and small, and her being big enough for 3+ months clothes at birth, I decided that I wouldn't be making tiny things for friends again. I usually do something for when the little one is a few months old.<br />
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This one was a new pattern for me and I enjoyed it. It was meant to be part worked in size 6/5mm needles and part in size 8/4mm, but I felt that the larger needles left the lacy part just too open, so I did the whole thing on 8s. (Yes, I'm still using the old English sizes, partly as I have a bag of needles from my mum which are mostly in the old sizings). As the little girl will be mixed race - half Philipino, half Serbian and therefore a little darker than average, I thought cream would be better than white and so got 2 50g balls of cream Sirdar Snuggly.<br />
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I found some lovely peach coloured buttons and decided to embroider a bullion rose design to match, as you can see in the drawing. Multiple problems ensued. For one, I'm <i>still</i> not confident with bullions, despite having experienced success on the wedding gift bellpull and a few previous projects, and so I delayed it, and procrastinated, and put it off. <br />
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Eventually, I realised I was actually getting stressed out by tiptoeing around it and just <b>made</b> myself get on with it. The results were not good. Not good at all. For one, the thread was far too fine and I didn't have the right sort of colours in thicker types, so the knots didn't show up well at all, nor did they sit well. So, I abandoned the whole bullion idea and did a design in whatever suitable shades of pearl cotton #8 I could find.<br />
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I have almost a whole 50g ball of the yarn left, so I'm going to have a go at the matching hat. Look out for that soon.<br />
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I've almost finished my black cardy now. I've knit all the pieces and am working on the button band.<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-76348653016092600682017-05-13T22:48:00.000+01:002017-05-13T22:48:44.673+01:00It's time.<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K9s1N9RKgic/WQyOWkkM4mI/AAAAAAAAI8o/J34gse0a4q0h41KZN4_6XkBymEckkmLzgCLcB/s1600/Old%2Bmanicure%2Bpouch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K9s1N9RKgic/WQyOWkkM4mI/AAAAAAAAI8o/J34gse0a4q0h41KZN4_6XkBymEckkmLzgCLcB/s640/Old%2Bmanicure%2Bpouch.jpg" width="640" /></a>Time to what? Don't worry, not time to stop stitching or blogging or anything like that. It's time to make a few changes to what I'm stitching/making and for whom.<br />
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You see, for the majority of the time I've been doing a lot of needlecrafts, i.e. the last 15 years, almost every thing I made was for someone else. I have a hardanger needlecase, an XS bookmark, and there are some pictures hanging up around our home and two scatter cushions here on the sofa I'm sitting on, but the vast majority of things - including all of the 'masterpiece' projects - I've made have gone elsewhere. Don't get me wrong, there's not a single thing wrong with that. In fact, it's a good thing. Not only would I never had done those stretch projects in the first place without the impetus of giving them to someone else, but I would have been inundated with stitched bits and bobs and, of course, it's not good for a body to be entirely focused on themselves. Not good at all! However, having said that, there's a balance needed.
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You're probably wondering what the pictures of worn out bags are, right? Well, they're my things. The things I've been using, whilst they were clearly shabby, worn out and, frankly, falling to bits. My handbag is terrible too. I recently bought one on eBay - a cheap Chinese made thing in horribly hard fake leather and without the inner pockets they advertised. (No photo at the mo, but I will take one soon, as I intend to use the fixings for a new one.) My knitting needle bag that you can see here could be as much as 70 years old as my mum said her mum bought it for her. I'm assuming it was when she was quite young and living at home. The colours are lovely, I like that about it, and the shape is pretty much perfect for needles, but the fabric is horrible and you can see what condition it's in!<br />
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I stood one day looking at my disgraceful manicure pouch (seen above) which an old friend gave me when I went to Taiwan the first time 20 years ago, having in mind the knitting needle bag with its side coming away from the zip and thought, "You spend hours on end making beautiful things for other people, whilst your own stuff is dropping to pieces. <i>Why on earth</i> don't you start making things for yourself?!"<br />
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So, I decided I would.<br />
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Then I looked at my clothes. That wasn't too pretty a sight either. Not that all of them are falling apart, but the ones in the best condition are those that I can't wear anymore thanks to having gained weight. I threw out a lot of the far too small stuff before we moved a year last February, but some more have 'fallen into disuse' since.<br />
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To be honest, I could have bought some new things, but when money was tightest and Sir needed clothes too, it was more important for him to look smart at work every day than me to do so at home, so I told him to get what he needed and I'd take care of myself later. At the back of my mind too, was that I wanted to shape back up a bit.<br />
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Another clothes buying challenge is that I just plain don't like a lot of styles that are around. You either have to deal with fabrics, colours or shapes you don't really like or try to compensate for insufficient fabric as so many dresses etc are less than modest these days. <br />
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"Enough!" thought I. Time for a change. A big change.<br />
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As you've probably guessed, I decided to make, not only accessories for myself, but also to knit and sew the clothes I really wanted in fabrics I loved. I came to this idea from Lydia of <a href="http://mademywardrobe.com/" target="_blank">Made My Wardrobe</a>, who gave herself a year to replace all her clothes with ones she'd created herself - from first principles in her case, as she's a trained textile expert who could design and draft her own patterns. (Thanks to Amanda of <a href="https://amandajanetextiles.com/" target="_blank">Amanda Jane Textiles</a> who 'introduced' me to Lydia's project via her own blog.) I thought, if Lydia could do that, why couldn't I? I knew how to sew and knit a bit, so why not develop those abilities further and replace my clothes at the same time?<br />
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I haven't started on the bag making yet, although you can now understand including 'Start on bag making tasks' in the list for the month, but I am on with my knitting work as you've also seen. I've started with things that I can use straight away and am focusing on tops until my sizing is more stable. I'm currently working on knitting the 4th of the 5 large pieces needed for a replacement for the very shabby, thinning at the elbows, has a hole in the pocket front and is seriously bobbly old cardigan I've worn to death over the past seven winters and, of course, am wearing right now! <br />
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I've also completed this double stocking stitch scarf in yarn that matches a pair of gloves my mum gave me and goes nicely with my black coat - which also rather needs replacing......<br />
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I've bought umpteen sewing and knitting patterns (you can see what I've bought as well as some inspiration on my <a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/elizabeth0braun/creating-my-own-wardrobe/" target="_blank">Creating my Own Wardrobe</a> pinterest board), and am already booked in to two sewing workshops to help me learn more and gain confidence. If I like the format etc, I have my eye on a few more for the autumn, such as pattern adaptation and drafting.<br />
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So, whilst I'm going to be continuing to stitch and embroider - especially in the run up to the summer Show season, I'll also be doing a lot of dressmaking and knitting, and then reporting on that in due course. I plan on embroidering some of my own clothes and even aspire to a crazy patchwork jacket in the fullness of time.<br />
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What about you? Do you make any of your own clothes and/or accessories? Any tips or experiences that you can share? Let me know if you have any ideas and what you think of the selection on the pinterest board too.<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-14330768250177445872017-05-11T21:32:00.000+01:002017-05-11T21:32:05.830+01:00Some Trimmed Up Baby Jackets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today I'm going to share two of the four things I've stitched since my monster wedding projects series. They're both baby knits and, yes, I knit them myself too.<br />
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I've got really into knitting lately, which partly explains the absence of embroidery projects shared on blog. I've also recently completed a scarf and am well on with my first adult sized garment - a blanck chunky cardigan for me. More on those another time.<br />
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The first two are premature sizes and were done with a view to entering the completed items into this year's Otley Show as there's always been a category for premature baby clothes before (afterwards to be donated to a local hospital's premature baby unit ☺). However, when I saw the Show schedule for this year, they'd actually changed some of the categories and, with 10 weeks or less to Show date, the charity knitting class was changed to 'baby blanket, max 1m' So, the two tiny cardies I'd knitted were no good as far as exhibiting there goes this year and the only other category that I'd something almost ready for, a scarf, was also dropped in favour of a knitted household item, so I decided to scratch from the Show all together. I felt much better afterwards too as it would have been a fair strain to get all the pieces ready in time, as I like to enter enough to get myself a free ticket.<br />
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Anyway, I have two pregnant friends at the moment, so I decided to keep hold of these preemie knits just in case one of them arrives early and then later on either put them in another Show that has this sort of charity class or send them to a suitable unit or organisation myself.<br />
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This first, blue one is made to my usual go-to girl's pattern in beautifully soft cotton DK (King Cole Cotton Soft yarn) and stitched on in various Anchor & DMC Coton à Broder #16 shades.<br />
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The second one, in white Sirdar Snuggly DK was a tricky one to knit as it was more or less a one piece construction - but a good learning experience. I decided to trim it up very simply so that it could serve for either a boy or a girl. It isn't exactly what I'd hoped, esp. as I had to use Coton à Broder #25 instead of #16 (lack of colours in the range), but it's slightly more interesting that just plain white. I also managed to mess up the buttonhole spacing, but I dare say the little mite who wears it won't mind in the least.<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-71623317319074611422017-05-01T16:12:00.001+01:002017-05-01T16:17:17.656+01:00Needlecrafts Review of 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I can't believe I'm actually doing this 4 months late - I would have preferred it to have been posted on 31 December 2016, but here it is today - on the first day of May 2017 - the summary of my needlework year 2016.<br />
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I think it's safe to say that 2016 was Year of the Wedding for me. I made stuff for 4 weddings, some of which ran in succession and kept me busy for quite some time. I'm still wondering if the 'must get on with it' for so many weeks in a row is part of what's kept me away from embroidery most of the time since....?? Maybe I burnt out a bit. May also be that I work better for a reason, rather than just for the love of the process and/or a lovely design. It's in my make-up, I doubt I'll ever be any different in the way I work.<br />
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Here goes with the stats:<br />
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I made five cushions/cushion covers ('pillows' if US English means more to you.☺) which were:<br />
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- Two scatter cushion covers for us made with red fabrics, woven braids bought in Taiwan back in 2010 and machine metallic threads, both backed in black. (I didn't get a decent photo of the completed braids one - they all bleached out.)<br />
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- One scatter cushion cover in hardanger: white and variegated peach on white and backed with peach and beige coloured fabrics.<br />
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- Two small wedding souvenir cushions, worked silk on silk to 'design specs' given by the couples (the grooms of which happened to be brothers.)<br />
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I also did two bellpulls, both as wedding gifts:<br />
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A wedding dress modesty panel:<br />
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A wedding card and an anniversary one:<br />
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Made a new Bible cover for my hubby:<br />
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Knit four baby cardigans (one still needed trimming up at the end of the year) and made two baby quilts:<br />
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And a 'finishing up' project where I mounted nine previously worked things (eight by me (including one I actually did in May), one by a friend) into cards and frames etc:<br />
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I also worked on one more knitting project - a scarf for me, and two embroideries, one of which was started in late 2015 (and finished in February 2017) and the other begun in August 2014 and is still dragging on ad infinitum.<br />
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Total number of full project completions was 16, plus the eight finish-ups of my own, makes a total of 24 for the year and 4 projects to carry over. That's not too dusty, is it? In fact, I think it may even be a record for me! Even if I <i>am</i> a bit late.....<br />
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I'm adding no goals for the current year beyond that I hope that I <i>finally</i> finish the Paradise Island cross stitch and make that up into another scatter cushion cover and I have three small embroideries that I've prepared the fabrics and two of the sets of threads for. I have another, quite major project underway at the moment and I'll be sharing that with you later this month.<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-45116985302971590472017-03-20T09:00:00.000+00:002017-03-20T09:00:00.181+00:00Finishing up some older projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I think many, if not most of us have some little itsy-bitsy things hanging around waiting for us to finish them, or finish them <i>into</i> something once the actual stitchery is complete. I had a few of these and so, once all the wedding pieces were done, I had a bit of a finish-a-thon.<br />
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Long term readers may remember some, or even all of these pieces. The first ones, the four tiny hardanger cards shown part worked here, I posted about around the turn of 15/16. I had put the beading on sometime in the latter half of last year at some point when I actually wasn't in the depths of Intensive Project Hell, where I spent at least 3 months of 2016 (no wonder it was such a productive stitching year!), but I just hadn't mounted them into cards.<br />
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On one day, I mounted the four hardanger cards as well as the two old needlepoint birds in the frames that came in the kits, including giving them felt backings. <br />
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Mounting the other two cross stitches was quite easy using an iron as they're first put onto fusible webbing/Bondaweb, (which I had to buy a new supply of as I'd run out) but the paper not peeled off. I then stuck them onto the relevant pieces of card, trimmed up the dress one and set the cat-a-cello (which my friend, Katy worked for me years ago) aside in a plastic pocket ready to go in the front of my long nelgected music folder. I'm not exactly thrilled with the results of the dress card - it's too bitty and disjointed for my tastes, but I'm sure someone'll love it!<br />
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My project box was a great deal emptier for being able to move these eight items out! There were nine things to be done at that point, the ninth being the lilac bellpull I shared a few weeks ago.<br />
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That's it for project catch up blog-a-thon - the series of almost 20 bi-weekly posts that have been needed to bring you up to date with my projects. I hope you've enjoyed all these pieces. ☺. I can't promise such regular amounts of eye candy from here onwards, but there'll be things to see as I get pieces ready for this summer's show(s) and other things. Let's see what we can come up with!<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-86723275897343703622017-03-17T09:00:00.000+00:002017-03-17T09:00:00.185+00:00Lauren's Wedding Card etc<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At the Knitting and Stitching Show, I had fun with a <a href="http://www.rowandean.com/" target="_blank">Rowandean</a> 'make and take' piece again this year, having already decided to use it for a wedding card to go along with the dress panel and bellpull.<br />
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It was worked in about three sessions - two of them at the Show. I did a bit, went off to look around again, then came back and did some more, then took it home to finish off. Problem was that, as I'd left it in the hoop at the stand the first time I took a break, I forgot to take it <i>out </i>of the hoop when I was leaving the Show with it and, consequently, waltzed off with one of Katrina's hoops! I realised what I'd done shortly afterwards and posted it back to her, so I hope she got it OK...<br />
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I didn't get any WIP shots this time, but here it is before and after the main fabric was trimmed to a heart shape and mounted onto a card. As you can see, I chose a very different colour scheme from <a href="http://sew-in-love.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/rowandean-piece-complete.html" target="_blank">the last time I did one of these</a>.<br />
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I love these little pieces and fully intend to do another one at this year's Show.<br />
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I needed to wrap the bellpull up somehow, but didn't want to roll it or risk it getting folded. So, I cut a piece of purple card - the same cardstock as I'd used to mount the Rowandean piece on, and used that to support it. <br />
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The hanger hung comfortably over the back and I prepared and printed some care instructions to stick on the back of the cardboard too, so that the new owners know how to wash and iron it if ever needed, i.e.hand wash in cool water and press from the back onto a thick towel. <br />
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I found some terrific clear wrapping plastic at Wilko's instead of the usual patterned paper.<br />
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The last stage was to paint a plain, manilla A5 envelope with lilac metallic fabric paint (I don't have metallic regular stuff. I don't paint much), put the card in that and then fasten them together with a little bit of double sided tape in between the two, and then attach this ribbon.<br />
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And that's the last of the African wedding series. Hope you've enjoyed it. It was nice doing three such very different pieces. I felt I was able to give dear Lauren a little bit of everything. ♥☺♥<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-86818269649535279952017-03-13T09:00:00.000+00:002017-03-13T09:00:00.156+00:00VS Renaissance Rose bellpull - finished up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here we are at the finish line for this project.<br />
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As this design was for a framed piece whilst I wanted to make a bellpull out of it, I needed to adapt the bottom. It wasn't terribly difficult - I just needed to add a row of buttonhole edging around the outside of the hardanger section and then, using the new edge this created to site a row of four-sided edging on each side. When this had got to the needed height, I just turned the top over a pretty hanger I got at the Knitting and Stitching Show in November.<br />
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And that was it!</div>
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Here the purple card back makes a nice contrast and shows off the cutwork section nicely. I actually used this type of card as a support when packing up the bellpull, which you can see next catch up project post when I also share the wedding card.<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-28546489576033833062017-03-10T09:00:00.000+00:002017-03-10T10:39:08.928+00:00VS Renaissance Rose Bellpull - bullions!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I mentioned in my last posting on this project that I'm often wary of bullion knots. I think that, with a combination of <a href="http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2012/06/04/bullion-knot-flowers/" target="_blank">Kathy's extremely helpful, 'alternative' method of working them</a> (compare how the needle is held in <a href="http://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/knots/bullion-knot/" target="_blank">this, more traditional approach</a>, which I find overly awkward to work and leads to puckering)and the sheer quantity of knots that I had to work on my one and only piece of <a href="http://sew-in-love.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/completed-rolled-roses-brazilian.html" target="_blank">Brazilian embroidery</a> and <a href="http://sew-in-love.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/work-in-progress-wednesday-16-oct-2013.html" target="_blank">the 'Sunshine and Flowers' sampler</a>, I've managed to get a fair grip on how to get them to work out OK. I was really quite pleased with how the majority of these came out.<br>
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Having said that, I <i>still</i> wouldn't call myself confident with them, but I'm certainly getting there. ☺ I need to try the same do it over and over again method with cast on stitches and flowers next as I'd love to master those.<br>
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You may have noticed especially in the big heart, but also in the other two, smaller motifs with the bullion roses, that there were some pink lazy daisy stitches to insert too, which also add variety and balance to the piece. Having said 'balance', I realised, looking at this photo, that the roses are much more numerous on one side than the other, but oddly, I didn't notice when looking straight at it. Maybe this angle of photo has highlighted it.<br>
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This is the last section, (which I actually did first) and you can also see that I also worked the outer border as far as I could ready to make the piece up into a bellpull. The original design was to be framed, so I had to think carefully about how to go about it. More on that in the next in this series.<br>
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-70281905656376963382017-03-06T09:00:00.000+00:002017-03-06T09:00:00.570+00:00VS Renaissance Rose Bellpull - part one<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thanks SO much for all the kind compliments on the last finish - and also all the way through the project. And now, welcome to a new project series!<br />
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Before she approached me about her wedding dress panel, Lauren said she and her fiancé would like a bellpull with a favourite Bible text for their home as their wedding gift. I chose the absolutely gorgeous Renaissance Rose design from Victoria Sampler to adapt for this piece.<br />
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Here's the initial floss toss and, with the exception of deciding against the gold shades in favour of the aubergine cord, this is pretty much what I used - for a wonder! I normally chop and change several times during the process. Do you? Or do you stick fairly closely to the pattern and/or original palette?<br />
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As you can see, I opted for 8 shades of Coton à Broder #25 from DMC and Anchor. The fabric is 28ct congress cloth (I think) in an ecru shade with which I used Anchor Pearl Cottons #8 and #12 in shade 926.<br />
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A quick comparison with the chart photo shows that I needed to start out with a little adaptation of the original design in order to meet the requirements. I decided to replace several pattern rows in the middle, including the 'For You' bit with the scripture they wanted and also to move a cross stitch floral line down to make the text section framed by a similar motif. It took a couple of goes with a piece of graph paper to get the lettering charted correctly, but it wasn't too big a challenge - especially not after the last project!<br />
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After the middle section was complete, I filled in the surface work on the lower half, including the beaded parts, (using good old Mill Hill petite seed beads, which I'm a big fan of), but not the bullion knots which I'm always a little wary of and decided to leave until last. I hadn't ever thought of doing it before, but I love the section of ecru four-sided stitch in the section above the hardanger heart. I think it adds a great textural element.<br />
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Next came the top few motifs, including the leaf and bead 'frame' for the lovely heart motif. <br />
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I then did the cutwork section on the lower heart, as you can see below and even remembered to take some photos at this point. I didn't take as many WIP shots as I would have liked of thie piece and some were too poor to do anything with other than to delete them!<br />
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Here's the piece at the point that we'll leave it for this post and next time I'll show you the bullion knot sections.<br />
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I loved this project and I'd really like to do another one, perhaps on bright white fabric and with yellow flowers. I would very probably want to keep that, but it would be a strong candidate for exhibiting in the summer shows.<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-61680023170165899322017-03-03T09:00:00.000+00:002017-03-03T09:00:01.358+00:00Wedding Dress Modesty Panel - fitting and wearing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here's the last instalment in the adventures of a wedding dress modesty panel. I'm not involved in any of this section - except that I took one of the two wedding screenshot photos. All other photos etc in this post are from the bride's family and friends over in Ghana on the Big Day.<br />
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The bride's dad sent me this lovely shot of her getting out her dress and receiving the modesty panel ready for fitting. It came along with a heart warming message:<br />
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"Lauren really happy with your work. Thank you soooooo much."<br />
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In the same photo batch came this one of fitting in progress. Janet, the bride's mum, is a very accomplished seamstress who also made a Ghanaian style outfit for herself for the day. ☺<br />
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And here it is in action! Photos etc were coming in during the ceremony to all Lauren's friends here in the UK and I was busting with flattered vanity when I saw that she had deliberately sat during the ceremony with her hair on one side so as to show off the panel - the one that was meant to be hidden!! ☺♥☺<br />
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It did get hidden during the more 'active' parts, but you can see a tiny bit of it here during the wedding vows (my screenshot photo).<br />
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"Screenshot? How come?" I hear you ask? Well, as so many family members and friends weren't able to go over to Africa for the wedding, the whole ceremony was streamed live via YouTube and left on for catch up later for people who weren't able to join at the actual time (including us).<br />
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In this scene - the legal registration required by Ghana law before the religious ceremony, you can see dad in the background holding up his phone so that the bride's eldest brother, who lives in China, could 'be there' in real time. On the other side was her 2nd brother enabling their 3rd brother (who has a tiny daughter) and maternal grandparents back home in the UK via his phone. It was a truly intercontinental event! Marvellous! ♥<br />
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Along with these two beautiful photographs that came from the newlyweds a few days later, I got a lovely recorded message telling me that many people had commented how nice her dress was at the back. (Vanity swells again!!)<br />
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A most successful project, I think. The fact that people were complimenting her on the appearance of the panel means that it served its purpose well and that no-one was offended by too much skin in the wrong place. That was the main thing. <br />
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Of course, I'm delighted with the results too. ☺ I'm wondering now if I'll ever get chance to do any more projects like this....<br />
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I'll conclude this project with this Very Lauren screenshot from the wedding talk. ☺♥☻<br />
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The card and 'regular' gift coming up next!<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-58747148671311546612017-02-27T09:00:00.001+00:002017-02-27T09:00:09.446+00:00Wedding Dress Modesty Panel - final preparation stages<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here we are arrived at part six of the dress panel project - the penultimate instalment.<br />
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And. This. Part. Was. Scary.<br />
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Actually, the part that worried me most was, after removing the embroidery hoop, I needed to trim the excess stabilizer off and I was scared I would cut the net. One misplaced snip and the whole thing could fray irretrievably. Thankfully, that didn't happen and here you see it soaking in our bathroom washbasin. After which, it came out just that little bit crumpled up.<br />
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It dried quite a bit flatter though. Phew! It was mostly the silver threads twisting and turning.<br />
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I re-rinsed the piece to make sure that all the stabilizer was out of the net and the threads - the silk felt horrid whilst still full of half dissolved Romeo! Once it had dried again and I'd finger flattened a fair number of the silver threads, I subjected it to the book treatment overnight as you can see here.<br />
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From the bottom up:<br />
-Thick or well folded towel(s)<br />
-Beaded piece <i>upside down</i> so that the beads and stitchery sink into the towel and don't get flattened themselves and ruin the piece<br />
-Heavy books<br />
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You can also use this sort of method to iron beaded pieces (or those using thick threads and 3D stitches) and/or clothes. Iron from the back onto a thick layer of towelling and you'll have a lovely result. Here's the finish I got. Not 100% straight, but more than straight enough and much better than the wet version above!<br />
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Here's the panel mounted on a piece of dark green A4 card and popped into a plastic pocket for protection on the next part of its adventure - flying over to Ghana. <br />
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This is where I bow out of this project and, next time, you can see Janet, the bride's mum, fitting the panel and some shots of the whole dress in action. ♥<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-55802412089328759432017-02-24T08:49:00.000+00:002017-02-24T08:50:39.107+00:00Wedding Dress Modesty Panel - Beading and Embellishing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Part five today - the beads and jewel embellishments.<br />
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I'd never used pearl beads of this size before, or diamond-like sparklies either, so I wasn't really sure of myself here.<br />
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This first shot you might remember from the introductory post in this project series - it's from the dress proper and shows what sort of jewel trims it had, including the pearl beads in the small flowers and leaves. Actually, I forgot to put them above the leaves in the end.... Just remembered that whilst writing this!<br />
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Here's the whole panel with the pearl beads added.<br />
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And a close up of my favourite section with just the beads on.<br />
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The dress proper had two different sizes of pearl beads, whereas I was working with just one, so I ended up adding more in later on to even things up a little in the central, large flower.<br />
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These are the sparklies I was given to work with from both top and bottom. I'd never really seen anything like this before, especially not with a view to working with them. As you can see, the back has an 'x' shaped finish and no visible attaching mechanism like beads have. So, what I ended up doing was fastening the jewel to the embroidery by catching threads around the arms that hold the stone in the setting. That worked very well<br />
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Finally for today we have a few shots of the final panel with the addition of the sparklies. I loved these. They ended up being realy quite easy to do and they just look great! I was happy to add the leftovers to my stash. ☺ Wish I could think of something else to use them on now. Couture 'commissions' aren't something I get every day, sadly! Part of me rather likes the idea of working as an embroiderer in a big fashion house.<br />
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Here's the whole panel still in the hoop, just before being taken out and prepared for fitting. More on that next time, on Monday. Join me then! ☺♥<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-88632080050265573052017-02-22T14:41:00.000+00:002017-02-22T14:42:37.811+00:00Wedding Dress Modesty Panel - More details on the silver work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today I'm here with an extra instalment insterted in the dress panel story. After the last post on the silver threads, Dima from <a href="http://d1-d2.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">the D1-D2 blog</a> (go and check out her progress on the Alison Cole 'Pearl Butterfly' project, BTW. It's beautiful!) left a comment asking how I dealt with the thread ends on the back of the panel.<br />
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Well, that made me realise that what I'd declared to be 'pretty self explanatory' was really nothing of the sort and that she probably wasn't the only one who was disappointed by my lack of detail. I plead the excuse of having almost 20 blog posts to write in only 3 or 4 sessions and being a little too eager to get them all done and scheduled.... (blush). Here I am today to redress the balance and explain how the silver threads were attached and fastened off at the back. I found a few helpful 'in progress' photos too. ☺<br />
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Basically, once I'd gone around the four larger flower motifs, (which were easy to deal with given the heavy embroidery I could fasten off to at the back), there were two ways of dealing with the long stems and smaller motifs: with two pieces of thread running largely in parallel, or with one doubled over the whole length.<br />
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These first three photos show part of the process of working a two parallel lengths section. What that means is that I cut two lengths of Kreinik Japan #7, not necessarily to the same lengths, and worked them alongside each other part of the way, separating for the single lines around any motifs that fell into their paths. <br />
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I started by plunging both ends under a large motif where they could be fastened off easily on the back, then couched them down with one stitch across both threads until it was time to diverge them to outline small flower and leaf motifs.<br />
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In this third shot you can see the two ends re-converging ready to be couched back down in the original one stitch way and then plunged under the big flower and fastened off there. I had to use my tweezers quite a lot to help the thread to settle in the right direction.<br />
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As you can see from this section, it wasn't always a simple task. The long diagonal stem, with the motifs under it AND the stem with the heart, the flower it joins into on the right and the snaky-shaped trailing stem end underneath that flower are <i>all one section</i>! The piece for the lower part needed to be quite a bit longer than the top one as it had to cater for the triple flower and leaf section.<br />
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Actually, I can't remember exactly where this piece ends, but it looks like the trailing end was worked with one piece laid double and then continuing out to the heart stem. I'm thinking the ends are safely couched under either the heart or the flower. I can't recall at this distance of time - I did this back in November! It may even have been at the base of the snaky trailing bit, where it joins the flower. I've no pictures of the back of the work, so I can't check now.<br />
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The thread was bent in either half, or as near to half as the diverging motifs allowed and started at an edge on the motif furthest out from the large flower. On each of these, I probably (or should have!!!) started near the base of the leaf or flower, worked all around it, then begun the one stitch over two threads method until I was able to plunge the ends under a larger motif again.<br />
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Basically the same thing applied when working something with a trailing end of stem as in the two sections seen below. With these, I 'tweezed' the Japan thread closely together and, after putting in one securing stitch over the very end of the fold, set off with the over-two couching stitches. The right hand motif was done by bending one piece roughly in half, whilst the left hand design needed a rather longer 'lower' part so as to take in the other trailing stem - again worked by doubling up.<br />
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I hope that makes some sense at least! I was flummoxed by some sections and had to think about the best way to do them so as to neither leave any ends showing through the net, nor scratch the poor bride to death! I also didn't want any doubling over back under the threads as it would probably offend on both counts.<br />
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I apologise for the 'cast' on some of the photos. Much of that came from the fact that there was a layer of reflective water soluble stabilizer underneath and was pretty hard to work around at times, photographically speaking.<br />
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The beads and jewel embellishments follow on Friday. Join me then! ☺<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-45456333109216299722017-02-19T14:24:00.001+00:002017-02-19T14:33:45.655+00:00The Sunday Yarn - 19 Feb 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At the moment, I have a virus - possibly a touch of the 'flu, so I'm not getting much embroidery done. However, I have been able to do a decent amount of knitting and I wanted to share the results with you this afternoon.<br />
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First of all, I've completed all the knitting on a new baby project, the cream cardigan above. It needs a bit of a press, some buttons and some embroidery now. The arms seem a little too long to me, but it might also be that they're a bit 'thin'. The pattern said to use size 6 (5mm) needles with the DK yarn, but I found it a bit too loose, so used size 8's (4mm).<br />
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The sample here is me having a go at cabling using <a href="http://m.wikihow.com/Knit-a-Cable" target="_blank">an on-line tutorial</a> I found last night. I changed direction twice (to see how it worked), thus the odd look about it. I also used up an old 4 ply yarn on this, so that was good. ☺ Always pleased to use up odds and ends.<br />
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And I'm almost at the end of my first ball of yarn on my scarf. I wish I'd use another 10-20 stitches in this one so that it'd be wider, but I'm certainly not starting again now! It'll be fine in use and will be long enough to layer up.<br />
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Next, apart from the finishings on the two recent baby knits, will be making a start on the full size things for me! ☺ I'll be using mostly chunky yarn, so it'll be similar to knitting a baby garment in 4 ply. The 4th thing I have in mind to do for me is for super chunky, so even quicker and easier! My mum's ordered a waistcoat using the oddments of chunky yarn too, so shouldn't have much in the way of bits and pieces hanging around afterwards.<br />
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Back to embroidery tomorrow and, all being well and I'm able to edit a post in time, there'll be some more detail on the silver thread work on the wedding dress project.<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-1087448598410390872017-02-17T09:00:00.000+00:002017-02-17T09:00:00.171+00:00Wedding Dress Modesty Panel - Silver Threads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Time for part three of this project and stage three - working the silver outlines and stems.<br />
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As is true of many embroiderers, my go to metallic thread brand is almost always Kreinik. It's pretty rare that they don't have what I need and I have a good supply of their threads in stock. Japan Threads #1, 5 and 7 were perfect for this project. I used #5 to work the larger flower centres and #7 matched the silver work on the dress exactly. I used #1 as a couching thread. I just needed to take care to make sure that each couching stitch went over a net thread or else it would be useless in holding the Japan #7 thread down once the stabilizer was dissolved.<br />
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Here are a few photos showing progress though the piece. They're self explanatory really, so minimal text today. ☺<br />
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The light was reflecting to beautifully off the silk flowers and the silver metallic thread, so I had to take this shot and try to capture at least some of it. Those of you who've seen this kind of work in the 'flesh' will know just how limited even the best photography is, but it gives a good idea. <br />
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I was posting regular updates on Instagram and was delighted around about this stage to know I was definitely on the right track as I got the comment "I love love love it!" from the bride. ♥<br />
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I had wanted to have a gap in the silver thread above the 3-leaf section just either side of the top centre and put jewels in the gap, but it would have been too hard to sink to the end without being very visible, so I re-jigged it to put the jewels either side of a line instead,<br />
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By this point, it was already beginning to look quite complete, but there were still two more types of trim to add. More on that next time.<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-40697661629894691352017-02-15T13:08:00.000+00:002017-02-15T14:21:34.293+00:00Work in Progress Wednesday - 15 February 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I confess, I'm not getting a lot of embroidery done at the moment. To be honest, I'm more into knitting just now as I'm doing baby projects both for this year's Shows and also for friends' newborns. I've also been stashing some yarn for some knits for myself. More on those projects on Sunday...<br />
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At least I've got a little more progress on the everlasting violet thread painting to share. I'm expecting to need this for a special greetings card in May, but there may be up to two more also needed, so I really should get back going with it.<br />
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I took this photos with my phone, so the colour isn't quite as faithful as I can get it using my camera. I need a few things sorting on my technology - camera battery door fixing, new laptop battery and the power supply 'pin' thingy fixing, so I hope to get to that as soon as I can and be able to work more comfortably instead of having to compensate for some problem most of the time. Frustrating!<br />
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Join me again on Friday for the next instalment in the wedding dress modesty panel series.<br />
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☺♥☻<br />
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13975264.post-24260855248435433532017-02-13T09:00:00.000+00:002017-02-13T09:00:10.998+00:00Wedding Dress Modesty Panel - Cream silk stitching <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome to part two of the wedding dress panel series. Today we're looking at the creation of the basic satin stitched flower and leaf motifs. I had a couple of kind comments on the stitchery from the last post, but I only showed photos of the embroidery and embellishments on the dress proper, i.e. not my work at all. Sorry for any confusion there, it seems I wasn't sufficiently clear. From now on, all the work is mine! <br>
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To be honest, a lot of them were not worked terribly well, especially not the smaller flowers, which weren't that easy to create. However, I wasn't too worried about that as I knew the dodgy parts would be covered by outlining and beads, so I could get away with working a few flowers before finding the best method. Above you can see all the small motifs done - a first milestone, then below a detail shot of one part once the first of that medium flowers was complete.<br>
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It was at the point in the 3rd photo that I ran out of thread! I'd badly underestimated the amount of silk needed and thought that what I had in stock would do. It didn't - not nearly!<br>
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The next part of the drama was to source a supplier who didn't charge the earth for shipping and would do so quickly, so not <a href="http://www.barnyarns.co.uk/delivery.html" target="_blank">Barnyarns</a> this time, but <a href="http://www.silkenstrands.co.uk/home.htm" target="_blank">Silken Strands </a>- a small, family business based in Wales. Highly recommended for speed of service and reasonable postage costs. I confess to having enjoyed 24 hours off the project to catch up with some other tasks whilst the threads arrived ☺<br>
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Drama stage three was receiving the threads (I bought two packs to be sure of having enough!) and finding that they were a whole shade lighter than the original one I'd had a few years! Possibly it had darkened in storage. Anyway, Janet and I agreed that, in view of the timing, it was more important to carry straight on and hope it wouldn't show later on than to try and source another shade. Those of you who are, like me, very sensitive to nuances of colour (and have good screen resolution) may be able to see where one shade ends and the second began. It was clearer in real life and screamed almost painfully at me....<br>
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You can see the colour difference again here in this close up, but it fades into less significance when the whole lot of the silk work is done. To be honest, that colour change was the only real disappointment to me in this project.</div>
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That's it for this time. Next time I'll be taking you on a tour of the silver work parts.<br>
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Text and images © Elizabeth Braun 2017Elizabeth Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067860880479674275noreply@blogger.com6