Stitching

Early in October, I took a two-day hand-stitching workshop at the Pacific Northwest Art School with Christine Mauersberger, someone whose work I have long admired. The image above (about 6" high) combined two stitching exercises. The first was to stitch a circle. The second was to draw lines that captured a series of breaths, transfer the lines to the fabric, and stitch them. I decided to use this as an opportunity to try out a variety of ways of making a line with stitches. My enthusiasm for hand-stitching was re-ignited by the workshop, and when I got home I decided to explore further the variety possible in line-making. I started a sampler using all one type of thread, varying the stitches. I got up to about 45 and paused to do some further trials and a project. I'll pick this up again sometime later to explore further types of lines. (You can click on an image to enlarge it.)

About 45 different ways to stitch a line.

Close-up of top right column

One stitch, different threads

From the further trial of various threads, I chose a nubbly Tassar silk thread from Habu (the 4th one down in the image above) to stitch on a sleeveless blouse of mine. I very much enjoyed working on this, and I like the stitch I used for it. I think of it as a variation on my "conversation stitch," with the conversation not just between 2 or 3 stitches, but between each stitch with the one before and then after it and sometimes in groups. This kind of stitching actually takes more attention than aiming for a regular set of parallel stitches. It keeps my mind engaged as I work, and I'm happy with the look.   

detail of stitching

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I got the idea for the placement of the stitching from a tunic that Christine wore during the workshop. The design was actually printed onto her tunic rather than stitched, but it really looked like stitching.

I am now on the lookout for other items in my wardrobe might benefit from some stitching. . .

Beads

About a month ago, I did two days of workshops with Lisa Binkley on bead embroidery.  I've been making embroidered hamsot for a few years (see post here).  Here are a couple of them:

I've been thinking for a while that they would look nice with the some beaded embellishment, so when I saw Lisa's workshops being offered close by, I signed up. The top photo is one of the samplers I started at the workshop, all done according to specific instructions, with beads provided. I enjoyed doing the beading, and am eager to try it out on a new hamsa. One of the attractions for me is that it gave me the opportunity to open up my mother's wicker box of beading paraphernalia, to see if there was anything I could use.

My mother did many crafts, including knitting (always a mainstay), crochet, macrame, needlepoint, embroidery, rug hooking, and beading. She used beads to make jewelry (mostly necklaces and bracelets), and she loved making beaded flowers. The jewelry was lovely, but I never saw the appeal of the large floral arrangements, of which she made many. I was glad when one of my cousins wanted one of these when we were closing up my parents' house, and I took some packed in a box, just because I couldn't bear to throw out her painstaking work. I do have a couple of small pieces in my home, including this beaded Christmas tree (about 10" high):

I love the candy canes and the draped "tinsel."

I also took her beading box, not thinking I would ever make use of it, but again, not being able to discard it. But now I had a reason to rummage around in it to see what I might be able to use--a great pleasure.

There were many beads that are possibilities for hamsa embellishment. I packaged them up and set them in the tray that went in the box. About 8 of the little bags below are beads left over from the workshop I took, but the rest are all from my mother's supply.

So, I've spent a couple of weeks doing a sampler of embroidery stitches with beaded embellishment. The work is slow, but very satisfying. I've left in this sampler less successful efforts as well as ones I like very much--they will help me remember what not to do as well as what stitches to use.

And a close-up that has a few of my favorites, including the starburst in the upper right and the staggered green thread with purple beads in the upper left. (As always, click on a photo to see it enlarged.)