Composition doll, Dress

I'm almost done with the composition doll #1 that Kathleen passed onto me, I really love the little dress she was wearing and at a attempt to save it, I hand washed it with Woolite in cold water. But my efforts could not mend the little holes on the bib ruffle.

The slip/pantaloons washed up really good, seems I would have to replace the little yellow party dress though.

Which looked awful after I hung it up to dry, Maine weather....if you don't like it wait 5 minutes and it will change, true on this day, not a cloud in the sky until I hung out the dollies laundry to dry!

So down at the machine I sat. No bother, I have the perfect fabric to make another dress for doll #1 (I need a name), it's the same fabric, rayon, and pale pink. It's so pale it can almost look white.

If you enlarge the close-up photo of the yellow dress you'll see part of the reason why I'd hope this little thing would be good, it has a scallop edging on the bib ruffle. I was pretty sure my machine could do a better, much thicker, scalloping. Trouble was, I'd never used it before, especially on a tender fabric as rayon.

My husband likes to tell people that I didn't, or wouldn't use this brand new machine for a couple of years after he bought it for me. He was so proud of the purchase and being very informed and knew it would do many more things that I would enjoy. But for years I used my old machine, I was very intimated but all the electronic and worried I'd break it.

This was the day of truth, see that my machine was clicked over to scallop stitch? There are a few more things that need switching, size of the stitch, both length and width. I had done the swan stitch and the tulip stitch this way and didn't have a issue. Simple.

No, not so easy, all the machine would do is zig-zag, *sigh*, I resorted to reading the instructions. Which seemed to be of no help. The stitch I wanted was classified as a decorative stitch (letters C to I), falling within the satin stitch program, "Place dial on F". Well "F" is the shell stitch and that was zigging and zagging all over the place. The beautiful lighting stitch didn't work either, that's the drop down box looking shape you see on Indian blankets. Anyway, "decorative stitches" weren't computing. I got so frustrated with it and I tuliped stitched the hem of the dress, I chose a contrasting color thread.

I felt pretty silly when I took the time to really review the directions in the manual, I was not going to not do the scallop edging! The "F" dial was on the stitch length, well! That would make sense since satin stitch is a side by side stitch and has no length!

Finally.

I used hem tape on the bib ruffle, I did so because with rayon, it is harder than heck to get a even hem let alone on something as small as a ruffle. Hem tape is ironed on then the paper is removed leaving a small rubber like line holding the hem down.

(I guess my thumbnail is still jaundice from dyeing the wig!)

I was quite happy with the bib,

and even happier with the dress.

The flower stems....

and the done dress! It's cute, it's so cute....

I decided, after I made the repairs to the shoe, they needed alittle juicing too! C&G Design.

Redwork-block 4, lamb

I LOVE this one, it's so cute. At first I wasn't going to do it because of the satin stitch in the hooves. I didn't think I'd be able to make spaces where the picture had gaps in the legs.

It worked out alright and I'm glad I did it. Did I mention that the reason red work has mainly simple patterns is because children did a lot of them? Especially when they needed to convalesce from sickness, TB, or polio. Linear stitches were easily learned and if you were nine and just starting to learn red work, you were almost considered to old. Those were the days.....

This one has become my favorite in this group of first four. I figure my panel will be 4 by 5 so I'm showing work in groups of four.

There is something so touchable about a lamb. C&G Design

Redwork-Block 1, Pig

Redwork has been making a comeback lately, I was surprised to see so much of it at the fair last year but there it was, machine embroidered. I don't have anything against the new machines that can do everything except kiss your husband, but I was a little deflated to read they are machine embroidered.

Redwork is a kind of embroidery picked up in the 1880' to the 1920's, it replaced the Victorian era of crazy quilts which had faded out. Woman were willing to pay extra money for what was called "Turkey Red" floss because it was the only color that was colorfast, thus redwork was born. Blue colorfast came along in 1910-1930, blue embroidery with blue is called bluework, green floss is greenwork. The only exception is black and that is work done with a single black strand, stitched one way (horizontal or vertical), the rest of the pattern is done in red. This work is called blackwork. By far though, redwork is the oldest.

I'll have more history on redwork as we go along because I want to talk about my project. I started with this cute little pig pattern figuring it was easy and it was....., I tranfered it the way I usually do, trace the outline with pencil then after facing down on fabric, scribble with hard pressure on the back of the pattern. This method has been effective for me since I was in high school.

The first step to redwork is the running stitch, it takes most of the time in a redwork project but still, quite easy.

You'll notice masking tape on my fabric, it's meant to prevent fraying but I ditched it after this block. Sometimes peeling the tape off can cause unraveling itself and since these are simple projects, they will be handled far less than others and really don't need the temporary binding.

After the running stitch, you'll need to weave in and out of each top stitch in a spiral manner. This is the outline stitch. Sometimes redwork includes the satin stitch and the backstitch. You'll see the satin later on down the road but I almost never use the backstitch.

Isn't my pig cute? They all are cute, it's hard to pick a favorite. C&G Design

Blanket Stitch

I want to talk about the blanket stitch, it is the stitch that I'm using while I make my penny rug. As you might guess, it is the stitch found on the satin edging of a blanket, and very easy to do. I drew the graphic for to mechanic to this embroidery, 3 easy steps and then repeat.....

Be aware and well informed, the blanket stitch uses twice the amount the plain running stitch would. Buy a lot of your colors! My bags are quart size.

Once done....it becomes a real asset to the piece.

Alright, I found my thread at a yard sale. C&G Design

Piano Lessons

I absolutely adore this needlepoint, I saw it sitting on the floor leaning against the wall and decided with out haste, I needed it. It's beautiful, the picture really doesn't capture the dimension portrayed by using the long and short stitch. The flowers are the satin stitch and the oval, the window panes, the vase, it the outline stitch. Outline is a running stitch with a topical twist from one stitch to another, a quick very defined stitch, used often.


But check out the lace curtains and her zig-zag trim on her dress, it's the back stitch (going in the fabric, coming out a stitch away, going back through the same starting point, coming out a stitch away, move down to the next point). Very tedious but in the right application, it is beautiful.
This needle point is professionaly mounted with the name of the needlepoint inked on the backing, piano lessons. I'm going to leave it like that and hang it next to the piano so Madame can have a continuing reminder to practice.
Think it will work? C & G Design.

Clothscapes-p.9, Fantasy Bird

Ohhh, I think my bird came out beautiful, pretty good for using my own colors (I had no graph with listed color scheme).

I'm relatively sure......fantasy bird is going to be a pillow and not in the wall sampler of my needlepoint.

I have a room with oriental art collected within it, my bird, that reminds me of Chinese New Year Dragon, would fit in the decor better than a sampler with muted colors.

Madame P calls this room the "blue room", whatever the title, it's the main room of my house. I'll be posting on it as it becomes a complete transformation with many fine things.

I used graduated color for the face and head feathers. Can you see the difference in the color of the green as it fades and darkens? The same with the blue atop the head? This is the first time I've used this thread and I really like the effect. I used the same blue for the legs only it didn't show so well. I adore the wings on my bird, so pretty. Using the outline stitch for this flower will be demostrative of how color is dramatic when fading in staged stitching.
Here is the fading color, staged stitching with white as the outline. A neat and cool look.

Yep, a pillow...stay tuned. C & G Design.

100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100,100, 100, 100, 100, 100 100! Post!

Clothscapes, part 7-- church

I have been posting on my cloth scape's with two articles in each post, this post is different. I found this lovely needle painting in one of my craft books, it comes close to my scene with the church. Both have a foreground leading the eye back to the horizon, most everything is done in the outline stitch or tiny flat stitches, and each one has a category of vibrant colors to call their own. The above portrait is a interpreted needle painting of Van Gogh's "Apple Orchard".

My cloth scape has quite a bit of age on it. I always thought the stitcher who used the pinks and blues in the piece was actually making a statement. Could it be this is a version of a impressionist painting? I've decided it is, certainly beautiful enough to be close. The fabric isn't stamped like kits are. In fact I can not find any direction under the stitches. My book indicates needle paintings are done in silk threads and is hard to tell if this is the reality of my church scene. Maybe one day it will come forth as a painting...if it is one.

Too bad it wasn't signed. C&G Design.

Clothscapes part6-Orange house+Small surprises

I will change my mind a ga-zillion times about a project before it's done. Then I still don't know what comes out until I get that completed feeling that calls to me to...stop. I'm so happy I finished this little dam house (pun intended). It wasn't to bad to do it just appeared it would go quick, guess there is no such thing as quickly with a needle point project.

Anyway...few more stitches to review, they can be seen closer when you enlarge the top photo.

The tree trunk is made with a chain stitch used as a fill in, very creative.

The pink outline of the porch is the brick stitch, it is what it says. A staggered stitch of the same size, placed one above another, like bricks.

I'm not too sure about the stitch used in the tree foliage, I suspect it's a filler designed to create texture.

The water is what's called long and short stitch, similar to the brick stitch except it's a random pattern of long and short. It's meant to give the object gradual dimension.

All the other stitches in this landscape picture is either the satin, seed, or french knots. One interesting note about the way the house is stitched. I'd mentioned in the flower basket about the basket weave being done in a small satin stitch, it truly is....and it's in the house. BUT, but it is called Roumania stitch. With a name like that you'd think it came from Romania, no, it falls under Oriental Laid work from China. It's a stitch used to give shading as you can see well in the roof of my house. It's loosely based on the satin stitch and it is said the New England women preferred this stitch to the long and short because you wasted nothing on the back of your work. Every stitch begins a thread over!

On to small surprises....guess I was a bit bored with this house (shocks me so!).

I picked up First Prize at the County Fair. Each one was done in a day.

Strawberries in the satin stitch.....

Peaches in the long and short stitch.......

Raspberries in french knots.......

I'm thinking I'll frame each one in fabric before stitching together. C&G Design.

Clothscapes-part 5, Cornucopia, Butterfly

I purchased this beautiful cornucopia at a second hand shop, it was in a frame complete with glass and has hung on my wall for several years. It is cross stitch on linen.

Counted cross stitch is different from cross stitch but the same. Counted is done on a canvas or aida with marked areas for your stitches and so many counted stitches for your project. Cross stitch is the same without the holes and the counting, it lends to more flexibility. It's recommended to do counted as a beginner in order to be able to get the feel for the size of the stitches. This is embroidery because it's with thread.

My butterfly is done, there is a faint sense the original picture was oval. Much of the matching yarn had frayed or split over time, I think exposure will help it blend together. This lovely is a example of needlepoint, it's the seed stitch in rows. The picture itself is worked by starting from the center, out. I don't recommend the base material for a budding needle artist. It's interlocking canvas, meaning it's double the thread both up....and across.....
Very difficult to work with. C&G Design.

Clothscapes-part 4, flower basket stitches

Guess I'm needing to give myself alittle nudge on the somewhat lengthy clothscapes project, although 3 out of the seven needle points are done, and 2 out of the seven need only minor finishing, it's seeming to take longer than expected.

I thought I'd introduce some of the stitches in the pictures, most are pretty basic and not that difficult to do. In the above picture, you see the turkey stitch in the cattails, the pinkish flower, and along with the orange flower. The turkey stitch is a loop stitch, it can be of various sizes, it is simply held above the canvas until the 2nd stitch is done. The second stitch anchors the first, the third anchors the second, etc. Interesting that one cattail is cut loops and the other isn't.
The pale yellow flowers that appear to be x, is the Leviathan stitch, it starts as a x, adding the + over the x. It creates a star like stitch.

More turkey stitches, but the salmon colored stalk flowers are french knots, so easy to do but looks complex. Coming up the material with the thread, turn needle point down towards the fabric, grasp the tread close to fabric, wrap the needle starting with the close end of the thread, stitch back down the fabric by the enter point. If done right the thread is pulled through the twists creating a knot. You can twist as much as you want.

The brown branches are the outline stitch. It starts with the running stitch, you return to the start with fresh thread and weave in the running stitch, going under the sash and then over to go under the next sash.

The other variation of the brown branches is done in the chain stitch. Come up with thread and go back down through fabric, skip up and return back up through the fabric (create a sash on the back). Before you tighten the loop from the first stitch, make sure the returning needle is inside the loop, it makes a circle chain held by the next chain, so on and so forth....

The woven basket is the satin stitch. The satin is used as a filling stitch, basically up the fabric, down the fabric from the lines of the pattern, notice in the stems on the table, the satin stitch widens and narrows. The satin stitch is used in limits, it can't fill in large areas. The dark brown color of the basket is the seed stitch, or half a cross stitch.

These are only a few. C&G Design.

Shadow Appilque'

I'm finished with Madam P's dance flowers, it was a simple project that she will have forever. After the glue was dry on the flower placement, I sewed a running stitch around the outside edges of the flowers. I stitched on the edges of the top flower where they overlapped, and the edges of the overlapped flower.

Once all of my flowers were stitched in place with the running stitch, we chose a decorative thread and whipped around the running stitch, staying on top of the work. Applique' is defined as applied on top. Running stitch with the whip stitch is called "outline stitch"I used gold beading thread for the ladies. I needed something fine so it would show the limbs as limbs.

As you can tell, I beaded each shadow picture.

We fitted Luann to the frame then painted the front side black, two of the flowers fell outside the perimeter of the picture but it worked just the same. We glued the edges down, stretching the fabric as we went. Once the glue dried we fixed the picture inside the frame using long staples and bending them inward to hold the object it place. I signed and dated the back, indicating who it was for, and what it was.

I like the way the sheer fabric gives it movement.

C & G Design.