Small stitches, densley worked

I never dreamed of being an embroiderer, but here I am. It's a slow process, but is very satisfying and meditative at this point in my life. Luckily I have other things to do when I'm totally over these stitches, so I go away and draw, or wash old textile pieces and put them out in the sun.

 

I'm not going to show the whole piece as it will be in the extraTexture exhibition in early July. I love the little touches of extra colour from the frayed edges of the shot silk.

 



a third layer

 

... and added lots of lovely stitches ...

 



another layer

I added shadowy shell shapes ...

 

I've started a sample

 

I'm trying to get a real idea of how my stitched piece will look in fabric, so I made a collaged background in shot silks.

 



It went here ...

 

 

 

 

I added this piece to my ledger. These are 2 of Karen Ruane's techniques - putting the stitched fabric sample in the ledger for safe keeping, and extending the design by pricking the paper with a pin. Very effective