Silk on Silk & Satin Stitch
Working on gold Italian silk, using soie d'alger by Au Ver a Soie, this stole is an on-going project that someday I hope to finish! The stole is approximately 40 inches (on each side) of satin stitching, with stem stitch also used as a filler. I drew the pattern on graph paper, inspired by a very old vestment that was falling apart. I've completed one whole side of the stole (shown here), and I'm halfway up the other side, which is identical.
This is the base of the stole. I am not particularly pleased with the stark contrast in the red and pink, although it is harsher in the photo than in real life. I tried to stick as much with the original color scheme on a very old vestment as I could, and the contrast between the reds and the "pinks" was rather stark. My sister says this reminds her of something out of "Little Shop of Horrors," a comment which I didn't entirely appreciate, but I can certainly see where she's coming from! The rays off the cross are stem stitched, and then I added a touch of blending filament. All the satin stitch thoughout the stole is padded - with two threads of soie d'alger. The satin stitching itself is done with one thread. (I'm firmly convinced you can only get a smooth stitch in satin stitch using one thread - unless you're supremely careful and employ a laying tool.)
This is the first flower just above the cross. Although I really like the stylized flower / pomegranite-ish look, I am not so keen on the soft colors. Again, it was a matter of sticking as close to possible to the color scheme in the antique vestment. Overall, it looks ok, but I would have chosen deeper colors, personally. Working the flowers was fun. The "branch" of the vine (the gold scrolly stuff) was fun, too, but it got a little monotonous.
This is the next flower up. I like the red and the green, and the cross-hatching in the middle of the flower. This was my favorite flower to work, but I wish I had worked the dark red "arms" sticking out there in satin stitch, as opposed to stem stitch.
The next flower up. Violet and green are two of my favorite color combinations, and I like it even better when red and gold are thrown in. (Think daffodils, irises, and red roses.) Here, I would have liked to have done something more "dimensional" with the pale green undersides of the side "petals."
The next little fellow up - and something weird and warbley going on over there on the right. I should have been a little more careful there. At this point, I was racing against the clock to finish the whole stole (and that was a couple years ago! The other half is taking me forever!)
Now we're getting up towards the tip of the stole. These two little guys are much smaller than they appear here. The cross hatching wasn't done with super precision - but it's really not noticeable except when looking really closely. The pink thing is a bud.
This is working right towards the tip. On the original vestment, where these little bleeding hearts are, there were other flowers - clusters of five round balls, each a differnt pastel-like color. I wanted to keep the deeper red traveling through the whole stole, so I substituted these guys. This looks larger in the photo than it really is.
Forty inches later - The End!
Now, if I could only arrive at that point on the second half!
This is the base of the stole. I am not particularly pleased with the stark contrast in the red and pink, although it is harsher in the photo than in real life. I tried to stick as much with the original color scheme on a very old vestment as I could, and the contrast between the reds and the "pinks" was rather stark. My sister says this reminds her of something out of "Little Shop of Horrors," a comment which I didn't entirely appreciate, but I can certainly see where she's coming from! The rays off the cross are stem stitched, and then I added a touch of blending filament. All the satin stitch thoughout the stole is padded - with two threads of soie d'alger. The satin stitching itself is done with one thread. (I'm firmly convinced you can only get a smooth stitch in satin stitch using one thread - unless you're supremely careful and employ a laying tool.)
This is the first flower just above the cross. Although I really like the stylized flower / pomegranite-ish look, I am not so keen on the soft colors. Again, it was a matter of sticking as close to possible to the color scheme in the antique vestment. Overall, it looks ok, but I would have chosen deeper colors, personally. Working the flowers was fun. The "branch" of the vine (the gold scrolly stuff) was fun, too, but it got a little monotonous.
This is the next flower up. I like the red and the green, and the cross-hatching in the middle of the flower. This was my favorite flower to work, but I wish I had worked the dark red "arms" sticking out there in satin stitch, as opposed to stem stitch.
The next flower up. Violet and green are two of my favorite color combinations, and I like it even better when red and gold are thrown in. (Think daffodils, irises, and red roses.) Here, I would have liked to have done something more "dimensional" with the pale green undersides of the side "petals."
The next little fellow up - and something weird and warbley going on over there on the right. I should have been a little more careful there. At this point, I was racing against the clock to finish the whole stole (and that was a couple years ago! The other half is taking me forever!)
Now we're getting up towards the tip of the stole. These two little guys are much smaller than they appear here. The cross hatching wasn't done with super precision - but it's really not noticeable except when looking really closely. The pink thing is a bud.
This is working right towards the tip. On the original vestment, where these little bleeding hearts are, there were other flowers - clusters of five round balls, each a differnt pastel-like color. I wanted to keep the deeper red traveling through the whole stole, so I substituted these guys. This looks larger in the photo than it really is.
Forty inches later - The End!
Now, if I could only arrive at that point on the second half!
Posted By: Mary Corbet on Sunday, October 01, 2006
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35 Comments:
That is some absolutely amazing satin stitch. I can't imagine how many hours of work this must have taken. Satin stitch with a single thread does seem like the way to get the best look...but oh so time consuming! Beautiful job.
That is some absolutely amazing satin stitch. I can't imagine how many hours of work this must have taken. Satin stitch with a single thread does seem like the way to get the best look...but oh so time consuming! Beautiful job.
Mary this is exquiste work
I'm in awe...I found your site via google looking for emboidery tips for beginners. This is amazing work!
I am totally in awe of this piece. The workmanship is stunning. Amazing work; thank you for sharing it with us.
Holy Moly! I've never seen a more beautiful stole. Not ever. Never!
Thank you all so much for the compliments! This is probably the most fun thing I've ever worked on - it isn't wild or varies, but it was challenging, and I was working with some really good materials, so the whole thing was a pleasure. Of course, I see now the things I wish I had done differently! But overall, I do like it, and am eager to get the second half of it finished!
I'm still trying to get my jaw up off of the desktop!
Gorgeous work!
Vivian
WOW..WOW..WOW!!!!!
I'm at a loss for words!
Absolutely stunning!
I want to do work like this someday.
Its a wonderful piece.
Love ur art
You have a rare gift inspired by God Himslef
Thanks!
I cannot believe the talent that one person has. Mary you not only have the talent you share it as well, what a gorgeous vestment this will make and thank-you for sharing. Lithigral patterns are so scarce and I would love to do some somday. Thank you for sharing your talents with all of us., and please don't stop.
Mary,
I was googling for some embroidary sites and voila, I jumped to your site.
This is exquisite work.I simply loved the videos.Extremely helpful.As they say, "Actions speak louder than words"
Too good.I am completely in awe.
-Sindhu
I don't think I've seen this piece yet, but this one is just as incredible as every other one you've ever done, Aunt Mary! :-)
Has your sister ever done needlework? Give her the section she thinks is so horrible and let her replicate it in better colors with the same quality of needlework. Your work is something I'll only be able to aspire to but I'm favoriting your site so I can revisit this amazing work. God has given you a gift.
what a happy discovery this site is! Thank God for the web and for gifts like yours. Boggles my mind, such precision. My satin work is soooo messy...but you encourage me to stick with it. Thank you for sharing. And for exercising your gifts.
bubba's mom
Mary, you are an amazing artist. I hope to one day know as much as you do. I don't see how you can possibly find anything wrong with your work, but artists are the hardest on themselves! Beautiful work.
Very beautiful work done by you.. Your site is a pleasure. - Meenakshi
Thank you, Meenakshi, for your kind words! I'm glad you're enjoying Needle 'n Thread!
And thanks to all who have complimented this piece. One day, I will finish it!!
MC
Mary, this is absolutely gorgeous work. I began embroidering just to make some stoles and so I have a more technical question...how do you mount these long pieces while you work on them. I thought I remembered you saying that you didn't like scroll frames, but I can't figure out any other way. Any tips you have would be appreciated. Thank you for the gift of your blog. You are inspiring.
HI, Candyce -
Yes, for a stole, I do use a scroll frame. I like them for this kind of work - but not just framed up. I learned (after working this piece) the importance of lacing the sides of the work to the sides of the scroll frame. It really helps keep a better tension all around. The problem with a wide scroll frame, if the sides are not laced, is that the firmest tension is directly in the center of the piece, and as you get closer to each side, you loose good tension.
So, with the sides laced, yes, a scroll frame is really a perfect solution to framing up a long, narrow piece like a stole!
Hope that helps!
MC
I happened onto your site and just love your work. The stole is fantastic and I loved that you have shared your find of using Solvy with embroidery. I had not realized that and so will definitely try it. Thank you for sharing.
Jean W.
This is an extraordinary piece of work. Your own preferences not withstanding, I find nothing to be critical about in either the colors or the execution.
Your work is outstanding. God bless you for it and greetings to your Guardian Angel.
This is my first "post" and I usually don't do this... But, I have never seen such beautiful work. I was looking for some beginning stitches so I could improve on what I probably learned wrong when I first began needlework (100 years ago)lol, and came to this site. It's the only site I now need. Aspire to be even a little talanted as you. Any suggestions to get going on the proper way to do stitches and what to begin as a first project?
Kate
Hi, Kate -
Thanks for your comment!
Well, for stitches, you might take a look at the various stitch videos to see what interests you. I noticed your comment on the monograms, so perhaps you could start with a monogram?
It's difficult to advise on a project without knowing your tastes and interests! But monograms are always nice for gifts!
Best,
Mary
hi,
It is really amazing , Your site is excellent and your videos are so so use ful to beginners like me.
thank you so much
Thank you so much. I found you in my efforts to assist my 12 year old son in his first embroidery project. He is a champion basketball player and quite the renaissance man. For his school science project he made a "Layers of the Earth" embroidery on linen while watching basketball on the tele. I fell in love with your details of this stole and truly appreciated the video library of stitches. I am now searching for a project to do for myself. I found the Mother's Day project on your site, and I am looking forward to that. It is amazing to watch your stitches on video, and makes me feel closer to my Mom and Aunt Jeri who passed away in the last 4 years ago very suddenly.
Hi Mary,just found your blog ! I feel like I have just won the lottery !You have a wonderful blog !! And I can't wait to try some of the stitches I didn't have a clue how to stitch !
Your stole is absolutely gorgeous !
Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful blog !
Hi Mary, this is really gorgeous ! A technical question, what are you using as a stabilizer for the silk ? I have used some iron on ones.... golden touch is a favorite. I'm just wondering what you use.
Thanks
Hi, Maria -
Underneath the stitches, I added a layer of padding stitches, but I didn't use any stabilizer. I should have used another layer underneath - usually, for this type of work, I would put a layer of muslin behind it.
Thanks for your comment!
MC
Awesome piece of work!! Your videos are really helpful for people like me who want to start learning embroidery.
Keep going. Great work!!
Cheers
Sujatha
Mary
I find your site awesome
(the best really) Your instructions for stitches are very clear. You also seem to be such a giving and "real" person.
By the way the stole work is absolutly beautiful. Even though the colors are not what you may have chosen, the overall effect is lovely
I agree with someone's comment that artists can be their own worst critics.
Believe me, you do fine work.
Linda
How do I access your blog?
Hi, Linda -
Thanks so much for your comment!
If you hit the Home link at the top of the page, you'll see the most current posts. Click on the title of any one, and it will take you to the full article!
Hope that helps!
Best regards,
Mary
Absolutely wonderful! Stunning! wow ,if I could do work like this..I'M going to try it!! You should be so proud of yourself and show your sister the comments you have received on this pc..Good for you!! love it!! Sue
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