Today, I was going to tell you about embroidery scissors.
Good embroidery scissors. (Did I ever tell you how much I love embroidery scissors?) But I'll save that for tomorrow. Today, you get
Pictures!! Actually, I was flipping through some of my photos from the goldwork / quilt square project, and I started thinking I may as well show some with "real" seam treatments.
I've gotten a bunch of e-mails - thank you! - from crazy quilters who have said not to worry about not crossing over all the seams, and that often, only one half of a seam is treated, when lace or ribbon is used, etc. Thanks for your encouragement! As one pro crazy quilter commented, "Crossing the seams is not what typifies crazy quilting anymore. Unique and beautiful embellishment is!" Well, the truth is, I wasn't really kicking myself too much over it! I did cross some seams...
Here's a herringbone stitch worked in green Trebizond over the seam. Over the herringbone stitch, I stitched long pieces of check purl (in the manner of bugle beads) in a "V" design, alternating with the herringbone. I topped the tip of the "V" in French knots with dark green silk ribbon. In retrospect, I should have used a contrast there - but I didn't want to use red, as it would look to Christmassy, and I didn't want to use blue, as it would look too "preppy," (I don't know why those colors of green and blue always make me think "preppy" - but they do!). So I stuck with the green. Anyway, I topped the tips of the herringbone with spangles held on with off-white, pearly-colored beads, some of which had shifted about. Remember: always check your beads before you take the photos!
Oh, dear. This one doesn't go over the seam. But it's one of my favorite shots, because I like the red flower thing (which I've already shown you) and I like the ribbon in the foreground. And the blue and gold seam that stretches up the piece from here is actually my favorite seam...
This is tiny fly stitch over the edge of a seam. I had to work in some Gilt Sylke Twist! And the seam was just a small stretch that ran into two already heavy-looking seams. So I went with something... well, tiny. The GST is such a fine little thread, but it's so very pretty!
Now, this seam is a bit heavy! It's worked with pearl purl in scallops, with the red spokes worked in long straight stitches, and then little sprays of check purl, and a bead and spangle treatment.
And here's another seam that crosses over. It's made up of half buttonhole wheels worked in red buttonhole twist, between which are worked three daisy stitches out of purl situated around a very large spangle attached with a bead.
You can find more detailed explanations of each seam treatment, along with how-to's and so forth, in my CQMag Online article, Goldwork and Crazy Quilting.
Tomorrow - scissor talk! I'll tell you a bit about scissors and show you some comparative photos....
I'm finishing up a school term this week and getting ready for the next one - so if I slip out unnoticed, it's only to do a little "real world" work!
Enjoy your Tuesday!
Labels: crazy quilt, embellishments, goldwork, Hand embroidery stitches, needlework pictures, pictures
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