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Mary Corbet

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I learned to embroider when I was a kid, when everyone was really into cross stitch (remember the '80s?). Eventually, I migrated to surface embroidery, teaching myself with whatever I could get my hands on...read more

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Trial & Error & Plunging – Goldwork is Fun!

 

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Goldwork embroidery is great fun, but it’s a time-consuming type of hand embroidery. It’s not something that can be rushed. And when you’re feeling your way through an embroidery design – not quite sure what thread will look just right – there’s bound to be some trial and error.

Goldwork & Silk Embroidery: Tudor Rose

For example, as I was working along on the goldwork & silk tudor rose I showed to you yesterday, I got it into my head that I Really wanted to use a 2% gold twist around the outside edge of the outside petals on the rose. I wasn’t quite sure how it would look, but I had various sizes on hand, so I selected one of the smaller sizes and started couching.

Goldwork & Silk Embroidery: Tudor Rose

As it turns out, I progressed 4/5ths the distance around the flower when I decided that no, I didn’t like it after all. It didn’t define the edge. In ecclesiastical embroidery, it’s important (especially on small elements) that the edges are defined, because then they are better seen from afar. Since this is for an ecclesiastical piece, the edge needed a bit more definition than the gold twist gave it.

To get definition on the edge, I could have stitched a little line of dark thread outside the gold twist, but I didn’t want to fatten up the design too much.

So I picked it out. The best way I’ve found to take off a couched gold thread like this is to pull gently on the gold, away from the last stitch placed in the work, until the last stitch is visible. Take the eye of the needle and slide it into the last stitch, and pull the stitch out. Continue one by one with each stitch, until all the couching stitches are removed. It’s easier to do this than to cut the couching stitches on the back when you’ve done a lot of similar goldwork in the area, because you may cut the wrong stitches! Just be careful when pulling on the gold thread – treat it gently.

Goldwork & Silk Embroidery: Tudor Rose

My next trial-and-error approach was to outline the petals in the center of the flower. I wasn’t sure this wavy check thread would do it for me, but what the heck? Might as well try!

And golly, do I just love plunging all those ends! I figured I better make my decision on whether or not the check thread would work, before plunging any ends. It would be much more difficult to remove once the ends of the metal thread were plunged to the back!

As it turns out, I really liked the check thread a lot! (I’ve previously written about this thread, so you’re welcome to visit any of those links to see up close what check thread is.)

Goldwork & Silk Embroidery: Tudor Rose

So I plunged the ends and neatened that area up, and was quite pleased with that part of the day’s work.

Incidentally, I didn’t finish the Tudor rose yesterday before the sun went down. I did, however, manage a mighty fine hole in my finger (#12 crewel needles slip right in!), and I had to resort to a thimble. I’m getting more adept at using a thimble these days (this thimble, in particular). I would have never attempted to get used to one, had it not been for the fact that I had a student who used one with such ease that I was almost green with envy. It’s still a little awkward, and it does slow me down. But I’m getting there, and I can see how a thimble can become a stitcher’s best friend!

Ok, then! Guess what I’m doing today? Before the sun goes down…..

Right.

You’ve heard that before!

 
 

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(9) Comments

  1. That check thread certainly adds definition and sparkle to the inside petals! I know what you mean about those pesky needles going right inside your fingers! I’m not much of a thimble user either, but I occasionally use the Roxanne thimbles that I bought when I was doing a bit of hand quilting. I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ll use to outline the outer petals.

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  2. Hi Mary!

    I love goldwork…and I hate it! It is so intensive, I sweat whenever I do some – especially the plunging! I went and checked out the thimble link – do you know where that type of thimble is available from. I have some Jane Nicholas classes coming up and I have a hunch I am going to want a thimble for some of it!

    Thanks for sharing!

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  3. I like these colors, and also how the check purl is sparkly. I’ve also been trying to get used to a thimble. It’s hard to find the right size! So far the best has been the Japanese thimble ‘ring’ made of leather and plastic (Clover). It protects the side of my finger, which usually gets sore, and is also easy to push with. However… since I got a pack of these last week, two of them have come apart, and I’ve also bent two needles! So I guess I’ll have to be more careful of my needles now that I’m using a thimble.

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  4. Mary I have this suede thimble that closes with velcro it has a piece of metal at the tip. It is my favorite thimble. Also for needle pullers I found this rubber mat that is used to open jars. It was gioven to me with a advertisement on it. It was apiece of solid rubber. So I took a circle template a little bigger then a quatetr and drew circles on it and cut them out to use as needle pullers. I could even use some of the bigger in between pieces that were left over after I cut the circles.

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  5. Wow, it’s beautiful! How long do you think you spent on this?

    I’m very interested to know. Thank you for sharing.

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