The next step on the Goldwork & Silk Tudor-style Rose project involves filling up the rest of the inside petal space with #7 tambour gold. If you’re just joining in on this project, feel free to read up on the rest of the stages. You’ll find the embroidery pattern, plus each developing stage of the project, listed in the goldwork & silk Tudor-style rose index.
After adding the check thread on the inner petals of the rose to give a little texture to the outline of each petal, this remaining space at the tip of each petal is filled in with the #7 gold tambour thread (you’ll find a list of all the materials in this project in the first instructional post). The gaps are filled with the tambour thread in the same way that the outer petals were filled, working the tambour thread in pairs, couching them close together.
I cut the tambour thread in short lengths (about 2 -3″ long, to give plenty of extra thread for easy plunging). To “tame” the tambour thread a little, pull slightly on the ends of the cut threads. This will stiffen them up and make them easier to manipulate.
Lay the threads on your work, positioning them where you want to couch them, and begin couching them in the middle, working to one side of the couched gold threads. Then go back to the middle and work to the other side. I find it easier to bring the needle up to the outside of the gold threads, and take it down towards the previously couched rows. That way, I don’t have to poke around underneath the already-couched rows, to find the right spot to emerge with the needle. This keeps me from possibly damaging the already-couched rows of thread.
As the area fills up with the couched threads, you can either leave your ends to plunge all at once, when the petal is filled, or you can plunge each row at a time. Next time I work this project, I’ll plunge each pair as I go and anchor the threads on the back right then, rather than waiting until the whole petal is full. Why? Because it’s easier to manage anchoring one pair of threads on the back at a time, than having to sort through the hairy mess that develops when you plunge a lot of threads around this small of an area.
This is the hairy mess. To anchor the threads (I’m sorry I didn’t take close-up photos of this process – but I will, the next time I work the rose), you stitch over a group of threads with your couching thread, stitching over the gold and under the back of the couching stitches that criss-cross the back of the work. I generally work in pairs, but you can actually anchor a couple pairs at a time, if you work them carefully, without letting them bulge into one huge lump. Overstitch the gold with about three or four good stitches on the back, and then cut the excess away. To make this process easier, you can work with a curved needle – I know some people prefer a curved needle for anchoring their plunged golds – but in this tiny space, it was actually easy enough with the regular needle that I used for couching.
Here’s one filled petal, with the gold ends plunged. Notice that there’s a little white showing around the outside edge of the petal – just a tiny bit there. But that’s ok, because we’re going to outline that petal with a dark red silk, so that white bit won’t show.
The final petal here is ready for finishing. I use a plunging lasso to pop these thread ends to the back of the work. It works really well in this tight little space. Plunge one gold thread at a time, not the pair.
Following the same method for stem stitching the outside petals of the flower, I worked the stem stitch around the tops of the inside petals, using the Soie 100/3 (#518). Just a reminder: this is another z-twisted filament silk thread, so if you want your stem stitch to look rope-like, keep the working thread above the needle, rather than below it. In this way, you’ll achieve a nice twisted rope look to your stem stitch here.
The final step in this project is filling the center of the flower – we’ll see that next week!
To follow the development of this project step-by-step, visit the Goldwork & Silk Tudor-style Rose Tutorial Index.
Have a terrific weekend!
This sounds quite complicated, but I will give it a try. I ordered some supplies, I transfered your pattern on silk. I’ve adapted the size between 1,5″ and 2″. I’ll begin end of august. Thanks again for all these instructive lessons !!
I am SO looking forward to doing this! I’ll be using all S twisted threads tho – Pearsalls and Au Voie D’Alger, and it will have to be a little smaller to fit my piece. (I’ll downsize the gold a bit). I’m getting those needles you described from Hedgehog handiworks and a Tekobari – this is a brilliant tutorial
🙂
Mary –
Is there a good reason you start at the center and work to the ends rather than plunging one end and then couching to the other end and plunging it?
K
Hi, All – thanks for the comments!
Kathryn – I start in the middle and move to the sides, because the sides are very “tight” in this little space, so I can space my stitches better by starting in the center. I don’t always start in the exact center, but rather to the side of the couching stitches in the previous row, so that the couching stitches alternate somewhat.
Megan – I think Pearsall’s might be z-twisted. I’m not sure about that, as it’s been a long time since I’ve used Pearsall’s, but I seem to think they are, unless I’m confusing them with a different silk made in the UK. But now my curiosity is piqued – I’ll have to dig through my stash and find some.
Enjoy the tutorials!
MC
Hi Mary,
This is a very informative tutorial for a beautiful rose! I love the colors, even though they differ from the traditional Tudor rose. And the gold really adds such lovely sparkle. I can’t wait to try this, but with the Au Ver a Soie, which is S twisted.
I have been following this whole thread with great interest but the further we go the less I feel confident of being able to do this. Not because of my embroidery skills – well, not entirely – but because I have limited movement and strength in my hands and arms and this gold work stuff looks as though it might need some.
However all is not lost: I do quite a bit of crazy quilting and I can see this little rose simply embroidered with regular silk threads on a block.
So thank you Mary, please keep them coming.
Hi M,
I’ve had a sniff around, and can’t find anything on Pearsall’s Filoselle being z-twisted….
Hi Mary. Thanks for the informative Gold Work, are there any videos uploaded for this work aswell? If not can you please upload the videos for this work? Ihave another request can you please upload some videos on :Stumpwork (without padding method) and Needle Lace work. Thanks