Gold n' Stitches

Hoppin' to it

I have finally finished writing up the instruction for my Golden Lotus design. Now that the instructions are done,  I am concentrating on the second in the lotus series – On Golden Pond.

My last post described the process of making the gilt edged detached petals for the lotus flower.  I have since started to work on the surface embroidery.

 

I statred with the foundation work, applying the lily pads of silk dupion.  They have been fused to the base silk fabric using Mistyfuse ™.  It is a very fine fusible web, ideal for working with fine fabrics.  It doesn’t stiffen the fabrics excessively and the fine structure of the web means there isn’t any telltale results left after fusing.  It is great for fusing layers of organza!

Next came the layers of felt for the lotus flower. 

As you can see, once I started applying the threads and wires,  I have jumped all over the place.  I did some initial planning on what threads and wires I would use where, but was keen to see what the overall effect would be.  Thus there are lots of bits started and unfinished.

For the smaller lily pad I have couched Gold 376 couching thread from Benton & Johnson.  This thread has gold coloured synthetic strips wound around a cotton core. It is a very pliable thread and it is easy to manipulate into the tight corners.  I have used a silk thread, Matilda’s Own Daruma Silk Colour 149, for couching.  The thread is 50 weight, not quite as fine as the YLI silk threads that are commonly used for goldwork.  The Matilda’s Own silk is made is Japan and come in 60 colours.  They are distributed by an Australian company and are readily available here.  I use them for my embroidery as well as needle turn appliqué and paper piecing for quilting.  I like them a lot – they are fine, reasonably priced and high quality.

 

Today I plan on working on two smaller lily pads that will appear above the lotus flower and finish the long and short stitches on the flower.

I am using Madeira stranded silks for the long and short stitch.  The decision to use Madeira threads was really based on the availablility of colours.  They are also quite reasonably priced.

Oh - and I have started doing some online entry level studies in Financial Services and hope to do a bit of work on my next assignment too. My embroidery seems to have been put on the back burner and I am missing it greatly but I am trying to make it of equal priority.  So much to do – so little time.  Ah well we can only but try!

Hope you all have a great day.

Floral Glove Needlecase

I have enrolled in the Thistle Threads Online University course for the Floral Glove Needlecase.  I am so excited, I just can't wait for my goodies to arrive.

I had previously purchased a Silk Covered Purl Variety Packfrom Thistle threads thanks to a tip of from Mary Corbett at Needle n'Threads.  The sample pack contained 1 yard of multicoloured silk covered purls.  These new threads are copper wire wrapped with filament silk and then coiled over a mandrel into a purl.

I haven't used them yet but just had to have some for future use, especially when I found out they were a limited production line.  I notice that one of the colours has already sold out!

While I was ordering the purls, I browsed the Thistle Threads site and signed up for their newsletter and when the newsletter about the online classes came through I just had to sign up.

Three things appealed to me about the classes.

1. It is on-line!  I have been searching for on-line goldwork classes for ages, having emailed the UK embroiderers guild, who referred me onto Tracy Franklin but with no luck.
2. The project uses a number of threads I haven't used - lizardine and gilt bullion, threads which are rarely used in contemporary embroidery. The emphasis in the project is on the use of the gold threads and wires rather than the surface embroidery.
3. The project was inspired by 17th century professionally worked gloves of the Stuart era. I can't wait to absorb myself in this piece of history and experience the techniques used in this era.

And just in case I thought I might have missed out on anything in this project, I have also enrolled in the Tudor and Stuart Gold Master Class which incorporates 28 metal thread stitches in three projects.  This project starts in April and looks very challenging. Take a look - there is a 3 1/2 minute video which showcases the projects and gives an example of the animated stitch library.

I am really looking forward to sharing my "adventures" with you as I progress through these projects.

 

On Golden Pond - Gilt Edged Detached Petals

Yesterday I decided to edge the detached waterlily petals for On Golden Pond with Gilt Pearl Purl.

Here is how it is done.

Place your selected fabric for the petals in a hoop and tighten until drum tuight.  Trace the petals onto the fabric.

Stretch a piece of No 1 Gilt Pearl Purl to 1 ½ times its original length. 

Measure the distance around the petal and cut a piece of the stretched pearl purl the same length. Cut a piece of fine gold coloured jewellery wire (I used 26 gauge wire) 5 cm or 2” longer than the pearl purl.  Now thread the jewellery wire through the hollow centre of the purl.

Leave a tail at each end of the purl.

Starting at the base of the petal lay the start of the pearl purl at the base of the petal with the wire tail extending past the base.

Couch the pearl purl around the outline of the petal, making a stitch over every second or third purl.  Remember the petals will be cut out so it is important that all of your stitches are within the outline of the petal!

When you have finished couching the outline and have returned to the base of the petal again, lay the wire tails together and take two stitches over both wires at the same time.

Now fill the petal as desired. When you have finished stitching the petals Do Not remove your work from the hoop.

Before cutting out your petals, the edges are sealed with glue.  Yes, GLUE! Choose a PVC glue that will dry clear. Most PVC glues are white in colour but dry clear so it is advisable to read the labelto check it will dry clear.  I have tried three different ones – PVC wood glue, acid free craft glue and tacky glue.  They all work equally well.  The acid free glue is preferable if you are intending to create an heirloom piece.  If you have trouble getting the acid free glue, try scrapbooking stores as they have a good variety of acid free products.

 

You will need to make the glue thinner in consistency before applying it.  Squeeze some PVC glue into a small glass jar that has a tight seal.  Add enough water to reach the consistency of pouring cream (yum, makes me think of strawberries and cream).  Seal the jar and shake well.   Once this is made up and sealed will it will last indefinitely and you will have it on hand when needed.  I find it very useful if I happen to accidently snip a thread when cutting out stumpwork pieces.

Using a fine paint brush, firstly paint the muslin around the outside edge of the petal, flattening the bristles of the brush so that they get in under the edge of the pearl purl.  If you happen to get a little on the pearl purl, don’t be too alarmed as the glue will dry clear.

Now turn the hoop over and apply the thinned glue along the row of couching threads used to couch the pearl purl.

Allow to dry and apply another 3 or 4 coats of glue, allowing each coat to dry before moving onto the next coat.

When the glue is dry, cut out the petals in the same way you would for stumpwork pieces.

Enjoy.