Works in Progress Wednesdays- 240.

It was New Year day, after deciding to go with the projects in progress, by afternoon, an idea to start a new tunic project came to mind.
The tailor had marked a black silk tunic for embroidery 2 days before 2020 started.

The gold fabric with black  border lines is a long stole [duppatta] for this black tunic. Earlier, I had drawn and prepared a single paisley design for this. After I  traced the pattern onto the fabric, my friend came with a sewn tunic, which she got from the tailor that day. He had sewn it well, she wanted to incorporate a small  motif all over the front of the tunic, which she had seen somewhere, but couldn’t get hold of it again .I tried some stitching on the inside neck with sample threads to give reality to her idea.

I started marking the placements of the motif and drew an upright cross[2 cm] on them that night. Next day I worked 2 motifs, and searched my stash also for similar options.

Her idea when she said I couldn’t interpret in embroidery, after deliberating for some time changing the metallic threads, we could arrive at something common. This is the motif she is happy with.It is worked brown metallic thread, silver metallic thread and same green silk thread.

Total number of motifs -31. I am still working on them. I completing each and moving onto another. This might be completed by next week.

 

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I am still working on the tunics during the past few days. Somehow time seems to run away when we are busy.
The next thread being worked on this neckline for printed blue crepe tunic is gold silk thread, this thread can be used on machine too. The outlines for the triangles are worked with chain stitch.

The work on aqua blue fabric with white thread continues this week too. After the couching! Stitch, it is back to straight stitches, they are  not technically double running stitch, because the back side does not need to be the same, wherever required short cuts are taken.

A neck and a design around the neck was drawn for the plum colour fabric this week. This will be a short top. The fabric was left over from a tunic made in 2013.

 

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This past week was not very productive. It was hard to find time to sit and stitch continuously. The navy blue cotton tunic was completed and is with the tailor now.
In this Aqua green fabric, the main thread is white. After working the upright cross stitches over the aqua green black work motif, short straight stitches were worked along the border.

These straight stitches are used to work thick white thread through them. It is a combination of Pekinese stitch and Kashmiri couching stitch. Pekinese stitch is worked over back stitch without a stitch to secure the curve, in Kashmiri stitch the thicker thread is couched, in this way, with the thinner thread. I am yet to practice on that couching technique. Hence this short cut method.

After working the fly stitch variations around the square, short chain stitches are worked with the same thread along the border.

I can’t take a break from chain stitch I suppose.

 

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This past few days have been good stitch wise. The SSS challenge looks inviting week by week. I do have to set aside some time for this challenge. I lost tracking Beyond TAST for few weeks, really need to check are there any stitches which were not worked before.
Changing the colour of kutchwork on black yoke was completed. Luckily a mangalagiri fabric may go well with this yoke. A black fabric can also be sewn along with it.

After completing the stems, a different blue thread was used to work the border around the neck. My friend is not sure about this colour, let me see.

The neutral colour tussar work is still going off and on. This is a part of one completed sleeve. The other sleeve needs to be worked now.

The black work design on bluish green yoke for printed mull tunic was started with the colours from the fabric print, after this white thread will be used predominantly

The next few days, it seems I might be busy with other house work, so next week’s progress may not be much.

 

Works In Progress Wednesdays-173

The parsi embroidery on blue crepe tunic was completed after working the french knots. The fabric is with the tailor now.
I have been working on laid work embroidery for BTAST. After filling a few more motifs, this sampler is completed for the time being. The details will be on a different post.
I have been lagging behind on black work mandala SAL. For the months of March and April, the Aida will have lesser holes per inch. Yesterday the markings were done on this piece. Thinking of using the polyester thread to work these mandalas.

Then it will be time for the stitches on SSS challenge, which is next week’s work.

 

Works In Progress Wednesdays-163

This week was a stitch busy week. Without making a proper plan to work on embroidery samplers, somehow the project seems to have started.
Stitch challenges
SSS challenge
Last week’s stitch was colonial knot, which was  never worked before. This knot was tried with the help of instructions on Queenie’s blog. Yet to have an idea of how to use this knot. This week’s stitch is Bayeux stitch. I have read a little about Bayeux tapestry, but have not thought about the embroidery stitches on it. An idea to use this stitch on Indian folk design is in mind.
Beyond TAST
I am still working on Sashiko project and Kogin sampler on this challenge. Swedish weaving sampler is yet to be started. These embroidery samplers have been a dream for me. Instead of consciously starting this mega project, these attempts to learn and work new embroidery styles may help in seeing the realism of this idea.
RPW 2018
Randjes are being posted on the blog. A few of them are inspiration for kutch embroidery too. This is the progress on this challenge this week.
SALs
MMM SAL
The black work motif of this month was completed. it will be posted soon on the blog.
Projects
Maroon and blue ikat combo tunic
This tunic project started with two shades of grey cotton skeins used for stitching- Cretan, buttonhole and leaf stitches on this motif, this week.

Red gaada
Closed cretan stitches are used to work the half circles on neck of this red /black tunic.

I do seem have fingers on too many embroidery work, but this is quite interesting. Whenever it gets boring, I can either shift to the next one, or write about the various ideas on my journal or set them aside and do something else.

 

 

Works In Progress Wednesdays-162

This was a good week. We had harvest festival of our state- Pongal.
Stitch challenge
SALs
The MMM SAL is nearing the end. The photo taken few days ago.

RPW 2018
Last week was more progressive on this SAL. Nothing to report this week.
Stitch Challenges
Beyond TAST
The work of Sashiko patterns on yellow table cloth has moved to fourth panel.

A few kogin patterns were drawn on graph paper, and the Kogin sampler was started on a towel cloth.
SSS
Last week’s stitch was completed on time. And waiting for some idea to sprout on this week’s stitch. Some ideas for floral samplers are popping now and then.
Projects
The mirrors are blue ikat tunic is also nearing completion. Just a few more mirrors to work.
Maroon and blue ikat combo tunic
I had two fabrics- a blue ikat and a maroon handloom cotton. Before the tailor went on his vacation, a tunic was sewn with these two fabrics.
A small design from ‘Paisleys designs from India’ was taken, scaled and drawn. This will be traced on to the plain maroon fabric in the front of the tunic. The threads and the tunic.

These days I have started writing down ideas, inspirations. This is quite helpful. It is like an idea journal. It also keeps me on track.

 

 

Works In Progress Wednesdays-161

It seems I have few works in progress this week.
SALS
MMM SAL
Every day I work for half an hour on this month’s mandala. After working back stitch on the outline, design was started with the help of chart posted on the site. I didn’t realise the blurred quality of the picture.

RPW 2018
Though this a weekly SAL, I haven’t started the cross stitch. But, using the border pattern, a small book mark with Hindu lord’s name in my language is in designing stage.

Then, I will move on to designing these borders inspired kutchwork pattern. Whether they will be worked, is another story.
Challenges
Beyond TAST
Using the idea of working Sashiko patterns, the embroidery on yellow table cloth was started. The work in progress on the third panel.

I am looking through Kogin and Swedish weaving techniques for this challenge.
SSS
The band sampler on this week’s stitch on SSS challenge was started yesterday.
I have added a few more mirrors on Blue grey ikat tunic. It gives a necessary change of work.
Some time is allotted for each work every day. Not much time on stitching, but widening the knowledge through other’s work is very interesting. Time passes very swiftly.

 

 

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Happy New Year!
First post of 2018. It was a busy week, and it just flew away. As they say, ‘Time flies when you are happy’
All I remember is thinking, doing, relaxing, eating, exercising, browsing- sometimes doing two things together. Now, ready for another year.
There are two SALs that were interesting for me.
SALS

MMM blackwork
Every month there will be a black work design posted on the blog. For January I am planning to work on 16 count Aida[ I think]. More details as this project progresses.
RPW2018
This year this blog will post cross stitch borders on Saturdays. I may not work all the charts. This is yet to start, and my RPW 2017 alphabet SAL is yet to be taken to task!
Stitch Challenges
SSS
I have worked on chosen stitches. The details of those samples have to be posted. Waiting for Sunday for the next stitch.
Beyond TAST
This challenge is for stitchers who have worked the earlier TAST challenges. Sharon has given some guidelines. I have this small table cloth with 7 Aida panels.

1st idea- work some Sashiko patterns on them?
Projects
Blue ikat tunic
After working the outlines in white, I have started with the mirrors on this tunic project.

Along with the yellow table cloth, a small long stitch kit was lying around to be noticed. The UFO’s have also been waiting their turn. Let us see.

 

SSS.12. lace stitch or three sided stitch [pulled thread].

This week’s stitch on SSS challenge is lace stitch or three sided stitch. This stitch comes under pulled thread embroidery. The working is on Queenie’s blog. Earlier in this challenge we had four sided stitch. The samples of four sided stitch were worked as any counted thread stitch and not as pulled thread work. Needing to expand my skill, I have decided to work this stitch as pulled thread work.
Started to learn this stitch on mati cloth. The fabric is far more accommodative than I expected.

Then tried the stitch on a linen bought from IKEA. This is not the effect I want.

Mati cloth it is.
An idea to work the samples along with some borders seems like a good one at this point. Maybe it is better to work within a specified area. Then what about looking for some frames which can be used for this?
The frame

Measured the area to be worked and started with the first sample.

The pattern for this. It is the basic three sided stitch. The black dots are were the fabric is pulled and create holes.

Two rows of three sided stitch worked together looks like this-

The pattern

The idea for this sample occurred while learning the stitch on matti cloth.

The pattern. Each hexagon need not be connected. That’ll make another variation.

Three sided stitch worked on both sides of this black work pattern.

The pattern

These squares are not connected.

The pattern

The stitches are worked diagonally.

The pattern

The sampler is completed. A picture of the sampler was also taken. It was not easy to insert the sampler inside the frame. The problem was not foreseen. After uploading the images, noticed that the sampler image was blurred. I did not want to take it out and insert it again. The framed sampler-

It was very exciting to work on this sampler. I had tried pulled thread work when working on sumptuous surfaces class. But three sided stitch was tried for the first time on this challenge.
The matti cloth cooperated well.
The stitch itself is versatile.
I could work on another Stitch A Long in this project which was not happening for quite some time.
It was interesting learning process to fit the sampler within  the frame.
I could complete the work.

It was a good pastime to see designed stitch samplers on the net. Even though this is small piece I am happy to do this.