Work In Progress Wednesdays-144

We had family visiting from India. They left on Tuesday last week. I was never near the needles or thread or computer during that time to post progress.
The stitches on SSS challenge of the last three weeks are yet to be tackled. The braid stitch is a stitch to be learnt, this might be worked on a string bag. The design is yet to be drawn. Hoping to start the Chinese cross stitch samples today. The method of working the Chinese knots will have to be considered after this.
The TAST challenge has to be visited on Pintangle.
A few borders in Kasuti embroidery was worked on the sampler cloth. This will be a separate post from now on.

Projects
The embroidery with green thread on black fabric for green blouse was completed. The zardosi work on pink fabric for violet matka silk was also completed.
The kutchwork border designs were drawn on cream / half white cotton fabric. This will be long project, so the progress may not be regular. It started with working near the edge.

We had open chain stitch on SSS challenge. This stitch is often used in some Indian ethnic embroidery. To work this stitch for this red striped tunic, is the next project idea.

Another project idea is also there, which will be shared on next work in progress Wednesday post.

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Work in Progress Wednesdays-139

After the holidays, this week was fairly productive week on embroidery.
Stitch challenges
This week’s stitch on TAST challenge is woven trellis stitch, the samples of which were worked twice on earlier TAST challenges. The post linking them was uploaded on FB group page.
Today I started working this week’s stitch on SSS challenge. The details of the samples will be posted after the sampler is completed. conclusion- favourite stitch – buttonhole.
Projects
The work on green benarasi georgette was completed. The details will be posted soon.
Two kutchwork borders in red thread were worked on this cream neck pattern. It is ready to go to the tailor.

After working another chain stitch outline in pink thread, I started to work the stem stitches in green.

This week’s fascination was rilli applique technique on the net. When the professionals do the work it looks easy, but it needs to be practiced.
We have a few regions in India- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Rajasthan, Gujarat- where this technique is used. In Uttarpradesh and Bihar it is used on clothing on light colours. In Rajasthan this is used on bridal dresses with metallic ribbons, in Orissa it is worked on home décor, including umbrellas and hall decorations, it gives a totally different look. The colours are bright and eye catching. In Gujarat it used with other embroidery techniques.

 

Work in Progress Wednesdays-138

We are having Ramadhan holidays now. It is a leisurely routine this past week. It is a day late to post this week’s progress.
It was revision week on SSS challenge. The new stitch of this week is yet to be explored. The TAST challenge stitches were worked earlier.
Projects
After working the outline stitches in chain stitch with various violet threads, outlining the flower started this week. These flowers will later be filled with zardosi tubes.

On the kutchwork and other embroidery stitches on the neck line for this blue block printed tunic, some progress was made. The outlines were worked in black thread. the triangles are outlined in back stitch with dark red thread.

I am hoping to complete the bead work around the neck on green benarasi georgette tunic this week.
Many tunic projects are there to be designed, still my evenings are spent browsing the net for tatting patterns. An idea of designing kutchwork patterns based on kolams [decorative designs drawn with powder on floor during festivals] has been brewing in mind for some time. This is an interesting project, but will consume a lot of time. Still dreaming about the possibilities gives pleasure.

 

Work in Progress Wednesdays-137

The Y stitch sampler on SSS challenge was completed on Saturday. This week is revision of last five stitches. The stitches on TAST challenge were worked earlier.
The cream yoke needed some lavender elements on it. They were worked this week. The details will be on a separate post.
Before starting with zardosi embroidery on this pink silk/cotton fabric, some outlines have to be worked with threads. This week, it is chain stitch with antique violet colour skein.

After working the border pattern with herringbone filling, a small kutchwork motif with sharp edges was worked with the same blue thread on this cream fabric.

This week will be spent on the progress of these two projects, the work on benarsi georgette neckline will resume after this.

 

Work in Progress Wednesdays-136

Stitch challenges
The last two week’s challenge stitches on TAST challenge were worked on earlier challenges. So not much of work is there on it. Yet to start exploring another innovative stitch on SSS challenge.
Projects
Two projects came as a surprise.
The green benarasi georgette tunic came back from the tailor without the inner neckline! He thought it was something to be trimmed out. After getting over this idea of vanishing neckline, I might be able to get on the job of placing the white stones.
Another surprise started in India. I had cream tunic with mirror work on it worked way back in 2014. It was slightly short and did not go well with the salwar. I had a lavender fabric to be matched with the mentioned salwar. Suddenly these two – the cream tunic and the lavender fabrics got together and became one lavender tunic with cream mirror work.
The cream embroidered piece needed some lavender elements on it, the work on it started on Monday.

More details will be posted in a few days.
Simple embroidery for the blue block printed tunic was started on cream fabric.

The work on string bag was completed and is with the tailor. I should definitely start sewing again if time permits.
The violet matka silk needs zardosi embroidery border worked in pink silk/ cotton fabric. it started with chain stitch in violet metallic thread.

It was a productive week.

 

Work in Progress Wednesdays-135

Stitch challenges
This week’s stitch on SSS challenge is to be started tomorrow. TAST challenge stitch sampler was worked in 2012. Yet to upload the link on FB group page.
This picture shows green zardosi tube with beading needle and cotton skein. The tube will be cut into desired length with nail cutter, and will be sewn with the help of beading needle and thread. This kind of zardosi beads along with other embroidery stitches, stones and sequins constitute zardosi embroidery. This embroidery on grand scale is common on bridal outfits. Incidentally, zardosi tubes in few colours  were  bought during this trip to India.

Projects
The zardosi bead work on green benarasi georgette tunic with stones is yet to be completed. While working the stones near the neck outline, a thought came to mind that the stones might hinder the tailor’s work. Now the tunic and the unfinished neck embroidery piece are with the tailor. The embroidery can be worked after the tunic is sewn.
I was working on this string bag project during the end of 2016. The embroidery on this was resumed this week.

Projects to start
I have these two tunic fabrics.


The cream floral print is to be sewn without any embroidery. The blue fabric would have a simple embroidery. A design was drawn yesterday. Once the embroidery is completed, both will be given to the tailor for sewing. These fabrics are  cotton with kalamkari prints.
I had seen a Matka silk tunic in Chennai. It looked elegant and cool on that person. With this my understanding of Matka silk halts. While shopping for it, realized there are two varieties of Matka silks. This fabric was bought, it needs backing. An idea of a small floral border in zardosi embroidery is yet to reach the design stage.

With these projects to work and a stitch sampler to be started, this week will be busy.

 

Works In Progress Wednesdays-132

We are back in Muscat slowly flowing into routine. I am better now.
The SSS challenge and TAST challenge both have new stitches to work. The upright cross stitch is an easy one. I hoping to start on it tomorrow. After that I have to work on beaded oyster stitch on TAST challenge.
Before returning to Muscat, I managed to work on my friend’s saree. A kutch work line along the width of the saree, which could be more than 40 inches.

The detail of the embroidery.

The kutchwork line in two colours was worked on the sleeves of the blouse also.

Nothing else was done other than this project and packing in Chennai, India. I have unpacked the fabrics bought in Chennai. Phew!! Some or most of them would require embroidery, which would be looked into during the next week. Lots of work to do.