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.

 

Work In Progress Wednesdays-131

I am a day late in posting again. There was not much stitching done during this week also. Heat is playing games on my body it seems. I am better now. We are leaving for Muscat this Saturday.
The work on silk blouse was completed. My neighbour loved this embroidery. Says she is also getting inspired.

Seeing this, my friend also wanted some embroidery on her unstitched blouse. She gave me the saree and the blouse. The saree and the blouse already had machine embroidered elephants.

This is the pallu of the saree, which is draped over the shoulder, either in the back or front, depending on the culture. The same six yards saree is worn in so many ways not only in India but also Srilanka, Egypt and some parts of Africa. In India and Srilanka, the heavily woven or worked pallu is shown in decorative ways. Saree draping is a whole different art form.
The blouse sleeve also has elephants. I have drawn a line over the red elephant, to work songle kutch work.

I am working a row of single kutch work on the pallu now. It doesn’t require any embroidery, but still a line would differentiate the pallu and the body of the saree. After that, the work on the sleeves will start. Simple embroidery, still takes time.

 

Work in progress Wednesdays-127- Orange yellow chanderi patch kutchwork tunic

I have been working on this sewn tunic this week.

The kutchwork pattern was traced onto the tunic with white carbon. Not a very bright idea.
The pattern-

When a time was conducive I started with brown thread. The design was very light after so many weeks. The brown thread in Chennai sunlight did not match so well as in Muscat indoor light. Still eager to start the project, I started with the basic stitches with brown thread. While working on it bought red and yellow threads. After ensuring the points are covered with brown thread, started with the yellow thread.

The basic stitches in brown are interlaced with red thread. This looks much better than the dull brown. Controlling the urge to work mirrors.

The four motifs below the neck was worked in red thread.

The pattern is now is worked with yellow thread.

The centre and other spaces are worked in half white thread. By this time the design from white carbon has completely vanished. This pattern was also drawn on 2mm graph paper.

The project is completed without mirrors.

The embroidery detail-

The tunic looks nice even without the embroidery. An outline stitch around the neck would have been sufficient.
The 17th stitch on SSS challenge seems like an easy stitch. Started working on the sampler today.

 

White green majenta kutch work tunic

I am in Chennai, India for vacation. Embroidery is not part of this routine. Still some small assignments are worked in between other work. This tunic was worked in the summer of 2016.
After working two tunics in lemon green and white combination some pieces of lemon green fabric was lying around. A kutchwork embroidery seemed like a good idea. There was this tunic fabric in half white cotton block printed with the same colour.

I wanted to add another colour to this white. A medium majenta thread was chosen.

Drawing diagonal kutchwork on 2mm graph paper gives a dainty look. The border pattern-

The pattern below the neck-

I started with the first sleeve border.

Making the anchoring stiches was not so difficult. Care was required to work the stitch at the precise point and moving over or under the thread had to be accurate. The interlacing was not so easy, because of the daintiness of the pattern.

This is the same story in the second part of the journey, still it was better to work the outer squares.

Instead of looking for another colour, the single line kutch border was worked in green. An idea of working this border in white was considered and rejected.

I moved on to the yoke at this point. The kutch work in green thread.

The basic kutch squares worked in majenta.

Worked the border in majenta and the back stitch outline was worked in white. This piece was completed.

The border on another sleeve was worked.

The embroidered pieces and the tunic fabric was given for sewing.

The detail.

After a while, a cotton fabric with same lemon colour tones was bought for salwar [ Indian  pants].

I wore this tunic set last week. It was cool.