Thursday, November 7, 2013

TAST Embroidery 2013 & More Dyeing Fun

 

There has been some frantic stitching going on here at Eat Play Quilt.  Christmas is looming fast, and, of course, the ‘last minute girl’ has just realised this.  There is always good intentions in the New Year to be more organized but, alas, it is just the make up of the girl.  There is a lot of Secret Santa stuff, so I cannot show at the moment.

As the stitches come on to Pintangle each week I have been trying to keep abreast of my TAST i.e. (Take a Stitch Tuesday).  You can check it out HERE.

Here is the latest sample I have finished:

Stitches 82 - 86

The little coloured ones are Raised Cup and the pink one underneath is Turkman Stitch.

I enjoyed doing the Turkman stitch very much.

Stitches 56 - 62

Week 68 – 75

top to bottom:

Slipped Detached Chain

Buttonholed Double Chain St.

Crested Chain

Bullion Buttonhole

Wrapped Coral

Portuguese Stem Stitch

Zig Zag Chain St.

Woven Zig Zag Chain

Stitches 63 - 67

Week 63-67

Top to Bottom:

Scroll Stitch

Top Knotted Buttonhole

Buttonhole Bar

Coral Stitch

Fancy Hem Stitch

 

Stitches 76 - 81

Week 76 – 81

Vandyke Stitch

Woven Cross Stitch

Cloud Filling

Chained Cross Stitch

Raised Chain V1 ( L )    Raised Chain V2 ( R )

I have really enjoyed doing these samples but I will definitely have to refer back to the instructions to repeat them.  So many interesting ways to use needle and thread!!!

My friend, Joan, has just returned from a marvellous holiday around England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and parts of Europe.  Lucky duck!  She brought me back these goodies.  The little reindeer decoration is wooden and carved by hand in Austria.  Thank you Joan.

Recipe books from JoanWooden orny & bookmark from Joan

Shirley has been a bad  good  influence on me and I can’t go past a second hand bookshop anymore without checking out their old embroidery books.

I was lucky to pick this wonderful book up from Lifeline for just $4.  The book says it is about colour, but most of the illustrations are in black and white.  There is quite a bit on colour theory at the back of the book which is very informative.  There are also many design possibilities for creative embroidery.

 

Embroidery & Colour

There has been some more attempts at botanical dyeing.

Firstly I tried some bark.

Bark for dyeing

Bark boiling

“mmm What’s for dinner dear?” 

The fabric came out a beautiful deep rich caramel colour.  (no photo yet – too boring)

Next, I decided to try the bouganvillea flowers as they are so rich and steeped in colour at the moment. Here are pictures of the plants.

close up pink bouganDk Pink BouganvOrange Bougan

Lilian & I plucked the blossoms ready for the boil up

Orange bougan in potPink Bougan in potLilian helping with bougan

This is the fabric soaking in the pink bouganvillea juice.  It looked very promising – smelt disgusting.

Fabric soaking pink bougan

Alas, the bouganvillea experiment needs more work.  Must get some mordant of some description.  Anyone got any ideas??

The fabrics from both the orange and pink bouganvillea came out pretty, but very insipid (no photo – boring again).

I will keep trying.

Until next time……………………..

4 comments:

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello DI, Your TAST embroidery samplers are pretty... You are really learning some great stitches.. What a fantastic trip your friend went on... All the places I would love to explore too...Lovely gifts.
I see your grand daughter also enjoyed helping Nanna experiment with dyeing.. Dyeing can certainly be a challenge.. I did some ages ago and I added salt to the mix... Hugs Judy

Stitching Lady said...

Wow, you did quite some stitching - and no wonder that you have to do them again. Because - I know, it is the same for me - I can never remember how they are done. Your dyeing experiments are super, super photographed and the photos are beautiful, your grandie Lilian - so sweet, so nice.

Marilyn said...

Hi Di, the sample of stitches are wonderful, you will be able to apply them nicely to embellish some of your projects. The cook books look interesting - when will we something made from them?.

shirley said...

What a wonderful post Di, your stitches are all great, and beautifully worked... you must be pleased to have caught up. Lily loves the garden. Your new book looks interesting. Your gifts from afar will be very welcome.