Hand stitching? Me?

Ah but... still using dissolvable fabrics!

No Bernina was tortured in the making of these.

 

And no background fabric was used either. They're made entirely of various threads - and full of holes! I've been developing this technique for a while, think I've cracked it now.

 

Several of these little pieces are now available, mounted ready to frame, in my Etsy shop. Postage is free to UK addresses.

Sample Project 2013 – July

And still it goes on… four more textile samples inspired (sometimes obliquely) by the weekly photos in a 2013 John Muir Trust Wild Nature Diary.

 

 

Week 27: Bee Orchid
(Photo of bee orchids)
Crocheted to my own design in stranded cottons (the only threads I had with the right colours).

Week 28: Coastal wild flowers

(Photo of Bedruthan Cove, Cornwall)

Background of brown felt with bits of green yarn embellished on, then green straight stitches. French knots in yellow and lilac pearl cotton.

Week 29: Red squirrel tail

(Photo of red squirrel)

Red-brown tapestry wool machine stitched onto hand dyed calico then fluffed out with a teasel brush.

 

Week 30: Cwm Idwal gate

(Photo of Afon Idwal draining from Llyn Idwal)

This is one of my favourite places anywhere! Went a bit off piste with my sample…

 

I decided to use the design of the gate on the path to Cwm Idwal, designed by Joe Roberts, one of the National Park’s Seasonal Wardens, as a tribute to conservationist Evan Roberts, who was appointed first Warden of Cwm Idwal in 1953.

 

The top of the gate represents the topographic profile of the Cwm's headwall, whilst the rails show the bedding planes of the geology and the notch of Twll Du (Devil's Kitchen). The lower part shows a lateral moraine and the whole scene reflected in Llyn Idwal.

 

I machine stitched the design on Aquasol using wire on the bobbin so the curves would keep their shape, and then zigzagged over it. Fiddly! I couldn’t just stitch it out on fabric, could I…