Samples 2016: 51, Concentric/Sorbet

Soft pastel shades of raspberry, lemon and lime - my least favourite colours, but the random sample generator demands sorbet shades.

 

Starting with a base of white cotton bonded to pelmet Vilene, I machine stitched yellow silk paper in a large ring then tore away the excess along the stitch perforations. Pink silk paper and green handmade paper went the same way.   

 

Then it was time to have fun with hand stitching for more concentric circles. I couched green chenille and yellow boucle yarns, and stitched a pink sequin in the centre. Chain stitch rings took longer but I think they were worth it. Plus a few tiny French knots and a little running stitch.

 

Only one more to go...



Samples 2016: Week 50, Angular/Wine

Burgundy organza, free machined in a pattern of overlapping triangles. I stitched the outer edges of the triangles in Burgundy thread and the inner ones in more of a Sauvignon!

Then I burned out the design close to the stitching using a fine soldering iron. Another lacy piece, so it's compulsory to take its photo with shadows ;-)
    

Samples 2016: Week 49, Jagged/Citrus

An easy tick, but this sample will be a useful reminder that stitches piled up in layers can be effective.

I used a built-in pattern, a sort of zigzag that varies "randomly", and stitched it in overlapping rows using zingy orange, lemon and lime threads on black fabric.

Samples 2016: Week 48, Chaos/Heather

A chance to go wild! I had a good rummage and gathered all sorts of purpley bits and pieces. Using the embellisher I covered a piece of wool fabric with scraps of scrim, sari silk and lace. Textured yarns went on too.

No machine stitch on this one - just random hand embroidery including detached chain, fly, cross, French knot and running stitches, in purple, green and white.

Not my usual kind of thing but I do quite like it... might work cut up for brooches?