Yesterday, I actually got to do some stitching on a wee little crewel piece (appropriate called a "small") from Tristan Brooks Designs. Ahhh - to be snowed in is not such a bad deal!
I want to show you this piece of crewel embroidery in a bit more detail later. My intention is to compare and contrast some different wool threads available on the market, but I'll await the sun before venturing into detail photos!
In the meantime, I've had a bit of fun with this piece, a tiny bit of which is shown here:
This is from one of the Charleston Smalls available in kit form on the Tristan Brooks website. I had no intention of actually buying kits when I bought these (heh heh - are you with me here? do you know where I'm coming from?!). I went to Tristan Brooks to order some Pearsall's silk floss, which I'm trying out for an upcoming ecclesiastical project. But oh - these little kits! They caught my eye. No, actually - they didn't just catch! They caught, they latched, they tugged. And golly. I gave in.
What I like about these particular kits is that I had the opportunity to use, side-by-side, two distinct threads suitable for this style of embroidery: Heathway merino crewel wool and Gumnut poppies. There are also some little spots here and there worked in Pearsall's silk, for variety - like the French knot center of the flower above.
Heathway merino crewel wool and Gumnut poppies (a silk / wool blend) are quite a contrast. Heathway offers a matte finish when stitched, while Gumnut poppies throws in a very nice sheen. In the flower above, the three similar petals are worked in Heathway; the other two are worked in Gumnut poppies.
So, coming up, I'll be showing you this little project in a bit more detail, and doing some comparisons on threads. If you have any specific questions about crewel work or similar embroidery, or if you have particular resources, threads, or supplies that you like for this type of needlework, leave a comment below and tell us!
In the meantime, being somewhat snowed in has its advantages! No, I'm not "stuck" (thanks very much for the many e-mails asking how I survived the recent storm!), but I don't mind staying inside to get some work done!
This was after the front steps had been cleared a few times. It's not "tons" of snow, but for Kansas, and for Christmas in Kansas, it was a good amount, and in the aftermath, it's very pretty! The wind swept the roof fairly clean, which is always a disappointment when it comes to picture-taking!
I hope you're enjoying your weekend, wherever you are! Hot or cold, snow or sunshine, may you find a little extra time to spend with your needle and thread!
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