Oh, these tiny crewel embroidery kits are wonderful! They make me feel so accomplished! So on top of things! So capable of finishing something! Yesterday, I introduced you to one of the Tristan Brooks "smalls" - which are literally that: small crewel embroidery kits, that result in a small finished product (about 4" x 4"). Today, I'll show you the finish.
This little crewel embroidery kit is easily finish-able in a weekend, and on top of that, it's really fun to work! One thing I like about crewel work is the variety of stitches used in it. This little project, for example, used a total of eight different stitches, all in about 4" square. You can beat that for variety!
I made a few adjustments in the whole plan of the kit, substituting a few stitches here and there. For example, inside the blue flower in the original design there are some scattered French knots. I opted for seed stitch. The yellow tendrils are supposed to be plain stem stitch in Heathway, but the Heathway seemed a bit bland as a plain stem stitch, so on the top left tendril, I whipped the stem stitch with Gumnut Poppies, and for the lower right yellow tendril, I stuck with Gumnuts poppies for the plain stem stitch.
I set up another small right after I finished this one. They're so .... small and manageable! Which is great if you're pressed for time, still want to stitch, and want to enjoy that feeling of actually finishing something!
Some crewel topics that will be discussed in some upcoming posts, thanks to your input:
1. What is crewel work, anyway, and how does it differ from other forms of surface embroidery?
2. Threads for crewel work
3. Fabric for crewel work
I'll also discuss stitches and so forth, and give you some close-ups of these little projects. If you have any additional topics you'd like discussed, leave a comment below!
This week, besides regular blog upkeep, trying to catch up on e-mail, sneaking in some work on these smalls, and finishing up the lingering needlebook (!), I'm working out in the studio, which has been decommissioned for quite a while due to storage difficulties, household rearranging, and so forth. Once things are in order out there in my frigid workspace, I'll be setting up a project, taking pictures for various upcoming posts, and hopefully filming stitches. There is so much I want to do during my short break between semesters - I have to be careful not to turn my vacation into a pressure-cooker! After all, this is supposed to be fun, right?!
Enjoy your Monday!
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