This is a Must Share! I’m so excited about it!
This past summer, Alrene Ritz from Indiana submitted a piece of hand embroidery at her county fair. And it came home a winner!
Do you recognize it?
Arlene’s interpretation of the Lattice Jumble Sampler, worked on a mug rug, came home with a blue ribbon!
I love the fact that Arlene interpreted the Jumble sampler her own way. She worked it on black, using bright colors, and she mixed in a variety of different stitches, too.
Don’t the bright colors and the varied textures remind you of the fair?
Cropping the photo to zoom in interferes with clarity a bit, but I wanted you to see Arlene’s treatment of this circular element on the Jumble.
She used bullion knots for the center star and for the raised scalloped edges. Love it!
Arlene’s Jumble mug rug is a terrific example of how you can have great fun interpreting a design by mixing up stitches and colors.
Here’s Arlene’s note that accompanied the prize photo:
While you were working on the lattice sampler, I was working on one too. I had fun doing it as it has been years since I have done any hand embroidery. I did mine on black fabric in very bright colors. It won a first place ribbon at the local county fair. Thank you for the inspiration. I love all that I have been learning since I found your blog.
This just made my day! Especially this part: “…it has been years since I have done any hand embroidery.” It’s a good reminder to me of why I started Needle ‘n Thread in the first place.
So while I know Arlene is super happy with her Blue Ribbon, I have to say, I can’t help thinking I got the nicest prize of all, with her note.
Congratulations, Arlene, on your Blue Ribbon Embroidery!
You can find the guide to the Lattice Jumble Sampler available here. The sampler is ideal for beginners and beyond, and, as you can see above, it is a great project for personal interpretation.
If you’re not familiar with what a county fair is (or a state fair), Google “county fair” or “state fair” and look under images, and you’ll get a good idea. The fairs are quintessential American Summer Moments. They involve competitions (agricultural, textile – such as needlework and quilting, crafts, and others) and recreation, usually in the form of carnival rides, games, and lots of carnival food. They’re a lot of fun! Some states even have several state fairs, so if you are interested in submitting projects to your state or county fair for judging, check to see if you have one, and look for submission guidelines on the relevant websites.
