Over the next several weeks, off and on, I’ll be featuring embroidery projects from fellow stitchers in the Needle ‘n Thread community.
I like to share what other people have been doing with their own needle and thread, and that’s why I started, many years ago (way back in 2007!), this ongoing series highlighting your embroidery projects. When we see a wider range of stitching from folks all over the world, it enriches our own needlework experiences – it helps inspire us, it gives us new ideas and a broader outlook.
If you want to participate in the series, it’s really easy! Just drop me a line at mary(at)needlenthread(dot)com, attach your photos, and tell me a bit about the project.
Today, I want to share with you a beautiful piece by Laura Bray, a reader from North Wales. It involves some gorgeous decorative initials – and here’s the story behind it.
Remember, you can click on the photo above to view the piece larger!
Laura decided to teach herself to embroider about six years ago. Since she particularly likes decorative initials, this article from 2011 caught her eye. The article focuses on an online source for Sajou album number 612, featuring a gorgeous alphabet for hand embroidery.
Laura took the plunge and spent her stitching time last autumn and winter working up four initials, to frame together. Each initial is for each member of her family – herself, her husband, and her two children. Each chose the colors they wanted for their own letters.
The vines and flowers on all the letters are worked in stem stitch, satin stitch, and French knots, with occasional bullion knots thrown in for practice. The body of each letter is worked in different stitches. On one, she used long & short stitch for filling, on another, the reverse chain stitch. Two are stitched with stem stitch filling.
I think the letters are lovely! And although Laura mentioned that most of the needlework she does has a practical purpose (it’s unusual for her to stitch something to frame), I think this is a brilliant way to create a special family piece. Thanks for the inspiration, Laura!
If you want to explore the designs for these letters, you’ll find Sajou 612 here, on Antique Pattern Library. If you like this alphabet and would like to see another example of it, stitched, hop over to this article, where you’ll see an album cover that sports the same design.
