Soothing Hand Stitching Part 3

I am thoroughly enjoying this small hand-stitching project. The piece of felted wool is about 6″ square so it is easy to handle. I also see grand progress each time I sit down and pick up the needle. I’m using hand-dyed #8 pearl cotton from Laura Wasilowski.

The first compartment of the leaf was stitched with a simple lazy daisy using the outline and stem pearl cotton, followed up by a straight stitch inside the lazy daisy using the second variegated thread. Click on the image for a larger view.

 

I realize that the color of the wool fabric seems to change from deep orange to a light gold. That’s because I’m taking photographs of it at different times of day and in several kinds of light. I am trying to remember to stop and take photos as I stitch along. Sometimes that means taking several photographs in one sitting. The photograph that comes closest to showing the actual color of the wool is the fourth one down in this posting.

The second compartment was filled using the backstitch and alternating the rows with the two threads.

Two sections done.

The third compartment (top, left in the photo below) is filled with rows of fly stitch, accented with Colonial knots in their centers.

Now we’ve come to new territory for me. I have never used the cable stitch before. It took a bit of practice. Thank goodness the stitches were easily removed without damage to the wool because I removed the first row (bottom, right) twice before I got the idea of marking a faint line for the stitches. That line was just the right thing for keeping the two rows of staggered stitches at the perfect closeness. It’s quite a nice stitch actually! Notice that I paused my work on the left-hand compartment to address the cable stitch in the neighboring compartment (I was a bit eager).

Then I returned to complete the Colonial knots in the left compartment. Using the variegated thread for this project is quite nice.

And now, another new stitch, this one called the bullion knot. I’ve stitched my first row just under the cable stitch row. It makes me think of inch worms with their feet glued in place.

I am making good progress on this leaf and I’m quite happy learning these new stitches. If you are new here, you can see this project from the start here.

By the way, the trio of small chicken cushions at the top of this posting keep me company. They were made by my dear friend Susan Terry who, as you can see here, is quite an imaginative person. In fact, if you’d like to start some holiday projects now and be sitting pretty in December, dive into her book on creating Christmas Stockings.

I hope that you are taking care of yourself in every way possible.

Be strong. Be patient. Be kind.