Art with My Needle ~ Week 28
My early efforts at needlework were mainly for a doll.
A christening dress, a few nighties, A duvet cover with full size clown appliquéd on it and a lampshade to match made to look like a hot-air Balloon complete with a little basket and from it hanging upside down by a foot dangled a small clown. Alas the pictures are committed to memory and not to photography of any type. I wonder if Elly still remembers them?
Then a friend brought me a gift from the Lake District. She was apologetic that the gift was so small. It was about 3″ X 3″ in a little gift bag. Little did she know how that three inch square would open up a whole world for me.
The gift was a small cross stitch kit complete with a picture, diagram, fabric, threads and a needle. The fabric was blank! Now I knew why it was referred to as counted cross stitch! I would have to count every stitch.
I did!
E for Elly
For an idea of the size of the finished work, that frame is 9″ X 7″. The nerves I felt when starting out soon evaporated and I relaxed into moving from row to row. From that day on I found cross stitch work very relaxing. At one time I used the technique to record a Family tree covering six or seven generations. I worked out the design on large drawing office sized graph paper.
This Bell pull I worked from a Danish Kit back in 1984/5. I saw a friend working on it and she told me that there were more than enough threads left over to make another bell pull, so she passed them on to me. I had a piece of fine even weave and some lining in my work box so my bell pull cost me the price of the brass hanger and pull! It hangs close to my well used fireside.
Over the years I have removed the brass bits, the stiffening and the lining before hand washing it carefully and rinsing well. I lay it on a towel to dry and press with a medium iron on the back of the work before assembling it again.
A closer look at some of the birds:
Another
And a third
If you have not tried cross stitch before I suggest you start with a kit.
I found this partly worked piece in a box the other day. To begin with I made one big error! I folded the fabric years ago instead of rolling it. I was trying to keep the pattern, fabric and threads in a plastic pocket. Not good! I have slapped my own wrist for that error.
You will notice I bound the fabric with masking tape, this prevents the edges from fraying and peels away easily when the work is complete.
The pattern is shown on squared paper and a colour guide with a thread colour guide below. Stranded thread is normally used and once a length is cut separate the strands even if two or more are required, this prevents twisting, knotting and an uneven look to the work. Never use threads longer than from your your wrist to your elbow. With each pull through the fabric you are wearing it a little and eventually the thread will break.
It may sound complicated but I guarantee once started you will be hooked.
Enjoy!
Marian said,
March 3, 2010 at 2:10 pm
I enjoy cross-stitch too, and most craft shops sell individual card kits with a cross-stitch insert, they are a brilliant way to start off as the projects are small and they can be used as a greeting card for your nearest and dearest.
Here’s one I made earlier
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maz_photos/2410568930/
and here’s a Christmas version - hidden in the back of this photo unfortunately
http://pix.ie/marianroche/1379976/size/800
steph said,
March 3, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Grannymar
I love that ‘E’ for Elly!
My MIL was a whizz at cross stitch and made us all personalised tapestry heirlooms which I’m sure will be passed down through future generations.
I love the concept of leaving behind something that you’ve made yourself!
wisewebwoman said,
March 3, 2010 at 5:05 pm
I just love those birds, GM!
And inquiring minds need to know: who does that bellpull summons? The Toyboy on duty?
XO
WWW
Grannymar said,
March 3, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Marian - Cards are a great place to begin and make cards for occasions very special.
Steph - I loved the Letter E. Now that Elly has discovered her ‘crafty’ side, I expect to be asked if she can take it.
WWW - Alas, it rings no bells!
Baino said,
March 3, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Now there’s a stitch I ‘can’ manage . .well if I choose to . . .very pretty and I do like the “E” I have a couple of cross stitch Christmas decorations that my mother made . .they’re treasures.
kenju said,
March 3, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Very pretty! I never did any cross-stitch; crewel embroidery was my thing.
Grannymar said,
March 4, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Baino - Somehow I cannot picture you sitting dangling your toes in the pool while working away on cross stitch!
Judy - I have done some crewel embroidery, but it was never a favourite.
Grannymar » Art with My Needle ~ Week 31 said,
March 24, 2010 at 10:03 am
[...] three weeks ago the craft post was about my beginnings with cross stitch on evenweave, today I want to show you something not a millions away - canvas [...]
Grannymar » Birds said,
April 26, 2011 at 10:06 am
[...] was immediately reminded of a Bell-pull that I made in cross stitch and featured in one of my craft posts some time [...]