I cannot count my day complete
'Til needle, thread and fabric meet.
~Author Unknown

Sharing a common thread with those who love the art of hand embroidery

Thursday, February 23, 2012

This time of year makes me want to work with muted colors

in hues of yellow, like the Italian Jasmine that is blooming on the grounds,
and in pinks and creams.


This is still a work in progress which has cut work and eyelets stitched.
I chose 3 different muted and soft yellows for the large cut work flowers. A soft olive green for the stems and leaves, and


a very pale and soft pink for the daisies.
I wanted to show you and easier way to make eyelets instead of having to cut the fabric for the hole.

I have learned this technique that works wonderfully. Take a large upholstery needle and push it through the eyelet hole.

Keeping the upholstery needle inserted, come up with your stitching needle right against the large needle and whip all the way around, keeping stitches close together. Remove the needle and you find the perfect round eyelet. Push your stitching needle to wrong side and finish off.
Sounds a little easier? Maybe?

Here is the beginning of the cut work which I will show more of in my next post. The portion of fabric marked with small X's is the part that will be cut away once stitching is complete. The stitching used in the project is the closed buttonhole stitch. The string part you see is also threads that have closed buttonhole worked along them to create a bridge to hold the design once the fabric is cut away. How about you?
Do you like bright vibrant colors or do you like muted and pastels best?
I would love to hear!
*******just to let you know, I removed word verification for those of you who had problems commenting on my last post. Thank you for letting me know.
kathleen 

15 comments:

penny said...

Their lovely. When my fingers were more nimble I enjoyed embroideries like these.

GardenOfDaisies said...

These soft golden yellows are so pretty. Your work is always beautiful! Thank you so much for removing word verification. It had gotten really terrible... so hard to read it and type it.
To answer your question, I did go back once, about 12 years ago. I wanted to take my children and let them see where I had grown up. It was an amazing trip down memory lane for me and a real adventure for them.

Cindy said...

I love seeing your beautiful embroidery. It seems best in the muted colors you chose.
I missed your last post, but I wanted to tell you how much I like the arbor cross stitch. very pretty!

lil red hen said...

Oh this is just so very pretty! No matter the colors you use, everything you make is just out of this world! And, thank you for the lesson on making eyelets; I may just try it one of these days!

Betty Lou said...

You do such beautiful work Kathleen. Thank you for the tutorial on eyelets. Don't know if it is something I would do, but if so, I know where to come. I eliminated my word verification also but today I got a strange anonymous message. Don't know if there is any connection.

Sharon said...

So glad you removed the word verification. That has really been a pain recently.

Kathleen, I love bright colors - red, hot pink, purple etc.

The embroidery work that you are doing right now is gorgeous!

Ladybug said...

Love it .... Clever Idea so enjoy
you sharing your awesome work...
Hugs...
Have enjoyable weekend...:-)

Zova couture said...

Adorable!!ur embroidery works are always beautiful...I like muted pastel colours..but sometime bright too..according to my mood..wow..its an amazing tip to use upholstery needle ..thanks dear...

Gina E. said...

I admire your skill with cutwork. I've never done any of that kind of work, hardanger, or pulled thread. My fingers and eyes are way past it!
As for which colours I prefer - it depends entirely on the individual project. Vintage embroidery designs are mostly more suited to subtle pastel shades, but with quilting and patchwork I love strong bright colours teamed with black to highlight them.

Hill Top Post said...

All of your work is so lovely in whatever hue you choose. I do love the cutwork pieces...truly beautiful!

Connie Eyberg Originals said...

Your stitching is beautiful and I love the colors. I think I tend to lean toward softer colors, but I have yet to meet a color I don't love. I've never tried cutwork...yet. After all that stitching I'm not sure I would have the nerve to cut. I guess nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Bev said...

Love those soft colours... I don't mind bright...but think I prefer the soft ones!

janice15 said...

I always wondered how they made the holes. I love it..very pretty and I like the soft pink for the daisies. This is one of my favorite places to visit..happy weekend Janice

Nicola said...

Thank you for the tip. I'm off to check out your cooking blog.

A Colorful World said...

I actually fluctuate in my tastes...sometimes I am very "into" muted colors: soft pastels and soft sage and smoky lavender...other times I want the brighter hues. I just love color so much, I embrace them all at one time or another! This muted piece you are working on is very lovely! I am thrilled you shared that eyelet technique! I will have to try that!

The work I did on the quilt squares recently really re-stirred my old passion for embroidery and I am dying to do more!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!