Silk Thread and Puffy Clouds Progress

The Silver Lining Project (which makes it sound like some sort of Government top secret...) is progressing long rather nicely. The week before last I managed to get the initial stages done, which largely meant prep work and stuffing the cloud. Like you do.

The cloud is made up of two thin layers of pale grey linen, which has then been applied to a layer of silk dupion. This in turn has been machined to a layer of calico (to give it some grip and support when in a ring frame - also handy when it comes to mounting the work). The cloud before I finished stab stitching it to the silk has been stuffed with polyester stuffing. Not too much so it looks akin to the Michelin man but just enough to give it some depth. Also didn't want to make it too stuffed as it be tricky when it comes to doing all the embroidery detailing around the cloud. 

After that point I had to put it to one side till I had picked up the threads I wanted to add into the mix and to work on the project for Crafty Magazine, I need to confirm when this is out, I think its the March issue. This weekend, however, I managed to get back to it, and I must say I am really pleased with how it's coming along. I had a few initial blips, where I was trying out thread on the actual piece and really disliked it, so there has been quite a bit of unpicking. It took a cup of tea and a break from it work out how I wanted to really start it. Which turned out to be couching a main-ish outline in silver smooth passing. Which gave me something a bit more solid to work against. 

After the outline I just pretty much cracked on with running stitch, couching, metal work, stab stitching and lots and lots of chain stitch, the latter being the main stitch for this project. I am using numerous tones of grey, some with pink or blue hues, different thickness's and types of silk thread. This really is a cornucopia of all things grey and silver.

I haven't even got to the beading part! Which I am saving till last so not to get threads caught on them.

It wasn't the only project I got back to working on, I even spent sometime last night whilst watching Wayne's World, still makes me laugh, to work on the small quilting project. I hope to get back to working on that a bit at a time in the evenings so that doesn't become an unfinished project (got way to many of those floating about). 

Oh, and I've also given some thought to my previous tutorials the honeycomb pieces, it's been a long time since I did one, and I have to be honest I am not sure I want to do another one. Is that bad? Planning the next one felt like a bit of a battle and not terribly enjoyable. The design has been filed since I moved house. 

I certainly want to do more little tutorials for you guys and I don't want to completely abandon the idea of the honeycomb pieces, I just have an idea for something else, something I am pretty sure will work and both you and I will enjoy doing. I have a rough sketch of how it will look and even some of the stitches I want to put on it, I now just need to work out how to go about it. But I think you'll like it. I wont put a time-scale on this one, other than it will be soon. 

Now time to get back to the cloud! 

Honeycomb Tutorial Time: Eyelet Polka Part 3 - The Finish

Welcome to the final part of one of my new tutorials, 'Eyelet Polka'. By now you would have gathered together your materials, selected your colour palate, and stitched four different types of eyelets. And now your going to learn how to finish it off.

If, however, you've only just stumbled across my blog and wondering what this post is all about, then I recommend looking back at my previous posts, in particular Part 1 - Getting Started and Part 2 - Eyelet Polka. 

Wrong side Applique:

You will need:

• Neutral coloured machine thread
• Pins
• HB pencil
• Fabric scissors
• Needles: Tapestry and a sharp.
• 12cm square of Calico fabric, you could use the excess from the embroidery
• The template again, 12cm square of light weight cotton fabric (this will be showing through the eyelets).

Working:

• Take your embroidery out of the frame. On the back, using your template (the one you used to draw the eyelets from), draw the hexagon outline. Use the eyelets to help you line it up. 

• Trim down the fabric till you have about a 1cm seam allowance all the way round. 
• Cut the hexagon shape out of the fabric you have chosen to show through the eyelets and from the calico, remembering to give them 1cm seam allowance. Put the calico piece to one side. 
• Pin the right side of the fabric, to the wrong side of the embroidery piece. If you turn it over you can see it through the eyelets. Lightly tack the pieces together on the line, remove the pins. 
• Place the calico piece on top of the right side of the embroidery, and pin through all layers. Make sure that any outlines you have drawn on to this plain calico is on the top (so you can see them). 
• Neatly back stitch on the hexagon outline, all the way round, going through all three layers. 
• Using your scissors, cut an opening through the calico (only), this is for turning inside out (it’s a bit tricky but if you ease the layers apart, it will be easier to do), but don’t turn it yet. 

• Trim back the seam allowance until there is no more than about 3mm all the way round, and to help you get a neat finish, snip the points of the corners off, but not through the stitching! 
• Now turn the shape inside out, the print layer will be sandwiched between the embroidery and the calico. Use a tapestry needle to help ease out the points of the corners. 
• Sew up the slit in the calico. 
• You can gently press the shape with an iron, on the back.

I hope you found all three parts of this tutorial easy to follow, it's been a bit nerve wracking coming up with something people might want to do. And, a tutorial that is easy to follow. It's been a learning curve and I think there are still things I can do better, so I would love to get some feedback.

Leave comments here, or pop over to my flickr forum, click here.

Enjoy!