Finding the right words
Google was made for finding suitable quotes (among a few other things of course!) On the Goodreads site I found the perfect beautiful quote by John Keates:
"A thing of beauty is a joy forever"
Symphony in Stem Stitch
I've been working on this project for over a year. It's the second embroidery using free motion quilting (FMQ) motifs. It's been a lot of fun to create since it's very improvisational. I just started by doodling some FMQ motifs with a Frixion pen. I would embroider it using a stem stitch then add more doodling and keep at it. If I didn't like what I had drawn, I would simply iron it off.
This is the first picture of this project that was posted on this blog (see Related links below).
 |
| Embroidering colourful FMQ motifs |
 |
| First stem stitch embroidery - Étude in Stem Stitching |
 |
| Adding FMQ motifs a little at a time |
The image to the right is the first stem stitch embroidery piece that I started. I used much more muted colours. It's still a work-in-progress (WIP).
I started this to practice my stem stitch after taking a Craftsy course with Jessica Marquez.
This image has the binding attached and ready to be sewn to the back.
 |
| It just needs the binding to be sewn to the back |
What I learned
- When I had almost finished the FMQ, I squared off the piece, marked it and then quilted it along the line. I then cut it a ½" past the line. This gave me the chance to finish the FMQ along the edges without going over it much. I don't mind loosing a little bit of FMQ when squaring it up, but if I don't mark it before finishing it, I tend to go over the edge - a lot!
- I finally used my quilting ruler to FMQ the line around my piece. I used Angela Walter's "Shorty" ruler. I was pretty impressed since it's difficult to FMQ a straight line. I will definitely use it again.
- I had no idea what I would do with these embroideries but I love asking the question...."What if?" So in this case, the question is "What if I FMQ an embroidery? What would that look like?"
- I must say that I'm very pleased with the results. There is a lot of potential here for interesting effects for art quilts.
- Now to make the label and packaging for the piece before tomorrow!
- I was happy to see that my practice with stem stitching payed off. When I decided to finish this embroidery I could do the stem stitch without referring to my favourite embroidery book (see Related links) or the Craftsy class. Of course I haven't done any other stitches in a long while, except for a few French knots, so it may turn out that it's the only stitch I can now do without looking up! 😊
Related links
- Out of the Box Fibre Artists Group
- Stittsville libary location - in case you can make it to the exhibition!
- Goodreads Quotes
- Project related posts
- Q3 Goals for 2018, July 16, 2018 (which I didn't achieve)
- Inspiration and slow work, January 22, 2018
- Labels, image transfers and slow stitching, October 15, 2017
- Progress, June 30, 2017
- Countdown to Canada - Fêtons 150!, June 22, 2017
- Angela Walter's "Shorty" ruler
- "Design It, Stitch It: Hand Embroidery" with Jessica Marquez in Craftsy
- Beginner's Guide to Freestyle Embroidery by Christina Marsh, book listed in my Projects from Books, Mags and Patterns page.
I will be linking this post to several fun link-ups. Lets see what's happening in the quilting world! Free Motion Mavericks, Slow Sunday Stitching, TGIF Friday!, Friday Foto Fun, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, Design Wall Monday, Moving It Forward, What I Made Monday, To-Do Tuesday, Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers, Needle & Thread Thursday,
Wonderful news! This post is featured on Muv's Free Motion Mavericks.
Symphony in Stem Stitch
18 ¼" x 17 ¾"
Materials: cotton, embroidery floss, Kimono silk thread,
Techniques: embroidery - stem stitch and free motion quilting (FMQ)
Beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Karrin!
DeleteOh what a fun idea! Really looks like fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks Carla, it really was fun. I'm actually making another one, but a mini this time!
DeleteI love asking the question "what if".....it takes you on wonderful adventures when stitcing. Your stem stitch pretty is indeed a symphony of gorgeousness!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Kim. What if is really a great springboard to creativity :-)
DeleteOh that is beautiful!! and very unique! I love the colors and the fill quilting - Nice job!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Alycia. I'm really keen to make more and to finish my original one.
DeleteThis is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa!
DeleteThe quote was a lovely addition.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susie. It really was a great way to use this piece.
DeleteThis is really beautiful - and the technique, as you said, has so much potential for future art works.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shasta. I've already started on a couple of other smaller ones. I'm looking forward to seeing how they turn out :-)
DeleteHello Andrée,
ReplyDeleteThe stem stitch designs are gorgeous! What a great way of combining hand stitching with free motion quilting.
Thank you for linking up with Free Motion Mavericks - your quilt is this week's featured project!
Love, Muv
Thanks Muv. I think that this could be a really interesting combination. I guess we'll see. Thanks for featuring my project.
DeleteAll are very pretty!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan. Can you tell that I like whimsical? This was great fun to make, especially after I figured out what to do with it.
DeleteIt is so lovely! Beautiful colours and quilting too!
ReplyDelete-Soma
Thanks Soma. It was a lot of fun to just pick random colours to make it :-)
DeleteHi Angela, thanks for stopping by and commenting :-)
ReplyDelete