Mabel's other stitching 2021

[rcperryls]

The oranges look good enough to eat, but are way too pretty to peel. I am not the fondest person of stitching French knots, but don't dislike them as much since I have your instructions (graphic and photos) which have helped me so much. This is beautiful!

Carole

[Mabel Figworthy]

Today I decided to take the goldwork racehorse to embroidery group, swathed in tissue paper and bubblewrap, and it worked just fine, so this is going to be my Monday project for now, as I actually got more done than I thought I would ! I managed to couch the flank area (not plunged yet), shading the colours of the couching thread.
When I saved the pictures I found that I last worked on this last August

[wendywombat]

Oh! I'd forgotten about the Race Horse!

I love the movement in this! The tail is wonderful.
Since making 'Bruce' do you think that you have learned a lot more since you started this? Is there any part you might now have done differently?

[Mabel Figworthy]

Just looking at the cutwork (like Bruce's tail), I took a one-on-one class in 2017 centred around that technique, then there was more in this racehorse in 2019, and then Bruce in 2021, and I can clearly see from the photographs that I've improved in that technique, which is rather heartening
This horse was the first time I tried S-ing (which I'd been wanting to) and liked it so much I included it in my Certificate piece.

Would I have done things differently? Well, because it was a kit and at least part of it was done in class, it was all quite guided. But now I use the big photograph we were given (and which, incidentally, is not exactly the same as the outline we had on the fabric...) as a sort of guide, doing most of it as instructed but also changing things - for example, I hate plunging rococco so I will be using a thinner wavy thread from my stash, and I don't like the look of some S-ing in the legs (too sharp a curve for the effect to work) so I'll be changing that.

Mostly I'm enjoying doing some goldwork in a more relaxed way because if my couching stitches are not all exactly 4mm apart, It Does Not Matter

[rcperryls]

Mostly I'm enjoying doing some goldwork in a more relaxed way because if my couching stitches are not all exactly 4mm apart, It Does Not Matter

And you will still turn out something absolutely lovely which is the goal, isn't it? And so far I think this is lovely!

Carole

[Squirrel]

Great to see this colourful one again.

[karen4bells]

Great to see this colourful one again.

Love this, and yes, it is so very nice to see it again!

[Roland]

Wow!

[Mabel Figworthy]

After a week away (the sea, the sea, yay!) I had another Embroidery Group meeting and took the racehorse again. I plunged all the couching I'd done two weeks before and - because the design is drawn in very thin black pen on dark green fabric - failed to notice that I hadn't quite covered the lines... Oh well, I'll think of something
I couldn't oversew the ends to secure because I'd forgotten my curved needles, so instead I finished the S-ing along the horse's back. You can tell how long I've been working on this - the S-ing by the neck has slightly tarnished in all that time and is a little darker than the "fresh" stuff.
I'm really enjoying having a no-obligations-no-assessment play with this !

[rcperryls]

Beautiful!! And I'm glad to hear, and not surprised, that you are enjoying a bit of freedom with this project!!!

Carole

[fccs]

Wow, this is beautiful!!!

[Squirrel]

The Jockey looks very real and I love his colours. Well Done Mable

[wendywombat]

This is Galloping along nicely now!

[Mabel Figworthy]

Right, I decided to solidly cover that tip where the lines were still visible using chipping in my thinnest possible purl. On the close-up you can clearly see the join but when looking at the horse as a whole I think it blends in quite well!

[wendywombat]

Yes it does work!

[Mabel Figworthy]

Last embroidery group of the term (we'll start again in September) and a bit more racehorse:

[Squirrel]

That race horse is a winner for sure.

[karen4bells]

That race horse is a winner for sure.

Isn't it just!!??!!! Wow!!! Very very nice!!

[rcperryls]

That race horse is a winner for sure.

Isn't it just!!??!!! Wow!!! Very very nice!!

Absolutely a winner!!!

Carole

[Mabel Figworthy]

More work on the horse as I am determined to finish it before moving on to my next goldwork project. I unpicked the copper bit by the shoulder joint / in the neck (sorry, not very good at horse anatomy) and am happier with it now. The final furlong!