Mabel's RSN Certificate - canvas

[Serinde]

Has to be done occasionally. But the canvas work is moving in the right direction!

[Mabel Figworthy]

I'm hoping to tackle a tulip later this week

[rcperryls]

Your talent never ceases to amaze.

That is almost an understatement. And how great it is to see this project again! It is beautiful!

Carole

[Mabel Figworthy]

Yay, some more Canvaswork (as always more detail in FoF)

First a close-up of the little hut I posted earlier, where it was rather hidden by the two bushes around it:



Even though I'm trying to get more on to the actual canvas, there is still sampling to do as well - this is a stitch pattern for the foliage jumble:



A medium-sized tulip:



And one that turned out to have overflowed its outline so out it came leaving nothing but a pile of fluff, and then was restitched (the comparison pic shows the outline in the middle, my first attempt on the right and the second version on the left):





I also found that the right-hand petal on the big red tulip wasn't pointy enough, so I put in a small diagonal stitch with two couching stitches:





And here is the whole thing:

[Steam.Jo]

I love all the different textures you are achieving with this piece

You've inspired me to dig out a canvas work kit from my stash so I can do it at our sewing group.

Jo

[rcperryls]

I agree with Jo. It is amazing how many different textures you have been able to create!

Carole

[Mabel Figworthy]

A bit more progress - some satin stitch leaves. There's a lot of "tucking under" stitches to make sure no canvas is showing - very fiddly, and tricky not to disturb the previous stitches, but worth it in the end.

The leaf on the right is done in one colour, but the way the silk catches the lighton the horizontal and vertical stitches makes it look like two. The two leaves (they look almost like one because the smaller leaf is right in front of the lower part of the large one) surrounding a tulip stem and a bud are done in diagonal satin stitch using four shades of green, blended, plus a fifth to do the light edge.

[wendywombat]

I love watching this, and have to ask a question.

Why haven't you started your stitching from the background forward? How will you make sure that all your ends are tucked in so as not to disturb the foreground elements?

OK that's 2 questions

In real life those threads must shine even more than we can see from the photos.

[Mabel Figworthy]

I will share with you a little insight from my project notes

"Tucked all the stitches under the previously worked bits – I can't think why you have to work front to back, it would be so much easier to have done this the other way round! The tucking is very fiddly, especially trying not to catch the earlier stitches. But not tucking would leave canvas showing."

The theory behind it is that foreground elements are worked in bigger stitches, and background elements in smaller stitches, because that enhances the perspective. And trying to fit something made out of big stitches into a hole left by things made up of little stitches is more difficult than the other way around.

Think of it like this: A gap left by a cross-stitch-over-two can always be perfectly filled with cross-stitches-over-one, but a gap left in themiddle of cross-stitches-over-one may be too small for a cross-stitch-over-two.

So the theory makes sense, it's just that it sometimes makes for fiddly stitching!

[wendywombat]

Thank you! That makes perfect sense.

When I started (but sadly didn't finish because in the move from France the project got left behind! and I no longer have the pattern details. )
an embroidery which was a scene with a house, trees and a flower garden I had to start from the 'back' and move forward to the front of the garden.
That's why I asked that question.

[rcperryls]

Thank you Wendy for the question (which I was also wondering) and thank you Mabel for the answer. This is a project that is a lot of fun to watch as it grows. I love how much depth there is from both the colors and the stitches. Amazing effect the light has on the leaf on the right. The kind of effect that light could have on a "real" leaf.

Carole

[Mabel Figworthy]

I think I may be getting carried away with all this blend stuff - this small bud has four green stitches which are four blends using five shades...
(The canvas is 18ct so the bud is 1/3" high)

[rcperryls]

One of the prettiest buds I have ever seen.

Carole

[fccs]

One of the prettiest buds I have ever seen.

Carole

I agree. Seeing all of Mabel’s beautiful canvas work makes me want to get out one of my counted canvas projects…but I must be strong and avoid the temptation….maybe?

[Serinde]

One of the prettiest buds I have ever seen.

Carole

I agree. Seeing all of Mabel’s beautiful canvas work makes me want to get out one of my counted canvas projects…but I must be strong and avoid the temptation….maybe?

Be strong? Why, exactly?

[fccs]

One of the prettiest buds I have ever seen.

Carole

I agree. Seeing all of Mabel’s beautiful canvas work makes me want to get out one of my counted canvas projects…but I must be strong and avoid the temptation….maybe?

Be strong? Why, exactly?

Good question. I’ll let you know when I come up with an answer.

[Mabel Figworthy]

I had another class last Saturday, some of it a bit frustrating (fourth tutor, fourth different view on how to tackle the green among the tulips), other bits definitely helpful. I finished another tulip, plus a stem, and got some interesting pointers for that green stuff that has been bothering me pretty much from the start. More detail in FoF (although that also covers things I posted here earlier).

A tulip:


A stem:


Sampling stitches:


The project at the moment:

[rcperryls]

This is really lovely. Seems like the variety of stitches is more than in your other projects. Also, it must be difficult to have so many different instructors providing guidance on this type of project. I would find it confusing. You seem to be able to filter out what makes sense to you from each of them. I admire that.

Carole

[wendywombat]

Well done.
You are producing a wonderful and varied piece of work despite having to listen to differing advice.
Vibrant colours and interesting textures.
Superb

[Serinde]

Totally agree.