Mabel's Hardanger

[pamelam]

They are all lovely!! Great stitching!

[Mabel Figworthy]

If I do get to teach that course at the local Guildhouse, two of the five classes are going to be centred around Hardanger -- tell them a bit about it, show them the basics of stitching Kloster blocks, and some filling stitches, but as yet no cutting (don't want to scare them off ).

Anyway, I've been trying to design two squares for them to try different techniques on, both incorporating some cross stitch as well. One square will be mostly traditional white-on-white with coloured cross stitch, the other will use Caron threads and filling stitches, and a cross stitch intial in white. Both will use four-sided edging to finish them off. I'm stitching the models at the moment, and here is the first:

[karen4bells]

how pretty!! and what a fabulous class that would be to attend!!

[pamelam]

Very lovely!

[RosemaryH]

My OH and I were only talking today about the fact that if we lived in the UK I would be able to enjoy classes such as yours. I would love it.

Rosemary

[XandraS]

That looks great Mabel, hope you get to teach the course

[agi]

This is looking lovely!

[K1nS]

Lovely work Mabel, I don't think I could ever do anything like this, looks very complicated

[Rose]

It really is very pretty!!!!!

[Mabel Figworthy]

I'm in Hardanger mode at the moment ! This one was a bit of a trial piece, I'd seen designs in magazines which were done on 20ct Bellana, and I had a piece of gold-fleck Bellana in my stash from one of my 10,000 post presents, so I thought I'd give it a try.

I like the piece, but I don't think I'll use Bellana again -- the coverage is just too open/thin for my liking, and getting rid of the cut ends was murder! I'd poke them in and they'd just poke out again . So when I'd poked all of them and they all stayed put for a few seconds, I immediately photographed it and stuck it to a card .

I used Anchor multicolour pearl #5 and red pearl #8. I like the effect of this varigated red, I may get another skein when this one is finished (I was originally just going to replace it with a solid burgundy)

[mig-3]

Amazing how much difference two fewer TPI makes.

[Nachstenliebe]

Both are amazing! I like how with hardanger even white on white can look so gorgeous
Faith

[kell]

Pretty pieces! You don't fancy doing a few online classes,do you, Mabel?

[Mabel Figworthy]

All I did was read several books about it and go ahead and try things -- I don't think that would make much of a class!

[ali-cat]

Beautiful!! I really love how the varigated red looks!!

How's about a "Mabel Class in France"! A lovely holiday in France with free accommodation as I'll put everyone up ..... as long as I can attend the lessons for free!!

[Mabel Figworthy]

Sounds tempting !

[Serinde]

The design and colours are stunning, but you are correct about the 20ct. And Bellana is a nice fabric... just not quite right for this, I guess.

And I'd come to France to help!

[Mabel Figworthy]

Bellana is a nice fabric... just not quite right for this, I guess.

I agree, and yet I'm almost certain I've seen it used in New Stitches -- I can't remember what the finished piece looked like, but MH must have thought it usable if she let it appear in her magazine.

[karen4bells]

Love the design and really like that thread, nice rich color variations!! Nice stitching!

[Serinde]

Bellana is a nice fabric... just not quite right for this, I guess.

I agree, and yet I'm almost certain I've seen it used in New Stitches -- I can't remember what the finished piece looked like, but MH must have thought it usable if she let it appear in her magazine.

I know that I've used it, but I suspect it was white on white, so the coverage wouldn't have been such an issue? You might get better coverage using Caron threads.