Serinde's 2020 Stitching Adventures 7 December

[poppy]

It is a masterpiece, Serinde.

Even snipping threads in hardanger didn't prepare me for the real fear that I'd get it Utterly And Totally Wrong and RUIN IT.

You do choose very challenging projects, Serinde. The result is absolutely stunning.

[Serinde]

I received my design for the Opus Anglicanum laid and couched piece! It is on a fabric 16" square, although the design isn't quite that large -- about 10 high by 11.25 wide. Alas, it hasn't been drawn quite in the centre of the fabric, so I'm having a certain amount of trouble finding a frame I can put it onto for stitching. It needs to be held very tightly -- laced, in fact. I was going to stitch it to a roller frame and then lace the sides, which I think will work if only I can find the correct size roller frame... it's around somewhere. The side bars aren't long enough, though, to keep the whole design in view, which I suspect will be an issue. Can't find stretcher bars the right size, either. Did find a cheap-ish slate frame (Siesta frames... not quite Jenny Adin-Christie!) and have asked them what the inside dimensions are on one particular configuration. (Lesson to self: don't leave it so late!!)

[Squirrel]

Good Luck with finding the right side bars. It can be quite a chore doing that.

[wendywombat]

I agree with Sally.....

But in the research you may just find something else you never knew that you 'needed'.

[Serinde]

I live in hope, WW, I live in hope!

[Mabel Figworthy]

Here's hoping you find the proper frame . Probably telling you what you already know here, but if at all possible I would suggest trying to find roller bars that are either sew-on or use a rod-in-groove method - the others I have found don't keep the vertical tension (like the no-sew clip-on types). Lacing will work with pretty much any side bar so there it's just the size that is your issue. I'm afraid my largest roller frame is being used by the house-bound friend at the moment, and anyway the side bars wouldn't be long enough for you I think. I'll dig around my chest-of-things-I-don't-use-at-the-moment to see if I can dig out anything usable.

[Serinde]

Found the frame, and I think I'll just about squeak it on, length-wise. One of the chores today.

[wendywombat]

Well Done! Now we need to find the magic bench ....is it possible to self isolate whilst we all sit on that bench to watch I wonder?

[Mabel Figworthy]

Well, it is a magic bench, so I'm sure we'll be all right!

[rcperryls]

I would think magic benches exist in a virus free zone so are very safe for special events, such as watching stitching adventures. I will be glad to bring refreshments from the S&G. Anything you want is, of course, available.

Carole

[Serinde]

Watching a video put together by Tanya B about lacing into a frame. She uses Pearl 5 cotton... on big balls. Eh? I thought. And then realised that Petra crochet cotton, perle 5 (and 3 and 8 ) is the same thing as the stuff I buy so expensively in skeins. Holy Moley! Ok, the colour choice isn't as broad, but it's easy to figure out the DMC colours from the codes...

And I'm experimenting with weaving with No 3...

[Mabel Figworthy]

Well, it certainly looks very similar... have you ever tried it and been able to compare it side-by-side with what you might call "stitching perle"?

[Serinde]

No, but I have put in an order for a ball of each size (3,5,8) to check this very thing. If nothing else, I can use them for weaving. I've ordered it from Lovecraft (not my fav), and it's clear that a big ball would be much cheaper. The DMC website, unsurprisingly, has a greater range of colours, too. I'll let you know how I get on.

[DahliaDoll]

Very pretty! You did a beautiful finish job, as well.

[karen4bells]

Wow!!! What a beautiful project and finish!!! Well done!!

[Serinde]

Here are the trumpeters. My lacing isn't fabulous, and I might redo the left-hand side... but it's considerably more tensioned than anything I've ever stitched ever! My hope, as you can see the fit is a bit squeaky, is that I'll be able to do the slight adjustment that'll be necessary to get at that top trumpet... It takes A LOT of thread to lace a side. Lots.


image upload and host

[Mabel Figworthy]

Looking good and tight! Here's hoping you can tweak the trumpet

This is a slightly hindsight-ish note as you are fully laced up, but should you at any point consider re-lacing, it might be an idea to reinforce the sides of the fabric? Certainly on the slate frame we're taught to sew on strips of herringbone tape, which are then laced. It's not just reinforcing, but it spreads the tension more evenly too (in the pic you can see the tape is pulled in "waves" but the line of sewing that attaches it to the fabric is much straighter, i.e. even tension).

[Serinde]

I did consider it, although the tutor didn't think it necessary with this material. Also, I expect that the course will be a quick one (8-10 weeks?), so I might just get away with it.

[Mabel Figworthy]

If she says it's fine then I'm sure it will be - she will have plenty of experience with the material, after all! What is the fabric please?

By the way, what a magnificent fanfare of angels they are!

[poppy]

It is a lovely design. Serinde. Looking forward to the grand start of it.

we're taught to sew on strips of herringbone tape, which are then laced. It's not just reinforcing, but it spreads the tension more evenly too

Very useful to know, thank you Mabel.