Jo's Stitching 2023

[rcperryls]

I like the way there is that unoutlined green at the top, which keeps the distance effect!

I hadn't really noticed that before, so I think the backstitch on the tree (at least the top) was worth it. This is one beautiful piece!

Carole

[Steam.Jo]

As I head up the tail I thought you are probably getting bored of seeing the front so you might like to see the back:



There is a lot of individual stitches here with the next one of the same combined colour pair about 3 or 4 stitches away. As a result I am having to tunnel the threads under the existing stitches.

I am still claiming that this one is easier than the Celestial Dragon scales to do. Apart from both having lots of individual stitches this one only combines the metallic blending filament with one stitch colour

Jo

[Mabel Figworthy]

I'm afraid I only tunnel if it's rather further away than that - impressed with your dedication!

[Serinde]

I'm afraid I only tunnel if it's rather further away than that - impressed with your dedication!

So am I!

[rcperryls]

I'm afraid I only tunnel if it's rather further away than that - impressed with your dedication!

So am I!

And I am too. I tunnel closely when I'm stitching an afghan because I don't put a backing on the afghan. For anything going in a frame I only tunnel if its much further away. (I also "cheat" sometimes by stitching single stitches that are relatively far apart first and then doing other stitches that will cover them up)

Carole

[Serinde]

That's not "cheating". That's common sense! The back of the Cluny tapestry is full of overstitched threads. Sort of like "parking", but on a grand scale? The point, though, is that nothing will catch those threads and pull or break them.

[Steam.Jo]

I am heading up the tail:



I do feel that having started stitching just above the centre thread that I am actually progressing on this one

Jo

[Mabel Figworthy]

It's good to give yourself these little milestones (yardstones ?) on such a mammoth project!

[rcperryls]

It's good to give yourself these little milestones (yardstones ?) on such a mammoth project!

I agree. I also take a photo at the end of a stitching day and compare it to the previous day. I don't keep them all when the project is finished but that really does help keep me motivated.

Carole

[fccs]

I'm afraid I only tunnel if it's rather further away than that - impressed with your dedication!

So am I!

And I am too. I tunnel closely when I'm stitching an afghan because I don't put a backing on the afghan. For anything going in a frame I only tunnel if its much further away. (I also "cheat" sometimes by stitching single stitches that are relatively far apart first and then doing other stitches that will cover them up)

Carole

Same here...tunnel when the stitches are further away...

[Steam.Jo]

I've made it to the half way line on the tail:





Jo

[Serinde]

It is looking beautiful.

[richardandtracy]

Yes, yes it is.

Noticing your backstitch. Funny, I never do that before completing the cross stitch. It's mostly because I make my own charts and am never sure if something needs sharpening up before completing it. However, it had never occurred to me to do it as I go.

Regards,

Richard.

[Serinde]

I'd lose the will to live if I didn't do the backstitch as I go along these days!

[fccs]

Yes, yes it is.

Noticing your backstitch. Funny, I never do that before completing the cross stitch. It's mostly because I make my own charts and am never sure if something needs sharpening up before completing it. However, it had never occurred to me to do it as I go.

Regards,

Richard.

I always do mine as I go because it's my least favorite part of the process (even though I love the effect).

I'd lose the will to live if I didn't do the backstitch as I go along these days!

[Steam.Jo]

Earlier on when I did the leaves in the grass I found it very confusing until I did the backstitching. It gave me a reference to see what I was doing. TW loves using pairs of different colour strands and without the backstitching it is nearly impossible to see where you have got to.

The only real colour in the Pear tree is the pears:



But there are over a dozen different split thread pairs in there, the pears alone are using 4. Thankfully there are (mainly) a few of each colour before you have to change colour, and those include 1/4 and 1/2 stitches

Jo

[rcperryls]

I agree about the backstitching in a TW design. And I also back stitch as I go on large projects. The HAED is going to be a real easy one without any backstitching, mixed threads and fractional stitches. And yet the detail is still there. It always surprises me.

Carole

[Steam.Jo]

I've been finishing off the Lazy Daisy stitching on the bottom Serpentine row:



And have now moved on to adding the Leaf pattern around the border. The chart is confusing:



Those loops seem to begin and end on the fabric threads rather than the holes. I experimented ( ) a few times before I was happy with a way of doing both the corners and the stitches long the long straights:



There are two different colours of leaves around the border and I am about to add the second colour pair at the bottom. Progress

Jo

[Mabel Figworthy]

Lovely to see all the detail in that close-up!

Just wondering, as the cross stitches are over two, on the chart there would be a hole right in the centre of a square - perhaps that's where she wants you to place them?

[rcperryls]

this gets more and more beautiful every time you post!

Carole