Chinese Garden Mandala FRAMED!
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:22 am
I thought I would start a shiny new thread for this one as it is a big project! So much for the 1 December start - I could resist no longer once I had all the threads to hand and started it on 18th November! I thought I would post each part in three stages (cross stitches, speciality stitches and back/long stitches) as it will be interesting to see the design develop and how all the different elements come together.
Here is part 1 with all the cross stitches (lots of fractionals - I'd forgotten about them stitching on HAEDs!) completed, I am stitching on 28ct Antique White Jobelan using Martina's DMC conversion for the solid and variegated silks and all other threads as charted:
Not the best pic in the world - too many shiny threads! The black border was a bit of a pain - its stitched with Edmar Iris rayon thread, just about the springiest thread I've worked with! I have been umming and ahhing over whether to bead as I go or not - I think (I will probably live to regret this!) I will bead at the end as I work on scroll frames so would not want the beads to get crushed or misplaced as I work. I know I could use wadding to cushion them......I may change my mind who knows! All crystals will definitely wait until the end to be sewn on as I don't want any snagged threads! This is such a fun and addictive project to work on and it is always nice to know what you are stitching compared to HAEDs where you are left wondering until you've done a fair amount of work. It is a good rest for the eyes to be stitching over 2 on 28ct instead of over 1!
Here is part 1 with all the cross stitches (lots of fractionals - I'd forgotten about them stitching on HAEDs!) completed, I am stitching on 28ct Antique White Jobelan using Martina's DMC conversion for the solid and variegated silks and all other threads as charted:
Not the best pic in the world - too many shiny threads! The black border was a bit of a pain - its stitched with Edmar Iris rayon thread, just about the springiest thread I've worked with! I have been umming and ahhing over whether to bead as I go or not - I think (I will probably live to regret this!) I will bead at the end as I work on scroll frames so would not want the beads to get crushed or misplaced as I work. I know I could use wadding to cushion them......I may change my mind who knows! All crystals will definitely wait until the end to be sewn on as I don't want any snagged threads! This is such a fun and addictive project to work on and it is always nice to know what you are stitching compared to HAEDs where you are left wondering until you've done a fair amount of work. It is a good rest for the eyes to be stitching over 2 on 28ct instead of over 1!
very nice
I don't think I could have waited until the 1st either.. It's looking gorgeous! Wonderful work! 
You made a great start!
! (They look good when used by someone with the patience to make them behave though!)
!! So I will have to watch and covet yours instead.....hope you don't mind.....I'll try not to 
on it too much......honest!