Thursday 7 May 2009

Sewing and Knitting.......

I wish I could say this was my embroidery..... but sadly no; this is a detail from a tablecloth my friend Lynne showed me last week. Her mother stitched it many years ago and I was astounded to discover that the reverse is virtually identical to the front....... girls were taught to sew properly in those days! Can you tell which is the front? It took me a while....

I've been knitting flowers over the past few days - I have quite a pile of them (they are very quick to do). This is what they look like to start with .....
...then they are stitched into a flower shape....

....and this afternoon they are going in the washing machine on a hot wash! They will hopefully look better when they are felted and the final step will be stitching and beads. Come back later and see how I get on!


Just had to show you the gorgeous fibres I bought from http://www.stef-francis.co.uk/

They sell a large range of hand-dyed threads, fabrics and fibres. The colour schemes are amazing - I love these purples and greens.
Almost too good to use!!

12 comments:

Maggi said...

You are so right, it is beautiful on both sides. At a guess I would say the second one is the front, partly because of the outlining on the leaves but also perhaps because the colours are not as intense. I will be back to see the flowers finished. Stef Francis threads are so gorgeous.

Brenda said...

I am looking forward to seeing the finished felted flowers. The threads are absolutely gorgeous, stunning - like you say, almost too nice to use.

Rosie said...

I'm guessing the second one, but can't put my finger on why! Those fibres from Stef Francis are DIVINE - must get some! And clever you getting on with your knitting - haven't started mine yet because I'm finishing something else .....

Jacky said...

My Nana was an amazing embroiderer too and very particular about her stitching...she never had the patience to teach me though, I was not as neat and tidy as she wanted. Shame really, but I do still enjoy playing around with embroidery (sort of freestyle).
Your new threads/fibres and beads are gorgeous and those knitted flowers are stunning - love them!

~*~Patty Szymkowicz said...

oooo your fibers ARE gorgeous I would just enjoy them hanging somewhere for awhile :)

Embroidery like that is truly an art, stunning. I would not want anyone to see the backs of most of mine, that's why I glue them into altered art pieces now LOL

Your felted flowers are going to be fantastic, I can't wait to see them transformed!

Sandy said...

OMG what a fantastic work. I love them. Gorgeous.

Heather said...

You've got all my favourite colours in those Stef Francis threads - they are so lovely and I never tire of using them. I had some for my birthday.

Lynn said...

Ohhhhhh I am in heaven..... LOVE the fibers, absolutely beautiful, now I want some. I have been looking online for a place in Canada but no luck yet.
The embroidery is lovely too, that's the thing I love about vintage embroidery, it is always so perfect on the back. Did you learn to embroider at school like I did years ago?

Dot said...

Oooh - I have a few lovely posts to catch up on Linda!
Your friend Lynne's mum did a incredible job on the tablecloth. I guarantee my stitching isn't that neat on the reverse side.
Love the look of your knitted flowers. And they look fantastic felted and beaded too! Love how you try different things.
Mmmm....those fibres look edible. Methinks I had better not visit the shop you mentioned just yet as I may go a bit crazy..
Look forward to seeing what you do with them!

Much love
Dot xx

Shashi Nayagam said...

Wow you have been busy. Another talent of yours it is beautiful.
Stef Francis threads are gorgeous. I tend to stop by her stall several times in the knitting and stiching show. I feel like everything she has there.

LazyKay said...

SO gorgeous and how many hours were spent doing that? What a lovely heirloom.

Love the flowers and WOW those fibres - I'd love to get my hands on them just to feel them.

xxxxxxxxx

Jaqi said...

lots of goodies here, you have been busy, the colours are fab, the flowers look great , you are very clever, i bet they are fiddly to make tho? Jaqi x

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