Crochet Rose Applique

Good Morning!  I have completed a lovely crochet project.  The idea belongs to Larisa Chilton of Irish Crochet Lab.  She designed it as a project at the request of the Prescensia Thread Company.  It was so lovely that I had to follow along, and she was, as always, so very generous and shared her patterns with those of us who have purchased her video tutorials.  I believe some of the patterns are available in her patterns shop, but I strongly encourage purchasing her video tutorials. . . these lessons and the information and instruction are priceless.

I used DMC Pearl Cotton 8 for the motifs with hook size .75 and .90 mm.  I wanted to use Prescensia Finca Pearl Cotton, but I didn't have any colors that I felt would look good as roses.  I did use Finca Pearl Cotton size 16 for the netting, with a size .40mm crochet hook.  I love this size thread. . . it is perfect for making background nettings for Irish Crochet.  For the backing material I am going to use a Cotton Sateen in a creamish color.  I still have to get to Hobby Lobby or JoAnn Fabrics to pick up an embroidery hoop frame.  I, of course, have embroidery hoops in different sizes, but no embroidery hoop frames.  I have seen them while shopping for other needlework goods, but haven't had a use for one until now. lol   I will probably pick up a few since they are inexpensive, and can be used for a variety of things.  I will make another post when I have fully completed the project, but I wanted to share some photos of the finished lace:

I do feel as if the motifs could have been centered a bit more, but all in all I am very pleased with how it turned out.  It is going to make a beautiful piece for my living room wall.  It reminds me a bit of Beauty and the Beast because of the magic rose that is a part of the story.

The leaves, large rose and rose buds are all original patterns by Larisa.  They are elegant and can be used for a variety of projects.  I thoroughly enjoyed making this piece.  Perhaps I will make it again, but as a bag or purse. . . if I do, I want to use Prescensia Pearl Cotton, which means I will have to put in an order from them soon.  I'm running low on some of my favorite colors by them.

I have also been working a bit on a Reticello piece.  I would say I am about seventy percent done.  I have a couple of photos of this piece in progress:

After I finish this piece,  I would like to use crochet for another project.  It may take me awhile to finish because of my wrist and joint issues.  This rose project took longer than I would have liked because I had to take constant breaks so as not to overwork or stress my wrists and hands. . . still it was totally worth it.  I would like to make a mixed fiber art piece. . . perhaps some crochet, needle lace, and of course, embroidery.  I have also been researching Boutis quilting, and am very intrigued by the technique.  I would like to make a small sample Boutis piece to see if it would be something that I would enjoy.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the photos and are making beautiful pieces of your own. . . Have a great day and until next time. . . 

Happy Stitches!

Hardanger Squares

Good Morning, stitching friends!  I am happy to announce that I have successfully completed the 4 hardanger squares.  I am, however, having difficulty designing a border that is satisfactory.  As I mentioned in my last post, I cut my linen a bit too small for the project as it is designed in the book's instructions.  I have drawn out a few different borders that would fit my piece, but I do not like any of them very much. . . it could be because I had my heart set on making it to look like the book's.  I am on the verge of giving in, and just cutting the 4 squares, and larger centerpiece, and having 5 very nice smaller pieces, and a lesson well learned. (always quadruple check the instructions!!)  I am going to hold off for another week, however, to see if something else will come to me, or will learn to like the designs that I have already come up with. *sigh*

I did take some quick snapshots of the the four smaller squares.  They are very lovely, and showcase many different embroidery techniques and stitches.  If I do decide to make them into standalone pieces, perhaps I will begin this project again, making sure that my linen is cut large enough to accommodate the piece in it's entirety.  In the meantime, I have been doing a bit of crochet.  I had to take a few months off because of wrist and joint issues.  Irish Crochet requires very tight tension and stitches, and also add to that the constant twisting of the wrists, and strange angles, especially when making background netting, and it got to the point where I could barely hold a crochet hook without wincing.  I think it is advisable to take a break from your craft of choice, or every once in awhile to avoid this, and I will certainly keep this mind for the future.  Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures of crochet to share, but I should soon.  I am following a project designed and made by the very talented owner and instructor of Irish Crochet Lab, and it is a beauty.

Before I get back to brainstorming, here are the photos of the completed Hardanger squares:

As you can tell from the photos that I have posted of what I did manage to get done of this project, it is very detailed and beautiful.  Even if I do manage to come up with a border that I like for this current Hardanger project, I am fairly certain that I will still remake this piece as it is detailed in the book.

Well, it is back to thinking and stitching for me!  I hope you are all using your creativity and making something that makes you smile.  Until next time. . . 

Happy Stitches!

Hardanger Center Square

Good Morning!  It's been a bit since I've posted.  I've been a busy stitching bee working on my project from Giuliana's latest book.  It is a bit more complicated than I originally thought it was going to be, but I think that's because I do not have much experience with Hardanger.  I have managed to get the center square completed though.  It certainly has a lot of detail and utilizes a plethora of stitches and techniques.  In fact, just the center of this project would make a lovely Hardanger doily.

I am currently working on the smaller squares that surround the center, and each of these 4 squares would also make lovely and elegant smaller projects.  I do have to admit, that I made a bit of a boo boo already.  When I read the instructions for the piece, it said that it was made on a piece of linen that was 70 x 70 cm.  I assumed that this was the size that my linen should be cut.  However, after looking through the diagrams and instructions, I now believe that the finished piece is 70 x 70 cm.  So, I am not going to be able to finish this project as presented in the book.  My piece will be smaller, and the border will be a bit different.  At first, I was a bit upset about this, but after some planning, I have figured out a way to keep a lot of the major components of the original piece in my smaller version.  This has taught me a lesson - always quadruple check the directions before cutting your materials! lol

I have some photos of the center square.  I am using DMC Retors D' Alsace in sizes 8 and 12 (I absolutely ADORE this thread) on 28 count Graziano linen.

I am currently working on the third smaller square and will make sure to snap some photos of them to share when they are completed.

Since the weather is unseasonably warm, and the sun is shining, I think I am going to take a bit of a break from my embroidery project, and crochet some flowers.  Irish Crochet Lab owner and instructor, Larisa, is sharing a new project that she is working on, and has invited her students to join her.  I am very excited for this, as it has been awhile since I have crocheted. . . I don't want to get "rusty", so this small project is the perfect break from my Hardanger project.  What are your plans for today?  Whatever they may be,  I hope you all have a wonderful day and until next time. . . 

Happy Stitches!

Reticello Roses

Happy 2018!  I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year's.  I haven't made any new resolutions, but I have resolved to keep doing what I am already doing as to stay happy and healthy.

So far in the new year, I have finished a small Reticello Embroidery project, started a big Hardanger project, and spent some times painting threads.  I must admit, I have become a bit addicted to hand painting my own threads.  lol  I have experimented on a variety of threads in a variety of colors and color schemes.  I won't show photos of all the threads I have dyed, but I took a few photos of some of my favorites.  It is actually easier, (and more fun) than I thought it would be, plus it is going to save me quite a bit of money, and time for the threads that I have to order from Italy.  Every time I order a new thread, especially one not available here in the States, I am so tempted to order almost every color it comes in. lol  And then there are the lovely threads that don't come in colors, but only white and ecru.  Now I can have any thread I choose, in any color I choose.  So many possibilities. . . 

Speaking of color, I finished a Reticello Roses place mat inspired by Giuliana Buonpadre's book Hebarium.  The roses in the book were made using size 80 Cordonnet, but since I did not at the time possess all of the colors, I used DMC coton a broder instead.  I used a variety of violets and plums, as well as greens.  I had a grand old time sifting through my broder collection and selecting colors.

I chose similar colors to those used in the book.  I may decide to make a matching place mat to this piece, and if I do, I am going to experiment using different colors. . . perhaps some reds and burgundy.

I used Sotema 20L linen (38 count), which I must say is my favorite linen at the moment.  I have some Sotema 60 count linen that I am itching to try, but I am saving that for Hedebo and Cutwork projects.

Making the Reticello windows for the roses, confused me for a bit, I must admit.  I have been so used to making plain square reticello windows, that I lost my place for a good ten minutes before it started to make sense again.  lol  Luckily, I didn't cut any wrong threads or over pull any before I found my way again.

I used DMC coton a broder N. 25 in white for the square stitches and whip stiches, and N.30 for the bars.  The roses were not difficult to make, though tedious, with the color changes.  Again I thank my experience with Aemilia Ars for the ease I had in making and shaping the flowers and leaves.  I also decided to add two small reticello butterflies on either side of the Roses' window.   I really like how this turned out.  I was a little afraid that the coton a broder 25 would be too thick to fit in the small windows, but it came out fine I think.

As luck would have it, the day that I finished this, my goodies from Italy arrived.  I had ordered linen and threads for a Hardanger project feautured in Giuliana's latest book.  Of course, I was excited, and couldn't wait to start it.  I've been flipping through the book just itching to make something beautiful from it's pages for over a month.  lol  I started the project yesterday, and have also got to try out a new thread. . . Retors d' Alsace by DMC.  At first glance, it looks like DMC pearl cotton, but a closer inspection will reveal that the twist is tighter.  The thread is also a bit heavier and silkier than pearl cotton, and I will say it works up a lot nicer. . . at least for embroidery.  I have yet to try crocheting with it, but that is next on my list.

Before I get back to my project, I will share a few photos of my hand painted threads:

The threads on the left  are Special Dentelles by DMC, and the plum one on the right is pearl cotton 12, also DMC.

The green and violet skein is DMC pearl cotton 12, and the others are DMC coton a broder sizes 25 and 30.

I have LOTS more that I have done, but these are my favorites for now.  Sometime in the near future, I will write a post, explaining my method, and feature more photos of the threads that I have painted.

Also, since my latest project is probably going to take awhile to finish, I will post updates on it's progress.  I hope you all enjoy your day and come back soon!  Until next time. . . 

 Happy Stitches!

Hebarium Table Mat

I hope  everyone is having a wonderful holiday and holiday season.  It's been a little while since I last posted.  I've been busy with holiday errands and such.  I also completed another small project.  As I mentioned previously, I was excited to start experimenting with the ideas and projects in Hebarium. 

I made a small table mat.  For this project, I used Sotema 20L linen in white, DMC coton a broder size 25 in Snow White for the stitches and whip stitches around the reticello, and DMC coton a broder in Snow White, size 30 for the whip stitched bars.

For the the Reticello, I used DMC coton a broder size 25, in different colors.  As you will see from the photos, I used different shades of the same colors to add some "shading" and depth to the flowers and foliage. 

The swirls and clovers around it, are also DMC coton a broder 25 in neutral colors.  I just used a simple hem stitch to finish the piece.  It is a cute little mat, and the perfect starter project, I think.  This wasn't a difficult project for me, as a lot of it was very similar to Aemilia Ars, more so than traditional Reticello.

  I plan on making more reticello pieces in color.  Roses, I think, this time.  Well, I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!  Until next time. . .

Happy Stitches!