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new beginnings
Posted on | June 14, 2010 | 24 Comments
I’ve always loved making things. I credit my grandmother, who always had some sort of project going on. She quilted, she painted, she embroidered, she knit. She ordered kits that contained everything needed to complete a project and when I’d visit her, she put my hands to the task.
Many years ago, I went through a cross stitch phase.
This was the first project I completed, and actually framed. It reminds me of the Royal Albert Country Rose collection, which I’ve always thought was lovely and fine and so very British.
This is my favorite cross stitch project. I don’t remember the fabric gauge, but it’s pretty small. Sadly, this lives in a plastic tub in the closet.
I love the richness of the colors.
Part of the reason it remains unframed (I even have antique frames ready to go) is that I started this companion piece but never finished it. I flipped the design so the two women would face each other, and changed the colors from blue to yellow/gold/red, and … lost steam. To be honest, I doubt I’ll ever finish it. But, who knows, stranger things have happened.
Where am I going with all of this?
Last summer at our guild picnic, I saw a woman working on Boutis, a French quilting method similar to Trapunto except that the design is stitched through two layers of fabric and the stuffing goes in between the layers, creating a reversible design. I’ve wanted to try this ever since seeing it, and now that the heat and humidity have made knitting and spinning a real labor (it’s so humid that even sock yarn sticks to my needles) AND since my wonderful husband bought me Boutis & Trapunto (which quite honestly, fed my desire and provided good instruction, but I’m not wild about the patterns) for Mother’s Day, I decided that summertime was the time to stab myself with smaller, sharper needles than is the norm.
I bought cotton batiste, quilting needles, an embroidery hoop and dressmaker’s pencils. I looked at designs and decided to try an embroidery design because I have an inflated sense of ability and never like starting simple.
I traced the design onto the cotton batiste
and started stitching. I stitched and stitched. I’m about two-thirds done. I had to retrace the remaining design last night because I swear it faded! Good lighting is essential, but once you get the hang of it, it goes rather quickly.
I can’t wait to get it all stitched so I can start stuffing it! I’m worried that the batiste is too fine and the holes won’t close behind the stuffing. I’m worried that the design is too small and it won’t create the proper effect. (to see some lovely Boutis projects, go here). I’m worried that I will really love doing this and it will be the beginning of yet ANOTHER obsession.
But honestly? I’m having too much fun to worry much about any of that!
Comments
24 Responses to “new beginnings”
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June 14th, 2010 @ 9:41 am
I have cross-stitch pieces that are completed and just waiting to be framed and they’ve been waiting for several years…sigh. Your work is beautiful!!!
June 14th, 2010 @ 9:54 am
First, that second cross-stitch piece is beautiful. My mom used to cross-stitch all the time (she did an elk for me that is gorgeous…and a barn owl that I simply adore as well)and on occasion I would give her patterns for gifts. I gave her one in that same pattern line (can’t remember the name)…for the very reason you mentioned…the colors are so rich, so beautiful. She finished it and has it framed and hanging in my old room.
As for your new ‘obsession’…all I can say is wow and I can’t wait to see how it all turns out! (why is it we can never start simple?).
June 14th, 2010 @ 10:10 am
Oh. My. GODS. Those cross stitch projects are absolutely GORGEOUS. My husband’s grandma does work like that and she’s amazing. Oh, I do wish you’d finish it! Even just 10 minutes a day, you know? Just like with spinning? It’s too beautiful to leave in a tub.
I’m intrigued by the needlework, and really curious to see what it looks like when you’re done.
June 14th, 2010 @ 10:31 am
Nothing wrong with new obsessions!
I have some cross-stitched pieces sitting in my closet, too. I made them for the kitchen of my old house, but before I got them framed, I moved. Now there’s no place to put them.
June 14th, 2010 @ 10:31 am
You’re doing beautiful work and your stitches look perfectly formed. Embroidery is addicting and I spent many, many years studying it’s many techniques, but nothing like that. Keep it up, it’s beautiful!
June 14th, 2010 @ 12:24 pm
Having cross stitch projects in a closet is totally normal. /ahem
How beautiful! What a wonderful new skill to work on over the summer.
June 14th, 2010 @ 4:33 pm
That’s gorgeous! It’s good to learn new things — keeps us young and interesting!
June 14th, 2010 @ 5:04 pm
OMG! Such beauty. I’m way too much of a clutzy fingered lady to do such work.
June 14th, 2010 @ 5:53 pm
gorgeous, gorgeous. and now I want to get out MY Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum charts and my flosses and beads and call in sick for the rest of the week…
June 14th, 2010 @ 6:07 pm
And having fun is what counts, is it not?
June 14th, 2010 @ 7:35 pm
Yes, I have unfinished cross stitch-one on 22 ct Aida. the Boutis will be lovely. It looks time consuming!
June 14th, 2010 @ 8:31 pm
It’s lovely! I have a set of trapunto pillows that I’ve never finished, but I absolutely love the way it looks. And sometimes old projects do come back to life. Following obsessions always leads to interesting places. Stitch away!
June 14th, 2010 @ 9:10 pm
Beautiful! I can’t wait to see how the boutis piece comes out.
I wonder how many knitters/spinners take up cross stitch or other similar needlework projects during the summer months. I have a cross stitch sampler stashed away somewhere that I pull out when it gets really hot. But for now, I’m enjoying my central air conditioning (and the knitting it lets me do)!
June 14th, 2010 @ 9:42 pm
I could never get into cross stitch. Looks so pretty though!
June 15th, 2010 @ 5:23 am
New obsessions are good on many levels. Don’t we all have some uncompleted prior ones in our closets? I think it’s normal. Or at least human nature.
I did embroidery as a kid. Needlepoint a bit before knitting. None since. Taking another basket course at Rhinebeck. Just so you feel you are in good company.
June 15th, 2010 @ 5:40 am
I have personally never met a needlework technique I didn’t like! Enjoy!
June 15th, 2010 @ 7:33 am
Wow! I don’t think I remember seeing those embroidery projects before! They’re amazing and you should definitely frame them – In a bucket? Really?
The Boutis is going to be AWESOME. It’s definitely a craft for people with patience, of which I think I have close to none. What type of project is it, exactly? I’ll have to reread your post to see how you’re going to use it. I’m anxious to see how you like working it. Isn’t it fun to do something different?
June 15th, 2010 @ 7:35 am
Oh yeah – I forgot to say not to worry about if the spaces are too small for the yarn, just use crochet thread or something on the smaller bits. I’m pretty sure you can get them in 100% cotton and may be easier to work with in the smaller sections.
June 15th, 2010 @ 1:22 pm
I have to be careful not to let myself dabble in other hobbies or else I’ll end up with no time for sleep. :) (I have a feeling that if I ever take up spinning, I’ll be in big trouble.) I do have a bit of embroidery–actually it’s redwork, which I think is lovely–and it’s stored away for rare occasions when I have the urge to shake things up.
June 16th, 2010 @ 6:02 am
I went through a cross-stitch phase, too. Eventually, I got burned out and it no longer appeals. While I’ve done quilting, I’ve never tried trapunto or boutis. I’m looking forward to seeing how you progress.
June 20th, 2010 @ 2:55 pm
Oh, I love boutis! I had no idea it was so complicated, though. Now, I know why they are so expensive on the open market. Enjoy your new obsession – it looks gorgeous! (As do your cross-stitch pieces, of course.)
June 22nd, 2010 @ 7:36 pm
Totally understand about the cross stitch! I too had done a lot years ago. I had even gotten one of those Eagle kits that had the background done and you just did the eagle. I had it about 2/3 done. Then the DS was about to finish his Eagle rank and I wanted it done to give to him.
I couldn’t face finishing it though, but had a friend that loved doing it still so asked her to finish it for me. She did and I knit her a headband and fingerless gloves for football game wear. A nice trade.
Maybe you could find a similar friend to finish your project in trade for something that you could make for her? Or is that cheating?
June 26th, 2010 @ 5:47 am
Doing anything with “string” is a wonderful obsession. Can’t wait to see the finished project.
June 27th, 2010 @ 7:24 am
Your cross stitch projects are gorgeous, but the boutis is breathtaking. I watched the video and I’m completely fascinated. I can’t wait to follow your project on your blog!
I taught myself how to cross-stitch years ago and absolutely loved it, but abandoned the sharp needles when I had a baby. I don’t know if my eyes can handle the close work any more, but it sure is tempting after seeing yours.