Finished abstract Bargello cushion

I did start writing my blog last week, only to find half-way through that I couldn’t insert any more photos – it was full. Over the years that I have been doing it, I have used 3GB of space.

Ironically, that post was called “New beginnings”, and this was the first paragragh:

“September for me has always signalled new beginnings, new classes, return to old groups and classes, but with new projects, fresh starts. This year has been no exception. Much as I have enjoyed staying focused on one project for more than a month (Bargello cushion), it is not my normal modus operandi. Starting new work I find exciting and stimulating, one idea leading to another, swapping from one piece to another as the mood or muse takes me.”

I had limited time when I was writing and have done a bit of research on the wordpress.com site during the week, still not really feeling any the wiser. I’m not sure how to connect a new site to this one and, as regular readers will know, many of my projects evolve over weeks or months. Nor do I know how to retain my followers. I don’t have many, and don’t really want to have to pay for a site. Even if I do, it seems as if I will be in the same situation in 12 months’ time.

So I decided that, instead of reducing the number of photos on “New beginnings”, I would show the finishing of my abstract Bargello cushion. The photo at the top shows the canvas work finished and trimmed, ready to attach the velvet that was cut and the zip that was put in a couple of weeks ago.

I did the side pieces first, machine stitching right up to the hole that the last canvas stitch went into.

Then I did the top and bottom, making sure the velvet was still all going in the same direction. As always seems to happen on squares or rectangles, three corners sat beautifully neatly and one wasn’t quite right!

It meant a little unpicking and re-stitching, before top-stitching to anchor the velvet through the canvas for added strength and to reduce the chance of fraying in use.

The front and back were attached together. The colours are truest on this next photo.

Then all it needed was putting in an over-large feather cushion to give a nice squidgy feel.

I’m really not sure where to go next with my blog, but hope I will be able to sort something out. Another possibility, at least for now, is to delete some of the older photos to make some space.

I have enjoyed writing it over the years, it has encouraged me to stay focused and document some of my work, particularly since I resurrected it at the beginning of lockdown; I believe last week was the first I’ve missed since then. It has become part of my weekly routine and I would / will miss it. I would like to thank all my readers, particularly for the comments and suggestions from some of the regulars.

Thank you all. Hope to write again next week.

Felted collar and brooch

Earlier in the year I did a felted collar workshop with Karen Lane. I was really pleased with the result, and wore it a lot until the weather became too warm. My friend Alicia really liked it too, so I made another in pinks and purples ready for her birthday. These are colours not in my comfort zone, but it makes a change to use different colours. It looked like a hairy caterpillar (above) before it was felted.

It soon became this, still damp and with a moth-eaten flower to make a brooch to fasten it.

It’s now almost her birthday and, as she is staying with us for a few days, I can put it on her and adjust it to where she will want to wear it. It sits well, either wrapped around close to her neck (warmer – but not what she wants or needs on this very hot day), or lower and more open like a piece of jewellery (but still too hot for today).

I found a selection of beads and threads to make a flower centre …..

…… and started some stem stitch lines in dark purple on the petals, and french knots in the centre.

More french knots …..

…… some pink beads ……

……. and a few more to fill in the gaps.

This is how it wll look …..

……or this.

Alicia is now impatient for it to cool down enough for her to be able to wear it! (But let’s hope for a few more weeks of good weather yet.)

Vintage stash and Bargello cushion

In my stash I’ve found the perfect piece of old gold velvet to back the cushion and to frame the piece of nearly finished canvas work. It was just about big enough if I was careful with my cutting, even allowing for making sure the pile is all running the same way.

It was very much a case of measuring twice (O.K., several) times to work out how best to cut it. Once I’d trimmed the raggedy and uneven edges, I cut a long strip off one side for the short sides, along the canvas work once I’ve finished it. It’s not quite square. Then a zig-zag stitch along the raw edge, that will be folded under for the lower edge of the zip. I found one in my stash just the right length, if slightly pale. It’s totally hidden, so it’s not a problem.

I also found four different reels of gold Sylko thread that were all a pretty good match. That’s just as well because I’ve almost used up the one on putting in the zip and neatening the raw edges, which are the only bit where you will actually see a row of stitching.

I decided to use the oldest one, which also had the least on it. This was a bit of a trip down memory lane, with the Woolworth’s label saying 6 1/2; now is that “p”, or “d” which would date it pre-1971? Cheaper than I remember them, but on a plastic reel so nowhere near as old as some of my wooden reels of Sylko.

They had such wonderful names too: “Mustard Gold”, “Classic Gold” and “Old Gold”. Unfortunately the one on the top left has lost its name label.

I’ve put the zip in, the second side is pinned below. It’s the bit that I thought I was most likely to procrastinate about, so I’ve not finished the canvas work yet.

I don’t put in cushion zips in quite the conventional way, but make the top flap longer to make sure you don’t see the zip. This also means that it doesn’t catch on furniture or clothes. The back of the cushion is ready to assemble once I finish the front.

I’ve looked at the three possible colours to finish the canvas work along side the velvet ….

… and decided on the middle browny one. The light green is the same as the zig and wouldn’t give much contrast, as the wool would lie in the same direction, and the dark green I felt was too contrasty with the velvet.

I’ve laid a strip of velvet vertically and horizontally at the side of the canvas, and think it will all work. I just need to finish off the canvas work and assemble it all, a much less daunting prospect now that I’ve done the cutting and put in the zip.