I’ve continued working the diaper pattern from last week, and realised I can do variations of this one pattern on several of the castle towers, getting quite different effects.
It will look quite different if I have the diagonal stitches touching, rather than off-setting them, also whether I put in a horizontal stitch at the top and bottom of each rectangle.
I was keen to try out variations, but realised that the castle really needed to have some fabric strips putting round the edge of the blue background fabric, to stop it fraying any more…..
…….. also to be able to stretch it on a frame and put it on a stand, making it much easier to work on, with one hand on top and the other underneath.
I’d counted my backstitches and worked out how many repeats from one side to the other. I was being too impatient to get stitching, so started at the top rather than working out from the middle and outwards from there. I was also playing thread chicken with an old wooden reel of Coats Satinised Machine Twist.
I was really pleased with how it was looking, and continued stitching…..
……. only to find that the last pattern was two threads short of the backstitch edge. I’d had about 6 inches of thread to spare. I was happy with the colour, so didn’t want to unpick and start again and, on looking at it, realised the darker effect on the right hand side and lighter on the left makes the tower appear rounder. Phew!
I then did two rows of the same pattern, but with the diagonal stitches touching on a narrower tower.
I’ve reassessed the threads I’m going to use in better daylight, eliminating some for being too light, too grey, too mauve, or too turquoise. This is the selection to choose from at the moment.
I’ve started with a thicker perlé in the foreground.
It’s also slightly brighter.
I’ve also made the decision to use the same thread and diaper on the symmetrical blocks, so the foreground section will be mirror-imaged. (And writing that has made me aware that I haven’t mirror-imaged what I have done on the left hand tower.) Some unstitching to do next, then.
This is what we have been working on at “In the stitch zone” with Alex Hall at Scunthorpe Library. I have done very little blackwork previously, a couple of little pin cushions, but that’s about all.
I’m not good at counted work, too easily distracted and lose my place in the pattern. I also find working black on white hard on my eyes and, with the high contrast, prone to trigger migraines.
All the same, having seen the start of Alex’s piece I was keen to have a go. We were to use coloured thread rather than black, and a suggestion of working on 14 count Aida. I decided to base my palace on Neuschwanstein, a wonderful castle that we visited with our German friends when camping in the Black Forest many years ago, unfortunately before digital cameras.
When we went to Neuschwanstein, it was a glorious morning, so I decided to use a pale blue linen rather finer than Aida (first mistake) for the background.
Last minute before the first class, I machine stitched round the edge of 8 by 9 inch fabric to stop it fraying as I worked. I used a zigzag stitch, first two sides ok, then something jammed up. Bobbin? Fraying edge? Soon a case of more haste, less speed, but eventually I got it sorted out with tweezers and scissors and quite a bit of tugging.
Once I got to class, I tacked in a centre line both horizontally and vertically, which showed part of the machining problem: the fabric was nowhere near square. Fortunately it is big enough, and can be stretched and mounted square when I eventually reach that stage.
I have a bundle of Paintbox threads that I bought years ago, which I have sat and stroked a few times, but didn’t want to break in to.
I finally have done, using the middle darkest blue for the outline. I’m using running stitch and will go back round to fill in the gaps. The scrappy sketch at the top is what I’m working with, and making the size of the shapes by eye.
By the end of the first session, I’d got a door!
I had hoped to draw up a scale(ish) pattern by the following session, but didn’t get to it. So I continued with the scrappy sketch, using the door for proportion.
Alex had given us a couple of sheets with turrets, arches, windows, etc., which helped for my triangle at the top of the tower.
I then started putting in a turret. The slight curve didn’t work, so a bit of unpicking, much easier with running stitches than back stitch. After a couple of attempts trying to work it out, Alex advised doing a straight line as everything else is straight lines.
It immediately looked better, but by the end of the second session I’d only got to here.
I’ve had a couple of short sessions since. It’s hard on the eyes even with my strong glasses on, much easier to count running stitches than back stitches …..
……for mirror-imaging the bits that need it. I’m working in a hoop at the moment to make this bit easier, by seeing it all at the same time, but being very good about taking it out each time I finish stitching. And I’ll either attach it to a square frame or work it in my hand, once I’ve done the outine. It’s a slow process and will be a WIP (work in process) for a while.
I’ve been having a tidy-up and sort out recently, and have been trying to deal with things as I got to them rather than the out of sight out of mind technique: a slow process.
One of the things that I have finished is the cushion stitch piece from last year. Last seen last November, and it was finished then (at least the stitching, “Move it on”), but I was not sure what to do with it.
I finally decided to frame it in a black Ikea frame, but wasn’t sure whether to mount it traditionally with cream board up to the edge. I then decided it would look better laced over card and put on a backing board. Somewhere along the line, it became a piece of black mount board. It is stitched through to anchor it. The orange cushions echo the colour of the wall behind where it’s going to live, and it looks as if it’s always been there!
The threads that have been left together have all been put away in the relevant places, in case I decide to make it bigger.
Another piece that has been around for a month or so was an encrusted letter that was started at Alex’s “In the stitch zone”. I went off piste having decided to do my initials DD one inside the other. The background is a beautiful piece of slubbed olive green silk. I tacked the outline of both Ds, then used stem stitch to work from one side to the other on the outer D. The vaguely leaf shapes were done in a lovely variegated thread that I had been rather frugal and precious with.
The inner D continued with finer perlé threads, but with no more photos taken until this week. After some discussion with Alex, we decided that I needed to echo the pinky reddish tone from the outer D. I got rather carried away with loose fly(ish) stitches going over the leaf shapes, adding more over the outer D as well, to give more definition up to the tacking outline.
Alex said it made her think of the brambles of Sleeping Beauty’s castle. It’s finished, apart from taking out the tacking threads.
This is it with the tacking taken out. I’ve missed a stitch in the middle at the bottom!
At Allsorts a couple of sessions ago we made tiny plastic canvas Easter baskets. I really dislike plastic canvas to work on, especially when it needs joining together, so I really messed around using scraps cut off other things and odds and ends of threads and ribbons in yellows and greens.
I continued it at home while chatting with friends, and much to my surprise some bits worked OK.
It even went together more easily than usual.
I ended up stitching it together and finishing it, apart from putting a lining in it: just shows it’s good to play and experiment!
It’s many years since we last went to Northumberland, in the days of the campervan, teenage son and black labrador. We managed to replicate many of the best bits of those earlier holidays this time. The loose plans, this time only three airb&b’s booked, rather than a few campsites before we left home, and only two definite destinations planned. We’d got the National Trust and English Heritage books with us so could plan other trips later.
The first to visit en route was Mount Grace Priory, House and Gardens near Northallerton, and we were later getting there than I’d hoped. As always we were later leaving home than I’d planned, but no real rush. Then I rather stupidly managed to miss the exit from the M62 motorway after the Ouse Bridge due to lane closures: not a good start on the navigating, but it did mean we went a more scenic route and it was a glorious warm, sunny day with beautiful scenery and less traffic.
This beautiful carpet of cyclamen was the first photo of 800+ that I took during the week.
The mansion at Mount Grace is Arts and Crafts, and I don’t recall ever seeing this obviously William Morris honeysuckle wallpaper before, certainly not on walls.
The model of the Monk’s cell garden looked somewhat reminiscent of my stitched garden from my last post Down the garden path – part 2.
The Carthusian Monks were semi-hermits, living in individual cottage-style cells, with their own garden, living and work space. The mock-up one had a spinning wheel and a loom, table and chair upstairs.
There were also some lovely storage pieces.
The bed looked rather small, but with a few mod cons, like heating and an inside bathroom and some cooking facilities, it looked a very nice place to live….. although I couldn’t cope with the not talking for 18 hours a day.
We then headed on to the first airb&b, above the River Tees amongst the tree tops not far from Barnard Castle. Unfortunately, the temperature had dropped and it started to drizzle so we didn’t get to sit out on the terrace, but this was the view from lying in bed.
At Belsay we both had empty bookshelf envy. Between us we have far too many books to fit on the many book shelves we have in every room at home (so of course they’re “shelved” on the floor).
We couldn’t believe our eyes to find that this room labelled “library” was actually so bookless.
The house is having major works done, and is covered in scaffolding. Apparently there had been a huge slide from the top, but it had gone when we were there – shame, it would have been fun.
The wallpaper here had been damaged in many areas by silver fish, but had some lovely designs…..
……and beautiful cornices.
There are wonderful walks through the gardens, which we didn’t have time to see properly; just a quick walk seeing as much as possible and taking photos for me, while Colin had a short stroll taking in more of the detail. Certainly another one to go back to, and we didn’t even see the castle.
There were some wonderful trees, including this autumn flowering magnolia, which I didn’t know about. I’ve always fancied one, but so often the frost browns the spring flowering ones: something to look into.
I think these are the buds, not the finished flowers. It’s altogether a very attractive tree / shrub.
We were the last out, but the staff were still happy to tell us more as we went out through the shop. They all enjoyed their jobs and were appreciative of their beautiful surroundings every day.
The next day (pre-planned) we went to Amble to go to The Fish Shack, recommended by The Hairy Bikers, and by Alex and family. It was lovely, the food excellent, but without the recommendations we probably would have walked past. It was about midday when we got there, and a bit cool outside. It didn’t seem very busy, and we were lucky to get a table as it was fully booked inside and within about 10 minutes all the tables were taken.
I had the half lobster, and Colin had the hake and mussels, which just about left room for a dessert each, the chocolate delice and the raspberry and pistachio tart, but we shared them so we could try them both.
We had a table close to the window, and watched not seagulls that came scavenging the food from people eating outside, but starlings!
The lobster pots were stacked along the harbour wall.
We then went to Warkworth Castle and Hermitage, again with barely enough time to see it all before closing time. Well, I did, again taking photos so Colin could see the inside, where he wasn’t happy about the steps and uneven surfaces under foot.
There were great views from the castle “windows”.
We then drove back down the coast road and had a stop near Cresswell so I could have a quick walk on the beach. Lots of seaweed……
…….. and interesting textures and colours.
There were very few shells, but I couldn’t resist this photo opportunity.
This has taken us half the week, seeing a few little towns, pottering round the charity shops, having some good food, and mainly good weather. We’ve seen lots, but it was also relaxing going at our own pace, and deciding where to go and what to do day by day.
debbidipity 