One More Stitch?

-

One More Stitch? That is the question!
I love creating detail and texture with embroidery stitches on my wool appliqué quilts. Sometimes the problem is that I get to a point and ask myself, "Is that enough?"
If I do not add enough stitches the shape is flat, and if I add too many stitches I may end up with a big blur and an unclear image. Right now I am at that point with the Sunflowers block for my Tuscany Quilt. Perhaps you can help me out.
I recently went on a family vacation to the beach with my kids and grandkids and kept pretty busy. It was a wonderful time seeing the grandkids go in the ocean for the first time. Within a few minutes they were boogie boarding with smiles on their faces. Those smiles were great. Even baby Mazie and I had a good time watching the birds. However, there wasn't much time for stitching. I did however contemplate what I would do once I did start stitching.
On the trip home I was able to be passenger for a while and started some serious stitching and deciding three things:
1. where would stitches be important
2. which color threads would work the best (did I want the color to contrast or be more subtle)
3. which stitches would I use. 
Here is a starting photo when I was making decisions about placement of the pieces on the block. It is sitting on the ironing board ready to fuse.


A start on the first sunflower with the Palestrina stitch on the edges of the petals and the Stem stitch inside the petals for detail.

The Back stitch was used to create the veining on the leaf. The Bullion stitch is on the border in a dark blue to contrast in value with the green.

Here's the big question. How many french knots are needed? The fabric on the heads was used to add color. The center has green, then the outside has a variegated golden brown. The middle Sunflower now has variegated rust knots. The smaller flower is in progress.
So, what would you do? Is the top Sunflower done or does the middle one, with the rust french knots added, look complete? I would love to hear your comments. 
I will get started on the next block, while I wait for your response.

 If you are interested in seeing more of the blocks from the Tuscany block, look back at past posts and also LIKE Felice Quilt Designs Facebook page for progress photos. You can also sign up for my newsletter with workshop and getaway opportunities on my website. www.felicequiltdesigns.com

 I plan on having this pattern done by the end of August. Do you think people would be interested in a kit for the pattern? Let me know and I will see what I can do. 



I appreciate all your comments. Have a good week stitching!

 Felice

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE Quilt Show! Inspiration Overload!

-
Image
      October was the month for lots of quilt shows, but the one that has been on my bucket list is the Houston International Quilt Festiva l. This show really got my mind rocking and my heart beating! The quilts were beautiful. The vendors had the latest fabrics and it made you feel like you need to run to your sewing room and start something immediately.      Welcome to Texas!       The shopping opportunities were huge. I picked up a wool and cotton palette for the quilt I will start when Tuscany is complete. I'm on the last block, but the biggest one. AND lots more!!!!  (If you are interested in seeing parts of Tuscany you can do that on Instagram or Facebook for Felice Quilt Designs.)      If you have not had the opportunity to go to Houston for this show I recommend it for whatever style of quilt you create. You will see photos of all styles. There was even a wool on cotton quilt with lots of embr...
Read more

I'm in Love with Shibori

-
Image
  I'm in Love with the Shibori Technique      Have you ever wondered what everyone is talking about when they say Shibori? Last Fall I took a class with Sandy Shelenberger in using Indigo dyes with clamping and tying techniques. Before class I researched some Shibori techniques and did some pre-class stitching. A good book for that is Stitched Shibori   Technique, Innovation, Pattern, Design by Jane Callender.  You can see Jane's work on this website . Sandy Shelenberger teaches and shows work that you can find on the Facebook page titled Sisters of the Cloth. You can find detailed information on the history of Shibori here .       Here are a few of my experiments. I currently have quite a stack and have produced two finished pieces with more on the way!       Stitched Shibori Experiments   Wrapped and Tied Fabric Wrapped and Tied For the this example I used a print fabric with type and I found that to be a...
Read more

The Value of a Stitch

-
Image
It's been a good start to the week. I have been happily creating Poppies.       My quilts as of now have been Seasons, Coral Reef, Yummy Fruits and Eat Your Veggies. I started designing about a year ago. It was time to jump to another subject. This time I'm revisiting our trip to Italy. Any of you who have been there are probably longing to go back and wander the Tuscan hills as I am. Perhaps there's a Tuscany Getaway in the future! Anyone interested?   So, where do I begin? I wander through my hundreds of photos and then work up a folder with what are my favorites. I must pick through those to see which really show a good variety of subject matter and of course COLOR to put into a wool quilt. After deciding on the photos I gather my materials....meaning beautiful colors of hand dyed felted wool and fabrics that go with the theme I have chosen. The cotton fabrics I have picked are by Silvia Vassileva for P&B Textiles. It is called Silvia'...
Read more