Search This Blog

Saturday, December 01, 2007

The Impatient Embroiderer

Here is another book by Jayne Emerson that is full of wonderful ideas. She starts with a comprehensive section on equipment and basic skills for both hand and machine embroidery.

The second part of the book consists of twenty projects starting with a meandered chair seat pad and ending with a chenille hot water bottle cover. The projects use techniques ranging from raw edge appliqué to fused patches to machine appliqué. There are a couple of ideas that would really appeal to people who like to make fabric cards and her embroidered flowers are now on my to-do list. There is also a bag project that I may have to do. I really need more bags. I should take a picture of the mound of bags sitting in my studio.

Of course, I had to try a project, just to see if the instructions are detailed enough and if everything works as it should. They are and it does. I made the machine lace bowl and what fun! Of course, doing it again (which I’m sure I will) I would get some heavier wash-away stabilizer and use beads, feathers and yarn as well as thread. I tried adding feathers this time but the stabilizer tore when my machine tried to go through them. I think it was probably because the stabilizer I had on hand was too thin. This bowl has about an 8 inch diameter. I used an ice cream pail to make the circle. It used a couple of bobbins of thread. Next time I would plan a bit more of a pattern for my free motion stitching but I do like the random look too. It is shaped over a bowl and dried. Voila, the most delicate looking bowl I have ever seen.

I think this book would appeal to both beginners and more accomplished embroiderers. The projects in the book could be followed step by step or act as a springboard to more complex work.

8 comments:

Darcie said...

Isn't that pretty! So delicate. Wouldn't it make a lovely little place setting for a formal Christmas dinner?!

Bags? Mounds of bags? Have you ever made a bag, Joyce?! ;-)

Darcie said...

Darn. ;-) There. A complete winky face. Hmph. ;-) And another....

atet said...

Ooooh...thanks for the book recommendation Joyce, I'm going to have to check this one out!

meggie said...

Book sounds very good. Love the bowl, something different/

Libby said...

That little bowl will make a festive addition to your holiday decor *s*

Thimbleanna said...

Oooh, such a pretty, delicate bowl! Thanks for the book recommendation.

Ali Honey said...

Those sound like quite quick to do projects Joyce...you'll be able to do lots of them. The bowl is interesting, like a very clever spider web! Would it be able to sit on the outside of a real glass bowl then you could use it for food?

Bags are GOOD !

Kate North said...

Ooh, that's fun. I think I'll have to put something like that on my someday list. I'll be interested to see your results if you do one with bits and pieces - being a bits and pieces kind of girl myself...