Embroidery

Getting ready for Valentine's Day with some love themed scrappies.  They will be for sale at The Octopus and The Fox starting February 1!

When you are self-taught and stubborn, it can take a while to learn things.  

Here is a good example.  I do not do counted cross-stitch. So, I beleived that I did not need the aida or even weave fabric used by cross-stitchers.  I wanted to do an embroidery of an Old Bay can.  I drew it and re-drew it and got it ready to transfer to fabric to sew.  I used the linen-like fabric that I have tons of (thrifted) and regularly use for all my stuff.  I liked it OK but it did not come out with straight lines and was sort of wonky looking.  It looked hand done, it looked interesting but it was not exactly what I had envisioned or wanted it to be.  

So, I realized that in my stash of sewing supplies I had some even weave fabric.  And, I decided to do a second Old Bay embroidery.  Being able to count the threads meant that the proportions never skewed.  I could ensure that the lid or the blue section stayed the same width all the way across. It was fantastic.  The fabric worked with me, not against me.  The right tools work to help you achieve the desired effect rather than thwarting you and making you curse every stitch.  And, I do mean that literally.  Who knew?  Well, lots of people actually but now I know it as well-- having stubbornly learned it the hard way. 

Side by side-- see what I mean?  

    
(Left) Original Old Bay on linen                 (Right)  Second Old Bay on even weave fabric

I would not have a doily in my house as a doily but love all the work on them.   All that crocheted edging, the tiny stitches. So, I added some text to these and now they can go on a bulletin board, above a desk, or on a dresser for morning inspiration.  

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