Monday 24 February 2014

Pansy stumpwork silk shading.

Long and short embroidered pansy stumpwork.

Close up of the centre of the long and short pansy.
This pansy was embroidered in long and short stitch with stranded cottons. I used a very fine linen backing and couched wire around the individual petal edges which was then covered in the long and short stitch. The petals were all then cut out and the edges turned back and stitched. Having wire on the edges under the stitching meant that I could manipulate the petals so they are curved. The stem is covered millinery wire. I had hoped the pansy would have a more delicate feel to it so next time I may paint part of it and add some stitching to that.

6 comments:

  1. Hi Margaret,
    How did you stitch round the edges when they were turned under, as you haven't used buttonhole as one might normally? Looks good to me but suppose it depends on effect you're after! :) Pippa

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  2. Hi Pippa, thanks for your comment. After I finished the petals I glued near the edge of the long and short with some conservation adhesive on to the background linen. I then cut through the glue line to stop any potential fraying. I then turned these edges back onto the reverse of the embroidery and secured in place. Quite a fiddly job!! As there was wire under the embroidery I could pull really tightly without distorting the stitching. I then lined the back of the petals to make it look tidy. Hope this explains it. Marg.

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  3. Thanks, yep I get it, REALLY fiddly. Did you line the reverse with silk, sorry!

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  4. Actually no, I used a piece of very loosely woven felt so I could pull it quite easily to the shape of the pansy. Also no turning back then and no fraying!!

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  5. Pansy, my favorite flower. I haven't done crewel work in years so this flower is a good reason to try it again.

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