Bargello Needleroll
In March our EGA chapter had two programs about the bargello technique. The class project was a needleroll worked in cotton floss on canvas. The design was created and taught by my friend Carol Clarkson Timm.
Each member got to choose her own colors for this project, and stitched the canvas. Then we learned this "joining stitch" which is an overlapping series of Xs. It ends up looking like a braid. We filled the needleroll with horse hair, which is supposed to help your needles stay in good shape, like an emery.
Assisi Embroidery Pin Cushion
This is another EGA "Petit Project" which my online EGA chapter did as a group. The idea behind Assisi work is that you stitch the background and the void areas form the design.
Kaleidoscoping Values
This was another EGA group project, an online correspondence course in needlepoint. It used a variety of fibers on a canvas ground cloth. The purpose of the course was to learn a variety of canvas stitches, and also to learn to stitch with values within a chosen color family to great effect.
Part of the fun was in getting to design two of the squares. My two designs are the upper right and lower left corners, as well as the center focal point.
I stitched this project with the intention of giving it to my husband who likes muted colors. This is one of my many projects where the stitching is complete but I never did the finishing/framing work. It languishes in a box in my Studio.
Mini Bellpull
In the first week of March I was able to go on a retreat for stitchers, sponsored by the designers from Twisted Threads, Heart in Hand, and Bent Creek. On this spectacular weekend, I participated in four classes where I learned a number of new "specialty" stitches. This little bellpull was made from my doodle cloth where I learned the stitches. The stitches are (in order from top to bottom): backstitch, fence stitch, cross-stitch, rhodes stitch in two sizes, fly stitch, colonial knot, rhodes heart, crossed corners cushion, double leviathan in two sizes, closed herringbone, norwich stitch, and nun's stitch.
I turned my doodle cloth into a sampler bellpull as a remembrance of my time on retreat. I made the cording and mini tassels from some matching floss, and used a toothpick as the rod at the top of the bellpull.
The other great thing about the retreat is that it introduced me to Skamania Lodge. Dale and I have returned there several times, including for my 50th birthday celebration. It's a wonderful resort with beautiful views and the very best rocking chairs you'll ever sit in.
Three French Hens
This is March's Christmas-related chart. If you recall, I had a personal goal of stitching one Christmas chart by the 25th of each month. I pulled out an ongoing project of The 12 Days of Christmas. I intended to stitch each of the 12 designs and make them into a wall quilt. I had been working on this quilt off and on for over five years.
You'll eventually see all 12 of these squares. But this is another project in that stashed-away box of stitched-but-not-finished-for-display pieces in my Studio. I even bought the fabric for the quilt back. I'm not confident in my quilting abilities, so I've not completed it either. YET!
Gardener Moose
This design one from the "Malcolm the Moose" series from The Stitchworks. In the series, Malcolm is in all kinds of settings making mischief. I chose this design for my college friend's birthday. She loves to play in the dirt and make things grow. Plus, we have a running joke about moose which grew from the true story of when we came upon a moose in the wild while camping together in Idaho.
I finished this project as a small pillow, using a garden/plant print for the backing and some complementary piping along the edge. I wish I had a photo of the completed pillow, but unfortunately I don't.
In April 2001, I finished seven projects, so I'll show them all in my next #throwbackthursday post.
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