A flower based challenge from Aurifil for this month gave me the chance to try out their gorgeous variegated threads.
The completed embroidery with its silk painted base setting off the stitched flower and buds
I love to use these shaded threads as they have beautiful subtle colour and tone changes. It was certainly a challenge making sure the right colours sat in the right place on these rose petals with their gentle curves!
Source photo, silk painted base and Aurifil cotton threads numbers 3660, 4660 and 3840
As you can see by these step by step photographs these threads can work really well. To give more definition and increase the tonal range the final stitching was white thread. It really brings out the highlights and makes the image pop! As always I used a wide tonal range to give a 3 dimension effect.
4 stages showing the colours and details slowly building up
As an Aurifil Artisan i have the opportunity take part in monthy challenges. I decided to get out of my comfort zone and sign up for this month which was a fabric partner collaboration. We were sent Forbidden Fruit Snacks Kiwi cotton fabric by Tula Pink and Aurifil 4093 50wt cotton thread and no instructions! Total freedom to create anything we like to showcase the fabric and thread.
I decided to make a cushion panel with a mixture of the printed fabric and some embroidery versions of the fruit. The stages are shown in the step by step photos below
Creating a new fabric with random patches and stitches!
First I used a lime green cotton (colour 1231) to stitch down my small patches of frayed edge fabric
I added stitched berries in 2 variegated threads (no. 4648 and 4657). These worked beautifully giving me colour variations without having to change thread. I set the machine on zigzag and moved the hoop slowly in a small circle to form each berry.
Finally I added more structure to the design with straight stitch around the outer edge of the design
One of the many bonuses of being an Aurifil Artisan is the chance to try a new range of threads.This month we were asked to use 40 weight in cotton. I thought a seascape would show off the lovely colour range available so looked to some of the inspiration from my trip to Cornwall last month.
I painted a wash of blues and turquoise as a base for the sea and some fluffy clouds in a summer sky.
Starting with some small stitches to add texture to the distant trees, beach and water
1. Adding longer stitches in shades of blue 2. Filling in the spaces with the turquoise and green shades 3. The completed piece, it’s 3 x 5 inches
The boats were the final touch, adding perspective to the scene Tricky as they are only a few stitches each and the masts needed to be straight!
I often use 50 weight on my work so I was curious to try something a little thicker, it threads really easily and being a little stronger is perfect for beginners to freemotion embroidery. The verdict on the threads…fabulous of course!
For every picture I create being inspired is always the starting point. I always work from a photograph, usually my own but this piece is based on a photograph by Ashley Morris. He used to be be my next door neighbour, he now lives in France and takes beautiful photographs. I asked his permission to use this one as my starting point
It was the combination of colours and atmosphere in the scene that made me want to capture it in stitch.
As usual I started by make decisions about the size, format and composition and then the creative process can follow. I am quite organised in my studio (if a little messy at times) and for me that makes the creative process flow more smoothly.
Aurfils fantastic range of greens
I keep my threads organised together in colour ranges making it easy to select the ones I need for each project I use my source photo, often on my tablet, for reference
1. The drawing on the silk 2. The source photo 3. Testing my silk paint colours before I start 4. The completed base painting 5. Comparing the photo and the background painting 6. My selection of Aurifil 50 Mako 6 stages of stitching from background towards foreground layering the stitches as I progress. Zigzag stitches form the silver birch tree trunks and straight stitch for the branches
The completed embroidery with yellow and orange zigzag for the leaves
Its always a pleasure to create another project for my Aurifil Artisan group. This month is an easy brief, a seasonal project. It seemed obvious to me it had to a snow scene! I have been experimenting with contre jour and finding ways in paint and stitch of creating that illusion of light breaking through the landscape.
The first stages show 1. My drawing on silk using a textile pencil for guidelines and gutta for the frame. 2. The sketchy painting to give some background colour and structure to the composition. 3. Choosing my range of threads. 4. The first few stitches for distant foliage.
I have worked with a series of straight stitches so far, drawing what I see in the background of the photograph. I then move forward to the foreground and start incorporating some zigzag stitch to give bolder, smoother marks for the snow and give perspective to the work.
1. My reference photograph on my tablet for a constant reminder of colour, shape and texture. 2. I have added some tree tunks. 3. Moving to the middle distance and working some snow on the ground and a few more tree trunks. 4. Finally to the foreground with zigzag for the snow speckled textured trunk.A finishing touches like decreasing the size of the sunlit “hole” and its complete. This embroidery has the classic limited pallette, I only used 9 colours of 50 weight Aurifil mako. They are beautiful shades and quality to work with. I love the way it looks like it snowing!
