Chapter 9(a) - another sample

I made a startling purchase the other day ....

... no I haven't lost the plot - look at that tempting grid just waiting to be stitched.  Following an inspirational workshop with Isobel Hall, I decided to try weaving stitched strips of cotton.

The above image is a very close close-up.  I used black thread with a turquoise bobbin thread and relaxed the tension so that the bobbin thread peeked through.  After stitching one line, I flipped the fabric over and reversed the stitched line.

 



I threaded up the strips using a large bodkin and did running stitch then returned down the line with a large tent stitch.  The cotton frayed more than I'd planned and threatened to overwhelm the pattern of stitching.  I also had to keep untwisting the strip as I sewed.  Interestingly, the tent stitch resembles tiny capsules/pods/mussels.  I think this type of stitching would be more effective stitched over a large area, using a  degree of variation in the colour of the backing cotton.  Paper or Vilene could also be used as a base for the strips.

Overall, I stitched this sample with my HEAD rather than my HEART, which is why I'm not particularly pleased with it.