Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy Finished & Framed 7/24/19

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Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy Finished & Framed 7/24/19

Post by rcperryls »

I'm planning on framing this
Image
and giving it to the amazing vet who spent an hour with me last week, reviewing what I've been doing with Rosey and getting suggestions as to how to keep progressing. And she didn't charge me a penny!!
This may turn into a practice piece, but I've gotten started and would love any feedback as to how to make it better. I traced the design on to the fabric using my water soluble pen and also a pencil to make it a little darker. The thread is pretty much covering it, but when and if I stitch it again, I will follow Mabel's suggestions on how best to trace and transfer a design (making it an iron on design to start with, using the right tools) which I'm sure will help.

So far I've gotten about 1/2 of the cats body stitched using the stem stitch.

Image

And a few updates on Miss Rosey too:

Image
Playing with her toys. She likes to hide her mice and other catnip toys under that blue airplane pillow she has taken over so she can stalk, hunt and catch and toss them all over the room and the hallway so we are making some progress.

Image
An after playtime nap.

Thanks for looking.

Carole
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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies

Post by Mabel Figworthy »

Miss Rosey look right at home there! She is obviously getting settled in, which is wonderful to see.

You've made a great start on the cats, I'll enjoy seeing this one develop. Now, a question, and please be honest (sorry if that sounds as though I think you aren't :-) ) - would it be helpful if go into tutor mode and comment on stitches and whatnot, or would you rather I didn't? I'll be perfectly happy either way, so please don't think I'll be offended if you say no :-)
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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies

Post by rcperryls »

thank you Mabel and tutor mode is more than welcome. It will help me and perhaps help others who are interested. Like I said, this one might turn into a practice piece. To give you more information, I am stitching on 28ct cashel linen. And yes the holes in the fabric which make it perfect for cross stitching do make it a little harder because my natural inclination is to count. I,have other linen which I can use if this piece doesn’t look good enough for a gift.
My stitches also aren't quite as consistent as I would like. Other comments are gratefully appreciated.

Carole
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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies

Post by Mabel Figworthy »

OK, tutor mode switched on :-)

- Although both will work, neither Lugana nor Cashel linen is ideal for surface embroidery because of (as you noticed yourself) the holes. These holes make both transferring the design and placing the stitches more difficult. One option when you do want to use what you have and not get some fabric especially for this project is to back your countable fabric with something non-counted, and honestly I'm thinking old pillow case or old large hanky here - nothing fancy. This won't help with the transferring (which is done, anyway) but will help with stitch placement.
(In fact, good-quality cotton sheets/pillow cases are actually really good for surface embroidery :-) ! I've also used plain-coloured quilting cotton (usually with a backing of thin calico).)

- Stem stitch takes curves really well, but it works best if you make your stitches just a little bit shorter when you curve; where the cat's neck goes into his body, some of your stitches are a little on the long side. "Consistent" is good, but (counter-intuitive as it may sound) when working round a shape that is not equally curved everywhere, you get a consistent look by not making your stitches the same length everywhere.

- When you transfer a design with an iron-on pattern, the lines will be about as thick as the ones shown in your project. This is generally fine, but if you're working with 1 or 2 strands of cotton, or another thinnish thread, you may find it difficult to cover the lines completely. In those cases (and depending on the thickness of the fabric) I would recommend tracing the pattern onto the fabric using a light-box (or well-lit window) and a technical drawing pen. Don't worry if that sounds far too specialised - they aren't. I use Sakura Micron pens, preferably size 005 but 01 is thin enough as well, and generally in a light brown which they call sepia (although I've used black and green as well) - this gives nice thin lines which are easy to cover. I drew my rabbit/carnation piece using the sepia pen, and the Celtic cross using black (see below)

Image Image

Hope that helps, and if this is rather more detail than you want, just say :-)
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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies

Post by rcperryls »

:wub: :wub: :wub:
Thank you Miss Mabel ( in my student mode to your tutor mode). Love the feedback and I always love how you explain things. Hoping to get more done today. At least finishing the stem stitch on this cat. One other question I have is about the needle choice. I believe the embroidery needles have a sharper point than the tapestry/cross stitch needles? I’m using my size 24 needle for 3 strands and will probably use them throughout. I have several packages of embroidery needles sizes 5 to something, but I have no idea which are which so stuck with what I knew.

Carole
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Everything else "on hold"
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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies

Post by Mabel Figworthy »

Yes, pointy/sharp needles would help as they would make it possible to pierce the fabric threads (exactly what you don't want in cross stitch :-) ) and so to place your stitches exactly where you want them. If you're sticking with the holes for now, your cross stitch (tapestry) needles will work.
I love using quilting/between needles because they are short and manoeuvrable, but others find they make their fingers hurt because there isn't so much to grab hold of; in that case use the longer crewel/embroidery needles (or if you want a nice big eye for ease of threading, use chenille needles - they are like sharp tapestry needles).
Size-wise: chenille needles are sized like tapestry needles, so a 24 chenille is like a 24 tapestry only sharp.
betweens/quilting needles and crewel/embroidery needles are sized differently - I use 5 or 7 for crewel wool or 3 strands of cotton, 9 for 1 or 2 strands, and 10 for beading (12 for petite beads, but those needles are very fine!)
Class dismissed :-)
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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies

Post by poppy »

I am excited about your new project, Carole :) It will be a wonderful surprise for the kind vet.
Thank you for the photos too. It reminds me about having a little toddler around with toys all over the floor :D
Rosey is obviously very happy about her lovely new home with you.

I will keep this thread in mind for when I am brave enough to try embroidery. It will be very helpful to have all Mabel's suggestions in mind when the time comes.
Hélène

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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies

Post by mags »

Great new project Carole. :D

I have been thinking for some time of trying embroidery myself - haven't done any for many years. This would make a nice project for me.
mags

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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies

Post by Squirrel »

Really great to see Miss Rosey enjoying herself and then totally worn out and peacefully sleeping. Slowly does it and you are both making progress.

You really are game to take on that project and it is going to be amazing for sure. Mabel you are a wonder with all you do and a great teacher so I am sure that Carole will turn it into a masterpiece very soon. :tizzy: :tizzy: :tizzy:
Sally in Brisbane Australia

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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies6/28/19

Post by rcperryls »

I finished the outline of the black cat and filled in the ears. Am now waiting for the pen I ordered to arrive (the one Mabel suggested except Amazon only had black. Chose Amazon because I could use my "points" and it cost me almost nothing) and am going to redo this on a fabric (sheet or pillow case if I don't have any other non-counted fabric). Also think I might enlarge the design when I print it just a tad. ( Using three strands for the outlines feels almost claustrophobic ). It is way too difficult for me to not stick to the holes and it keeps it from having a really fluid (is that the right word?) look.

Anyway, this is what I have done so far and I learned a lot so it was worth all the time and effort.

Image


Carole
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Star Wars Afghan:Chewbaca
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2022 Finished: Star Wars Afghan: Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Finn, Rey, Poe, Han Solo,Darth Vader, BB8,Luke Skywalker
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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies update 6/28/19

Post by Serinde »

Isn't it great the way we can still be learning? :cake: :tea:
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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies update 6/28/19

Post by Mabel Figworthy »

Trying out different things and challenging ourselves means sometimes projects don't quite work out, but as you pointed out we still learn from them! Good luck with the pen and the sheet/pillowcase cotton, looking forward to seeing your progress.
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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies update 6/28/19

Post by Squirrel »

Even seeing just his outline is a lot of un Carole. Good on you for giving it a go and learning along the way. Way to go for sure.
:whoop: :whoop:
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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies update 7/01/19

Post by rcperryls »

So I cut a sheet into the right size for surface embroidery and was shocked at how much easier the stitching became. First, having the right pen to trace the pattern has made a HUGE difference. The holes in the cashiel linen were very distracting and my cross stitch brain, couldn't not follow them.
Image

Thank you Miss Mabel! (addressing my tutor properly)

I'm still waiting for the proper needles to arrive, but am using the embroidery needles I have instead of the tapestry needles and the thread goes through the fabric much easier because of the sharper point. And following the pattern is 150% easier. I'm much more able to make smaller stitches and the curves are incredibly easier to stitch. Thank you again, Miss Mabel! I have completed about half of outline of the black cat's body.
Image

One question about the instructions for stem stitch though. Your description of how to do the stitch and the illustration don't match. At least I don't think they do. "Pull the thread right through. Go down at D, leaving a loop as before. Come up at E (the hole made by C), catching the loop, pull through, and go down at F." The illustration I think is the correct one, but coming up at E is the hole made by B, not C. Which is what I am doing. Made more sense to me and the stitches looked right. And I do better following illustrations than written instructions anyway. (especially loved the photos you gave us in the Hardanger SALs and hope you will do the same with your next SAL hint,hint).

Thanks for looking.

Carole
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Star Wars Afghan:Chewbaca
HAEDs:
O Kitten Tree
Dancing with the Cat
Everything else "on hold"
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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies update 7/01/19

Post by Mabel Figworthy »

Carole, that outline looks really good! Isn't it wonderful what a difference fabric and tools can make.

Thank you so much for asking about the instructions. I've checked the Elegant Cats pack and also my "master document" where I keep all the stitch instructions; oddly enough the master document is correct, but the Elegant Cats pack - you're absolutely right - is not! It should indeed read B not C. I've changed it and will now check all other packs that include this stitch. Thanks very much for letting me know so I can put it right.

As for a next SAL.... well, you might want to have a look here :-)
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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies update 7/01/19

Post by rcperryls »

Thank you Mabel!! I knew changing fabric and needles would help, but I was surprised at the magnitude of the difference. And also learned that some linens (cashiel for eg) are for cross stitch only. Never though of linen that way before.

WOW. Read about the SAL. I guess I missed it when I've perused FOF. Not sure how. But I think it will be an awesome SAL. I'd sign up today if I could, but something to look forward to, for sure.

Carole
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Star Wars Afghan:Chewbaca
HAEDs:
O Kitten Tree
Dancing with the Cat
Everything else "on hold"
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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies update 7/01/19

Post by Mabel Figworthy »

Yes, some fabrics are definitely counted work only. Occasionally you find one (especially a highish count with a dense weave) that can be used either way, but even then it's usually better for one than for the other.

As for the SAL, I only made that page live this morning :-) - it's not even been mentioned on FoF or my FB page yet.
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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies update 7/01/19

Post by rcperryls »

Whew. No wonder I missed it. :doh: It wasn't there. Makes me feel a little better because I knew I would have noticed that right away!

Carole
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Star Wars Afghan:Chewbaca
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O Kitten Tree
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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies update 7/01/19

Post by Squirrel »

:applesauce: :applesauce: Well Done Carole, it is looking amazing and I am keen to see the next instalment.


MABEL Wow that new SAL sounds so inviting but for sure I am going to have to be very firm with myself and keep saying "no Sally you have more than enough to do". I wonder if I can keep to that :)
Sally in Brisbane Australia

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Re: Elegant Cats by Mabel Figworthy's Fancies update 7/03/19

Post by rcperryls »

The black cat's body outline is completed, except for the tale. One error in there if you can spot it. (expect Mabel to see it but that is okay). Hoping to get a lot more done over the next couple of days.

Image

Mabel, I love using the Chenille needles. But please tell me how you even begin to thread a No 9 Quilting /between needle with even one strand of floss.
Think I'll be sticking with the embroidery needles I've got. Not sure which size is which, but the one that can be threaded is the one I use. PM me your address and I'll have quilting needles in the mail to you. (Don't hold your breath, there are several members who have been waiting a long time for some things I said I'd send and I can be the world's worst procrastinator. I never remember to pack things up but one day....)

Carole
:dance:
WIPs
Star Wars Afghan:Chewbaca
HAEDs:
O Kitten Tree
Dancing with the Cat
Everything else "on hold"
2022 Finished: Star Wars Afghan: Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Finn, Rey, Poe, Han Solo,Darth Vader, BB8,Luke Skywalker
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