Mabel's other stitching

[wendywombat]

Good enough to eat. Especially since you don't eat the leaves anyway.

Carole

I am alergic to strawberries. ... but not to this beauty

[Mabel Figworthy]

Finished

The bit where five lines of chain stitch come together was a bit complicated and with absolutely no instructions on how to deal with it I think it could well make a beginner give up on the whole thing, which is a shame.
On the whole I'd say about Melbury Hill: lovely designs, instructions not suitable for beginners, fabric sometimes on the small side.

[Podolyanka]

I understand that it is all threads, yet the brown stems look like plaits to me. The work is neat and perfect as always. Very well done, Mabel.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Fun effect, isn't it? It's chain stitch in wool, and yes it does look rather like plaits!

[Garnet]

Absolutely gorgeous!

Your skills are shown to great effect here Mabel.

Please be very proud of yourself, it's lovely.

[Wise Owl]

That looks super good Mabel. The plaits come together very neatly too

[Squirrel]

I love those plaits very much and the whole picture is a masterpiece of your skills with needle and thread.

[rcperryls]

I love those plaits very much and the whole picture is a masterpiece of your skills with needle and thread.

Absolutely agree!!!

Carole

[Mabel Figworthy]

In Becky Quine's Crewelwork book there is a design which I couldn't find on her website, so I wrote to her to ask if it was available in any way. She immediately replied (which I hadn't expected over the festive season!) that it would be available in the not too distant future so I'll buy it then.

In the same book, in the chapter about Design, there is a photograph with paints and coloured pencils and a colour wheel and a line drawing of some stylised surf boards and waves. It's not shown stitched anywhere in the book or on her website. And it would be perfect as a card for friends of ours who moved to Cornwall a couple of years ago.

It's obviously her copyright, and I should really ask her about that one as well, but I don't want to keep bothering her during the holidays so for now I've decided I will stitch it (just for my own enjoyment), then ask her about it and if she says it's OK I'll send it to our friends. If not, it'll go into hiding forever.

Because there is no stitched version of it (at least not that I could find a picture of) the choice of threads, colours and stitches is mine entirely - yay! A non-deadline, non-having-to-write-instructions project is just what I wanted. I've decided on mostly just outlines with a bit of filling in, using quite bright colours of Sulky 12wt cotton, and with the waves made a little more substantial than in the original (I also changed the stripes on one board). And here is the start:

Image removed for copyright reasons - MF

[rcperryls]

It is, of course, already looking beautiful. I am looking forward to seeing more and I am sure the designer will give you permission. I imagine she doesn't get asked very often for permission as most people seem to assume it is always okay. Your friends will be delighted
and I'm delighted to watch!

Carole

[Garnet]

Oooohh, this looks very interesting, very interesting indeed.

The colours are lovely, when I think of surfboards I usually think of modern "jazzy" colours so it's lovely to see the colours you have chosen.

I am sure the designer would be happy to give you permission, the few times I have contacted designers I have been told they were delighted to see people stitching their designs.

[Mabel Figworthy]

It's easy if the design is in the book as a project (in which case you can stitch it), or if it is commercially available from the designer or other shop (in which case you buy it!) - it's these projects that are in books for illustrative purposes that are difficult to do "legally"

[Mabel Figworthy]

The stitching on the middle stripe changed direction from the initial plan before I started stitching and became shaded as I was working on it - I like the way this just takes shape without too much thought

Image removed for copyright reasons - MF

[Roland]

All of your work is so beautiful. It reminds me of my mom’s embroidery. You are one of the few who has her stitches as neat and even as hers.

[rcperryls]

beautiful update!!

Carole

[wendywombat]

Very different. I hope that the Designer likes it and gives you permission to send it as a gift.

[Garnet]

Oohh I do like the way the middle bit gets closer together towards the top, it's a lovely effect.

I'm glad this one is coming together without too much concentration, it's lovely and relaxing when that happens.

[Squirrel]

A most unusual design and as always your stitching is amazing.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Removed because of copyright concerns - MF

[Garnet]

Fabulous Mabel!

I love the simplicity of this design, it is so elegant at the same time.

I hope the designer gets back to you soon. It would make a fabulous card.