Podolyanka's WIPs now with photos

[Podolyanka]

Thank you for the tip, Serinde. I did not know, but was going to spread at least some piece of cloth to save not so much the iron as the gold- no idea what they make it from.

[Podolyanka]

The photo does not show the metallic backstich around the leaves and berries. In reallity the fabric is snow white, the "gold" sparkles, the yellow 3820 looks like gold and in general it was worth all the work. Next time will stitch exactly as the chart demands- all the yellow(except for the pears, of course) will be metallic.

[Serinde]

Thank you for the tip, Serinde. I did not know, but was going to spread at least some piece of cloth to save not so much the iron as the gold- no idea what they make it from.

Not gold! I think it's mostly viscose, and not something you'd want an iron anywhere near.

What a gorgeous piece, and I wish the photo could do justice to all the bling. It is beautiful.

[Podolyanka]

Thank you, Serinde, for your kind comments and for the method which really made ironing safe.

[rcperryls]

I said it before and will again because "elegant" is the word that pops into my head when I see this piece. And perfectly stitched besides.

Carole

[Squirrel]

WOW. Even though the bling is not showing in its best light, it certainly brings those areas to life. A magnificent finish on a really lovely design.

Incidentally I always iron my finished pieces of embroidery or cross stitching face down on a fluffy towel because
(a) that is what my Gramma taught me and
(b) it makes the stitching stand out rather than be flattened by the iron.

[karen4bells]

Absolutely awesome!!

[Mabel Figworthy]

That is a stunning piece of work, and the hemming is lovely! Like Serinde I wish we could see the sparkle, but we will imagine it. The golden yellow cotton works really well, in fact I'm wondering whether it might not be rather overwhelming if that were all metallic gold!

[Podolyanka]

I thought exactly like you, Mabel, but when the project was finished, I understood the chart's author knew what she was writing. Without all that gold the golden backstitch looks "poor" if you see what I mean. Had all the yellow been metallic, the backstitch would be "playing" like sun reflections, like sundogs. But I did not have time, let alone patience to bother with tons of metallic.

[Mabel Figworthy]

As you can see the actual project, you're much the better judge of whether it needs the gold. I might still be tempted to go for DMC with a blending thread though !

[Podolyanka]

Thank you for the tip. It would be less "heavy"(not too much "gold") and easier to stitch, right?

[Mabel Figworthy]

Definitely easier to stitch and yes, less solid gold.

[Podolyanka]

Mabel, could you kindly tell me the exact name of those threads, please?

I am so glad I did send the tablerunner off to England today. Hopefully it will be there soon enough still to be a belated Christmas/New Year present. If everything goes right, next year all my Christmas presents will be ready by the end of summer. But then this is said every year.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Lyudmila, I'd use DMC stranded cotton as you have now, but add blending filament to it; this is used as it comes off the reel, it's not stranded, and you just combine it with your cotton (cut it to the same length and thread them all together in your needle). There are various types, but Rainbow Gallery's "Treasure Blending Filament" and Kreinik's "Blending Filament" are both widely available, as far as I know.

If you want slightly more sparkle, you could use one less strand of stranded cotton and replace it with Rainbow Gallery's "Petite Treasure Braid" or Kreinik's "Very Fine #4 Braid".

Hope that helps!

[Podolyanka]

Thank you very much, Mabel. Now I know what to look for.

I have just lost my needle and cant stitch until I find it because I hate the thought of it not being where it belongs- in my work box. It is like some magic- it was on the desk and now it is nowhere. Normally I never leave a needle like that. But there was a call from work, then I was reading the text, translating, eventually remembered about the needle... Must be aging.

[Squirrel]

I am sure you will find it on the floor somewhere. The secret is don't panic just look around carefully.

[richardandtracy]

I tend to look for needles with a magnet.
We never wear shoes in the house, so dropping a needle is a big deal.

Having said that, I know there is one somewhere in my stitching chair. I dropped it, spent hours looking for it, and never did find it.

All the best with your search.

Richard.

[Podolyanka]

I did look for it with a magnet, but in wrong places. I found it this morning... on my computer chair. I sat on it all the evening and today's morning, then got up and it blinked. To be exact, it was on the edge of the chair, - my good luck.

At home (500 km and 10 years from here) I have an armchair which is full of needles. They drop into it and there is no way to take them out unless you break the chair to pieces. Over the years it must have collected at least a couple of dozens of the best needles.

[vanessanjf]

That is amazing!!!

[Angelite]

Beautiful stitching!