News / Crewel

  • Of Deer and Horned Gods

      I experimented wth using crewel wool for this stag head motif, still using split stitch. I have to say I was suprised how much more difficult it was to work – although thinking about it, it is fairly obvious that the smooth silk would be better behaved than the scratchy, fluffy, wirey wool. But it does give a more rustic, vintage type feel to it which is nice for a change. I also did this little leaping deer in silk, which is quite sweet. I’ll show you tomorrow!

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  • In which I do some fluffy stuff

    Ew. According to the field guide, this is the ‘bag-like volva’ part. Ew. Ew. Ew. HATE that word. *shivers* Anyway. You know how when you touch a dry mushroom, parts of it feels a bit soft and velvety? I wanted to convey that kind of texture tothis portion, and decided to use Crewel wool and techniques to achieve this. Using a Crewel needle, I used one strand of Appleton Bros worsted wool in three shades of mushroomy. I used Brick stitch for this, a satisfyingly regimented kind of long and short stitch, worked in horizontal bands, lovely for trying to...

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  • My needlework heritage

      I reeeeally need to get better at taking photos, I know, I know. These are all on one piece (top photo) of freestyle hand embroidered insects, by my Mum. This is the piece my Mum is most proud of. It’s counted cross stitch from a pattern (I don’t know who by) on black Aida of a stone bust of the Virgin Mary. Super kitsch classic counted cross stitch. This was in my bedroom when I was little and I still LOVE it now. A doll’s house. The bottom reads ‘To Kate with love from Mummy 19th April 1989 xx’....

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