Yes, I know - you never know what you're going to find when you pay a visit here at Chez Magpie! This time I had one of those pesky squirrel moments and went off on a tangent in another direction. Some of you might remember me posting photos of some crazy quilt blocks I had pieced awhile ago with the thought in mind of embroidering them in a triadic colour scheme.
Well, that project got set aside in favour of things far more interesting at the time. Now I find my sight (cataracts growing) is getting worse and being able to see to embroider is getting more difficult. So....I wondered why it was cast in stone that they had to be embroidered by hand. Why couldn't I use the machine instead? After all, the use I had for them was simply for a throw for the foot of our bed and was meant to be a utility piece. So....I scoured my thread stash and came up with threads that still fit with my original triadic colour scheme, chose a simple stitch on my machine that reminded me of feather stitch and tah dah! This is the completed flimsy now awaiting the arrival of a twin-sized sheet to use for the backing.
and a close up of the stitching...
I think this quote is rather fitting for today.."I've reached the age where my train of thought often leaves the station without me"
Those tiny chickens leapt onto my train of thought and they're steaming up the track.. without using styrofoam, and with no crepe paper, thinking, thinking.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you come up with!
Deletethere is absolutely NOTHING wrong with machine embroidery! That's why we have all those fancy stitches on our machines these days. Yours looks great. Thanks for the links.....
ReplyDeleteI love the process of hand embroidery but right now the machine has to be my go-to. Just wish it had a few more stitch choices.
DeleteI half expected to see you quilting a squirrel.
ReplyDeleteThe tiny chicks on the link are adorable. It is a good project to put on the Things to do in Winter list.
Thank you!
hah - quilting a squirrel - that's funny. Glad you liked the little chicks. They are cute for sure!
DeleteI'm all for machine embroidery! Lovely job.
ReplyDeleteI just wish my machine had a few more stitch options to choose from. At least it's a fast way to get a project done!
DeleteWhat a wonderful feeling to make progress on a project that was set aside. Well Done Dear. Ahh, my train not only doesn't;t leave the station...sometimes it goes in reverse!
ReplyDeleteMy train often goes in reverse too - sometimes there's even some horn tooting. Ahem.
DeleteWhat a great idea! Great use of the embroidery stitches on the machine that none of us use to their full potential! You'll have this finished and on the bed in no time!! Have a lovely day! Christine xx
ReplyDeleteI was dreading spending all those hours on hand embroidery so it was a delight to pretty much finish all the blocks in one short afternoon session.
DeleteI think that your alternative CQ is a better idea for something that will be used. Smart idea :) I also love those cross stitch patterns but I think I'm done with cross stitch for awhile. I bookmarked for future reference.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's best to simply use the machine for something that's going to see a lot of use. If I had hand embroidered the blocks I didn't plan to add any bling but there would still be the risk of the stitches getting caught on something.
DeleteWow! If I could machine embroider, I'd be a crazy quilting queen! :) Or so I imagine. Those stitches look wonderful - hand-done, in fact. And lol at those tentacles. I'd love to see the faces of people who encounter those for the first time. Going now to check out the cross stich patterns!
ReplyDeleteI thought how fun those tentacles would be if they were lit up in a spooky way at Halloween - particularly if they moved.
DeleteI love your feather stitching. I've also bookmarked those chickens for a someday project. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOddly, feather stitch isn't one I normally gravitate to when I'm hand stitching. For some reason I struggle with getting it even. The machine takes that right out of the equation.
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ReplyDeleteIt is good to have a change in style and will stand handling better than embroidery (and a bought one). Love it! I'll have to make those cute chickens for my DiL, who is chicken crazy. I am right with you and Sherry regarding trains.
At least it's a much more utility quilt and being that it will see a lot of on and off the bed that's a good thing.
DeleteBe sure you share pictures if you make any chickens!
Hi Maryanne so sorry i have been absent from blogland my dad has been very sick,lovely post my friend.I love your feather stitch you do such beautiful work my friend xx
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry about your dad - hopefully he is feeling better. As for my feather stitch, you can thank my sewing machine for that!
DeleteThe feather stitch was the perfect solution for your quilt, and looks wonderful, and it’s so practical too!
ReplyDeleteI had seen the chicks, and they are really sweet, but I think my husband would think I had really lost it if I started making chicks, tee hee!
(Can I just say I appreciated the link to the pattern for Claire’s shawl, loving the series! Although it seems to have finished for the moment here)
Hugs,
Barbara xx
We've watched a few episodes of the show and it's on our list to watch more. Read the books - twice! And yes, it will be a practical quilt and will brighten up our bedroom over the winter.
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