blue and white threads

WISHING Y'ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The cross project took most of my stitching time this week and I've finished the inner frame.

                                     

The pattern is so pretty,isn't it? It is from Anchor but unfortunately the name of the designer was not included in the chart.If any of you know the name of the designer please let me know and I'll update this post.

                                        

Also doing some free motion embroidery now..

see y'all next year :-)

Happy stitching!

Anita

WIP and new fb page..

We are on facebook now :-) Please do like my page to get an update and have a look at my work table chaos ..

I did manage to start a couple of new projects this week.I am on a sewing spree right now..had to sew a couple of runners..luckily I did manage to complete the quilting part today...have to finish the binding tomorrow otherwise I'll be in trouble :-(                                  

This pillow pattern is from Anchor.Since this is a monochromatic pattern it's really difficult to follow the chart.I've finished 1/4^th of the inner frame and little bit of the middle rose section.                           

I've also added some stitches on the third petal of the iris.

                                  

A lovely view from my balcony.It's a paddy field and these crops will be ready for the harvest festival next month.

Happy stitching!

Anita

dressing up Ms.Bunny

Ms.Bunny was waiting patiently to get dressed up for three months now :-)

                                                    

Ms.Bunny's dress is done with split stitch shading,bow and shoes are filled with satin stitches.Then I added some french knot flowers,blanket stitch flowers,bigger leaves are filled with fly,alternating satin and fish bone stitches, tiny rocks near the base of the tree are done with blanket stitches.

I had started this one last year as a small 'grab and go between project'..it took more stitching hours to complete than I had anticipated in the beginning ..I guess it's because of the size of the elements but am happy with the final result..Of course there are a couple of things that doesn't look good and I'll change for sure if I stitch this again.

I've been trying out some techniques on bernina machine and am so happy that most of my attempts ended up with good results,will show them soon.

Happy Thanksgiving to y'all!

Anita

bernina 'n' sewing

My city was flooded a couple of weeks back which was really really good because the ground water level has raised but the roads are in a terrible condition and driving is a nightmare.

I've managed to do some embroidery and sewing .

I taught a friend to do line quilting and how to use a walking foot on my old bernette machine which I'm using for classes now since I have bought a bernina. I'm still learning how to use the bernina 380..tried a couple of things like FHS last week but am not comfortable yet.

                                                 

Another friend of mine wants a quilt made of traditional patchwork blocks using scraps.I'm sure it'll be a WIP project for a long time.

                                       

I had cut some 3'',4'' and 5'' squares from the scrap fabric and finished few blocks..

                                        

                                      

                                          

To get used to a new sewing machine takes time and until then there will be some sloppy work I guess..I'd missed the precision sewing at some corners which looks very bad so I'll have to frog and re-do :-(

Do you use a bernina 3 series ? Please do share with me if you have any tips.

Happy sewing!

Anita

and the winner is…

Thank you all for your wishes,love and support.

Last week I'd offered a give-away to celebrate the blog anniversary and it's time to announce a winner …

Congratulations Wendy!

Wendy said

“ I would love the stylized peacock if I should win...thank you for such a lovely giveaway ”

I'll e-mail the pattern to you Wendy.                  

Happy stitching!                                                                         Anita

a give-away

It's my blog anniversary this week..

When I started blogging I was not sure whether I'll be able fill this space with some pretty decent pictures,articles etc and wondered will there be someone interested to read whatever I scribble about my stitching life ..

but here I am ..entering 4^th year of blogging :-)

I would like to celebrate by giving away one of my patterns to one lucky winner-

A. Stylized Indian peacock B. Paisley chakra C. Desi pouch

Look at the side bar for the pattern images..don't want to bore y'all by posting the images again :)

If you'd like to win a pattern please leave a comment in this post and mention which pattern you'd like to have A,B or C 

Leave your comment before 4:00 pm IST on October 5^th. I'll draw a winner at random and announce it here on October 5^th,Sunday.

Thank you all for the love and support.

Happy stitching!

Anita

lace doily

I'd shown bits and pieces of this doily in a couple of my earlier posts..It's time to reveal the blocked knitted lace doily now...

Happy stitching!

Anita

Iris leaf and petals

I hadn't touched the iris project for almost 6 months now :-( . So my little goal for this past week was to spend a couple of hours of my personal stitching time on this lovely project.

                                                     

The leaf is stitched with long and short stitch using five shades of green and a darker green is used to do the stem stitch veins.Did you notice the puckering of the fabric near the leaf? 

                                         

I think I had pulled a couple of stitches at the top and the fabric has puckered slightly (see the arrow) *sigh*. I do hope that it will go away while blocking..

This Iris is a RSN pattern stitched by Debra Barrett.

Happy stitching!

Anita.

dressing up Mr.Bunny

After spending most of my stitching time for the past two weeks figuring out how to do a couple of sewing techniques on my brand new Bernina machine I was desperately in need of an embroidery fix.

So I grabbed the first WIP bag from the basket and started adding some stitches :) By the end of the session I'd managed to complete Mr.Bunny with french knots,stem,split and satin stitches…this is how he looks…                                                  

finished the swing and started working on Ms.Bunny.

I've joined a couple crochet motifs that you saw in my last post and the doily is coming along well so far                                        

but the tatted lace is still a 'work in slow progress'.

Happy stitching!

Anita

lace again..

I was working on different laces this week.I've finished drafting the pattern and chosen the colors for my next embroidery project.

                                                    

Tatting lace with #20 thread and a shuttle for a friend..The pattern is from an old Coats and clarke book.

                                         

 Crochet doily with #10 cotton thread..these motifs are a part of doily pattern from an Ondori book.

                                         

I've finished the knitted lace doily that you saw last week and it's not blocked yet so will show you the entire doily later.

Before I sign off.. thanks to all of you who have signed up for more information about the online class.

Have a great week end !

Anita.

lace …

I hadn't posted anything here for almost a month. Not that I was lazy or anything but I didn't feel like writing about the new projects until now … 

I had finished a couple of UFO's, pieced few blocks for a quilt,started a new crochet and knitted doily and did some basic sketches for another new pattern.

Here is my new lace doily..

I'm using knitting cotton and dpn's # 12 for this lace.

Test stitching for the online beginner cutwork class project is being done right now. Drop me an e-mail if you are interested in this class..will send you the details as soon as I've finalized the class date.

See you next week with my new WIP's. Have a fun weekend!

Happy stitching!

Anita

fun sewing…

A new shisha embroidery pattern 'Desi pouch' is available for download in my etsy shop now.

Last week I spent most of my time sewing clothes.I had bought yards and yards of fabric last year and without turning them into clothes I can't buy more fabric :). If I add more stash then I'm sure I'll end up living in the balcony because there is very little moving space around :)

                                                      

                                         

I had fun sewing some pouches,needle,brushes and pencil rolls.Now these are on the way to a new home….

Happy stitching!

Anita

a new pattern

I've also been working on a small embroidered bag pattern. It'll be available for download soon in my shop.                                                   

A friend of mine had asked me for a couple of kits so will be doing that all of next week.

If you like a pattern then which one do you prefer to buy – a full kit or a digital pattern?

I'd appreciate if you could give me your opinion and it'll be really helpful for me to decide whether I should make more kits or not.

Happy stitching!

Anita

a fab class…

It's been a couple of weeks since I'd posted something here.Some fun time with friends and a couple of commissions has kept me little busy.

I had an opportunity to sign up for a class 'pillows and pages' by Karen and learnt some wonderful techniques in the class.It was fun to play around with fabrics.

                                                    

                                         

                                         

                                         

       

Karen is one of the most awesome and generous teacher I've ever met.

She has announced a new class 'Lace,paper,cloth and stitch'.Wish I could have signed up :) maybe next time...

Have a great week end!

Anita.

Fancy laced running stitch

Fancy laced running stitch is one of the popular borders in kantha embroidery.

I just thought y'all might like to learn it so here it is..

                                                  

Step 1 - Work 5 rows of non-aligned kantha stitches.

(click on the images for a better view)

Step 2 - Start lacing with a second color or shade thread by passing the needle and thread under the diagonal row of stitches as shown.

Step 3 - Continue lacing as shown.

Step 4 - Go back down and fasten the second color/shade thread as shown.

Step 5 - Repeat steps 2,3 and 4 with third color/shade thread and next set of diagonal stitches.

Step 6 - Repeat steps 2,3 and 4 with fourth color/shade thread and next set of diagonal stitches.

Step 7 - Repeat steps 2,3 and 4 with fifth color/shade thread and next set of diagonal stitches.

Step 8 - Repeat steps 2,3 and 4 with sixth color/shade thread and next set of diagonal stitches.

Step 9 - Repeat steps 2,3 and 4 with seventh color/shade thread and next set of diagonal stitches.

                                     

Have you stitched this border before? Please let me know if you know this stitch by any other name.

Happy stitching!

Anita.

Sal kantha - final stitches

I was not happy with my color choice for the birds at the bottom of the design. I wanted to change it because the green shade looked kind of washed out and before deciding on a different color I tried another green shade.

                                                    

I'm glad that I tried because am very pleased with result now. It looks a lot better in real than in photograph,thanks to my great photography skills.

First I had changed the paichano lines of the bird from green shade #239 to green shade #229.It's the same green that we've filled the calyx of the bud. I have filled the gaps between the bejod bands (red kantha stitch bands inside the bird) with diagonal kantha filling stitch lines using 2 strands of the same green.                                                    

The diagonal line is created by a slight forward movement of the kantha stitches.I also changed the angle of the lines I each space just to add a little interest.I also worked a row of kantha stitches between every two diagonal green filling stitches with shade # 926.The eyes are done with kantha filling stitch using black.

Today is the last day of our kantha SAL. I'd like to thank each one of you for participating in this SAL.

A special thanks to the girls who have really stitched along with me, gave suggestions, shared thoughts and ideas.

Did you pick up a new stitch/technique/tip in this SAL? Of all the stitch techniques we have covered in this SAL which one is your most favorite and least favorite stitch? Did you like the slow pace of this SAL or would you have preferred a faster pace? 

 I'd appreciate if you could spend a couple of minutes to leave a feedback.Please feel free to leave both positive and negative feedback.

Happy stitching!

Anita.

Sal Kantha - triangle border, dots and flower center

I have filled the triangle borders with kantha stitches using red shd # 047 and the dots are filled with kantha filling stitch using purple shd # 0112 .

                                                      

I have also filled the center of the crown flower and the kantha booti with a couple of kantha stitches using yellow and red. I've managed to fill the tiny gap at the bottom too and I think it looks okay now.

Thank you for leaving your opinion/suggestions about changing the bird color ..both here and via e-mail.A couple of you said that it looks good and I shouldn't change the green.But I think I'll go for a change..But remember that it's okay if you don't have to change the colors, it's after all your project and you are going to live with it so as long as you are happy please go ahead and leave it as it is.

See you all next week with a final update.

Happy stitching!

Anita.

Sal kantha - dhaneer sheesh border

I have filled the space between the two 'paichano' borders with an interesting filling stitch called 'dhaneer sheesh'. I don't know about others but for me this one is an interesting filling stitch which seems simple but it's quite difficult to get the movement correct.

Dhaneer sheesh is a filling stitch where equal length of kantha stitches are stitched in rows to form an arrowhead .The speciality of this particular filling is the stitches have either forward or backward movement in each row, interesting,huh?

                                                   

This filling can either be worked as an isolated group of stitches to form one arrowhead or rows of kantha stitches to form an arrowhead band.I prefer to work in continuous group if the border is straight but here since it's a curved one I chose to work individual arrowheads closely to form a band with 2 strands of black floss.

                                               

    

I wanted the arrowheads on both sides to face up so I started working this band from the lower part close to the wheel,completed the border on one side and then started again at the bottom to complete the second side.When I reached the tip I just arranged the stitches at an angle on both sides to get the pointed effect at the tip.Have you noticed a weird gap at the bottom of the band ? I'll have to think how to fill that gap,any suggestions?

                                                 

                                               dhaneer sheesh with 5 kantha stitches

To work an isolated dhaneer sheesh just work it like we did for kantha filling stitch but keep the stitches either forward or backward to the previous one.

                                         

                                                 dhaneer sheesh with 7 kantha stitches

                                  (click on the image to view the placement of the stitches)

To work a band work a row of kantha stitches from right to left ,continue working a second row of stitches from left to right by placing the stitches slightly forward or backward and continue these steps until you complete the pattern.

Now that the band is filled I have some concerns about my choice of the green shade for the birds..I tried this filling with other colors too but it didn't look as good as this..

But I'm not going to change it until I fill the triangles and the dots ,will see how it looks after that...what do you think? Feel free to leave your suggestions in the comment box.

See y'all next Wednesday with an update.

Happy stitching!

Anita.

Sal kantha – wheel and borders

I have finished the wheel at the bottom of the design and changed the kantha border lines to paichano border lines because the filling stitch inside the border lines looked a lot better with paichano stitch in my test sampler..more about that next week.

                                                    

The spokes of the wheel is done with paichano stitch using 2 strands of yellow embroidery floss shd # 289.The dots are stitched with kantha filling stitch using 2 strands of black embroidery floss.I have filled the outer black ring area (refer the pattern) of the wheel with 'jod'. A 'jod' is nothing but 2 or more rows of aligned kantha stitches.I have filled the area with 3 rows of kantha stitches but if you are working on a larger pattern then you could work more rows. Next I filled the inner black ring and the empty circle with kantha stitches using 2 strands of black embroidery floss. I chose to fill the inner circle too because I find it too small for another color change but you can do that if you'd want to.

I have also worked a circle of paichano using 2 strands of yellow floss shd # 289 between the two black rings of the wheel.

                                        

The borders are now done with paichano stitch.We have already stitched the borders with kantha stitches.Now all you have to do is whip the kantha stitches using 2 strands of black floss and make it into a paichano.

See y'all next Wednesday with another interesting filling stitch.Please feel free to leave if you have any queries or suggestions in the comment box below.

Happy stitching!

Anita.

Sal kantha - crown flower, dot, birds and stem

Time just flies..I can't believe that we are very close to our kantha sal finish line..In just a couple of weeks we will be there :)

The dot above the crown flower is filled with 'kantha filling stitch using 2 strands of red shd # 047.                                                    

The crown flower is filled with 'kantha booti variation' using 2 strands of black and green shd # 239.To work 'kantha booti variation' start stitching from the outer edge of the petal with 2 strands of black just like we did for the kantha booti until you reach the 'v' like slit in the petal and fasten off the black thread.Continue filling the petal from where you'd left earlier with 2 strands of green.                                  

Next I moved on to the stem and birds(!) at the bottom of the pattern.The tear drop shape inside the calyx like thing between the birds(!) is filled with 'kantha filling stitch' using 2 strands of shd # 926.The base of the stem and calyx is filled with kantha stitches using 2 strands of green shd # 269.The outline of the birds are done with paichano using 2 strands of green shd # 239.The beak is completed with 'kantha filling stitch' using red shd # 047.The bands inside the body of the bird is worked with 'bejod' using red shd # 047. A 'bejod' is nothing but rows of non-aligned 'kantha' stitches.

I want to try two different sizes for the bird-eye and see which one looks better for me..will let you all know next week.

See y'all next Wednesday with an update ..

Happy stitching!

Anita.