Tuesday, July 8, 2014

BFF Month 4.2 Stitching


Yesterday I was finally able to put the last few stitches into the second motif from Month 4 of Rosalie Quinlan's Best Friends Forever. It's been a frustrating time since my last post because I spent most of last week flat on my back after a stretch intended to make my back better made it much, much worse. I should know by now! No machine sewing to show, but at least I was able to do this hand stitching.

I tried a different stitch combination on the leafy border this time. Here's a (very dark) photo of the work in progress:


It looks like the middle of the night, doesn't it? Actually it's the reflection of the blue sky through my north facing window. This project has been a real trial to photograph...

But anyway, you can see that the pattern had the same rounded leaves that so far I've been backstitching. I did still backstitch the leaves in the centre for variety. For the leafy border I used a light green twisted chain stitch for the middle of the leaves, and a darker green regular chain stitch around it to preserve the feeling of the "line." It took a few tries to get right, but I'm very happy with it!

And, since it worked so well, I tried the same technique on the tulips at the sides:


I'm pretty sure I'll be doing this again.

I'm halfway through the next motif as well, but I'm keen to get back to my sewing machine now that my back is feeling better. And I'm finally getting organized on this project too. I'll try to post that one next!

9 comments:

  1. So glad your back is better! I know how miserable that can be! Very pretty stitching!! I really like how you used the two colors on the leaves and flowers.

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  2. sorry to read about the back troubles, but good to read you are now up and about again. Your project is coming along beautifully

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  3. The technique does indeed work well. So sorry about your back a terrible and frightening thing to happen. Hope you recover fully - and find alternative relief.

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    1. Thanks, Jillian, I appreciate the well wishes! Unfortunately, my back issues are so frequent that they are far more frustrating than frightening, lol!

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    2. Monica, i do hope the pain has subsided. What we stitchers do for perfection! I'm trying to learn when "good enough" is the end....hard to learn tho..I suspect you would agree...

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    3. Thanks, Anna Maria! It's an ongoing challenge. :)

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  4. So pretty! I need to learn more about the hows of hand-stitching. :)

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  5. Another beautiful hexie. Hope the back is fully recovered now Moncia

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  6. Your BFF turned out beautifully and using the twisted chain stitch really added to it I think. Very sorry to hear about your back problems. I put mine out 2 weeks ago and it felt like I was in a vice. Thankfully it's better now. Good to hear that you are on the mend too.

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I'm told Blogger has been bouncing some comments, so if it happens to you I'm sorry! But the settings look right so I can't explain it. In any case, thanks for reading!

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