Wednesday 10 July 2013

Doodle stitching

Thank you all so much for your comments on my last post! I am currently stitching another little heart, a teacher gift, which I will unveil in a few days. These are highly addictive little stitchies!

My very first project with embroidery, after a bit of experimenting on scrap bits of fabric, was a trio of nursery songs for my girls.
I first showed these on my blog way back when (you can see them in situ there!). The idea for the trio started with the birds’ nest, featured in Aimee Ray’s Doodle Stitching: The Motif Collection, the second in her beginner’s guides to embroidery. I took her designs, then added the titles of songs we like to sing.

Can you spot the bird’s nest? And the bunny gazing up?

Each picture allowed me to practice a basic embroidery stitch on a small scale.

Some chain stitches, stem stitches, back stitches...
The “Rain, rain, go away” picture was based on a cloud and raindrop design, but I added the rainbow running stitch to brighten it up.

 
And my little bunnies had to be gazing up at stars (the stars that, obviously, you can see I doodled in myself!), because I have sung “Twinkle, twinkle” to both of them nightly since birth. Special memories. 
 
These little pictures are my no means perfect, but they were a lot of fun and got me hooked on embroidery. The girls love them. I mounted them quite sloppily in the hoops, and don't even ask me to flip them over - the backs are a real mess of threads! Back then I didn't even know how to transfer properly - I just took a pencil and copied what I saw in the book, no tracing on a window or with a light box. And the words were just me 'writing' with the thread, I tried to write with pencil on one of them and got fed up. Ah, it's the thought that counts, right?

Here is Aimee Ray’s first book, by the way, which I highly recommend to anyone wanting to dabble with the art of needle and thread. It is playful but instructive, fun and unintimidating (sometimes the beauty of embroidery overwhelms me and I can’t imagine being able to do something so fine and detailed. This book contradicts that mindset.)

She illustrates and explains the stitches thoroughly, with illustrations and photographs, making it far easier to attempt stitches and compare what you’ve done with the photo.

Have you ever tried embroidery? Are you interested but have yet to try? I’m thinking of creating some of my own designs – I do a bit of drawing, and I have some ideas in my head for simple projects, but I might need to call on some volunteers to try them out...
Chrissie x

PS A special "thank you" and warm welcome to my new followers!

21 comments:

  1. Your little embroideries are just beautiful! I have tried a little embroidery and would like to do more, I think maybe when the winter comes. The books you have shown there look lovely.
    M x

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  2. Love the doodle stitching. Lovely blue birds :)

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  3. I am very impressed with your hand embroidery....I have difficulty with French knots, Ali

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  4. Very gorgeous!! I have just purchased doodles stitches yesterday and can't wait for it to arrive. I'm sure I will be asking many questions once I start. Looking forward to see your own designs. Thanks for your help so far xoxo

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    1. Oh how exciting! I'm here to chat about it, email whenever...cx ps embroidery makes very easy, yet lovely and impressive, gifts year round...

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  5. Oh, these are just gorgeous. I think I like the one with the rain cloud the best. I love hand sewing and find it incredibly relaxing. I'm just about to start a little embroidery project which I'm quite looking forward to. x

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    1. Thank you, Gillian! I can't wait to see what's in your embroidery hoop...cx

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  6. They are delightful, what a lovely idea. i love embroidering and trying out new stitches but most of my books are from the 1970s, I should update my books. I think the ideas on the Internet are so extensive. I learnt that you can search for anything and select images to see such a wide range, but nothing beats a good book. Thank you for sharing your books.

    S xx

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    1. I would love to see your 'vintage' embroidery books! ;-) And I couldn't agree more about books vs Internet - I do love turning pages and books lined up on a shelf...cx

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  7. This is all too lovely Chrissie - I went shopping yesterday and guess what I came across? A paper-back copy of your previous book write-up 'The Handstitched Home' - of course I bought it - it was the main (quietly hopeful) reason for me agreeing to 'go to Albany for a bit of a shop'!!!
    I am so thrilled with the book and thank you so much for your recommendation! Now I have more reason to finish the knitted project I've been busy with and make a start on some 'stitchery'! What a beautiful book it is!
    And now you are once again speaking about your lovely Doodle Stitching book - so I must put the reins on and behave myself, which is not easy when it comes to books!!!
    I just love your little hoop-framed pictures, they are so very pretty! You are an inspiration!
    Joy xo

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    1. Oh Joy you certainly live up to your name! I'm so happy I've inspired you to do some stitching, please keep me posted on which projects you're trying! The book is a dream, isn't it? Cx

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    2. Will do Chrissie - can't wait to get started! The book is indeed a dream, I love it!
      Joy xo

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  8. So cute! You're doing a great job with it. I will have to see if I can find those books over here.

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  9. These are simply lovely - I haven't done any hand embroidery for years, but you've inspired me to give it a go again. And another recommended book to add to my wish list ! :-)
    Xx

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    1. I'm so glad! I look forward to seeing what you choose to stitch...cx

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  10. Those are doodletastic! That book looks fab! Jo x

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  11. So pretty. I really must try and do some more embroidery, these look so adorable!

    S x

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  12. I love this book. A very dear friend recommended it to me... Xxx

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  13. Chrissie! Joy, introduced me to you through her sweet blog, and I have become your latest follower. I want to dabble in so many areas of craft, and I appreciate the charming book you have reviewed here. The embroidery style reminds me of the cloth book my Nanna stitched for me sixty years ago. It is stained and a bit raggedy because it has been so treasured! I hope I can gift some of my grands with such a treasure. Thanks for the inspiration!
    xx,
    Gracie

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    1. Thank you Gracie, and welcome! So nice to have you here...and I agree with you, so many crafts, so little time! ;-) Do keep me posted with future crafts for the grandkids...cx

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