HAND EMBROIDERY FROM SADALAS

TAST 2012 Cretan Stitch 2

2012-01-27T16:38:00.003+05:30

One more experiment on cretan stitch for Sharon's stitch challenge, week 4. This idea came from magic chain stitch.

Pictures all will explain..it is easy to post pictures(for me ) than to explain..:)

My first trial..tried with 2 strands of different colour threads.

with 2 strands of same colour..

Again with different colours..I got the hang of it..

I like it very much .. shall we call it magic cretan stitch!!?

Is this ok for petals?

I tried to weave on cretan stitch but failed..

New Project : Saree

2012-01-26T09:18:00.000+05:30

My mom gifted this saree when I went to her place last time. This is Uppada cotton saree with two shades rust brown and mehandi green having paisley designs and in between it is having pochampalli designs. There is lot of scope for embroidery to make it designer saree.

Here my trials goes. As TAST is running I thought to select stitches given in the challenge. I selected cretan, chained cretan, stem stitch and detached buttonhole stitch(netknots).

This is pallu part, they have given contrast colour maroon. I have not decided anything for pallu part as of now.
I need one more colour of thread and few cut beads and round beads to go with the saree. Though I have whole lot of collection of embroidery material I always in need of some more to go with the materials..:(
Today will go and search for the suitable material. Hopefully I will get what I want.

Earlier I don't need to worry because there were so many embroidery material available in the market. Now ready embroidery patches with beads, antique beads, silk thread , kundans, pearls etc available in the market. So people go for them because it is easy(just tack them on the fabric). I am posting some antique bead patches from my collection which I never used.
Today I just put them on my sarees and I feel they goes well with any kind of sarees. What do you say!!?

Above sarees and few more old and new sarees are waiting for embroidery. I am thinking to buy some ready patches and finish the old sarees so that I can take up new sarees and do some heavy embroidery for my daughter.
There is lot of expectation from TAST challenge where Sharon come up with new stitches and participants come up with new patterns and ideas. I am eagerly waiting for Tuesdays..:)

TAST 2012 Week4 Cretan Stitch

2012-01-24T22:58:00.002+05:30

I have to skip week 2 & week3 stitch challenges as my kids came home for Sankranthi holidays.

Here are my stitch samples on cretan stitch for Sharon's stitch challenge TAST 2012 week 4.

Like Sharon explained in her stitch library "inaminuteago" I created different effects by altering the slant of the needle and the amount of fabric picked.

First I started grouping 2 cretan stitches at a time and then started grouping 4 stitches varying the slant of the needle.

This is how it looks when 4 cretan stitches grouped

Again one more Cretan stitch with opposite colour above the groups of 4 Cretan stitches.

Then worked on small circles to create flower shapes( it is always my favorite to work on circles)

Oops! it seems I have forgotten to click the completed flower. Never mind it is there in collage.

One more cretan circle

Cretan stitch when worked on ribbon(first in this picture) and anchor threads (second in this picture) as base.

Few more trials with different threads N using beads

shall we call long n short cretan stitch(which is in red)

Finally collage of cretan stitch.

Have an idea to work on few more patterns especially like the one where I have used white cut beads (like in third picture from bottom). Hopefully I will do it tomorrow. Before that I would like to share few of my earlier projects with cretan stitch.

P.S.
My interview in Adithisammasews..it was my first interview and I am bit hesiatant and glad too..Thank you Lakshmi for hosting all those interviews .

chicken scratch Embroidery

2012-01-13T23:18:00.001+05:30

This long pending project is finished but not yet finished. Yes it is not yet finished because while taking the pictures I noticed the mistake I did on the center block of the design which is not aligned properly. Have to remove the stitches and extend the design a little bit in the center. I took this project more than a month back but could not complete it early because daughter met with an accident and injured her leg. Now she has recovered completely and back to college. I am all relieved now and I am also back in to embroidery.

I took fancy of this simple technique of chicken scratch and I always love to watch how the hues of the fabric changes beautifully after stitching simple stitches on it. This piece may turn in to pillow cover, i have not yet decided. How many of you like chicken scratch? how many of you did this embroidery?? Just love to see your works.

And to those who are celebrating Sankranthi festival

"I Wish you a very Happy Sankranthi"

Fly Stitch :cushion cover

2012-01-10T21:02:00.000+05:30

Hello readers here comes the pictures of completed project which I started for first week's challenge of TAST 2012 running by Sharon of pintangle.com. This is for cushion cover and I have used only fly stitch and stem stitch and used cotton embroidery threads. You can find some more pictures of fly stitch in my earlier post here.

TAST 2012 : Fly Stitch

2012-01-06T15:04:00.005+05:30

Much awaited stitch challenge from Sharon has finally started and I was eagerly waiting for that because there is lot of scope to get new ideas and learning new stitches every week from all my friends who are also interested in embroidery.. It is really a nice feeling to see how others works and how they develop the stitch beautifully.
In the first week of the challenge Sharon announced fly stitch and
here comes my trial of fly stitch for TAST 2012. I have worked on some simple patterns. And posting some pictures from my old works for the same.

And some pictures from my old projects..

And collage of all the pictures..

I AM DEEPLY ANNOYED....:(

2011-12-26T11:56:00.005+05:30

I just can't understand what all crazy things are going on in the blogging world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..accidently I found out another blog with almost in my blog's name copied letter to letter, word to word, picture to picture but published by the name Ilhambandung..I am giving this person's blogger profile which is not shared in his/her blog ..

I just can't understand what is going on..I never had another blog.. even I dropped the idea of starting another blog when the adsense failed for my blog..My blog is on my late father's name and I just love this name very much I don't want to close this blog just because of money sake. Around 2000 people visit my blog every day and if I added adsense to my blog I could have earned reasonable amount of money every month.
With so much of efforts I shared my embroidery and these people simply copy and enjoy...
who ever this person may be I strongly condemn such an act...

I am very much frustrated and fuming with anger..

UPDATE on 30/12/2011 6.20 AM

Thanks to the blogger Team. They have responded quickly and removed the infringed blog. I am Thankful to you blogger team. I am glad now.
Thanks to all my friends who supported me to come out of this issue.

Bead work

2011-12-01T15:27:00.000+05:30

To match with my kerala saree I made this simple bead work on the neck of my saree blouse . I stitched the beads using herring bone stitch and used invisible nylon thread to stitch the beads. It is very simple. isn't it!!!

For the kalamkari lovers here is one good blog where Jayanth kalamkari had posted some wonderful block printed kalamkari pictures. They also posted pictures of bedspreads, diwansets, sarees etc and patch works done on dresses, sarees. And they also given their contact details in their very first post in the blog. I think it will be very useful information for all those my blog readers who keep on asking me about the availability of those beautiful paintings. Good luck friends..hope you will get them..
ahh I simply love to own all those kalamkari salwar sets..:)

New Look For My Blog

2011-11-09T19:05:00.002+05:30

Hello my dear readers, with the help of my daughter I created collage of few of embroidery works and thought to add it in my blog in the header. But I don't know whether this creates delay in opening the page of my blog. Dear readers, do you really like the new look of my blog? Is it creating any trouble in opening the page? please let me know ..if at all it is creating any problem I will delete it.
And also I have added new buttons one under each post and other in the side bar so that if you like my posts you can share a word through twitter, facebook, mail, blog, or google+..
I have restarted working on my saree but it is going very slow. It happens with me few times when I am not satisfied with the design/stitches. May be I will stop it again and take up new project once I return from my village.

have nice stitch time
Lakshmi

Stem Stitch

2011-11-04T18:32:00.002+05:30

This is block printed cotton dress on which I did simple stem stitch just to add red tinge to break the monotony of dense black prints..it is very easy peasy project :).. for sleeves I did muvvala kuttu on the edges...did you like it!
For those who are interested to learn muvvala kuttu can find video Tutorials given here in my blog..

Long and Short Stitch

2011-10-21T12:50:00.003+05:30

This is long and short embroidery I completed for my cute little niece.
How do you like it!!
I worked many projects with this design alone. You can find two such projects one with french knots and other with french knots and sequence here.

Here is pic-tutorial for stitching strawberries..

Long N Short on Kurthi

2011-10-13T15:08:00.000+05:30

When tailor spoiled the top with his stitching I bought one more piece of cloth to make a salwar set. I picked shaded cotton cloth and did simple embroidery with long and short stitch.
Tried with different colors that matches with the chudi set and finally satisfied with majantha and peach color for flowers.

And here is the final dress. How did you like it!!

Sorry

2011-10-03T07:46:00.000+05:30

Today morning while I tried to give the tutorial links to Sharon's stitchingingers group I noticed some of my tutorials links are not opening or showing some other posts.
Sorry if any of you tried the link and get disappointed. Thanks for Sharon, probably it couldn't come to my notice if I didn't read her mail to her members to give the links to their tutorials.
I am worrying as the pictures of network tutorials are not there in the blog post. Really don't know how it could have happened as I remember well that I didn't delete them..:(
Sure will re post them soon after I return from mom's place. And I have to clean up my blog too..

till then have nice stitchtime
love
lakshmi

New Project: Completed

2011-09-16T13:53:00.002+05:30

Yeah at last!!..it took so many days to complete this simple project :(..
You can see the progress of this project and some stitch details are in part1, part2 and part 3 which are posted earlier in my blog.

Actually I begin this work for a pillow. But now I don't want..May be this is going to be a cover for computer monitor, or my new sewing machine. Hey I got my new sewing machine which I wished for so long. I got Usha Janome Wonder stitch model in exchange offer for my old Singer multi purpose sewing machine. It was difficult to say goodbye to my old machine which was my companion for 14 years. Anyways happy working with my new machine. It is so good and user friendly :)..
How is my new project. Here and there the braid stitch get distorted while fixing the hoop tightly on the stitch. Next time I have to be very careful. It is a lesson for me. :)..
Next project is going to be on kurthi. I have planned a design which I will start soon..

till then
happy stitch time
bye..

Braid Stitch..New Project 3

2011-09-14T11:41:00.003+05:30

..aka cable plait stitch is a very beautiful stitch which I am thoroughly enjoying now. For my new project I wanted to try a new stitch which I never did in any of my earlier projects . So pulled out all my doodle cloths and find this stitch but could not recall the name. It is bad habit of me not to note the name of the stitch. So searched the net and find Mary corbet has given a very fine video tutorial for the same. So tried again and enjoying the stitch and con't wait to complete to share with you. It looks good when worked with tightly woven threads like perle but I like the look of the stitch when worked in anchor threads ( yellow colored thread in last picture). I struggled a bit to get the hang of the stitch. It is bit tricky as the thread was slipping and stitch getting the loose loops in it
In my project I am using anchor perle thread only( red colored thread in first 2 pictures). Though I need some more practice you can find the difference between the stitch when placed loosely and packed tightly.

You can also find first and second parts of my new project posted in my blog.

Thanks for all who come up with their suggestions as per my request in earlier post. Wish I could complete the project by the next week..

New Project : Progress so far 2

2011-09-08T10:06:00.003+05:30

All these days I could not concentrate much on stitching because of some family commitments. Nothing much to show you. Just I have completed 3 more chicks. And removed stitches on flowers which i did earlier and replaced them with long n short stitch. You can find first part of this project here.

Have a look please and give your valuable suggestions. Critics and comments are most welcome.

Please will you suggest some stitches for the frock i.e, the border (2 parallel lines) to the frock and dots on it which are showing in the picture. It would be a great help for me. Thank you..

Palestrina stitch/mudi kuttu/pearl knots
& knotted broken chain stitch

Fly stitch filling
Thanks to MARY CORBET of needlenthread

weaving

long n short stitch

long and short stitch

New Project with Anchor cotton threads

2011-08-25T12:34:00.003+05:30

In my new project I have used only anchor cotton threads. Here are the pictures of embroidery done so far. I am still confused about thechoice of colors. Any suggestions regarding the same are most welcome!!
And also please suggest me some stitches for filling if possible with links you find on net..

french knots

net work

net knots

long n short, Portuguese stem stitch

weaving and raised herringbone stitch

weaving, buttonhole variation, navar work(butterfly), weaved picot, stem stitch for leaves, herringbone, long n short

Chicken Scratch Embroidery 2

2011-08-19T10:49:00.005+05:30

Sometime back I started new chicken scratch embroidery but could not complete it in due time though I have lot of leisure time, because of my bad health(was suffering from dizziness).

All medical reports came normal and I am fine now. My mom is with me and am happy spending time with her.

At last I could complete embroidery and here are pictures for your comments.

I have used anchor pearl thread(magenta) and white tatting thread. How do you like it!!

gingham cloth

didn't like the outer white lines so removed them

sleeves

Final top

I received some beautiful linens from Gina of Australia. One big table cloth, one cushion cover and one doily. Wish to complete them at earliest time. Thank you very much Gina..

One more chicken scratch..

2011-08-09T14:13:00.002+05:30

..is under progress. Of late I like the technique of chicken scratch embroidery. I just love the way the gingham fabric takes new hues when embroidery is done on it with self colours of gingham. Really fascinating to watch. Here in picture the colour change is not showing but in real it is very beautiful. I am about to finish the embroidery and fearing there may be shortage of thread which are not available here.

And here is how I tried to finish my dimensional embroidery project. I thought it was completed but after seeing the picture I realized there should be some more work to be done..

Here is the Winner!!

2011-08-08T16:55:00.000+05:30

Thanks to all the participants. And wish your encouragements will be with me always.

This time I pick the winner using random number selector and it picked the lucky number 16. (I skipped giving number to my comment as it was answer to one of my reader's question.)

And the gift goes to' RAYEESA' ..Rayeesa congrats!!..please contact me with your address..hope you will make use of it.

love
lakshmi

Give Away..

2011-07-30T12:57:00.012+05:30

It was my long pending wish to gift to my blog readers when the number of my blog followers reached 300 and number of page hits reached one million since I put the gadget in my blog. I am very thankful to my blog readers and followers who have so much confidence in me though I am not at all good in English and writing. Thanks for all your support and encouragement they means a lot to me and it also means some more responsibility to maintain the standard. Hope I don't disappoint you and wish to come up with some more of my experiments, projects and tutorials. Now I am quite free and happy mother. Hope now I can concentrate more on stitching as my son entered in to Engineering as per his wish and well adjusted to hostel life. (But I miss both kids terribly..this is another story though :(...)

So thought to gift with embroidery done by me for one lucky reader of my blog. They are small motifs done for the purpose to make hankies but later I could not stitch them. You can see the stitch details in my post here. I have done one more motif of yellow rose but still one corner is empty. I will fill that corner too. So in total there will be 14 motifs. You can use them as per your wish.
In addition to this I have added couple kundans and two kalamkari block printed elephant patches.
I have also added few lengths of 4 different colours of cone threads for readers who are interested to try Brazillian embroidery stitches. Though cone threads are not Z-twist Rayons which are used in BZE they give good dimensional look with BZE stitches. These threads almost look like Lola of Edmar rayon threads.

You can make flowers with kundans. I have given the tutorial for the same here in my blog. And you can see how I have used these kalamkari patches here and here.
I have posted some of the examples for brazillian and dimensional embroidery in my earlier posts.

To win this Give away you have to do is, just leave a comment to this post and you are included in the draw. That is all..Simple.. Dont forget to write your name please. Last date for the entry is 7th August and the winner will announced the next day ie on 8th August. Winner should contact with their address within 3 days of the announcement otherwise another lucky winner will be selected .Good Luck friends!!

Love you all
Lakshmi

Dimensional Embroidery

2011-07-18T15:33:00.001+05:30

These are my few more dimensional embroidery flowers done with cone threads.
I like knotted double caston stitch flower.

caston stitch

knotted double caston stitch

Two More Stitches to My Stitch Library

2011-07-15T07:48:00.001+05:30

One is Brazillian Embroidery Stitch and other buttonhole variation. Enjoyed both the stitches though I do not feel ease to work with cone threads. But cone threads really matches with the beauty of rayon threads. You can see my other posts where I have posted some Brazillian stitches worked with rayon and cone threads.(In this project I have removed some of the stitches which I felt not perfect and adding some more stitches to give a 'completed' look.)

Both the stitches are my first trials and I have to practice to get perfect finishing.

buttonhole stitch

I learnt this new application of buttonhole stitch from Ina's blog. She is doing many experiments with buttonhole stitch and they come out really well. She has given the tutorials for the same and other stitches as well. They are easy to understand.

I learnt caston and knotted caston stitch from Marisa of Hand embroidery ning group. Her videos and explanations are very clear to understand.

knotted caston stitch

Chicken Scratch Embroidery

2011-07-13T10:11:00.001+05:30

Hi.. how are you all!!.... I am glad that I am back to my embroidery work and come up with my new project. Of course this is a very simple project of chicken scratch and I did complete it in one day. Just three lines working on different shades of gingham checks on each line on my old dress. This is my first chicken scratch work and I find it very very easy and very less time consuming and look elegant if right colors of threads chosen.

Many of you might have know this technique. For those who are interested about the same Mary Corbet have explained and given very good links. Have a look and enjoy!!

To My blog readers and friends

2011-06-27T08:43:00.000+05:30

I am sad that this post is without any of my embroidery works. I know I am not active online these days. It is just happening that I can not do much embroidery these days and not able to find time to visit wonderful embroidery and other arts and crafts from my blogger friends. I really miss them :(..
Once everything is settled I will be back soon..
We had been to Kerala for a week.. it was my long wish to see paradise on earth with my family..now I know why people call Kerala as God's own country!!..I dont know how the heaven could be but I feel Munnar is a real heaven..
To my bad luck I met with accident at Munnar and my leg is injured very badly so that I can not walk freely..so it may take sometime to be back with my embroidery works..

Thanks for my blogger friends who emailed inquiring why there are no posts since long time..
I am glad to get such caring friends..

Love you all
Lakshmi