Friday, November 29

Ode to Running Stitch

 My favourite embroidery stitch is the Running Stitch.
Ode to Running Stitch is a triptych and a little homage to the first embroidery stitch one learns when a person takes up embroidery.
 Running stitch is the stitch used to darn and patch fabric. It forms a a soft undulating texture if its done row after row.  I use running stitch to applique pieces of tussar silk onto a silk scarf.

 Running stitch is the base for a more decorative compound stitch like the three which have been embroidered onto each of the three pieces of the triptych. The pattern on the first piece is called 'Kukadi taang' by the Lambanis of Karnataka.
Running stitch binds layers together to make a soft Kantha quilt.

Which is you favourite embroidery stitch?

Ode to Running Stitch will be available for sale at the Festive Bazaar organised by  Madder Moon, Singapore from Dec 2nd to Dec 20th.

Monday, November 18

Dye pot experiments

Tea dyebath in a cast iron vessel. Cotton fabric folded and resisted. Contetns of cast iron vessel put into a stainless steel vessel and the resisted bundles of fabric were brought to a boil in this vessel then
left to marinate for a further two days. Teh the bundles were opened.
                          
There were some interesting changes to the off white cotton fabric. Three of the six bundles I decided to boil again with the tea in the cast iron pot to see if the colour would intensify.
I intend to make a patchwork garment - something simple- maybe a kimono or a kaftan -all hand sewn and embroidered in places.

Friday, November 8

Capturing Diwali .

Last week was the festival of Diwali.Come Diwali and its all about feasting, lighting clay lamps, pujas to welcome Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, card parties and crackers. 
 Once it turns dark the air is redolent with the smell of crackers, and the sky and your surroundings are lit up by exploding crackers and as the night wears on bits of paper and spent crackers form a thick carpet  on the ground.
Buildings are decked with strings of fairy lights. That's a seven storey building, lit up with tiny LED lights.  
 Are crackers a part of any festival where you live?
 I love the magical photograph which results when strings of fairy lights, a little breeze, a slow shutter speed and an exploding fire cracker come together . Looks like freestyle embroidery. I should try translating one of these pictures into an embroidered piece using metallic threads and sequins.

A fun time was had with friends.

Have a great weekend, the celebrations continue with a birthday and a barbecue this weekend.
I have been working and hope to have new things in my Etsy shop next week.

Friday, November 1

Embellished textile fragment


The embroidered piece Specialisation is for Insects has undergone changes and been transformed into a patchwork embellished textile piece.
Buttonhole wheels embroidered with space dyed embroidery thread. Eco dyed cotton fabric. Dried pomegranate peel laid on the cotton fabric and rolled up and tied with cotton twine. The bundle was put into water in a cast iron vessel and the water was brought to a boil. The bundle was left to marinate in the iron rich water for about a day. The edges are bound with tussar silk. The string couched onto the fabric at the top of the piece is the twine used to tie up the bundle for dyeing.
Detail of the buttonhole wheels.

 Happy Diwali everybody. I hope to have some photographs to show you some of the festivities in the neighbourhood.

ShareThis