We’ve just had a long weekend away in Istanbul, it’s an amazing city, I loved it, I don’t usually like city breaks as so many are just full of the same shops, and I’m not really into shopping! Istanbul was different, full of wonderful historic buildings and of course the bazaars! I knew I would have two days on my own in the city whilst my OH went to Gallipoli, so apart from booking a fantastic two day walking tour (which I can highly recommend!) I needed to take some  sewing with me for the evenings.

I decided to put my bee pincushion on one side for a short while as it really wasn’t practical to take, I decided to concentrate on my Indian Mosaic, time is pressing for this project too as I want to enter it in the local show in mid May, and it will need framing…

I showed you the start of the mosaic here, making the fabric mosaic, now came the scary bit, well out of my comfort zone, to embroider it as I wish! The kit provided some embroidery ribbon, hemp threads, variegated  thread and beads, I took a few extra bits to titivate and a book with embroidery stitches.

I’ve actually really enjoyed it, once I got into the swing of it. The diagonal lengths are just a nice amount to try out new stitches. I’ve learnt vandyke stitch, wheatear, sheaf and star stitch, closed buttonhole and Pekinese stitch.

I’ve couched ribbon, stitched flystitch with bugle beads and added French knots or seed beads to embellish another stitch. I’ve still a few areas to embroider and I want to couch a gold thread to edge the border, though I’m still undecided whether to add ribbon under the thread too, mainly because I’m concerned the gold thread will slip under the squares as some of them are lifting slightly.

Since returning home I raided my bead box and embroidery threads, so I’ve added some sequins (not too shiny ones!) and some different coloured bugle and seed beads. Embroidery silks in darker shades have also added colour with the embroidery stitches.

I’m really pleased with the progress so far, though I think it’s one of those projects that it’s difficult to know when it’s finished! I’ve enjoyed dipping my toe out of my comfort zone more than I thought I would!!