I think this is the last entry to show you from Otley Show. The class was for ‘a scarf, any medium’, I don’t knit and I ran out of time to do a silk painted one. This was one of those projects that sort of develops as you go along, working out the practicalities on the way!

My starting point was a beautiful length of embroidered tulle, I bought it in 2006 when I was planning our wedding. I rummaged around in my silk remnant drawer, I had a length of soft gold silk dupion that matched perfectly but it wasn’t quite big enough unfortunately, so I settled for a warm ivory silk, I think it was called oyster (bought in 1990 for my first wedding dress!!!)

I decided to try to continue the pattern onto the silk ends, I stitched a piece of silk onto each end then embroidered with chain stitch stems, lazy daisy flowers and satin stitch leaves. Gold beads in the centre of each flower add a bit of sparkle. The first end went really well, I wasn’t as pleased with the second end as I realised the stems and the flowers were going the other way, which made it more difficult to get the design to flow. Altogether though I was pleased with the effect.

To complete the scarf I need to edge it in the silk, I decided to sort of  ‘log cabin’ it with a length down each side, folded over on itself and slip-stitched at the edge. That sorted the long edges out nicely, I just had to neaten the short ends…

I wanted to put a beaded fringe on to give the ends a bit of weight. I found a perfect trim in Boyes in Skipton. I was very impressed with their haberdashery department, they had some beautiful laces  and trims, so I’ll have to go back and check out their  haberdashery and fabrics when I have a bit more time.

I mulled over the next bit for about three days, how to attach the trim and finish the edge. The ribbon of the trim wasn’t a close enough match to have it showing, because of the way I’d stitched the sides on I couldn’t just tuck it all under…I finally sussed it! I stitched it ‘log-cabin’ style like the sides but in two halves, a front and a back, with the beading in the middle!

My scarf didn’t win any prizes but I’m pleased with it, it will be nice to wear going out in the evenings.