It’s three weeks since I last showed you my progress on my flower lattice embroidery. Yet again I haven’t had much time to spend on my embroidery, mainly because I decided to make a concerted effort to finish my Splendid Sampler quilt, which I did this week, happy dance time!
This is where I was three weeks ago, just finished another diamond…
I’m stitching the blocks strictly in the order they are in Di van Niekirk’s book, mainly because otherwise I’ll stitch the bits I fancy first and then I’m left with the ones that look difficult! I’ve been looking forward to stitching the next one though, I think it probably appeals because it’s mainly thread embroidery, which I’m slightly more confident with than ribbon work, and I also love agapanthus and hollyhocks. I keep trying to grow agapanthus in pots in the garden but I tend to uncover them too early and a late frost gets them. I was green with envy when we holidayed in New Zealand a couple of years ago and they were growing like weeds!!!
Back to my embroidery…
I started with the stems which this time are just twisted ribbon. The agapanthus heads are embroidered with stranded cotton. I’m not using the official threads, I’m finding floss in my stash mainly, pus a few extra I purchased at the beginning.I chose variegated threads DMC 4240 for the darker blue flowers and DMC 4215 for the lighter pinky coloured bloom. The flowers are just tiny straight stitches, 5 or 6 per floret (not sure if that is the right word!) with occasional fly stitches and straight stitches of soft green in the centre.
With the first one I stitched I was concerned that the blue was a little dark, so I added a few stitches in a lighter blue, I wasn’t convinced it made any difference so I just used one variegated thread for each of the other two blooms. Anyway, I like the darker blue agapanthus in real life!
I’m really pleased with the agapanthus blooms, the stitches are tiny so it does make them look delicate. I did have to smile at the size of the ladybird, on the grounds that the flowers in real life are probably 3-4″ across at least, that’s one helluva big ladybird!! I’ve put my stork scissors next to the flowers to give you an idea of scale of the stitches (not the ladybird!).
Hopefully next time I’ll have the diamond finished!
There’s quite a few of us taking part in the stitch-a-long, it’s great as you can choose your own project, you just need to post a progress report every three weeks, it does concentrate the mind if you’re stitching something which could easily drift! Welcome to our two new members, Timothy and Mary Margaret, and welcome back to Wendy who back into our fold too, so please follow the links to see what everyone has been stitching. If you fancy joining our merry band then just send Avis (our esteemed organiser!) a message. Please follow the links to see what everyone else is stitching.
- Avis at http://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com
- Claire at http://claire93.wordpress.com
- Gun at http://rutigt.wordpress.com
- Carole at http://aslightobsessionwithbooks.wordpress.com
- LucyAnn at https://lucyannluna.wordpress.com
- Jess at https://everthecrafter.wordpress.com
- Sue at http://sewingmagpie.blogspot.com
- Constanze at https://textiledreamer.wordpress.com
- DebbieRose at https://sewrosey.wordpress.com
- Christina at https://petalsandpins.wordpress.com
- Susan at http://susanpblog.wordpress.com
- Kathy at https://livinginrapidcity.wordpress.com
- Kate at https://talltalesfromchiconia.wordpress.com/
- Cindy at http://homeofaflossjunkie.blogspot.com
- Helen at http://stitchingranny.wordpress.com
- Steph at https://mymakingdoadventure.wordpress.com
- Linda blogs at http://lindascr8tions.wordpress.com
- Catherine blogs at http://hillviewembroidery.com
- Wendy at https://thecraftersapprentice.blogspot.co.uk/
- Mary Margaret at http://marymargaretripley.com
- Timothy at http://wickedstitcher.wordpress.com
thecraftycreek 
Your agapanthus are beautiful! And that ladybird is Queensland bug scale, all our insects are giants! I do wish I had the dexterity – and nerve – to stitch a piece like this, but my fingers get stiffer every day.
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Thanks Kate. Glad I didn’t see bugs that big when I was holidaying in Queensland!!
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I was looking up at the palm trees yesterday to see if there were any more loose fronds ready to come down and saw the most gigantic grasshopper, at least as long as my hand, chomping away up there. 1.5 inch mud wasps. Monstrous lawn grubs, the size of a small chipolata… Yup, they’re all super-sized up here…
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So pretty, fantastic progress
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Thanks Lucy, I’m making slow but steady progress!
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Your garden blooms beautifully
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Thank you Debbie 🙂
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Oh that ladybird is fantastic!
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I do like the bugs and beasties that are included in this embroidery!
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Those blooms are so delicate and lovely!
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Thank you 🙂
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Really like the colours you chose for this – the different blues add depth, imho. Agapanthus grow like weeds in Northern California, too. You’re very good to have them up your way! Such a beautiful collection of flowers in this design! xx
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Thanks Del, I’d love a big clump in the garden but I’m not vigilant enough with the winter protection!
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oooh those blues . . . I think this is my favourite one so far!
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I think it’s my favourite too!
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I´m so excited every third Sunday to see what you have been stitching, cause I love this embroidery! Some day I may try something like that, I think 🙂
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Thank you, this is from a book, so the instructions are very detailed – fortunately!
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This is just so amazing. Can’t wait to see more.
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Thank you, hopefully in 3 weeks time I’ll have the hollyhocks stitched!
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I enjoy seeing your progress! The agapanthus are looking lovely ❤ My mom gave me some beautiful embroidery ribbon and I showed her your wip. We're both in awe!
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I tried ribbon embroidery for the first time last year and it really isn’t difficult, but the effects are great, so just have a go 🙂
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What beautiful agapanthus! I remember them fondly from back home, but since moving to the UK I don’t think I’ve seen them! You are doing a wonderful job! I’ve never tried ribbon embroidery and I love watching this develop. I think I’d be tempted to stitch it all in threads!
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Thank you! We can grow agapanthus here but they’re not frost hardy..that’s where I go wrong!
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I love the ribbon emboidery, never had the nerve to try it myself but it looks amazing!!!
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Thank you, the ribbon embroidery is no where near as hard as it looks, most of it is normal embroidery stitches, just with ribbon!
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Absolutely lovely!
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Thank you 🙂
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It’s fun to see this develop!
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Thank you
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I am adoring watching this grow. It is something I don’t think I could even begin to attempt nowdays, but it is so satisfying watching your progress.
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Thank you
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I like the blue. I am also stitching this panel. I used light blue but like the dark blue much better.
After seeing yours, i will be adding dark blue.
Kathleen Mary
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Thanks Kathleen, I only used the darker blue because I happened to have it in my stash and I do actually like the really dark agapanthus. I used DMC 4240. How far have you got? I’d love to see yours, I’ve not come across anyone else who’s stitched it 🙂
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Your flower embroidery is looking great! Congratulations on finishing your quilt
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Thank you 🙂
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Very pretty! I don’t think I have the finger flexibility to do hand stitching anymore. I just have to look at other’s! 😍
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Your work is so beautiful!
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