Well it’s three weeks since I last posted about my Lattice Flower embroidery. It’s a silk ribbon embroidery and stumpwork project designed by Di Van Niekirk. I’ve made good progress this month, albeit over only about three nights maximum. This is where I was three weeks ago, having just finished the delphiniums….
I’m working strictly to the order on my book, otherwise I know I’d do the ones that look easy first and then prevaricate over the difficult ones. The next one to stitch was the irises…
I’ve tried very hard during this project to follow the book, after all I’m trying to learn new techniques and there’s always an ‘easier’ way to do things. This is the first time in this project I’ve not stuck strictly to the instructions in the book, though I did follow Di Van Niekirk’s instructions..
The book instructs you to use two sheets of dissolvable fabric, I did buy some of this to use, but it did look complicated as you have to ensure that every ribbon stitch is attached to another to secure it in place. I also felt it made quite a bulky flower.
When I googled how to make an iris in ribbon embroidery I found a U tube video by Di van Nie Kirk showing three different ways to stitch an iris, I decided to do number three, the more complex of the three.
My first task though was to dye some ribbon. I’ve got some lengths of plain ribbon and lots of silk paint, so I chose a yellow, tested it on a bit of kitchen roll and then dunked the ribbon in it. The official line is ‘It’s come out just like my flag irises in the garden’, the unofficial line is ‘It’s a bit bright, but I’m sure it will settle down!’
The method I chose mainly uses detached chain stitch and ribbon stitch, I’m pretty pleased with the result. It was interesting to watch Di doing ribbon stitch, the way she almost strokes the ribbon into position first. The ribbon doesn’t fully cover the background picture, but I can always arrange it just before I get it framed.
The stalks are made by binding cake decorating wire with embroidery thread. The wire is poked through the fabric at the bottom end, bound with thread and then overcast at the top. As there are quite a few stems it does make for a bulky point, I accidentally missed one off, but when I realised, I decided it wouldn’t be missed and it helped to reduce the bulk a bit.
The leaves are supposed to be in an organza ribbon, I decided to use silk ribbon, partly because I had some in stock and I find it easier to use, but also because I think iris leaves are quite fleshy and strappy.
The flowers at the base are meant to be rock roses and forget-me-nots. The pink roses are made with a spider’s web rose stitch, this one I’ve done quite a few times through Marilyn Pipes workshops at Denman College, so I’m happy with these. The lavender roses are made using a French knot rose, which is basically like a French knot, but you gather up a length of ribbon too. These came out prettily enough, but very small. I don’t see how with 4mm ribbon you can get it any bigger. In the end I stitched three instead of two and added a few French knots.
So in three weeks I’ve managed to complete a whole panel. I’m very pleased with the whole effect of this embroidery. The next panel is one of my favourites, though it’s a lot of embroidery, hopefully in three weeks time I’ll have made some progress.
The Stitch-a-long is organised by Avis of Stitching by the Sea, if you fancy joinng us, please contact Avis for details. There’s quite a few of us taking part now, all doing something different at our own speed. Please follow the lonks and see what everyone else is stitching. Everyone is one different time scales, so if therte’s nothing there, just pop back a bit later.
Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Catherine, Wendy, Mary Margaret, Timothy
thecraftycreek 
Well done! You have made some great progress these past few weeks. I love that you have even dyed your own ribbon!
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Silk ribbon is pretty expensive and you only tend to need short lengths, as I’ve got lots of silk paints, I’m using those to quickly dye it, it takes just a few minutes as it sets and dries with the iron 🙂
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Very clever! I know nothing about silk ribbon embroidery, so thank you for the tips!
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It really is coming along beautifully!
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Thank you, I’m nearly half way
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Beautiful. I am stitching the same embroidery. Need to get mine back out. I am at the same point a you. I have put off doing this panel, but you have made it look so easy. Thank you. Kathleen Mary
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This is the first one where I haven’t followed the instructions, it just looked a bit beyond me!! Stitching it for the SAL is making me keep going with it!
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I love the dimensionality of this piece, that the flowers all stand out from the background, and you almost – almost! – tempt me to try ribbon embroidery. But I feel I’m probably a bit too cack-handed for anything that dainty.
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Thanks Kate, ribbon embroidery is actually no more fiddly than standard embroidery, if anything it’s easier as the stitches fill an area quicker!
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Well, if that’s so, I just might give it a go!
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You are tearing through this! It looks great. You’ve just reminded me i forgot to post! Better go and find the camera…
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Love the iris, they are fantastic
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I’ve never tried ribbon embroidery, but I’m really enjoying seeing your project take shape
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I am awe struck at this beauty
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Margaret, I have EXACTLY that color of iris getting ready to bloom right now! So, your color is spot on! If you think it is still too much later, maybe you could tip the edges of the skirts with white? Don’t know if that’s possible, but there is an iris I want that is that same bold yellow, but with white edges on the skirt. This whole piece is incredible to me. Dying ribbons, all the three dimensional work, it boggles my mind!
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It’s looking more and more gorgeous every time. I love how bright the irises look. That’s just how they are in real life.
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Wow! Very impressive! Is it messy to color your own ribbon? The color turned out so vibrant and I love your completed iris panel.
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Thanks Christina, it’s not messy at all, I filled one of the paint palette hollows with the dye and a bit of water, then just poked the ribbon into it. I’ve got silk paint that fixes with an iron, so I just ran it under the iron to dry and set it at the same time. 5 minute job!!
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Love the iris. They look stunning and are the perfect shade of yellow 🙂
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Margaret I love the iris! I agree, I have almost the same color iris in my garden as well.
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I am constantly amazed at how well silk ribbon embroidery can replicate flowers. This is going to be just stunning when it’s complete. There’s a house not too far from us that has the most spectacular irises I’ve ever seen. The lower petals are dark purple and the uppers are almost white.
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I have just returned from Montenegro and they have lots of lovely ribbon embroidery in the shops, but nothing as stunning as the work you do. Each time I see this piece it’s beauty seems to increase.
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Every time I see the flowers you have stitched I goes WOW and AHhhh!!! Your embroidery is one of the greatest embroidery I have seen!!! Well done 🙂
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Wow! This is beautiful. You’re so talented!
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