Sailing Away

 Not pixie hats but sails. Jane Eborall's tat it and see is now complete. Thanks Jane, it's been great fun.

The Real Deal

Yesterday, when I took my embroidery to Corlie, I asked her if I could take a photo of her work and put it on my blog. She kindly agreed, and so here it is.

I'm not going to carry on with Schwalm embroidery for the next competition. To produce work like this takes more time and dedication than I am prepared to put in.  I enjoyed learning about Schwalm embroidery, but for me it was just a minor diversion from tatting!

Not Done Yet

Oh my word. On Wednesday I discovered that there was yet another procedure to be done on my Schwalm embroidery. The grids that I had created had to be filled in using woven stitches in a variety of patterns. I worked manically all day yesterday and this morning to get it done. I periodically sent a photo off to my teacher to get her opinion and advice, a system that worked surprisingly well. Long distance embroidery tuition, thanks Whatsapp! On Wednesday Corlie told me how to prepare the piece for presentation. I've just put the last stitch into the material backing. My final step will be to make a 100 km (60 mile) trip this afternoon to deliver it. Phew.

Day 14

 Day 14, looking stranger and stranger.

Think Shipping

 Some months ago I read an article in Fairlady, a South African magazine, about slogans that people live by. One that I rather liked was 'Think Shipping'. In other words, finish the job completely. I must admit that I tend to think shipping when the shipping date comes due! I tatted the bookmarks in March last year, as you can read here and here, but have only just got around to putting them onto cardboard and fabric backings and attaching the labels, so that they can be competition entries. The Tunisian crochet bag has labels attached and I've prepared the labels for the embroidery. I need some help in getting the embroidery ready for shipping though - I haven't a clue where to start.

I Give Up

I'm a wimp, I know it. I've unpicked the satin stitch on my Schwalm embroidery and done the leaves in buttonhole stitch and bullion stitch instead. I do know that the answer to mastering satin stitch is regular practice. My erratic application just doesn't do it! I have finished the embroidery now:

It's far  from perfect, but I'm following the Marietjie principle. Marietjie is one of the other pupils in my embroidery class. She suggested that instead of stressing about perfection, we should aim to learn from the comments of the judges in the competition. I have a lot to learn.

Day 13

 My pixie hat isn't lying absolutely flat. I suspect the dark blue Milford size 20 is a bit thinner than the variegated Coats thread.