Tudor and Stuart Goldwork Masterclass – Month Thirteen
I’ve not really been making as much progress with the silkwork on the Masterclass Sampler and Tudor Pincushion as I would like. The weather has been cold and overcast, making my best stitching spot for natural light a chilly and uninviting place. Artificial light produces a confusing glimmer on metal threads, so unless it is a particularly easy stitch, I tend not to use metal threads in the evening.
I’ve been more or less keeping up with my practice stitching, however, and this month’s stitches are Cable Chain Stitch, and Knot Stitch (also known as Braid Stitch). I enjoyed these very much, as I already know them both, and it was good to be able to add them to the practice cloth and remind myself of my repertoire.
Cable Chain Stitch
Cable chain is my absolute favourite of the chain stitches, and pops up in all sorts of projects. I used it in the Jacobean Firescreen that I’ve used as my header picture, and the Jacobean Work panel that I’ve yet to find a use for, and on the dorsal fin of the Experimental Seahorse. I’ve even used it on the Map of Amarna, in the Compass Rose. I think that it looks its best using a fairly heavy round thread, so on my practice cloth the gold is somewhat out of scale with the fabric
Braid Or Knot Stitch
Braid or Knot Stitch (not the terrifying Plaited Braid Stitch that I haven’t got to grips with yet!) is another favourite. I used it to create the Prince’s bow in the first of the Persian Fantasy Panels. I also used it for the ice cream cone part of the logo on the Frolicking Teddies Cot Blanket. I worked the stitch at two different scales, so you can see it looks a little loopy and untidy over four threads, but neatly ornate over two.
I like the big loopy stitch!
Make sure you have your eyes checked. There’s a type of cataract that causes terrible glare, which I happen to have and which makes metallic threads difficult to see well. Driving at night is no joy, either!
Not a fatal disease but if it effects you, you want to know so you can keep an eye on it and do the surgery to remove the cataracts when it is time.
Yay – I know them both as well. Nice not to have ‘frightening’ (do I exaggerate?) new stitches this month.
I have the beginning of cataracts and I don’t stitch anything at night. The sample is looking good.
I like the cable chain stitch too and I totally agree about glare on metal threads, my eyes ache just thinking about it.
I like the cable chain stitch too and I totally agree about glare on metal threads, my eyes ache just thinking about it.
I like the cable chain stitch too and I totally agree about glare on metal threads, my eyes ache just thinking about it.
I like the cable chain stitch too and I totally agree about the glare on metal threads, my eyes ache just thinking about it.
Totally off topic, but at least I know you’ll receive this! 🙂
Hi,
I have heaps of your mails I want to answer, but I have to change my Thunderbird (e-mail s/w) first. Not a big job, but too much on top of everything else I’m trying to do with my restricted energy/pain. I have to *write* the whole story of my withdrawal coz my printer is out of ink – pain clinic appmt next week!
But as time goes on, it’s priority gets higher, coz I miss you.
Hugs
I really like the cable chain.
Have you tried a daylight bulb? I find it to be quite helpful on a dull day. You can get eco-ones now too, which are just as good.