Report for 17 UFOs in 2017
Progress on the Christmas Angel
You may recall that a very long time ago I listed some projects I wanted to work on this year, prompted by Meredithe at Pomegranate and Chintz and Anne at Frayed At The Edge. Mereditithe’s most recent post for the challenge is here.
Then the Head of Nefertiti swept into my head and my hands and took almost all my brain power and stitching time, and Nothing Happened.
Well, something has now happened. I’ve had the Christmas Angel sitting in the corner of the living room waiting to be noticed, and a little while ago, I got to a natural Stop and Think point with my other projects.
So I have made a start on the background. I’m using metallic machine thread, two strands for the rough, textured threads in the centre of each cell, and three strands, one of each of three shades for the framework. It’s beyond fiddly and flyaway, and I’ve even bought some Thread Heaven to see whether it helps (a bit, maybe not quite as much as I hoped).
All that said, I think it is going to look rather splendid when it is finished. The idea is that it should be somewhat reminiscent of an icon painted on gold leaf. Some of them have a sort of engraved “diaper pattern” effect, and I hope that the diamond flame bargello pattern will do the job.
It’s a beautiful background, and is really going to set the pretty angel off nicely when done. Though that sounds like a tricky combination of threads to work with – good luck! Just the sort of project you might need a goal in sight to finish if it were me!
I love that background. Well worth the effort.
Fam sure you will achieve just that icon look you are aiming for.
Did you paint the fabric? Is that making the fiddly work fiddlier?
Keep up the good work.
You have reminded me that I have an “Angel” canvas, that I bought years ago! When I have troublesome quilting thread, I draw it through a block of beeswax – I wonder if that would work for wayward embroidery thread?
Your beautiful work never ceases to amaze me! I would never have the patience……..
Looking gorgeous – stick with it. xx
Metallic thread tends to generate curses when I use it, except for the 3-strand-twist sort like DMC Diamant and Madeira 15. And, I am sorry to say that I don’t find either Thread Heaven or beeswax much help on it. A bigger needle than usual helps, as does padding the end of the needle’s eye with a tag of softer thread to stop the metallic stuff fraying too quickly. You are getting a pleasingly subtle diaper background for you efforts, so keep at it. (But not beyond the point where your fingers get sore – another usual side effect of working with metallic thread!) I won’t tell you how few days there are left until Christmas….
I love the shimmer of that diapered pattern and it’s offsetting the angel really nicely. Perhaps there is an embroidery variation of Sod’s Law which says that stunning results can only be obtained with thread that drives you demented!
Good grief, metallic thread… good luck with that! It does look very splendid though and will be well worth the effort and patience.
Very delicate work. Pretty angel to.
The background is beautiful and will frame the angel perfectly. It’s always nice to pick up a UFO with the intention of finishing it. And a lovely finish it will be too. 🙂
Thanks so much for linking up to last week’s Stitchery Link Party. Aloha hugs!
Fiddly maybe, but stunning for sure. I love the background – it sets off the angel so beautifully.