Summer Silk Seasons Design

My friend Renee finished the Summer Monochromatic Season design and I wanted to share it with you.  She did a beautiful job stitching (she's one of my model stitchers!).  It makes me think blue skies, blueberries, water and cool breezes off the ocean (I wish!).  This could easily be stitched on a whole range of different fabrics to create a completely different look.

Happy Stitching,
Diane

Weathered Vine

You might think I'm talking about what my vines look like after the numerous hard freezes in my back yard but I'm not.  Weathered Vine is the first Belle Soie (silk) in the seasons thread pack from Crescent Colours that released this month (see posting below).

I l-o-v-e stitching with silk but I have heard that some of you are afraid of it.  Trust me. . . . . there is nothing to fear.  Belle Soie comes with five strands attached to the card and within each strand are 12 ply of silk.  That is double what comes in overdyed cotton or DMC.  You simply tap-tap the end of the strand and pull one thread and then the second.  I stitch with two strands on 30 and 32 count but some people stitch with only one on 32 and the higher counts of linen.  You get REALLY good coverage with silk.  It's plump and soft. 

You can see there is variation in the silk so if you are one of those people who don't like striping in a design, simply switch the direction of the second piece when realigning them.  Sharon did this and then I tried it myself on an upcoming design and it is beautiful.  You get an aged appearance without stripes.  I like the stripes/banding on rooftops and some other things but now I am sold on this other way of using overdyed as well.

Another tip. . . . . . . use a good needle!  If the eye of the needle is rough you'll have problems.  And too, cut the length in half if you don't like stitching with long pieces.  When it is time to "lengthen" your thread in the needle don't pull on the needle.  Instead move the needle by hand up the length of the silk.  All of these tips should make stitching with silk super easy and give you beautiful stitches that sit nicely on top of the fabric.

One more thing. . . . . that is a look at the cocoa linen in the background.  I love it!  It also comes in 35 count in which case you would use one strand of the silk.

Happy Stitching,
Diane

New Thread Packs

I have been waiting and waiting to show you these new silk thread pack designs from Crescent Colours and LHN.  I designed them a while ago but we waited until now to release them.  Each pack comes with a skein of Belle Soie (stitches like butter) and the chart.  You provide the fabric and needle.  The packs will be released every other month.  If you have never stitched with silk before this is the time to try it! 

Be sure to scroll down to the next post to see the "Fresh From the Garden" that was just released yesterday at the Nashville Needlework Market!

Happy Stitching,
Diane