Rust Dyeing . . .

Recently, I went on a weekend workshop of Rust Dyeing with Alice Fox . . . 

Box of rusty split pins

My board of rusty wrapped specimens

Thread wrapped round rusty split pins, and dipped in tea to help the rust dyeing process

After the rust dyeing process, I start to assemble my dyed pieces

Rust dyeing involves, natural fabrics, threads and fibres, rusty objects, and tea used to create marks on fabrics and thread, which can be used in embroidery and textile art. 

A Sue Stone workshop in Wooler, Northumberland . . .

woven strips of linen and cotton, embellished with contemporary hand stitch and free machine embroidery

detail of free machine embroidery - liberating!

contemporary hand stitch

free machine stitch and loose bobbin tension in two tone colour

sampler of free machine embroidery in two tone colour

sample of free machine embroidery in monotone

At the end of August, I attended a summer Embroiderers' Guild workshop in Northumberland with Textile Artist - Sue Stone.

It was great, inspiring and inspirational.

I am mainly a traditional embroiderer, but I never dismiss this style of contemporary embroidery as this only adds to my professional development, and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Magna Carta

Last week to see, Magna Carta (An Embroidery), at the British Library till the 24th July - http://www.bl.uk/events/cornelia-parker-magna-carta-an-embroidery

Crathorne Bug - finished!

There you have it - finished at long last!  I will mount it, and show it one final time . . .

I look forward to seeing your results too.

Best wishes . . . Tracy

Crathorne Bug - embellishments

to give more definition for the body, work a stitch in DMC Col.3031 over each cross over on the trellis

trellis pattern complete

using DMC Col.3031, work two small stitches to the side of each antenna for the eyes

over the two small stitches, work smaller stitches again to complete the eyes in satin stitch in the same colour

eyes complete

body definition - worked in DMC Col.3031 in tiny running stitch
work a slightly longer stitch on the front, and a smaller stitch behind

Complete!

Crathorne Bug - antenna and head

antenna worked in DMC Col.3031 stem stitch,
and split stitch around the head using DMC Col.3782

I worked the left antenna holding the loop of thread to the left, and the right antenna holding the loop of thread to the right, so that the twist of the stem stitch mirrors from left to right.  I also extended the last top stitch out, so that the antenna thins out.

satin stitch the head using DMC Col.3782, starting from the middle and working outwards on both sides

so far!

Crathorne Bug - body, satin stitch, and trellis work split

split stitch using one strand of DMC Col. 644

satin stitch starting from the middle, and working over the split stitch

completed satin stitch

laid work, worked in DMC Col.3782, set the first central cross

then, work parallel lines of stitch, either side of the central cross

at every crossover of the laid work, work a small stitch to hold in place, again with DMC Col.3782

laid work, and body complete