A Basic Silk Shading Tutorial . . . .

Split stitch

First stitch, up and over split stitch at the very top tip

Long and short at tip, which is swivelled at the base

Long and short edge, or rather longer and shorter

First row of long and short (longer and shorter). When taking the needle down over the split stitch, keep the stitches very close and tight together.  This keeps a sharp clean edge.

First row, over split stitch with the angle of stitch moving around the leaf shape.  Whilst working the first row, be mindful of maintaining the angle of stitch.

Shading - bringing the needle up within the first row, and shading towards the middle

Bring the needle up in various positions within the first row for a softer shaded effect

Needle or stitch position of second row, or shading

Shading towards the centre of the leaf

Shading with more colour - keep the blends compatible

Showing various needle position for shading

More shading and needle positioning

More needle positioning of shading, illustrating the various positions the stitches can be placed for effective shading

Third row, or further shading

First half of leaf shaded

Second half of leaf, long and short first row

Shading from first row

More shading

Almost complete

Centre vein.  The whole leaf is roughly an inch square.

18th Century waistcoat continued . . .

metallic thread stem stitch

silk shading and with metallic thread!

Hello!  I am back, with more development on my 6-day workshop for Williamsburg, Virginia.  After a lot of trial and tribulation on colour, I think I am happy with the results so far.

Lots more to do . . .

My Logo . . .

Stage 1 - felt applied and long and short stitch started

Stage 2 - Shading into the long and short stitch

Stage 3 - Detailed shot of shading

Now back after house moving for three months, and working on a small commission, working my logo for a customer - my silk and gold cross.

So you will see all the details I work through to complete my logo starting with applying the felt padding, followed by the long and short shading, also known as silk shading.

The design is worked on a fine linen fabric, worked with Stranded cotton threads, with the design size being roughly 5cm square or 2 inches.  

The photographs are very magnified, and show the work in bigger detail making the technique look coarser than it actually is.

More to come . . .

Silk Shaded 'T'

tapestry shaded silk shading in silk thread

blending of colour

tapestry shading = vertical shading

I worked this small letter 'T' (about 1½ inches square) as part of a bigger sampler for a friends retirement present where other embroiderers participated.

I worked it whilst away from home as it was a small enough project for me to carry around.

It was one of the quickest things I have worked of late.  Most things I do tend to take their time to complete, so it was nice to work this quick little project whilst on the move!

Lindisfarne Gospel using burden stitch

work in progress

detail of stitch and the working needle

burden stitch

I have continued a little progress with my piece for the North East Embroiderers' Guild regional exhibition celebrating the Lindisfarne Gospels coming to Durham city this summer.  I decided to work burden stitch which has a weaving quality about it and thought it worked quite well.  I used some old silk threads I had and outlined with gold couching.  I wanted the blue area to have a different look to the red area which is very open silk shading with curled couching. 

The exhibition will be held in Durham Cathedral from 27th May to 23th June. 

further development on the Lindisfarne Gospels

showing my technique ideas

open shading with silk thread, and running stitch

I have now started embroidering my printed calico of a design from the Lindisfarne Gospels.  My aim is to make it look as authentic as possible, using traditional stitch techniques and adding my own personal ideas.

Lindisfarne Gospels workshop

a montage of students work

I taught a workshop at Burnbrae just north of Kelso in the Scottish Borders, testing my ideas on my students.

We worked on a combination of ideas including gold work couching and or nué, running stitch, applying gold kid leather, Pearl purl outlining and silk shading.

The world of sparkling beads - Scent of England, Tokyo, Japan

An exhibition in Tokyo, Japan of English Embroidery on the eighth floor of Odakyu Department store Machida, Tokyo organised by RSN Tokyo tutor, Emi Nimura.  Exhibition includes work by my students and myself, as well as Emi's students.

Canvas work by Chrissy W; Blackwork by Jill Mc; Blackwork by Pippa Foulds

Silk shading by Ione D; Advanced Silk shading by Nancy E; Silk shading by
Deborah Younger Martin

Union Flag by Paulette D

Stamp and Gauntlet by Tracy A Franklin

To see more of some of these images - please see our new Flickr album 
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