Stitching Idyllic: Spring Flowers (SECOND EDITION). Ann Bernard
body of knowledge. My students have proved to themselves and to me that these concepts work, are not difficult, are within the ability of a novice, and make a fun project for more experienced stitchers. The aim of the text is to give adequate instruction so that all are able to follow the directions and create a garden that is uniquely their own. It is amazing how different the resulting gardens can be.
We started with spring flowers. The stitches used are developments of familiar stitches such as Straight stitch, Detached Chain stitch, French Knots and Buttonhole. The instructions for these stitches are in Basic stitches with the adaptations created for the plants and flowers included in this book.
Please, please, please read all the directions in the first section. Preparation is Important before you begin stitching. It is important to know how to attach fabric tightly to a rectangular frame. A ring or hoop frame is a viable alternative though maintaining the fabric tension is less certain. Grip-n-Stitch frames are new on the market and are superior in performance to hoop frames and easy to mount and manage.
It is also important to Strand and to Strand and Mix your threads. Annoying and time consuming though this is, it is time well spent and you will find that you will become faster and less annoyed with practice.
Raid your stash of threads and use what you have for your sampler. Again, I emphasize that this stage of discovery and learning is very important. My students tended to flounder if they did not do this before stitching a specific flower into their final garden.
When you stitch your real garden, please do invest in the thread colours stated in the directions. It is not possible to stitch a plant that is readily identifiable unless the flower, its leaves and its stalk are the correct colour. The test of how well you have portrayed a specific plant is when someone looks at it and says, without prompting from you, “look at those tulips” or “that hyacinth looks just right next to the iris." Correct colour is vital for this to happen. You may have to adapt the shades of a colour so that it is visible and does not blend into the background fabric especially if it is a darker green.
We developed the directions for stitching the flowers by using a developmental chart. If you wish to create flowers that are special for you or are indigenous to your area, I will be happy to email you a blank copy. We used DMC threads. Conversion charts for Clark's Anchor Thread and Finca Threads are available online and there is one at the end of the book. These threads are available almost everywhere, are easy to use and provide the correct colours. If you do not have the colour in one brand but do have it in another, substitute. The colour has to be correct with nature or else you will be disappointed with the results.
English Country Garden is now old and although the threads have retained their colour, the fabric is looking its age. This is despite hanging it out of direct light and finally putting it behind glass for protection. As a result, photographing it has produced less than ideal results.
The gardens stitched by students have been predictably varied. All of your gardens will be different. The more different they are, the more creative you have been.
At this point, I would like to thank my wonderfully trusting and willing group of stitchers who helped in obvious but also intangible ways to help this whole process happen. For the first group it was like having to build a boat when you have never seen one. Later stitchers had a starting point.
It only remains for me to wish you "Happy Stitching" and to say that I look forward to seeing a photo of your garden.
I am including my email address to receive photos and to answer questions. Please put "stitching, or embroidery" in the subject line. Due to a high volume of junk mail, I could otherwise miss them.
To Repeat:
These techniques are easy. The text has been written with the beginner stitcher in mind. Notes are included on how to thread a needle and how to place a knot at the end of the thread. Skip this section if it is not appropriate for you.
Asides: These present general information on stitching that are not often included in stitching texts. All information is culled from my training at The Royal School of Needlework and from many years of stitching and teaching. They are professional tips and a short cut to experience. Hopefully, they are also timely reminders that will smooth your stitching experience.
The text and the techniques are also written for those who are stitching kits or who know the basics of embroidery but are uncertain when and how to use the stitches. Having learned the unique variations developed especially for these gardens, you will then find directions on how to be creative without having to draw. My students are now telling me that they have ideas for their next project. This is wonderful as it fulfills another goal which is to foster individual creativity.
English Country Garden
A SUMMARY ON HAND STITCHING RECOGNIZABLE SPRING FLOWERS USING CREATIVE SURFACE STITCHERY
2nd ED
The first version of An English Country Garden, as sung by Nana Mouskouri, was in my brain. Just to show you the mood I was in and how creativity came acalling, you can hear Nana Mouskouri sing this song at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw7YlDqPwOs
Or, Jimmie Rodgers sings two slightly different versions at
https://www.youtube.com/embed/9H9IojB9iYY
www.youtube.com/watchv=EUyxCP5Rvco
All are quite lovely but you will notice that the words do differ. But never mind as this provides the stitcher opportunity for variation and interpretation. Doves coo, not quails!
To create any piece of stitching, it is necessary to first gather the materials and tools.
Fabric: The sample flowers are all stitched on a light green Batik cotton fabric. This specific fabric is no longer available here but there are other fabric suggestions described in the text.
Threads: DMC floss was used throughout for the stitching. An app called Coffee Shop Works XFloss will assist you in converting the thread colours to Clarks Anchor or other thread types and brandS. There are floss conversion charts on line. There is also a conversion chart at the end of the book.
Tools: Needles, scissors and other essentials are explained later in the text.
Stitch Directions: There are only four stitches plus some adaptations used in this book. Unbelievable! The stitches are - Straight, Detached Chain, Buttonhole and French Knots. This makes this an ideal book for a learner as exemplified by Chloe and her cousins who you will meet later. Also, the flowers are stitched so as to be recognizable and identifiable. They are not as elegant as those created by Mother Nature but it is obvious what they are. A gardener will definitely know what they are.
Stitching Frames: Ring or Hoop frames seem to be a favourite choice. Although the fabric is held at a tension, this tension is not always well maintained. Some functionally improved alternatives are Q-Snap Frames and Grip-n-Stitch Frames. Stretcher Bars are available in Art and Craft stores and are very satisfactory. A Slate Frame is ideal if you should be so fortunate as to own one. Grip-n-Stitch/Clip-n-Stitch frames can be found via www.fabricflair.com
Stitching on really taut fabric is a huge plus for all stitchers. It is an essential that one does