Earlier this summer, I started work on a sampler to practice some of the embroidery stitches I’ve learned along the way, but haven’t used in a million years. (You can read all about it here. Clicking this link will whisk you back to my old blog space.)
Well. Summer is nearly finished. And the sampler is finished, too. (Gosh, it was dark yesterday. Apologies for the picture quality.)
It was fun to get back in there and practice some of my embroidery stitches, and the sampler itself was a lot of fun to work on. Kind of charming, y’know? But the practice spaces are quite tiny, and some of the stitches are more intricate. For me, it wasn’t bad because although it’s been awhile, I have done quite a bit of embroidery before. But if you were, say . . . doing this sampler as an introduction to/way to learn some tricky stitches? There’s just not a lot of “real estate” to work in/try them out. (Just sayin. As an introductory learning tool, I think it might be frustrating.)
Some of my favorite parts? The little basket . . . practicing couching stitch. (I added a few little flowers on my own. For charm and whimsy.) And the basketweave stitch. (That was the only stitch I’ve actually never done before.)
I saved the bullion knots for the very end. I’ve done them before, and dreaded doing them again. (Bad memories of big tangles and much frustration.) But they worked out pretty well, and I think I finally got it!
All in all, it was a fun little “warm-up” embroidery project for me, and now I’m ready to tackle another stitching project soon.
How about you? What are you working on, now that the summer is winding down?
(And any suggestions for what I should do with this sampler, now that it’s finished? It’s about . . . 9×13 inches. And I’m not interested in framing it.)
I do like this sampler; it’s really charming with all the flowers and leaves. Will you start your Plant Sale one soon? Could you make a pillow with this one?
The sampler is just adorable, Kym! I am hugely impressed with your bullion knots! (what about sewing it into a little pillow?)
Oh Kym, this is just so lovely. Your work is so neat. I used to do so much embroidery of this kind…then I got into the cross stitch stuff. I used to really enjoy crewel work too. I agree with Kat and Bonny – a little pillow would be perfect!
Just lovely! I’ve yet to pull out the kit I got. I was thinking hem it up and decorative towel?
It’s adorable! If you wanted to add a fabric “frame” to the sides, it might make a cute decorative pillow. (I see others had this same thought!)
I love embroidery and this one is great. I wonder if it could become a journal cover? I have been watching a number of videos on handmade art journals and notebooks. Or maybe a tote bag to hold your next embroidery project.
That turned out to be so lovely! It also looks like it would have been fun – deciding which part to try stitching next. 🙂
That came out well!
I would make either a bag or pillow of it.
BTW what about that Halloween thing you were going to pull out in July 😉
I’ve used several small stitching samplers (for example, small needlepoint squares) as … pockets! Either on dresses, aprons, or on plain, ready-made totes (or ones having advertisements that I want to cover up), or on a jacket back to cover wear.
This little sampler is so cute! I have made small pillows of small pieces and used them as decor on shelves or in chairs. Do you think you’ll do more and then you could have a pile of sweet embroidery. They fun to see even years down the road. Years ago I grew into a bullion queen. I made a shawl (wool fabric with Brazilian thread) and covered it with bouquets of bullion roses for my mother. I have it in my closet and wonder what I should do with it. Maybe make it into little pillows!
That sampler is wonderful! If you don’t want to frame it, could you turn it into a table runner or placemat? It could be the center and framed with fabric strips that compliment the colors of the stitches.
Your sampler is so sweet! Like several others have suggested, you could use this to decorate a sewing/knitting bag, a pillow, or a table runner…so many ideas!
I’m still slowly working on my spring stitchbook, I have the last two page spread and the covers left to do.
That is beautiful. Your stitches are perfect.
Would it make a pillow?
I LOVE a sampler. And this one is just a work of art, every ‘sample’ you stitched. The thing about making, for me, is that I’m not a collector or much of a decorator, and so whatever I make I want to either use/wear to the hilt–or give away! It was fun reading other people’s suggestions of what to do with this. I had to take out my measuring tape to get a good idea of the size–and then I realized, Oh, we’re talking the size of a lasagna pan! 🙂 I think it’d make an attractive pocket on the outside of a denim tote bag. Or a pocket on a [gardening] apron, if you were to wear or use one… (I’m an apron person. I know not everyone is…). A pillow sounds like too much work to me. But that’s me!
Can’t wait to hear what you do with it! In any case, enjoy!
That is so nice. I haven’t done much embroidery. My sister and I took a class maybe 30 years ago doing cross stitch on clothes using some sort of fusible stuff. I have over the past few years bought some embroidery and other craft kits to work on when I need a break from knitting and reading but haven’t touched anything yet.
that looks like the perfect refresher project! (and I want to see Margene’s bullion roses – that shawl sounds epic!) Not sure what other samplers you might have in mind, but I think it would be fun to stitch that piece into a cloth sampler book.
Oh what fun! I love ALL the ideas given on how to use it. If you use it either as a pillow or a tote bag, you could use the reverse side to stitch a little saying – humorous, sardonic or inspirational. Sort of a fun surprise for the viewer. And if you picked tote bag you could be sort of a prosyletizer (maybe too strong a word…influencer?) for the art of embroidery. I set forth as a child learning some embroidery stitches. But very quickly was stopped cold by satin stitch (too much work!) and french knots (just too.darn.frickin’. Impossible). However your post has got me thinking…what could be done with running stitch, stick figures and a few well-chosen words. Not very likely, but if the unexpected does occur, I will let you know the success of your influence, Kym. Chloe
What a sweet little project. I don’t have any other suggestions. I like Juliann’s idea of a journal cover. I made one – much simpler embroidery though. Handmade books intrigue me.