Redwork Towel

Here in China, the threads available, or, perhaps I should say, the threads I've found are fairly limited. DMC floss can be found in the cross-stitch shops at about twice what it costs in the US. Of course, here it's also sold by the yard if you prefer.

I found balls of this single strand, thick, cotton thread in black, white, and red from different street vendors and decided to see how it worked with redwork. I used the black and white threads to crochet art quilt embellishments.

This thread was not especially smooth to work with and knotted easily, but since I was stitching on a never-been-used flat diaper, that wasn't a major concern.  (Note: those new flat diapers are terrific art cloths!)

I used a single strand and did not double it for stitching. Also, because of the slight patterning of the cloth, the design did not transfer well and was really light in spots. Can you find the error I made because of this? Again, since it's going to be used to mop up spills and dry dishes, I wasn't too concerned.

Overall, crocheting with this thread turned out better than stitching with it. It worked fine for this project, though.

Turmeric Pillowcases

This was a pair of lavender flannel pillowcases that were quite old and worn which I dyed with turmeric. One of them had a hole in them, so I wasn't worried about ruining them in the least. I loved the coloring. They actually look much more yellow in person than they do on-screen. The triangular embroidery pattern was done with 3 strands of DMC and took an inordinately long amount of time to complete. I tried drawing the pattern with several different marking pencils, but none of them showed up well and left me trying to guess where each stitch should go.

The bottom pillowcase I finished in less than an hour. I used a single strand of indivisible cotton thread and just did 3 rows of running stitches. I think I like how it looks better than the other one, too. The red also looks better with the yellow in person. The pillowcases don't seem so washed out when I look at them as they do in the picture. But, updating the pillowcases was pretty easy and worked out well so it was worth it.

Art Inspiration

 There is no scarcity of art inspiration where we live. So many different patterns and color combinations to try. The above makes me think of fish and would make an interesting fabric stamp.

 This one would make an interesting quilt or cross-stitch pattern. Maybe it could be a nice coaster or potholder?

And this one just makes me want to start doodling. It would also make a pretty repeating design in blackwork.

Embroidered Pillowcases

Have you seen the stamped pillowcases at the craft store? My grandmother taught me to embroider using a pair of pillowcases. You might think of stamped embroidery patterns as too basic, but they can actually turn out quite pretty.

My only complaint is that I wish they were available on a higher thread count fabric since they are sometimes a bit stiff.

Embroidered pillowcases definitely add a touch of beauty to a bedroom and there is a sense of joy every time you put them on a pillow.

15 Minutes of Creativity

I've been having trouble with my eyes recently and the eye doctor keeps telling me to "rest." Yesterday when I went, he asked if I had been working hard the last few days. I told him I had been embroidering. Specifically, I had been working on two different projects. One was stitching over 2 threads on linen and the other was on 32 count linen.

Even though I'd been working with good light and magnifying lenses clipped to my glasses, I could tell the stitching was straining my eyes. But, I wanted so much to do the projects. Yesterday I finished the small linen piece, but I worked in 15 minute segments and took breaks in between.

I didn't strain my eyes by just working for 15 minutes at a time. As an added bonus, I didn't make as many mistakes because I was seeing better and I was able to stitch faster. So, I may have to adopt a 15 minute only stitching rule and try to limit it to about an hour a day. At least when I'm working on small counts.

I also have a huge number of WIPs (Works in Progress) and I had the idea that if I kept 5 in my workbasket (plus my afghan in my afghan basket) and then worked on each for at least 15 minutes a day for a month, maybe I'll finish more projects. When I finish a project, I can add a new one. Also, I can add one project a week. At the end of the month, I cut the basket down to only 5 projects again. I'll try it for August and see how it goes.

Last year, I finally finished my February Lady Sweater by committing to working 15 minutes a day. Most days I worked more once I got started, of course. But, I think this might be a good way to work for me.

Have You Tried Sashiko?

I finished my first sashiko project. It was a kit that was sold as a pillow cover, but I made a table mat instead. It took longer than I thought it would to complete, but I really enjoyed it. And, I really love the white against the navy background.

Sashiko is a Japanese form of embroidery that means "stab stitch." Most examples are white on navy and it incorporates many different geometric patterns. It uses a thick cotton thread that actually comes in many different colors. Next I want to try a white on red pattern.

The teapot in the picture is an Yixing teapot made from special clay in China. You only use it for one kind of tea: oolong, pu-erh, or a black tea. Each teapot is only used for a single kind of tea because the flavor of the tea is retained in the clay. Green or herbal teas are not recommended.

The more you use the teapot, the shinier it gets. Also, you are supposed to pour the dregs of the tea over the top of the teapot when you are finished drinking it as it helps bring out the shine. The teapot only holds enough for one small cup of tea.