Tips on Hanky Construction

The lower left section is pretty much set as it is going to be....  The large piece of lace in the center will showcase one of these bluebird motifs in progress.

Today's tip 1:   When shopping in bins of vintage linens don't overlook pieces with no embroidery or pieces with poor embroidery but a nice edge.  You will find these real treasures  doing hanky pieces but also ALL the time in regular CQ... I just cut out the linen section and keep the edges.

Plus these are usually the cheapest pieces..

With the hankies I use them to finish off unfinished edge as well as layered with other laces as well

Today's Tip #2:  Buy things even when you're not quite sure when you'll use them... These circles of crocheted circles have been in my stash for years.

On many of the hankies there were small embroidered motifs (some not anywhere near a corner)  I will cut them out and put them in a circle and they will be perfect for filling an odd spot here and there....plus they're not a point.











Today's Tip #3:  When you are coming to   where several things are going to eventually overlap.... only stitch to about 1-1 1/2" to the end of the patch (trim, lace, etc.)  If you leave the ends loose   you have the option of trying them several ways before finalizing.

At this point I'm not sure which order these pieces will intersect but I'll show this to you when it is finished.

Today's Tip #4:  Even the smallest spots can make a big impression... Since I'm using every opportunity to add more blue to this work, I cut  a circle from that blue silk tie and put this tatted circle over it...

I was out as soon as  it was light to pull the snow off the greenhouse with a special tool with a 12' handle.  It took close to an hour because the tool is so long and awkward and I kept falling back into the snow.   So I am ready for a nice nap with Morris before I assemble the sitting bench..

Hanky Packets

I was snowed in yesterday and it was like finding a whole delicious decadent day to indulge in my greatest love.....stitchery!!!!  So I spent the entire day stitching "packets" of hanky quarters.  Since I wanted lots of extra lace,  each hanky quarter was layered 3-5 deep which made it cumbersome to shift them about for placement.  So I added all the layers to each and stitched them together into "packets".  This allowed me to move them about easily and I was able to trim off the excess fabric of the underneath hankies..

Now they are just laying on the foundation approximately where I want them and I can begin to fine tune the arrangement....add MORE lace and more hankies... I have started on the additional 6 bluebirds.

So you want to stitch a bird

Perhaps I can help....as it is easier than you think.  There are just a few things to keep in mind....

First the shape of the bird.  I always mark the contour lines and feather patterns.










They will be a guide for a successful bird even if you do it all in the same color with no regard for light or dark areas.

But if you opt for a bird of colors then
you must not only think of the colors but the values... See if you can define the lightest and darkest areas of this bird.

Sometimes it helps if you can copy your bird in black and white...  Then it is very easy to see.

Then you need to gather your threads..  First pick the lightest and darkest shades and then several in between.  These are the threads I pulled for the bluebirds.  Together like this is is easy to see the change in value.

First I put the lightest color stitches in all the areas of lightness I identified. They are irregular and you think they won't show through but they will. I always satin stitch with a single strand...

Then I add the darkest color where it belongs.

Then I just fill in between the light and dark with the between shades.... Usually with one and then working back over it with a couple more shades close in
color.

So if you  put in your lights and darks and follow the contour lines with the between colors.. It works  like magic....

The bluebirds are done on a very lightweight cotton handkerchief backed with fusible tricot interfacing... I also do birds (animals) on a tight weave muslin or on felt...both would also backed with fusible tricot interfacing...  No matter what  material I'm working on the VERY FIRST STEP is to stitch a very tight chain stitch all the way around....always, always , always.

It really defines the edges as I stitch into it as I progress and it makes it very easy to cut out.

If  I have omitted something or am unclear,   I need you to ask questions so I can get it all right...

Being Lavish With Lace - Part 1

    Diane sent me this picture of a block and asked.. 

." I want to do CQJP2014 with pictures of family members as children on  very embellished lace encrusted series of blocks, and it doesn't come easily to me to add chunks of lace in a decent way!  I have made up my first block and added some lace, but I need some guidance on what to do next.  I'm hoping that you would address this on Block Talk."


(In response to a comment... After the block is constructed my FIRST step is adding laces.  For me steps to block construction is basically this order...Sewing patches, adding laces, then trims, seam embellishment and motifs, and finally beads.)

Since lace is a special love of mine I will happily do this.... First a few things to always remember.

1.  Don't be a "LACE SNOB"  Embrace all kinds of laces...old, new. nylon, cotton, hand-made, machine made, ecru, white, colored, large and small.etc...  Love it all..

2. Lace is really your friend....   Lace not only adds interest to a block..  It also adds texture, contrast, depth. and color  among other things...  It can make a problem spot disappear, move the eye around the block and also draw attention to a focal point.

3. Don't be afraid to cut it up...  You will find uses for all the leftover bits...

4.  The main to remember to have a lace encrusted block is very simple....LAYER, LAYER, LAYER...  not just laces but laces, ribbons, and trims....then bead it.

This is the cover for my stitch journal and if you really looked closely I'm sure you will find about 15 different laces...  Rather than a muslin for a foundation for this cover I used a special kind of lace.... filigree.  This piece was a place mat.  It's easy to overlook this kind of lace..

Here is a valance I bought at a thrift store just this week... $1.99.  It is machine made, nothing memorable. I will probably  use the top and bottom and maybe even the duck/geese? but I really bought it just for the filigree.

This was a very long valance and as you can see most of it was this...  This type of lace is easily found and cheap.  It is a work horse. It covers problem areas, works as a base for motifs, and supports areas of layered lace.

I find it invaluable... and using this cheap lace is the first step in overcoming being a lace snob...



The next step is being extravagant in layering all types of lace.

 This is a lovely edging of hand crocheted lace and only needs a good pressing.





This is a good quality  piece of machine made lace..

And this is a poorly made piece of machine lace and you can tell by looking at the material
it is attached to.  None of these three pieces would make a big impact on a block by themselves.... BUT






layer them  and WOW!!  Even Martha Pullen would be proud...   I layer laces  whenever I can and as many laces as I can...  It is a win-win situation because they always enhance each other.

Here is another of example showing the effects of combining not only various kinds of lace, but various shades and hues as well. a fine soft knitted lace, a firm geometric crocheted lace and a beautifully dyed lace edging motif.

I use a lot of trims and ribbons on seams for a couple reasons... the main one is I can add lace to BOTH sides of the ribbon and they don't even have to be matching laces.  If I run a cord or narrow braid down the ribbon I can do a different seam treatment on either side...plus beading.  This may be only a 5" seam but I have added 7+ (counting seam treatments) elements to it and  maybe more.

 So since the cottage blocks are easily at hand I took a few photos for examples on the ways I use lace.  I have a passion for velvet ribbon and love to combine it with lace and beads.



This bunny motif is resting on a background of two entirely different, very cheap, machine made lace.  It provides him with a much better background than just plain fabric.

I have included this photo because I want you to notice the pink scalloped edge just above the ribbon.  It would be great combined with lace.  It is an edging from an infant dress.  I find that infant and toddlers dresses in thrift stores a great source of delicate lace and edgings, not to mention fine prints.

Upper left here is a layered combination of machine lace and a handmade filigree...a nice contrast.  On the right handmade lace is combined with a blue cotton eyelet.










On occasion I have a truly lovely piece if very old lace and I showcase it rather than layer it...and that is the case here.  But I did add the tiny pink picot lace at the bottom.
The trim is covering a cut edge on the lace.. Ribbon, trims and even another lace with an edge will keep cut lace from unraveling..

Notice the scalloped lace under the velvet ribbon here... It provides a foundation for the intricate seam treatment.  Above by the bees is a tiny remnant of hand tatted lace.  I never discard any piece of tatting and find odd spots to use it.

Again this is a precious piece of lace and I used it to cover this patch and used a light seam treatment..

This was a cheap piece of pink cotton lace but a great spot to use that teeny tiny blue lace flowered edging. 

There a few things to note here... The lace on top had been cut up repeatedly and there were no salvageable edges so the velvet ribbon conceals all the ragged edges.  Then I layered a narrow piece of lace seam binding over the ribbon. 

So with the help of photoshop I have added a few photoed pieces to Diane's block...  I moved the sequin motif to the lace doily... Even a section of filigree lace would be nice under that doily.  All the seams need more ribbon and layered laces... AND the round patch at the bottom screams for another round doily and what a perfect base for a ribbon floral motif.







 Before and after

 Hoping this post helps to justify all the accumulation of lace in your stash..

Button Dumps vs. Button Trails or Clusters

Note: This is a repeat of a April 2011 post but the advice is still pertinent:

They're often referred to as "button clusters" but most often look like "button dumps". A pile of buttons plopped on to fill a space and most often without much interest . Even worse they are contributing nothing to the design of the block... I really cringe when I see this missed opportunity...

Using buttons is something that Sharon Boggon excels at and on the left are 3 examples I photographed at her workshop... Look closely at them... Notice contrast, contrast and contrast... She has used great variety in size, texture, shape, color, support details AND direction... These are buttons that are making a fabulous contribution to the block they are on...

Also noticed how she has added various sizes and colors of beads to add contrast and give the arrangement direction.. On the middle example she has added bits of lace as well. The beads and lace both act as support elements for the buttons adding excitement and shape. In addition if you have buttons with larger shanks the beads can be used to hold the buttons in position.





Each arrangement of buttons has a direction.


Just after I got home I heard from my friend, Susie W. who sent me the following photo of her Hearts to Sendai block... She had never been too enamored of button clusters and she was doing her very first one to fill the upper right hand corner... Being an artist herself she instinctively knew it wasn't working... It was too much the shape of the SRE on the left and she felt the rose button was just too much..

So she sent me a photo and we had a chat about it.... I told her forget "cluster" and think "trail" and also add contrast in all elements and add beads.... Also I personally loved the rose button and felt it was the button above (see arrow) that needed to go...

Well she reworked it and look at it now..

She did indeed think trail, added beads, lots of contrast and variety... It just "sings."

I just love what she did and now the button trail has a direction and leads the eye right down into the center of the block...becoming a critical part of the design of the whole block....

Here is a picture of the entire block which is spectacular... Susie is a stitcher "extraordinaire". Check out all the lovely motifs and seams... I am willing to bet she uses many more button "trails" in her work now... And Heaven knows we all have lots of buttons.....

It can be easy being green

 You may  have a problem getting 3-4 shades of green to blend well together but you can't go wrong using 12-15 shades of green...  I'm repeating a 2010 post because it addresses this problem and directly relates to the [previous post.

(2010): Cheryl A. brought this green block to show me when we were in CT for the CQ Adventure... It is from a tone-on-tone RR and was made by Cathy L. It will be a great exercise in using contrast without depending on color. After she showed it to me and then we weren't able to connect again to discuss it . That night at dinner Cathy K, Diane M and I began discussing green plants, animals, etc. to use as a focal point... Sharon had had a fantastic Brazilian grasshopper which would be great and we thought of alligators, frogs, turtles, lizards and various bugs....I thought maybe even a John Deere tractor.

But if it were me doing a the block I immediately think of birds and a parrot or parakeets would be at the top of my list. When I start looking at images to do a bird I am especially looking for birds that are "doing" something or in an interesting position such as both of these photos..The bird eating is a photo from the archives at this site.. a fantastic site for anyone loving birds...do visit it... I'd probably do the bird in embroidery on a hoop or it could be printed and appliqued on... but another great option is a method Alison Aller is using a lot and would work here beautifully. She would print the parrot on fabric, add fusible interfacing, cut it out, and iron it on the block. So now we have added our first contrast... size! The parrot immediately changes the perspective of the piece... Then I would begin finishing the seams in as many ways I could think of using stitches of vines and leaves wandering here and there on the block... starting to work on another contrast...texture! Then I'd add branches using a heavy perle such as a 3....bringing the parrot to the foreground... Another contrast... dimension!

To further these steps I'd add the largest leaves using heavier threads, ribbons and textured threads such as velour with maybe even weaving some leaves attached only at the branch. As the final steps why not including a dragonfly with green organza wings and a jeweled body...and maybe a hide a lovely tree frog and even a salamander...  So to sum it up we have used all greens but have added variety and interest with contrasts in dimension, size, and texture...

Addendum:  Later I was able to see Cheryl's solution which was very clever indeed... a green man tree... I went looking for a photo of it this morning with no luck...  I'm hoping if Cathy L. or Cheryl read this post they will send me a picture of her block..