Showing Off

[ladysprite]

I don't tend to talk a lot here about the things I make, because for the most part the things I make are pretty humdrum. I crochet blankets, or baby sweaters, or scarves, I do counted cross stitch, stuff like that. There are enough other talented fiber artists reading this that I figure I'm not making anything that a half-dozen other people (or more) reading this couldn't do, and that most likely the other folks reading honestly aren't that interested in my fiddly creations.

But I've recently started playing around with a new craft, and I'm happy enough with the piece I just finished that I want to show it off.

I've done a little bit of blackwork before (for those of you who aren't geeky fans of obscure stitchery, blackwork is a form of embroidery, usually reversible, that was popular in the Elizabethan era), but mostly just samplers, and I never practiced enough to get very good at it. So I have no idea quite why I volunteered to embroider a chemise for the current incumbent royalty in the local SCA. I've never done blackwork on clothing before, I've never taken on a big project like this, and I hadn't practiced on anything less serious. But it seemed like a good idea at the time, and I've done enough general stitchery that I figured it wouldn't be *too* hard....





This is what I made. It took me a few weeks, working in most of my spare time, and the corners were a serious pain in the behind - I had to pick the first one out and restitch it almost half a dozen times before I was satisfied - but it came out pretty darn well, I think.



This is just to show off the inside - I was a little afraid that I wouldn't end up with something completely reversible. I wasn't quite sure of how to hide my thread ends, and I honestly think there's no perfect way to do it. I still have a lot to learn. I think this is a good start, though....

Comments

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

gorgeous

[jdulac.livejournal.com]

That is beautiful, and the reverse looks great! You have every right to be proud, that is a lovely royal gift.

[guendalina.livejournal.com]

Very nice.

[calygrey.livejournal.com]

Our royalty are certainly treated like royalty!

Is this counted, or did you transfer the pattern to the fabric?

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Counted, but I cheated and used waste canvas.

[calygrey.livejournal.com]

oh. I feel like a very small, rather slow child. Of course. It hadn't occurred to me to do it that way.

That would certainly save my eyes. I've only ever done one piece of embroidery using organza as waste canvas - and that was a very long time ago. I'll look into this method!

[mermaidlady]

Waste canvas is not cheating.

[madamruppy.livejournal.com]

Keeping in mind that I do not embroider, I was always pretty rubbish at it. So, what about hiding the ends in a french knot at the center of the motif?

[ayalanya.livejournal.com]

Wowza. That is seriously impressive! (And beautiful, of course)

[kightp.livejournal.com]

That's amazing! I'm not familiar with blackwork, but if this is an example, wow!

[mindways]

That's lovely! Wow.

(And 'reversible' is exceedingly impressive. The back of virtually every piece of embroidery / cross-stitch / needlework I've ever seen has been... nothing resembling reversible. :)

[keshwyn]

Her Highness is going to look fabulous in your handiwork. That is *beautifully* done.

[duane-kc.livejournal.com]

Wow. *Very* nice.

[rosinavs.livejournal.com]

Lovely.

[pagawne.livejournal.com]

I am ***Very***Impressed. That is lovely.

[leanne-opaskar.livejournal.com]

OMG. That is gorgeous!!!! You did a fantastic job. <3 I am sure the royalty will be delighted! (:

[catalana.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's beautiful!

[mermaidlady]

I learned a technique from one of the Plimoth stitchers for hiding the ends. I can show you (if I remember how it works).

[bess.livejournal.com]

absolutely gorgeous!

[serakit.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely enthralled. That's amazing.

[joannahurley.livejournal.com]

Wow. That looks pretty awesome. AND reversible. I'm impressed.

[gmkieran.livejournal.com]

Beautiful!!! and thank you for sharing! we enjoy seeing your handiwork. :)

[meranthi.livejournal.com]

Color me *very* impressed. I'm working on a blackwork dragon right now and utterly failing at the reversible-ness of it, so I salute you!

[hermitgeecko.livejournal.com]

I am incredibly impressed. That is beautiful.

[dreda.livejournal.com]

That's fantastic! Be proud!

[flowing-dancer.livejournal.com]

Wow!!! Beautiful!

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

That's awesome! Especially the fact that you did it reversibly!

[evcelt.livejournal.com]

damn, that's lovely!

[braider.livejournal.com]

Very pretty! Well done.

[citabria]

That's absolutely gorgeous! Phenomenal!

[geochick.livejournal.com]

Fabuloso! Post more "fiddley stuff" I love to see what other crafty-peoples are up to.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Beautiful!

[jducoeur]

Being way behind on LJ, I actually saw it on Her Highness before seeing these pictures -- she wore it the first day at Birka. Tres spiffy...