Karen Ruane

gingham, stitching in squares

 

You may remember in this post I said my new work would have to be put to one side for a little while.

That is still the case but as you can see, gingham has returned.

As much as I adore embellishing these little squares I still itch to get back to this ....... hopefully it won't be too long.

 

extending

You will notice in this post how all the lace cloth I made is almost covered now with patchwork and hand embroidery.

Yesterday I spent a little time working on the areas where there was no stitching, extending the area covered with lace cloth to enable me to add more patchwork and hand embroidery.

Next I need to add more silk velvet patches, the areas where the patchwork lives.

 

more patchwork and embroidery on lace cloth

This piece has had more work since you last saw it here.

There is another grandmother's flower garden patchwork on the surface along with a couple more small stitched pieces.

I intend to keep going with this, altering this surface by adding more 'lace like' stitching with my sewing machine along with more silk velvet patches which will then be embellished with gingham patchwork.

When this piece is completely embellished I will begin a new piece and add it to this one, making the most of the seam.......decorating that with hand embroidery.

 

gathering

I'm getting quite a selection of stitched scraps and embroidered hexagons.

I do have a plan for these but I'm still trying to figure out the details.

It means more sampling, moving these around again and thinking about what else I need before I dive in and put these to use.

with added embroidered hexagons

I've added a few embroidered hexagons to the piece from yesterday.

I'm just playing here, as yet the bigger picture is a little blurred but if I keep going that lightbulb will come on!

finished

The pocket you saw here which was still in pieces is finished.

This one is for me.

Also today, more white...lace cloth and other titivations.

the front, the reverse and the lining

Another one of these is coming together.

This one is bigger than the last ones and this one is for me.

Later today I will hand close the top edge and hey presto!

This morning I was considering white.

A short video from Instagram.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Karen Ruane (@karenruane)

patchwork and embroidery

When you last saw this piece here three patchwork motifs had been added to the surface.

There are now four.

I'm still not sure where this is going and I don't mind.

I will allow it to grow and just enjoy the process.

one for me

I am so taken with the little pockets I showed you here that I decided I want one so this one is for me.

It will be bigger than the these, lined with Liberty and I won't struggle to find something to put in it!

I am enjoying stitching on gingham so much, there is something very addictive about filling a little square with French knots or bullion knots or web stitch before moving on to the next one.

nine pockets

Nine pockets, gingham with hand embroidered web stitch and a Liberty patterned lining.

There are more of these to make.

Can you guess what they're for?