Karen Ruane

An embroidered wrap.

Thank you so much for the response to my post yesterday. It would seem you like to see embroidered pieces, to look at the detail and maybe have a little bit of explanation.

Today there's a short video 'show and tell' of an embroidered wrap which was made years ago.

There's also a question in the video.

Should I put this in the washing machine?

A gentle cycle. I absolutely would never iron this so if it came out creased it would have to stay creased but I'm thinking it may enhance the cloth, give it a more vintage 'feel'.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I'm going to be quite consumed with embroidery for my new class in the coming weeks. Because of that I may not have a lot of 'new' work to share here so I'm thinking the 'show and tell' could become a regular feature.

 

Wrapping cloth update. Two short videos.

There are two videos today, updates on my latest wrapping cloth.

The first is mainly chat and the pinning of a seam.

In the second I begin embellishment of that seam.

Wrapping cloth update. 1.

 

Wrapping cloth update. 2.

 

wrapping cloth and artist books

There are a couple of projects in progress here.

There's my latest wrapping cloth and there are little hand made artist books taking shape.

Today I'm going to spend time with both....

the next panel, a wrapping cloth

You last saw this a couple of weeks ago, my latest wrapping cloth in progress.

Since then I have embellished another panel using patchwork, hand embroidery, pleating and Suffolk puffs.

This latest panel is now pinned in place ready to be basted before I embellish the seam.

There is still quite a way to go with this cloth, there are more panels to put together and embroider.

piecing Liberty fabric, adding embroidery

There's a new wrapping cloth in progress.

This one is mostly Liberty print fabric with added hand embroidery, patchwork, prairie points and lace.

The next step is a pocket for the surface.

There's still a way to go with this. More panels are needed before it gets backed and titivations are added to the edges.

finishing

In my last post I was speaking about extending a finished piece.

Today I'm showing you a piece which isn't yet finished, it's been unfinished for a long time.

It's time I think to back this one.

Created during one of my online classes, this one is called 'a cloth for nanna'.

Gingham holds nanna memories for me. I remember wearing little gingham skirts and things which she had made.

Yes, this one definitely deserves to be finished.

Yesterday I was doing some 'sorting out' and came across the label you can see here.

That is a quote from research I carried out during my studies years ago and I think it's quite fitting for this piece so it will be attached as I finish my 'cloth for nanna'.

 

''the use of traditional, often time consuming process alludes to the devotion of a mother''.

 

an embroidered throw, a wrapping cloth

The wrapping cloth in these images has been made for quite some time.

The new work is the small piece, most visible in the foreground of the first image.

I'm considering making the finished cloth bigger, adding more embroidered pieces to one edge, the piece today being the first of those.

It will of course affect the backing of the original piece but I'm sure any extra pieces I add can be backed separately once they are attached to the main piece.

I'll keep you posted..... but bear in mind this one will be a slow burner....

a corner

Do you remember this post where I said the hand made, oversized Suffolk puffs were going to go on an edge of my finished cloth?

And do you remember my post from yesterday where I said my cloth would not be finished for a few days?

I was wrong on both counts.

I finished edging this cloth late last night, hand closing all four sides.

The Suffolk puffs were placed on an edge but there was a corner screaming at me so that's where they now live.

This one is now completely finished and I have a proper home for it which I will speak to you about in a couple of days.

two in progress and continuing the wrapping cloth

My table today, it's an 'in progress' table.

The two smaller pieces are very much in their infancy, the piece with the large square being started in my new online subscription venture.

Also here, my wrapping cloth. You may remember I am now working on hand finishing the edges, the open sides.

You can see the buttonhole stitch I am using in these images.

This is very time consuming and I am only just over half way round.

The layers are all tied now though and there is a beautiful weight to this piece, it's a joy to handle and to work on.

Finishing a wrapping cloth

I was going to say 'almost there' but in truth I'm quite a way off finishing this one.

Yesterday I sandwiched, embroidered top, wadding middle and cloth backing.

I was able to allow the pleated piece from here to extend from the edge.

For now it is pinned and I started to hand close the four sides last night.

I am now going to put that on hold until I have tied my layers.

Yesterday I also embroidered some oversized Suffolk puffs which will adorn one of the edges....it's coming but it's not quite there yet!

Subscription 'Sewing Circle' update.

My new venture is growing and I am really grateful to those of you who are supporting me in this.

There has been some feedback regarding the monthly payment process for this learning programme and some of you are not comfortable with that option.

In terms of viewing video on the new site 'Ko-Fi' I am unable to accept any other form of payment but I've had my thinking cap on and am able to offer 6 months of these monthly videos for a payment of £30 GBP.

The difference here is instead of viewing video and images on Ko-Fi these will be sent directly to your email inbox.

Basically, you will get everything I post on Ko-Fi but instead of accessing that media through that website it will be delivered to your inbox.

I do hope that makes sense but if you have any questions please don't hesitate to mail me.

You can register for the six monthly option here.