Starting on the vessel for the 100 Hearts project

First Attempt At The Vessel

First Attempt At The Vessel

Having got the sunrise done, I thought I would have a go at the vessel.

Unfortunately, having made a start at the wheelhouse and crew quarters, I looked at what I’d done, growled, and snipped it out again. I don’t think the colours are right, and I know the textures aren’t.

*fumes*

Starting Again On The Vessel

Starting Again On The Vessel

So, off I went to “the pointy end” as my friends without benefit of sail training call it. That’s “the bows” to the rest of us…

The lines of stitching follow the shape of the hull, but I’ve used a twisted chain stitch, because I’m hoping it will help create an effect slightly reminiscent of rivets. The upper line of the gunwhales is in reverse chain stitch. This may prove to be a lower layer, helping to lift a line of gimp or padding above the base layer of stitching. I’m not sure yet about all the details!

Vessel First Layer

Vessel First Layer

The underlayer of stitching on the hull is in rows of surface satin stitch, using an overdyed stranded rayon yarn. As it stands, I like the colour variation – although I sincerely hope that even in time of war a vessel with that patched a hull would be kept in port – but I think it needs blending out a little.

I’m still working out how best to achieve that!

10 Comments

  1. Lady Fi says:

    I like the layers of colour!

  2. I love the hull Rachel! It reminds me of one of my favourite tv series: operation petticoat! (I know, wrong war…)

  3. jenclair says:

    I, too, like the layers of color.

  4. The ship might be too rusty for a safe voyage, but it sure is beautiful!

  5. Carolyn Foley says:

    I love your choice of colours for the hull, looking forward to seeing the rest of it.

  6. Lin says:

    I love the colours on the hull. xx

  7. Terrie says:

    Already a nice texture formation. Looking forward to see how it looks finally.

  8. Alex Hall says:

    Those colours are spot on. Oily rusty rather than just rusty.

  9. Susan says:

    Your stitching here is so interesting to me, because it reminds me of the stitches I was just reading about on Queenie’s blog, the Bayeux stitch. You’ve done this differently, and achieved a great texture with it. You could pretend that some of that variation is the sunrise reflecting on the water at the side of the ship. =)

  10. Sheryl says:

    I like these colours and the texture.