More on the Canvaswork Penknife case

A panel of needlepoint, mosaic stitch in green around the edge, three columns of grey on either side, and then a panel down the middle in brown and flame colours, with green bosses in the gaps.

When you last saw this panel, there were gaps. They’ve now been filled with green cross stitches.

Yes, that works, I like the way the Caron Collection Watercolours thread runs from yellow to orange, the brown provides a bit of stability, and the green ties the inside and outside together. . It’s not the stitch pattern I was aiming for (I’m not sure what went wrong), but I like it.

However, that was, if I am honest, the last easy thing about this canvaswork!

Tangled mess of cross stitches overlaying one another and not looking good.

I wanted to put a different stitch on the back, maybe more hardwearing, because I was considering using the finished object on belt loops. This, however, isn’t it.

Again, somewhere along the line it’s not the stitch pattern I was aiming for, and I’m not sure quite what happened. Suffice it that reading charts and diagrams seems to be a somewhat episodic skill for me, and I am at present in an “Off” period!

Furthermore, the coverage I want is requiring too many passes, too much tangling, and looking altogether too busy. Out it comes!

Panel entirely in mosaic stitch, again green around the edge, three columns of grey on each side, and a central panel in shades of orange and brown.

In the end, I went back to Mosaic Stitch.

It is built up in a rather haphazard fashion of zigzags, starting with two rows in the Watercolours thread, again, then moving outward with soft cotton in two shades of brown and adding a few details in a goldeny mustardy pearl type thread that I think is absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately I’ve not the vaguest idea where I got it from, or when. It might even be silk – and here’s me putting it on a cover for a penknife!

Oh well, better to enjoy using it than have it sitting in a box asking me When it will Get A Chance To Play!


Now – a very exciting thing! – I shall be giving a talk for the Embroiderers Guild on June 3!

I believe I’ve turned this image into a link to the Eventbrite page, and for anyone not in the right timezone, or otherwise occupied on the day of the talk, the Guild makes recordings available for some time afterwards.

I shall remind you every week until it happens!

3 Comments

  1. Lin says:

    That smoother finish to the back will I am sure be more hardwearing.

  2. I have many ‘off’ periods when it comes to reading charts! Instead of fretting I try to enjoy the new, unplanned look.
    Your penknife will be happy to rest under your beautiful stitches.

  3. Sue Jones says:

    Cheerful colours, pleasant patterns. (And easy to spot when you’re wondering where on earth you’ve put the knife, too.) Eagerly awaiting the Big Talk, which will go very well.

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