Plaited braid on Tudor Purse
I was so glad to read that Mary Corbet of Needle 'N Thread, who executes some gorgeous surface embroidery, has trouble with the plaited braid stitch. I was feeling like a bit of a dunce when this stitch proved so difficult to tension correctly.
After several doodle attempts, making sure I consulted the stitch diagram with each pull of the needle, I finally felt comfortable enough to try the plaited braid on the little leaves at the top of my peapods. The fact that these change in width along their length just made it a bit more difficult!
All in all, I'm pleased. What isn't apparent is how long these took. I'd guess the first leaf took at least an hour (with me still checking the stitch diagram with every movement), and they took about 4 hours in all. Each leaf is only about 1/2 of an inch tall!
I've also been able to finish the stitching on the back of the purse, which is an outline of the same design, executed entirely in spangles. I've only got to add some random spangles to the front of the purse, and it will be ready to be assembled! As soon as I'm done with the spangles, I'll post more pictures.
I'm sure some of you are wondering. No, folks, you will NOT get a stitch study on plaited braid from me, at least not until I try it on several more projects. I was very glad to hear that Yvette Stanton will be including detailed instructions on this stitch in her left-handed stitch dictionary. While I'm not left-handed, I look forward to reading her details "About the thread thickness, and about the spacing of the stitches. And about starting off on angles, and things like that." I really hope she makes the instructions for her sweetbag available, too.
On a similar note, I ordered the instructions for Jane Zimmerman's The Art of Elizabethan Embroidery project during her Christmas sale. Goodness only knows when I'll get around to doing it, but I couldn't resist this lovely project!
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Pregnancy ticker: 32 weeks, 1 day.
Getting past 32 weeks is a VERY BIG DEAL in terms of maturity, according to the doctors. While there still might be some complications, most of what needs to happen now is growth. We'll have another check on BJ's size next Wednesday during my next ultrasound.
7 comments:
WOOHOO!!!!!! 32 weeks. You go girl!!!
Do you know if the little one is a boy or girl hon?
Well done on the PBS!!
Looking forward to seeing progress on the Zimmerman project.
Fabulous stitching & your new project does look interesting : )
Hi, Jeanne! I'm glad to hear you're glad to hear I have trouble with that stitch!! It's on my list of things to master this year - I'm quite determined!
I like the look of your stitch. It's a bit different from some forms of Plaited Braid I've seen... I like the openwork look of the center of the line.
And of course, the pea pods are darling!
Hope you and the baby are well!
Wow! That is truly gorgeous!!I can't wait to see the back. Now, WHERE did you get that gorgeous elizabethan piece?? I looked all over Jane Zimmermans website and I can't find it anywhere!!
32 weeks! hang in there!!
Martha at http://stitchingwithkittens.blogspot.com/2010/07/previous-goldwork.html
has done the whole thing, except the paillettes.
Maybe this will inspire you to plunge in?
Jeanne, I'm writing a big post on Plaited Braid Stitch and I'd like to feature your peapod calyxes as a lovely example of PBS. With a link back to your blog, of course!!!!
Is that ok?
reply a_velvet_claw@yahoo.com.au
:-)
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