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September 07, 2005
Queen Anne's Lace crewel
My sister got this for me last Christmas. It's an awesome vintage crewel kit (Spinnerin ST 1051, no date unfortunately). Here's the picture from the kit:
I did one flower as directed, complete with lots of fiddly palestrina knots and twisted chain stitches.
I really love the design and the blue shiny satin that it's on. But, it seems kind of boring to do the entire thing this way. I don't even mean boring to work, because I actually enjoy some tedious crafting, but boring to look at. I can't help thinking I could turn this into something really amazing if only I could think how. I like having the one "classic" flower, but maybe do the rest in some unexpected color palette, like blue stems and silver flowers? Or have the flowers fade out as they get further from the normal one, like the greens get duller and the whites get grayer until the flowers on the periphery are all pale gray? I would love to turn it into a really modern piece.
Apparently the woman behind Wool & Hoop has a book coming out, so maybe crewel's about to take off.
Posted under Cross Stitch/Embroidery at September 7, 2005 09:57 PM
Comments
Here's one vote for the "unexpected color palette" Sounds like a great idea :-) Have fun!
Posted by: Krista at September 8, 2005 12:13 AM
wow... that looks fabulous... i really like the fading idea... but maybe from bottom to top?? so they all fade as they get up there??
those are my humble 2 cents, and i can't wait to see how it turns out!
Posted by: lisa at September 8, 2005 12:37 AM
beautiful work, I like the fading idea, I think it would spice it up a lot. I can't wait to see the finished project.
Posted by: michelle at September 8, 2005 10:49 AM
I'd probably feel compelled to change it up too, but it IS a beautiful pattern.
Posted by: kate at September 8, 2005 01:38 PM
i think instead of fading it out, it'd be better if you made it brighter. the white could fade to yellow and then orange and maybe a hint of red. maybe the green could stay the same so it has some consistency throughout the whole thing, or mabe it could go in the opposite direction from bright to dull to give some balance. maybe, maybe not.
Posted by: Radha at September 9, 2005 04:13 PM
There's no doubt it's about to take off! The most recent issue of 100 Decorating Ideas Under $100 features gorgeous crewel kits by Kristin Nicholas that look like they're straight outta the 60s/70s. Your work looks lovely, by the way :) And those knots-- woo!
Posted by: Kristin at September 10, 2005 10:44 PM
I like the fading to grey idea. Or you could make all of the rest grey, so that just that little one pops out...
Posted by: leontine at September 12, 2005 04:53 PM
I have just viewed your work and I have to agree with the other people. I am looking to make a study of poppies. I wonder if you have any ideas please?
Posted by: ann at May 8, 2007 01:41 PM