Frogging

As I have stitched in classes and with friends, a reoccurring topic of conversation is what to call it when you are taking stitches out.  This sometimes painful act can be depressing, defeating, angering, etc.  It makes you want to have a verb that sounds a little more optimistic so that you still feel like you're making some progress.  We have all done it-probably more than we would ever like to admit.  I know for certain that I have taken more stitches out in my lifetime than I have left.  Usually, though, it does end up better after you get past the initial sting of having to take what you have just stitched out.  This summer in Durham, we referred to it as "reverse stitching".  

A few weeks ago, my husband came home from work and asked me if I knew what "frogging" was.  I thought and thought.  Nope, no idea!  He then explained that he had been listening to NPR and they interviewed a knitter.  She said that she used the term "frogging" for when you are taking stitches out because you "rip it, rip it, rip it out".  I fell in love with this saying instantly and now will be calling it that if for no reason to give myself a little chuckle as I am "frogging".  

Here is the link to the interview on NPR if you'd like to hear it.  

Have any of you used the term "frogging"?

Here are a couple of my recent experiences frogging.  I have to admit as much as I do not enjoy taking stitches out, I love the photos of the loose ends going every direction! 

Williamsburg: Making Some Progress

I found my super pearl purl!  I could not find it and was starting to get a little worried I was going to have to order more.  Then I found it in the envelope labeled "gilt passing".  I've found that sometimes the gilt threads and wires from different suppliers have a slightly different coloring to them and I really wanted the golds on both sides to match.  It's so exciting to me when the metals start going in.  They seem to automatically add a level dimension to the composition that was not there before.  I also am really liking the stretched pearl purl couched with the different greens. 

I thought everyone might like a sneak at the difference of the two sides.  I am extremely excited to see it when it is finished! 

Williamsburg: Split Stitching

You know the days where the stitches just do not seem to be falling into the "right" spot?  That was my last night.  I worked on my Williamsburg piece doing some of the leaves and one of the buds.  Towards the end of the night though, I was not happy with how my silk shading was going on the tiny leaves.  They just seemed overworked or not as smooth as I wanted them.   So, I relegated myself to only the split stitching around all the other tiny leaves.  Going to work on the metallic stem stitch today and maybe back to those tricky tiny leaves!

Williamsburg 2014: Starting the Other Side

I've started the other side of my piece for the Williamsburg course.  I'd like to finish it in the next couple weeks!  You may see a slight difference in this side though- I've changed the flower color to yellow.  I did not do this because I disliked the pink.  I wanted to see how the yellow interacted with the gold- will it feel monochromatic with the gold?  With the pink flower being a complementary to the green leaves, the pink of the flower becomes the dominate focus of the composition.  I thought it would be interesting to see what would become the dominate focus with an analogous color to the green.  So, it's kind of a stitching color experiment!  

I knew when it was a symmetrical design that I would do the sides differently just for experimentation purposes.  Originally I thought I would do the flowers in a blue color- keep the value similar to the pinks but change it to analogous colors.  However, when I went to my DMC's I didn't like any of the blues, and I thought it might feel too Girl v. Boy.   

That's when I remembered this beauty from the V&A!   It does not have goldwork embroidery on it, but the it does have just a little bit of gold woven through it.  The main colors are yellow flowers with green steam and leaves on cream. It's part of the Wedding Dress exhibition currently on at the V&A (more on that exhibition soon).

Elizabeth King wedding dress from 1941, Victoria & Albert Museum, London

 I'm keeping everything else from Tracy's design the same- all techniques will be the same and all green color placement will be the same.  We shall see what happens!  I will admit, I already wish that I had used the medium yellow as the light yellow and the dark as the medium.  When placed on the creamy beige ground, the light and medium yellow are extremely close- closer than I think I was wanting.  Lesson learned!

Williamsburg: RSN Silk and Gold with Tracy Franklin

I love stitching- I know this is no surprise to you.  Part of my love for stitching is the actual act and challenge of stitching, seeing the stitches grow off the material and create new textures and patterns.  However, one of my favorite aspects of stitching is meeting fellow stitchers.  Last week I enjoyed taking the RSN Silk and Gold course with Tracy Franklin in Williamsburg, VA, and I met a lovely group of stitch enthusiasts that reminded me once again why stitching is such a community-based/ inspired/enjoyed art.  So- to my fellow stitchers that I have recently met:  Thank You! for making my time in Williamsburg so wonderful!  And a special Thank You! to Tracy for another wonderful course!

A few photos of Tracy's Waistcoat design that we embroidered with Silk Shading and Gold or metallic threads:

 As you can see, I still had my fair share of challenges with the silk shading!  It started to feel less stressful (which was very exciting), but I still need a lot of practice.   I think I might be able to see that it is going to click with my fingers in the future--which is exciting because I have felt like I have been fighting with this technique (as you know!).

 We made buttons!

 The shading part in the bottom bit of the blossom got taken out a few times!  I'd love to blame it on the lighting in the hotel but in reality my fingers just kept putting in the stitches the wrong way! Practice, practice, practice!

 Buttons finished

 One section getting close to finished

adding in the little leaves