Design No.11 Started

One question that I pondered at this point was the choice of thread colour to use to do the transfer tacking of the design. 

I could have 

• matched the the thread to the colour of the piece to be stitched so it would blend
• used the same colour thread as the fabric which could make it hard to see
• used a contrast colour that could be removed if I wanted to as I stitched

I like to think common sense won out and I went with a contrast thread.

It wasn't so bad to do. Sure it took a little while but I found removing the tissue paper less fun, especially where little bits got caught. 

I removed all the tissue paper at once.

I have since learnt that you could remove the tissue paper as you progress with the stitching. This would protect the fabric and transfer tacking as you complete the design. I must try it sometime but to be honest as doing all the Stem Stitch Scrolls was first up, it wouldn't have made much difference.

Then it was time to start stitching and this is where I got up to before life intervened and my Intermediate Crewel Class started.

I didn't like the Long and Short Stitch in the Blue Leaf, that was going to have to come out for sure. It looks a bit like Block Shading to me - no long and longer happening here! 

I did have some 'thread encounters' when bits of the tacking thread seemed to get stubbornly intertwined into the crewel wool and made life a little difficult, especially if it involved a knot. 

I wish I had read Mary Corbet's Needlenthread : Transferring an Embroidery Pattern using Tracing Paper before I started as I could only agree with her conclusions:

• think very carefully about the colour thread you are going to use, it turns out not to be as invisible as you first thought
• Mary recommends no knots - I did knot as I went, my mistake and I wouldn't do it again
• remove the tracing paper carefully, it comes away readily enough but so might your stitches
• have tweezers handy, you will need them to tease out those last bits of fluffy tracing paper or stubborn bits of thread

This technique does a good job transferring your design accurately, I would do it again.

It will be a while before Design No. 11 makes another appearance, all the while that Blue Leaf will bug me!