Going through my linen cupboard before we moved, I found these two embroidered panels tucked into a back corner waiting for inspiration.
At the time I bought them, I thought they looked charming and I couldn't walk out of Srisuwan, a wonderful fabric shop in Bangkok, without them.
With no one nearby to interpret, it was impossible find out the origin of the embroideries. I had just been North to Chang Mai and visited some of the Hill Tribes where I saw some impressively large cross stitch pieces. I would guess they could quite possibly have been stitched there.
The cross stitch must have been done by someone with good eyesight. I can't imagine counting and working those tiny cross stitches on a black background. (The fabric is a 14 count Aida-like material.) Black does however make the colours pop and I find the overall effect rather appealing. I especially like the way the limited palette has been used on the elephants.
I wonder if the panels were designed to decorate the bottom of skirt?
Till next time, happy stitching!
What beautiful Cross Stitch panels. What will you use them for?
ReplyDeleteGood question! They are quite long and it seems a pity to make up something small like a bag where they's have to be cut up. I did wonder about a skirt or adding them to the bottom of a jacket. For the moment they live in my cupboard and are nice to look at now and again.
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ReplyDeleteI have several much smaller pieces purchased in Chiang Mai in 1970. I don’t think even back then I could have managed such tiny cross stitch. I have used some of mine on knitting needle rolls but have never found a use for a narrow band about 25 inches long. A skirt is a brilliant idea for yours, which are really lovely.
ReplyDeleteI found the crafts in Chang Mai fascinating and would love to spend some more time there one day. Lovely idea to make a knitting needle roll!
Deletethey are pretty! Any idea what you'll do with them?
ReplyDeleteI have no real plans yet Wendy, but I can picture the floral one at the bottom of a short boxy jacket. The elephant panel could be divided into two long strips for trimming the bottom of a skirt.
DeleteAbsolutely awesome pieces of stich crossing. Many times I buys crafts or haberdashery just for the pleasure of owning something beautiful but those will fit in any garment.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting and leaving a comment! I do enjoy taking the panels out of the cupboard and admiring them and all the work that went into embroidering them. Perhaps that is their real value to me.
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