Leaf SAL Begins

The Embroiderers' Guild Queensland have adapted to the COVID-19 lockdown by setting up some digital classes for members while they are unable to get together. I joined the leaf stitch-along. The SAL takes the form of a colourful leaf sampler of surface stitches, offered in three separate parts, each five weeks long.  I was late in signing up, so skipped the first part and started in week six with the second set of ten leaves.  

I thought I'd aim to do twenty leaves - parts 2 and 3 of the SAL. From some scrap paper, I cut out the leaf shape and arranged 20 leaves.  This gave me an idea of how close to place them and also the size of area that would be covered by the embroidery.  

Next came the choice of colours. I was fairly certain that between the small selection of threads I have and those in the two boxes of DMC threads that were very kindly passed on to me, I would find most of the colours suggested in the SAL instructions. But I didn't.

Being in lockdown and ready to begin, I realised that I had to compromise and make do with what I did have. I started stitching but felt quite limited by the small pile of threads that matched those listed in the SAL instructions. Then I remembered Kaffe Fassett's advice 'when in doubt add more colours'. And that made the choice of colours easier. I simply added colours that would match and tone with those that I started out with.

Because I'm using an unbleached calico fabric that washes well, I settled on a blue transfer pen that should wash out easily once the embroidery is complete. I nevertheless used a very light touch when transferring the leaf shapes. And, finally I made a start on my first two leaves.

The dark blue outline is Portuguese stem stitch.  There was a lot of unpicking before I was satisfied that I had an even spacing of my stitches. In the end, I like the nice raised, corded look of the Portuguese stem stitch and will remember it for future use.  Then I learnt that to achieve a pretty laced running stitch, the stitches underneath the fabric should be much shorter than those on top. That involved some unpicking too.

The filling stitches for the leaves come next. Maidenhair fern stitch sounds interesting. 

'Till next time be well and keep safe, especially if you are slowly emerging from lockdown as we are in Australia. And happy stitching!