I’m nonetheless engaged on this hand embroidered linen desk runner, with an autumn theme.
I don’t actually have any devoted, absolute, structured plan for the factor, other than embroidering an ornamental runner for my desk, to make use of throughout autumn. That’s a adequate plan, isn’t it?
Generally, that’s all a plan wants to be.
However since I’m not going at this with a devoted, absolute, structured plan, I discover myself not enthusiastic about usually vital issues like colours and stitches (although admittedly, I’m not going all-out berserk on sew selection on this piece), and as an alternative simply doing no matter happens to me because it happens to me.
Is that this a very good factor? Or a nasty factor? I don’t know. I’ll make that judgement a bit later – most likely when it’s too late for the Lazy Mary to wish to do something about it.
At this level, the piece will not be ironed, so don’t anticipate lovely, pristine footage of fastidiously ready linen right here. (Excuses, heh heh.) I simply smoothed it out with my palms earlier than I took footage.
I began the embroidery on the ends of the design, working the smaller outdoors leaves on the design first, after which the middle leaf was stitched final.
As a result of design-wise, the leaf line is balanced, I saved the colours roughly balanced. I wouldn’t need the leaf line to fade from darkish to gentle from left to proper, for instance, as a result of I don’t suppose that may make sense to the attention.
In that sense, I suppose there was some planning, however I can’t really declare it was a conscientious plan. It simply mechanically occurred that approach as a result of that’s the best way I pictured it in my head, anyway.
That is the ultimate leaf, and I did one thing barely completely different with it.
Moreover including inexperienced and yellow to the leaf, I used stem sew for the veins. On the earlier leaves, I used whipped backstitch. Why the swap?
Two causes:
1. The leaf struck me as so giant in comparison with the others, that I figured a heavier veined space would assist fill it out a bit extra. I used three strands of floss for the stem stitched veins.
2. Stem sew is simply faster, and I used to be bored with doing the whipped backstitch (which, by the way, will not be backstitch, however reversed operating sew. It simply appears to be like like backstitch – you possibly can examine that swap right here, and why I switched to reversed operating sew).
The second purpose for the swap will not be essentially a very good purpose. That’s the Lazy Mary strategy. She exhibits up on this venture incessantly.
The above is the whipped backstitch-but-really-reversed-running-stitch, in comparison with the earlier photograph, which exhibits the heaver, 3-strand stem sew.
You may undoubtedly see the distinction up shut!
However from far-off? You’d should know what you had been in search of. Most individuals would by no means discover the distinction on a desk linen like this.
The one factor that’s given me – either side of me, together with Lazy Me – pause is the incorporation of the lighter inexperienced / yellow mixture on the center leaf.
From a distance, as a result of it isn’t as darkish because the leaves round it, there is probably not sufficient distinction within the lighter inexperienced / yellow combo and the bottom cloth. The leaf will not be fairly as seen as these round it.
I like the addition of the inexperienced / yellow. It’s typical of the autumn shade change right here in Kansas. However I’m questioning if I ought to have integrated one other barely darker shade in with these, to make the define of that leaf slightly extra pronounced.
However after all, Lazy Mary has spoken up and declared she’s most likely not going to select it out and re-stitch it.
Thankfully, my different half is aware of there’s a compromise.
If I actually wish to intensify the define of that exact leaf with a barely darker shade to supply extra distinction towards the bottom cloth, I might go in with one other shade and whip the stem sew. This may be a lot quicker than eradicating stitches and re-stitching, and once more, it’s an answer that most individuals wouldn’t discover in any respect except they knew what they had been in search of.
We’ll see.
In particular person, I feel the leaves look okay. And I do just like the incorporation of the inexperienced / yellow. I’ll use that mixture once more on different leaves scattered on the runner. However I would simply add a barely darker shade in with it to intensify the road a bit higher.
Colours
For essentially the most half, I’m utilizing DMC Variations on this venture. The one strong colours I’ve used to date are browns – 420, 975, and 801 – which I’ve blended in with the Variations right here and there, relying on how darkish I desire a line.
The Variations I’ve been utilizing to date are 4124, 4128, 4130, 4070, and 4073. There are another fallish Variations I’ll combine in ultimately, too, like 4126 and 4122. And if I must stability issues out or easy out a number of the colours (to keep away from an excessive amount of shade shifting alongside a line), I’ll incorporate another solids.
And there you might have it: progress on my autumn runner. It’s a enjoyable venture – I get pleasure from engaged on it!
I hope you’re hooked into some needlework that you just’re having fun with simply as a lot! It’s a three-day weekend right here within the States, so I plan to get some home initiatives performed. However in between, I’ll be stitching away on this venture, too.
Have a stunning weekend!
