My CQJP Block for April

My CQJP Block for April

I am so pleased that I have now finished my April CQJP block.

And because I know you all love close up pics of the seam stitching here follows the seam treatment close-up photos each with a note about the stitching.

TAST week 19 - The Half Chevron stitched in two rows with a 'lozenge' shape back stitch in darker blue and a metallic thread Star cross stitched in the middle of each lozenge.

The Basque stitch is a chain stitch variation and was done last week. This week I added the Ribbon Embroidery blue flowers (possibly tulips?), the Fly Stitch 'stalks' and the beaded tops.

Three different techniques combined on this seam.

Bottom black line is back stitch. Lilac middle bit is Raised Buttonhole. Then silver and turquoise beaded semi-circles added to the top.

Mexican Wave stitch and a beaded edge.

The beaded zig-zag added to last weeks ribbon seam.

White beads added to last weeks Crossed Buttonhole (Blanket stitch)

Not sure whether to call these beads or buttons, but whatever they are it is lovely.

They are acrylic and see-thru with a 'glass millefiori' (sp?) look to the flower in the middle.

I added a row of silver (metal) chain to either side of my wrapped chevron for something a little different and unique.

The sage green braided chain from last week also got some more stitching added to it.

The purple thread is a wrapped back stitch with a pale lilac back stitch outside of that.

The irregular turquoise beads are held down with lengths of crystal seed beads.

I love how this Mandala just grew itself here.

The variegated green is raised buttonhole on a spider wheel.

Lime green is French Knots.

Pale blue variegated is two rounds offset Half Chevrons

Aqua bugle beads and silver seed beads

I was rather surprised that the round of beads fitted the mandala perfectly without having to 'jiggle' the spacing at all. Sometimes things are just meant to be.

And here is my butterfly for this block.

I hope I can carry on inventing "new species" of butterflies to complete my 12 blocks by the end of this year.

I give you an angled shot of the block here so you can see the textures of the beads and stitches, and also see the crocheted ruffle better.

Well that was a fun stitching week for me.

TAST Week 19 - The Half Chevron

TAST Week 19 - The Half Chevron

I thoroughly enjoyed this stitch.

Definitely one to add to my list of "go to" stitches. I shall be coming back to this stitch again in the future as there is plenty of scope for experimentation with it.

Here are my experiments with Half Chevron stitching I have completed this week.

A seam treatment double row of Half Chevrons with 'lozenge' shape additions in the middle, and metallic thread stars in the centre's of those.

A Mandala motif on my CQJP 

(It just grew)

Variegated green is Raised Buttonhole on Spider Wheel

Lime green is French Knots

Pale blue variegated is two rounds offset Half Chevrons

Aqua bugle beads and silver seed beads

I was rather surprised that the round of beads fitted the mandala perfectly without having to 'jiggle' the spacing at all. Sometimes things are just meant to be.

Shisha & Half Chevron FUN

An extra little challenge was suggested on the Tuesday Stitchers group as a few members wanted to have a go at Shisha stitching.

It has been quite a while since I have done any Shisha work (years in fact) so I thought I would join in on this stitching adventure too.

I have a bag or two of the small round Shisha mirrors that are the usual item to stitch onto fabric, but I know my supply of mirrors is in the shipping container that I call my "Craft Box" which is outside next to the 'man-cave'. I was too impatient to go and search for it so I used what I could find on hand in the house.

So this is the Half Chevron addition to a fun 'experimental' Shisha piece.

The 'mirror' is actually a metal, screw bottle top (no, really!!) from a bottle of Martini Bianco that I just happened to polish off the night before. (Again - some things are just meant to be).

I had to get the hammer out and smash the poor bottle top flat so that it could be stitched in place, but hey, "all is fair in love and stitching".

And a slight angle photo to see the texture of the shisha stitches and the height of the hammered bottle top.

Oh yes, all for the sake of my craft.

I had fun.