Charm School Week Two -- Ribbon Embroidery

Finesse

Well, so far, dear friends, I have had great luck with the books I've been studying for Charm School. This week's book by Yukiko Ogura had a number of stitches that I had not tried before not to mention that she uses stitches in unique ways and gives illustrations of the same stitch in different ribbon widths.


I decided to try the Yukiko Rose Stitch which is very similar to a gathered rose. Only difference for me was that you use the silk ribbon itself to gather the ribbon rather than a separate sewing thread.

I was skeptical and couldn't believe that I would be able to pull that 7mm ribbon through itself to gather it up. If successful, however, I would take out a step of threading up two needles and this would save time.


It was tricky at first until I changed needles to a larger eye... This helped a great deal and I'm glad to have discovered this new method of gathering ribbon for flowers.


I then tried a lazy daisy stitch with a knot and learned that I prefer two-wraps on my french knots rather than one...


and then I tried another technique and I failed that one...more practice needed...

So, I added some embroidery and beads; I laced the piece over a piece of felt and cardboard;


I "framed" the entire piece with an old belt buckle by whipstitching it to the felt with invisible thread; and then added the gathered ribbon outside of the frame...


Here's what I learned in Week Two:

1. I'm a major procrastinator and I'm caught each week waiting until the last minute to work my charm. This week I will not wait...
   
2. Yukiko's leaf stitch (another original) is brilliant and I promise to show you that one another day.
3. After Summer Charm School, I think I will have learned equally as much about how to create small charms as I have about any new technique...
   
4. Working in such a small area requires tiny supplies...2mm ribbon, 15 degree or smaller beads, tiny thread, tiny needles...
5. I now feel like I have a better idea of what information is in the two books I've covered so far that I'm more likely to use the techniques in future projects.
6. I think I overworked this week's charm. Though I like it; I don't love it. The only flower I really "nailed" was the gathered one...The other two are a bit wonky so I kept adding to them trying to "fix" them...Simplicity of design is better when working at this scale. Another lesson learned...
   

The bad news...This great book is out of print and evidently difficult to come by...but they may still sell copies at the Mokuba store in New York City where I bought mine a few years ago. BUT there is good news...Yukiko Ogura also has a bead embroidery book that is fabulous!! I think I may have to put that one in the charm school rotation...

Next week I tackle whitework. Jack picked number 7 out of 7...My seventh whitework book on my shelf is this one...

Have a charming day!