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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

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!

18 comments:

  1. Beautiful Ribbon Embroidery work!

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  2. Very interesting! Who'd have thought to use ribbon this way? I'm not familiar with white work, only black and red.... A fellow procrastinator.

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  3. Love the ribbon you used in this one! Very cool to see the gathering done with the ribbon itself! Will definitely have to try that! What a great group of charms you will have by the time the summer is over!

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  4. Love that! I think you get an "A". I do have her bead embroidery book & oh YES! YOU MUST GET IT. Fabulous book with lots of things to do.

    dot

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  5. Stunning!
    I would love to try it but still have not found a needle suitable for ribbon embroidery. Toronto seems to be in an embroidery black hole!!

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  6. Lovely, just lovely! Thanks so much for the pics of your work in progress. You make it look so painless!

    The finished project is georgeous.

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  7. This is just....dare I say it....Charming! lol

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  8. this is truly lovely - I DO love it. Your ribbon embroidery is quite something. Can't wait to see what delights next week brings.

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  9. Well, Miss Charming, you get a gold star in my book for your lovely work!

    Has Jack ever beaded? When my son was his age he really enjoyed making hemp bracelets using polymer clay beads, and he made several spiral rope necklaces for me. What I really liked was that his sense of color was so different than mine, and so original. There was only a short time that he enjoyed beading, but I enjoyed that time with him.

    I have that bead embroidery book, and it is wonderful! My beading group is using it now to make motifs on a denim jacket we're going to give another member.

    Happy summer,
    Susan

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  10. Your charm is just beautiful, Susan! I recently tried my hand at making fabric ATCs and I discovered that working small is a lot of fun but it's also a very time consuming endeavor. But how rewarding it is when the end product is something so lovely as your dainty little charm!

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  11. Just found your blog via Sew on and sew on and her blog. I love the tiny embroidery, how beautiful and delicate.
    Love
    Lyn
    xxx

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  12. Susan, your charm school is a learning experience for all of us, thanks to your postings and photos! It is incredible that everything is so small! Absolutely wonderful stuff!

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  13. Nice, but I kinda agree with the over done feeling....or maybe its' the frame...being a goofball, I would have framed it in something goofy like toothpicks or twigs or felted balls.....

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  14. Wow, another inspiring post. I just won a stash of goodies from the Rubbonsmyth and there was a button to cover in there. Maybe I will do something like this. Who knows! :)

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  15. I love that gathered ribbon technique!
    I couldn't tell what kind of ribbon it was though....could you enlighten us?

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  16. oh Susan, very very beautiful! You get a gold star for beautiful work and for challenging yourself so much! You are a wonder! Love the pics of father's day, too..

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  17. Do I spy one of those eensy-weensy MOP buttons we bought? So cute peeping out of the ribbonwork! Love, LOVE, LOVE the verigated peachy-rose ribbon!

    Question (possibly for a future post?) ` How do you "store" your silk ribbons? I just bought $65 worth (gasp) of silk ribbons in 1-4 yard lengths. They're currently jumbled in a bag, as per store clerk who wanted to close the shop... I don't know what to do with them to keep them from getting creases and wrinkles... Thanks for addressing this Q. R

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  18. Your art art Susan. is great, I love him, and I am happy that there are people who have such great talent,
    dziekje, hugs .......... :)))

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Have a wonder-filled life!