I saw the idea for covering a large focal bead with crazy patchwork some time ago and it was something that I knew I wanted to have a go at, but it wasn’t until I found a very large wooden bead a week or so ago while hunting for something else that I had my chance.
First I pieced together some scraps of silk in greens and browns.
Then I used feather stitch in single strands of brown silk to secure the patches to the calico backing and started to embellish the first patch with spirals of kantha stitch in a variegated blue-green-brown silk thread.
It looks more blue in the photos than in real life.
Just need to work out what I’m doing on the other sections now. As it’s going to be a pendant drop, I want the embroidery to be flat, rather than raised, which counts out several favourite go-to stitches!
Lovely, can’t wait to see it finished !
I shall be interested to see what else you pick. I think we both like stitches that provide texture!
The spirals are awesome, love them!
Fun to have a new stitching adventure. It will be fun to see it as it develops.
Yes,it will be interesting to see where you go with this. I like the sea glass on the pulled thread work. Thanks for commenting.
Oh yes, I like this, it’s my type of sewing! I love making anything with a little bit of embroidery on it. Such fun! Can’t wait to see what will go on the green fabric and those spirals are mesmerising. Just a thought, perhaps a shesha mirror would look good – I just love those (can’t spell the word though!)
I’m adding my email to your subscription list now so I don’t miss the next step here. May I ask, when you set up the subscription gadget do you need to activate it somehow?
Barbara xx
Mmm, yes, a shisha would look fabulous but it would be a bit too big and hard to mould round the shape of the bead. As for the subscription gadget, I’m not sure. I think when I set up the blog I just chose it as one of the things I wanted in my sidebar and it sort of did it on its own!
it’s so beautifully detailed and it must have been so fiddly!
Gorgeous. I especially love the kantha stitching.