Drawing is simply a line going for a walk.
Paul Klee
As a child, I was always doodling and going along for “walks with lines”. My father used brown grocery sacks to make book covers for our school books. These made perfect canvases for my doodling. Instead of listening in class, I was “walking” with lines all over my books and notebooks. Doodling is still one of my favorite pastimes. Lines, in all formats, continue to grab my attention. I am always looking at the lines that form and shape my environment.
I like to dabble in zen art and thread sketching with my sewing machine. Right now, I have a renewed interest in the many different forms of hand-stitching. Making lines with yarn can take so many shapes and forms. Sashiko stitching and kantha stitching are two forms of stitching that I have researched and attempted to learn. I learned about kantha stitching from viewing the beautiful pieces stitched by Mariss Stevens of Fabrications. She has a very interesting post on kantha stitching and cultural appropriation.
Before Covid, I had signed up for a class in creative stitching by Sue Spargo. The class in this folk art style stitching was cancelled. I had purchased her book, Creative Stitching, a few years ago, and I have been trying to self-teach.
For now, I am relying on the embroidery I learned from my aunt and my mother. I have a few basic stitches down, and I am viewing tutorials on the different types stitches. My friend, Francine, from Las Colchas, introduced me to a great book by Natalie Chanin. The Geometry of Hand-Sewing offers great instructions and manipulated grids for different stitches, ranging from basic to enhanced stitches.
I prefer to doodle or sketch my own patterns or designs, although I have used a couple of free patterns to transfer. I have also transferred a photo onto to linen to embroider. Any suggestions for other embroidery resources would be appreciated.
Fall has always been a special season for me, so I have been sketching simple autumn scenes. I used a couple of my sketches as patterns to embroider. I drew onto the linen with a Micron 03 pen. These small projects are giving me the opportunity to practice and try out new stitches. I wanted to embroider on burlap, but I did not have enough to fit on a hoop. I used some different types of linen on the projects in the video below. Next, I want to try embroidering on tulle; but I need to clean up what the back of my stitching looks like before I give tulle a try. In the video, I also included a fabric Halloween book that I made for my youngest grandson. The fabric panel is from Studio E Fabrics. These small embroidery projects have been a fun way to take an autumn walk with lines.
Stay safe.
What a big pumpkin! Your embroidery is enchanting and I am always impressed by your drawings. The book is delightful too. You are so clever with your designs — they are so much more than just lines. Thank you for linking me in your post
Thank you, Mariss.
I wonder if you would enjoy virtually visiting museums that have stitch or fabric collections. I’ve been to some exhibitions in real life and got a lot of pleasure from them plus creative inspiration. I had an interest in samplers for one thing and also embroidery on clothing in history.
I was looking at some samplers as I researched the history of embroidery. I would love to visit museums virtually. Do you know of any particular ones I should look for first?
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has a good website and textile collections. http://www.vam.ac.uk
Thank you. I will check it out.
I sent you an email! Let me know what you think.
Thank you! These sites look great! I appreciate you sending these links to me.
You’re welcome. I hope you enjoy them!
Love your work.
Thank you.
I love that idea of a line going for a walk! And no wonder fall would be a special time for a teacher 🙂 So, happy fall to you!
Happy Fall to you!
I love the Paul Klee quote that opened the post. Wow your embroidery is pretty awesome! You are such the Renaissance Woman of Crafting 🙂
Ha! Thanks! I feel like I’m just bumbling around having fun.