Jours d'Angles

 

 

 Jours d'Angles SAL

I recently finished a SAL by Stephanie Michaud. The project was free, and each part came with detailed instructions and videos tutorials with both right and left hand instructions.

It was a six part project that would introduce the basics of working the Jours of Angles. This traditional pulled and counted work originated from the commune of d'Angles sur l'Anglin in France. 

It was a dying skill until the 1980s when local ladies started a association to preserve the local pulled work embroidery technique. 

The project was eventually made into a drawstring bag, but I decided to finish mine as a sampler with a neat hemstitch border. 

My version was worked on 32ct white Belfast Zweigart linen, and DMC  Retors d'Alsace #12

 I really enjoyed the project and was happy with the result. If you haven't tried this technique before I would certainly recommend it. It reminded me a bit of Hardanger embroidery, but completely either. The one challenging part was naturally counting, and recounting the threads before cutting.  The actually stitching was easy and relaxing, but the way to hold the cloth  did take a little getting used to.

If you would like to know more I would recommend looking up Stephanie's website:  https://www.stephaniemichaud.fr/

Work in progress

The finished Jour D'Angles sampler

Signed and dated

 

Handmade Christmas ornaments - Free patterns

Handmade Christmas ornaments make wonderful gifts for family and friends; they are also popular for charity sales, or raffles (lotteries). 

The perfect way to use up leftover threads and aida/linens, ornaments are easy to adapt to your stash since you need only small amounts of supplies to create them. 

Since 2008 I’ve been designing a small seasonal ornament or motif for Roland-designs, the patterns are varied and include everything from cross stitch to tatting, hemstitch, petit point, Hardanger, beads and more. I try to come up with original ideas, all the while keeping it relatively simple enough so you can be finished in a couple of evening at the most. 

I’m always thrilled to see photos of your embroidery so be sure to send me an email or use the #rolanddesigns tag when showing your work on social media.

The patterns are available as instant download PDF files on the website: Free Christmas patterns

Some of my Christmas ornaments, I wish I still had all of them but some have gone on to new homes.

The 2019 Christmas ornament includes cross stitch, hemstitch and a blanket stitch edge.

In the PDF for the 2019 ornament you will find lots of detailed photos, and clear instructions.

Antique hemstitch - Tutorial

I had the embroidery from last years 'small rose challenge' sitting on my desk for months, so yesterday being a rainy Sunday I decided it was time to do something about it once and for all.

I thought framing it would be nice, but it was lacking something? So I settled on an antique hemstitch border since it is a little unusual, yet quick and easy to stitch.

It’s really a nice and easy way to finish off an embroidery without having to cross stitch a border around it. Naturally, it only works on linen or even weave - not aida.

I worked it on two pulled threads, over four threads, but you can also work it on more or less threads. But if you want to weave the pulled threads back to form the corner, you need to have an even number such as 2, 6 or 8 threads.

The threads you go over for the little eyelets don’t have to be four like I did, but two, or three. I started on a corner and at the end realized I didn’t have enough threads to work over four all the way, so the last two are over three threads… but you hardly notice it.

You start on the back of your embroidery and work your way around, once you figure it out it goes quite fast and is nice and relaxing. I used a stiff crochet thread, but you can also use regular threads or perle cotton though I might not recommend regular embroidery floss as you want the stitch to hold the tension.

Perfect corners: Pull two threads, one of which you remove completely. Put the remaining thread on a needle and weave it back.

Antique hemstitch step 1: Work on the back of the embroidery. Pass the needle under four threads.

Antique hemstitch step2: Bring the needle over and slip it under two thread.

Antique hemstitch step 3: Pull the thread and tighten a little. Now you should have a nice little open hole.

Always sign and date your work ! It doesn't have to be very large, just a small, discreet date and name is fine. Here I signed my nickname and date with a sewing thread over two linen threads.

Small rose part 1 - Cross stitch
Small rose part 2 - Gobelin stitch
Small rose part 3 - Petit point 
Small rose part 4 - Bead embroidery

The small rose pattern is available as a free instant download on my website, see link below. 

I would like to challenge you to also try out different techniques and styles of embroidery, needlework or other crafts that can be worked from counted patterns. The possibilities are endless, and lot’s of fun. 

Be sure to tag your work with #smallrosechallenge  or #rolanddesigns

 

The free pattern can be downloaded here:  http://www.roland-designs.com/free-patterns

Garden blooms - Cross stitch pattern

Daisies, fuchsias, rose buds, lilies of the valley, and nasturtiums.

Garden blooms 1 & 2 are delightful repetitive patterns suitable for cushion or furniture cover, while the individual motifs can be stitched and used to decorate cards, clothes, or added to a spot sampler.

Re-charted from antique, hand painted original Sajou designs number #3160, and #3161

Find the patterns here: ETSY, website

Sajou in Paris - 1st class medal at the universal exposition of 1855

Choosing the colors

I don't have time to stitch all the patterns I re-chart, but I thought it would be fun to stitch some of the motifs to test out the colors, different stitches and such. So I looked in my stash and found a piece of 28ct linen that was not too big, but large enough that it could be turned into a little spot sampler. 

Here you can see the original hand painted pattern, my digital re-charted version and the first item on my new spot sampler, the little daisies.

The best way to store a work-in-progress is to store you embroidery rolled up, this will keep it from getting crease marks. Here I used an old kitchen aluminum foil  roll.

Cross stitch, petit point and Gobelin stitches.

My pretty Whippet - Victorian era cross stitch pattern

Officially recognised as a breed by the Kennel Club in 1891, the Whippet was a popular hunting and racing dog.

This design of a smart looking Whippet with a blue collar, and colourful tasselled blanket is re-charted from an antique, hand painted Sajou pattern.

A beautiful counted pattern perfect for a framed picture, or decorative throw cushion.

Design Area: 132 x 70 stitches

If stitched on 28 ct linen/ 14 ct aida the pattern will measure :

9,43" x 5,00" / 23,9 x 12,70cm

This pattern is available on the website, ETSY and Makerist

Detail of the face - notice the missing paint.

Mars ( March ) 1844 ? or 1849 ?

Signed "Sajou"

Here you see how the charts look like in color and symbols, and just symbols

God moves in a mysterious way - Antique sampler from 1886

I love adding new, and interesting pieces to my sampler collection. This sampler comes from the UK and features in delicate and tiny cross stitch the famous hymn by William Cowper (1731-1800) “God moves in a mysterious way…”

The stitching show skill, and was undoubtedly worked by an adult. The piece in unsigned, apart for the words “Grandpa’s hymn 1886”

As far as I know William Cowper never had any children, so I assume this hymn must have been a personal favorite of the grandfather who was the beneficiary of this beautiful embroidery; worked presumably by an adoring grandchild.  

The frame was damaged and not worth saving, so I had the seller send it to me only on the card the needlework had been stitched to. I was a little concerned when it arrived as it had visible signs of bug damage, namely the tell-tale sign of having been eaten and burrowed through ! I carefully examined it, even ripping a bit the cloth in the back to make sure there were no live bugs, or eggs. The last thing I want is a colony of critters eating their way through my cupboard ! Thankfully it looked like whoever did the damage had long gone, but just for safety sake I’ll keep it apart from other items until I can get it framed properly.

In the middle of the fifth verse the poor stitcher had obviously ran out of thread and had to change to one of a slightly different color. A good reminder to make sure you have enough thread to complete a project, and if possible from the same dye lot to make sure the colors are uniform.  

Evidence of a little bug having burrowed their way through the embroidery

Details - You can see how the cloth was lighter before from the marks where the frame had been,

Tiny cross stitches

The full sampler

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small rose. Free cross stitch pattern - Part 5 Stitching paper and half cross stitch

Continuing with the small rose challenge, I decided to try the pattern on perforated paper in half cross stitch.  I have a very small, and treasured stash of Tokens and trifles cards and the pattern was fortunately just the right size.

Tokens and trifles was a small company that offered the most amazing Victorian era inspired punch paper cards for embroidery; it was a great loss to the stitching community when they had to close in 2015. The founder of the company wrote a moving blog post explaining the difficulties small companies face with getting loans, and enough demand to stay open. Take this to heart, and try to support as much as possible small entrepreneurs, artisans and artists. As it is often said in the artists circles – If everyone who visited a gallery or market stand and admired the work of the artist bought even just one postcard each, that artist might be able to continue their work. How many beautiful contributions to the world we will never know of because an artist, or artisan was not able to support themselves by their craft ?

Well, back to the embroidery, have you ever stitched on paper ?  I think it’s quite nice and easy, but you do need to pay attention to not bend the paper, and of course you can’t wash the item so you must work with clean, and dry hands – something that has been difficult this summer due to the heat wave in Northern Europe, my hands were getting so warm and sweaty that I did not do any embroidery the whole months of July, instead I started a new knitting project – more on that later.

Small rose worked on stitching card in half cross stitch with one strand of embroidery floss

The back of the card

The front

Small rose part 1 - Cross stitch
Small rose part 2 - Gobelin stitch
Small rose part 3 - Petit point 
Small rose part 4 - Bead embroidery

The small rose pattern is available as a free instant download on my website, see link below. 

I would like to challenge you to also try out different techniques and styles of embroidery, needlework or other crafts that can be worked from counted patterns. The possibilities are endless, and lot’s of fun. 

 

Be sure to tag your work with #smallrosechallenge  or #rolanddesigns

 

The free pattern can be downloaded here:  http://www.roland-designs.com/free-patterns

 

 

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During the holiday month I took the time to pull out all my boxes of embroidery patterns, samplers and other research materials then organize them once and for all! It is not a dream solution, but those cardboard boxes will have to do until I have a studio of my own for work and storage. 

Many of my patterns are in pretty good conditions for their age, but paper items that are over 100-150 years old need to be handled with care and stored away from moisture, dust, light and of course should not be stored under too much weight or touching anything plastic. The antique samplers even more so, as antique textile items require delicate handling, or best no touching at all. 

Sorted and labled ! These boxes contain my middle sized patterns and antique samplers, smaller items are in other boxes and the very large ones are actually stored at present under my bed !