I've been stitching away on the Equinox Cloth. It's been calming and meditative. I'm using a variation of the running stitch where there are small stitches on the front of the cloth and larger ones on the back. I'm trying to make parallel rows of these small stitches to see the effect that they make.
The back side with the larger stitches is also beautiful in its own way. I used a hand-dyed backing cloth that complements the colors of the tea dyed fabrics on the front side.
Today, I pulled out Helen Parrott's book, Mark Making: Fresh Inspiration for Quilt and Fiber Artists.
I love how Helen Parrott works with simple stitches, such as the running stitch, to build a vocabulary of marks. She is strongly influenced by the marks she sees out in nature and in finding ways to interpret that in stitch. Below are some images from her book.
Some of the students in my Healing Cloth workshop suggested that I consider teaching a class just on embroidery. Many, many years ago, I did teach a series on basic hand stitches and how to manipulate them for different effects. I'm noticing that there is a growing interest in hand stitching again so it might be time to consider offering such a class...perhaps on mark-making and stitch structure. Hmm...ideas are starting to whirl around in my head...
I too love how this piece 'feels'!!! It's wonderful...so glad you are sharing your process with us.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robbie. It's been a pleasure to stitch this piece...right now more about the "process" then anything else.
DeleteA lovely post - right up my street! I love the Kantha-like effect on the surface of both sides. It's hard to say which I like best ... And the Helen Parrot book is a gem. You've reminded me to look at it again to help solve a current dilemma.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margaret. Really enjoying getting back to my stitching. Weaving the strips together was inspired by Jude Hill. Helen's book is great...I get more out of it each time I read it. Hope you are able to solve your "current dilemma"!
DeleteThe cloth looks as peaceful as I imagine it feels to stitch it!
ReplyDeleteIt really has been a mediation cloth for me. Soothing to pull the thread in and out of the layers of cloth. I'm back to my roots and looking forward to doing lots of stitching this year.
DeleteHi Julie ~ I've just been catching up on your (many!) entries, and realized that I had meant to leave a comment on this one what feels like ages ago. I so enjoy seeing all of those lovely rows of stitches, and the front & back of the Equinox Cloth are equally delicious... Your projects always make me want to work with fabric (some day!)...
ReplyDeleteAnd your projects always want to make me work with paper, Lisa! It's been so great to get back to stitching...my first love. I'm hoping to design a class that looks at the stitches in depth and focuses on developing personal mark making.
DeleteI just found my way here from Jennifer Coyne Qudeen's roygbiv link list and love this cloth. Looking forward to following your posts in the future.
ReplyDeleteHi Liz- Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Stitching this cloth has been very soothing and meditative. I'm taking it a step at a time to see where it goes. Happy to hear that you plan to continue to stop by!
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