Embroidery in Progress

Tracing Embroidery Image

In my October blog, I showed you sketches I thought might make good embroideries. I haven’t quite finished the view of the Parthenon in Rome yet, but here are some photos of how the sewing’s going.

Colour Blocking

After roughly mapping out the embroidery image using a light box, I used acrylic paints to get rid of as much white cotton fabric as I could so that I can see the sections clearly while I embroider. The mid tones also help emphasis the highlights and shadows so I don’t have to use so many thread colours.

Embroidering the Foreground

In an attempt to stop the fabric ruching, I attached fabric stabliser to the back of the cotton. My first machined stitches are simple running stitch to outline the neon sign, lamp and buildings. Satin stitch is then used to define the areas that will be the dressed stone on the side of the right hand building. With the stones there is only a stitch or two between the two sizes and I found myself counting stitches as I sewed.

Hand Embroidery

Sometimes, although it takes a lot longer, sewing by hand is the best way to tackle small areas, such as the shadows on the stone decoration on the Parthenon. On the left hand building in the background, the windows are hand sewn as is the lamp in front of it.

Stitches Still Unsewn

Now the interior of the Parthenon Portico has been done, there is still the neon sign and the lamp in the foreground to be done using freestyle machine embroidery. Although I need to think in terms of how to do the stitching without having to make too many colour changes, I tend to work in areas as I can easily overlook something that’s not completely finished! Lastly, there is the cobbled road and the cafe area to sew.

Thanks again for reading my blog. Have a look for Hungry Hector Textiles Facebook Page and I’ll post when I’ve finished.