For centuries women have used cloth as a tool of comfort and as an expression of beauty within their homes. Creating cloth for warmth, cloth for shelter, our female predecessors embellished these linens with hand stitch using laborious and time consuming techniques thereby enhancing the functional beauty of objects which enveloped and protected their families. Inspired by these women I hope my creations pay tribute to and recognise the devotion expressed in cloth by our female ancestors .







''the use of traditional often time consuming process alludes to the devotion of a mother''. c K. A. Ruane 2007







Tuesday, December 7, 2010

don't laugh.....

Do you remember I mentioned chinese knots? Possibly gingham chinese knots? Yesteray I had a plan, make chinese knots from pink gingham. Making these is quite time consuming. First of all you have to cut bias strips, then you have to tack piping cord inside the strips, then you machine stitch the strips close to the cord, then you turn the fabric right way out and you have a lovely tube filled with piping cord....at least that's the theory. Not in this house, not yesterday anyway! How many times have I made these? How many times have I turned tubes? Yesterday my tubes weren't for turning no matter what so the result of a WHOLE afternoon of work is here, pathetic, THREE knots....hey ho...we live and learn and move on...
Despite this little hiccup I had a good day yesterday, I went chtristmas shopping......again...you may remember that my last christmas shopping trip resulted in me buying for me and only me. I think I've got the hang of it now though, ''you buy for other people Karen!!'' That was the morning and you know the results of my afternoon. Evening? Embroidery of course...

Now I want to show you how the ''joining'' of my throw is going. I'm a bit worried that you may be getting sick of this by now. Does it seem you are always seeing the same thing? These are different angles honestly. A quick run through for you, the alpahabet section is joined to a piece of white with simple running stitch. I had a couple of tiny bits of tube left from the knot disaster so I simply turned them into loops and tucked them under this seam.

This side of a hexagon piece is again joined with simple running stitch to another white section at the top and the white section containing the large flower on another side.
 Here the cloth is folded back on itself so that I can see how the lace edge looks next to the alphabet piece and how the row of buttons contrasts with some green gingham rouleau loops.... and I have just realised that you have one picture twice here.....sorry!!
I am going ''up north'' on friday delivering christmas gifts, (weather permitting) so the rest of today I will have to wrap and tag and wrap and tag...I am floundering a bit with my sewing mojo at the moment, don't know why. Maybe it's just a huge list of festive stuff to start ticking off who knows. Is that happening with you?? Just to remind you too that my 20% off finishes on friday. If you are worried about postal deadlines they are all listed in the header of the shop so just look there for that info.
I am also going to put some new links up today, keep your eyes peeled. I visit quite a few places that aren't on here and I feel like sharing!!

19 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Hej Karen,

Your chinese knots story sounds a lot like my christmas-card project over the weekend. Spent more than 10 hours making 8 cards!!!!

Pictures are stunning but hé they always are. Have a fantastic day while preparing for christmas.

e.

Whitney-Anne Baker said...

awesome knots Karen! I tried it once and they looked like something the cat might have sicked up!!

fabriquefantastique said...

Honestly Karen, I never tire of your work...its original ( you are not afraid to be pretty) charming and uplifting.

lillalotta said...

But my goodness, how beautiful are they! :kisses screen: they almost look edible!

Sara lechner said...

I marvel how you did these knots! I know these things you begin and then you don't know how to tame them!!

Anonymous said...

Well, I think it is looking lovely, and remembering the struggles I had with Chinese Knots a few years ago I am very impressed that you got three done!

Jane said...

And you said tubes were so easy, lol. I like the way the loops alternate with the little puffy bits.

Gina said...

The knots look wonderful and thank you for not giving up on them! I can't wait to see the whole throw hanging up on a wall or something but I'm really enjoying these close up peeks too. We are never satisfied with just one shot!

Heartwideopen said...

These photos are so lovely it almost makes my heart hurt! I love your work so much, and I NEVER get tired of looking at it. This is going to be a masterpiece, actually, it already is.

;~) Debi

vintagerockchick said...

It looks fabulous Karen, looking forward to seeing the whole thing. As for the knots, I wonder why sometimes things go swimmingly and other times you just want to throw it(and yourself) out of the window?
Or maybe that's just me.

Jan said...

That throw is going to be the most amzing thing ever ,the french knots are beautiful too ...love Jan xx

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Laugh? No way! We're all too busy being impressed that you had the patience to make Chinese knots in the first place, much less out of gingham. I'm going cross eyed just THINKING about it!!

Tammie Lee said...

you are always up to something new, so impressive
and
inspiring.

sylviesgarden said...

I had never heard of Chinese knots, yours are lovely though.
x

Lois Evensen said...

Your knots are beautiful as is the rest of your work.

Yes, I can identify working and working to accomplish something that looks as if it should be so easy. But, how nice when we finally get there.

Hugs,
Lois

jennyflowerblue said...

Three gingham knots hey, sounds like you need to do a sewing 12 days of Christmas...two rouleaux loops and a swaddling band that's oh so pretty. etc. etc.xxx

Amelia said...

wow - all very inspirational! I have now just got a new studio space so here's to dedicated 'making' time a little more, just like you!

Amelia.x

Anonymous said...

Definitely knot a disaster (hur hur). The throw's looking lovely.

Amanda Sheridan said...

I saw this today http://fb.me/v79C5uQW and immediately thought of you.