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







Thursday, February 9, 2012

Bullion Knots...









bullion knot  noun.....  a decorative stitch in embroidery made by winding the thread several times around the needle before sewing a backstitch.

I feel a new addiction forming...bullion knots. Oh how I love these gorgeous little curly things! Of course they don't have to be curly,  they can just as easily be flat but I like curly....so curly it is. I feel as if all the little padded circles need is a face...they are just like little people...not good really when the inspiration was floral but there you go....poor artistic interpretation, you get it all here, never predictable that's for sure. 
This piece means another panel finished...one more requires embellishment and I have a feeling I will have to make more to complete my cloth so watch this space. Once I start I can't stop but never fear...I have a list! 
The wrapping cloth class....which sadly is nearly over, has to be my priority but then??? You should see the list for my new class!! Want to join in? Then just go here to read more and register if it takes your fancy!

19 comments:

Iceni UK said...

Beautiful bullion stitches Karen, love the curly ones.
French knots and bullion are my very favourite stitches.
hugs

Jane said...

I like curly, they're just calling to be played with

Dolores said...

I love the look of your bullion knots but mine just remind me of little inch worms that hang from trees in the spring. Those are green though.

deanna7trees said...

didn't you know that flowers have faces??? they sure do...so you're right on target. and you know how much i love bullion stitches. love your curly ones.

Peggy Holt said...

Very cool....I love how you are nesting several together...great texture.

maisie sparrow's vintage pictures said...

Your work is so amazing cant get over how beautiful it is ...wow! Maisie

Anonymous said...

It looks great, Karen, crisp and beautifully textured!

Joanna said...

I never thought of making them deliberately curly, although thinking about it I have used bullion stitches to make little roses and so I guess they were curly. I like the effect though

Carol Q said...

beautiful little tendrilly (probably no such word!) bullion knots Karen

Jeannie said...

I made my first bullion knot over the holidays. My aunt showed me how and now I am adding them to everything. They are so much fun to make! I have yet to attempt the curly tendrils that you had created so beautifully. Have fun!

Elizabeth said...

They are drop gorgeous, just great, started thinking about calligraphy with them!

sharon young said...

Fabulous bullion knots, you've made them look wonderfully delicate, not something you see often, and they look as if they have a life of their own, superb!

barbara l. hale said...

I've never seen that stitch before. Cool!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I've done bullion stitches before but hadn't thought of them on my cloth.....oooh, the thought processes are overheating now!!

Unknown said...

Karen
I have given you a blog-award. Please see detail here: http://sonenskadu.blogspot.com/

Ansie

Suztats said...

Oh, my! I looove your curly bullions! They looked like flowers to me, awaiting their petals.......

Tammie Lee said...

your flowers and stems are magic.

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

Just been catching up on my blog reading, love the new fresh look to your blog.
Your intricate stitch work is fascinating. M x

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Oh, they are gorgeous! I like the curly too!