February 27, 2008That Japanese Swedish AestheticSo here's the pretty cross stitch:  Maybe it's just me, but that looks like a snowflake from a wonderful Nordic sweater. The motif is from a Japanese book called "Stitchworld" that I picked up in Portland when I visited Marnie last May. She has the fortune (misfortune?) of living near a Kinokuniya bookstore. If I want to hit the Kinokuniya here I have to be willing to brave the parking situation. I'm lazy that way, and so able to save a lot of money. Japanese craft books are positively addictive. The original motif is stitched in linen on the lovely tea cozy and napkin pictured below. Since my cross stitch experience is limited to "Babies Suck," I thought it might be prudent to practice on Aida cloth before butchering expensive linen. I was also unable to determine the thread-count on the linen used in the book, so I was concerned that the design might be distorted on the 28-count linen that I have. It is, and I have to say that I do prefer the original, but this version is rather pretty, too. And it could probably be modified a bit to elongate it and give it a more organic feel.
Makes you want to cross stitch doesn't it? I'm ready to embroider the entire house. Moxie will love this. Cross stitch is a pastime that I sorely underestimated. There is skill and intellect involved beyond what I imagined. I am finally getting to the point where I can see why I should cross all my stitches in the same direction (there is a spot where I didn't - it glares at me!), and I am learning a little of the game you have to play to stitch from one area to another neatly. It's fun to try to maximize the areas of hatching and back-hatching (my terms) and to figure out how to move from stitch to stitch within an area without having to skip a single space. It's a spatial puzzle, really, and I think it's got to be satisfying once you realize you've really got it. I have a way to go.
A sampling of projects from the book. This little book has opened up an entirely new domestic world for me. It contains hardanger embroidery, which I had never heard of. (You can find hardanger 101 here.) I had seen it before, but it never really clicked with me that real people could make linen look like that. It's definitely on my list. It's a great deal of fun, but let me warn you - if you get this book it can be hard to step away from the thread. ISBN 4-579-11018-8 (The book is NOT in English but the photos and diagrams are excellent.) Posted by Julia at February 27, 2008 06:01 PMIn cross stitch | main
Comments
I was really into cross-stitching for a while. These designs are such a wonderful breath of fresh air! I love them! Also, funny- when I was back home, my cousin gave me a couple of Sublime Stitching patterns. I'm looking forward to getting back into this, too! Posted by: Nonnahs at March 4, 2008 09:47 AMI cross stitched for a long, long time before I started knitting. I have 4 or 5 boxes of thread and tons of canvas which I refuse to get rid of because I know someday I'll knit AND cross stitch! Posted by: Nancy at March 3, 2008 05:49 PMI cross stitched for a long, long time before I started knitting. I have 4 or 5 boxes of thread and tons of canvas which I refuse to get rid of because I know someday I'll knit AND cross stitch! Posted by: Nancy at March 3, 2008 05:49 PMThose pretty cross stitch patterns are very inspiring! Nothing old fashioned or boring about those, that's for sure! Posted by: grumperina at March 3, 2008 10:31 AMSigh. I loved cross-stitch. Made up two large pictures in my teens/early twenties, then realized that these things aren't really in my decor aesthetic. Have been occasionally wondering ever since what to do with it that both fits in with a minimalist/allergic-clean space and is acceptable to both DH's and my sensibilities (we haven't found much of anything fits both!). One day I might go back... Hardinger embroidery on the other hand is fascinating. Not a fascination I've succumbed to yet, but you never know when the next crafty-bug might strike! Posted by: Jenna at February 29, 2008 11:36 AMOOooh, I LOVE doing Hardanger. It's so gorgeous. You are going to so love it! Posted by: knittingnurse at February 28, 2008 03:40 PMI've been cross stitching since I was 17. (Oh man I just realized that means 17 years.) You're right, it's so very satisfying to have conquered that 'game' of stitching from one area to the next, knowing whether to do a row of half-crosses then double back, or whether to do the full crosses, or what. I once tried to do an entire piece (it's on my blog actually, in the sidebar under '2007 FOs' - "Serenade Angel") without creating any horizontal stitches on the back - only vertical lines. It was just for interest and fun....and almost impossible. It's also cool to make little squares on the back side, instead of little L's. I'm going to stop now because I'm starting to sound like a right geek. Posted by: Shannon B at February 28, 2008 10:50 AMOh how lovely! I am strongly wishing I were near a Kinokuniya right now... Posted by: Heather at February 28, 2008 10:31 AMCounted cross stitch is a great source for knitting designs. They're as addictive, either as duplicate stitched or fair isle. I love them. And yes, I would knit a baby sweater with "Babies Suck" across the front. Posted by: Dawn at February 28, 2008 08:32 AMDon't know if you remember or even had time to notice, but a woman named Janet Ramsey did exquisite hand embroidery for The T Room. It was one of our most popular items - and she was as special as her work. Perhaps you can meet her someday. Posted by: Mom at February 28, 2008 07:03 AMGorgeous! I am in love with the red-on-white. Posted by: Elli at February 28, 2008 05:29 AMI went to the local Kinokuniya last weekend and bought, gasp, a book with paper crafts. Of course, I picked up a knitting book too. Johnny likes it there too. Between the two of us it does get pricey. Posted by: kat at February 27, 2008 09:25 PM*sigh* Gorgeous. I'm still smitten with those cuffs, but the cross stitch is elegant too. Be careful, I just might be dragging your butt back to that bookstore, if you aren't careful ;) Posted by: Marnie at February 27, 2008 08:27 PM |
