Monday, May 20, 2013

May Redwork Birdie Stitches


I have missed having a small handwork project. Another quilter recommended Birdie Stitches Block of the Month by Little Miss Shabby available free online:
http://www.littlemissshabby.com/2010/12/birdie-stitches-supply-list/ When I saw it, I knew it was the perfect project for me. The designs are fun and whimsical. There are twelve small projects - one for each month - that are 8" square when finished. Instead of using several colors of embroidery thread, I chose to use just No. 8 perle cotton in red. All I need is a needle, scissors, a ball of perle cotton, and my monthly project. Everything fits in a little bag, and I can take it anywhere.

I printed the twelve monthly designs from the Little Miss Shabby website. Next, I ironed freezer paper to a 12" square of the Kona cotton in Snow. I taped a paper pattern to a window, then taped the cotton backed with freezer paper over the paper. I traced the design with a pencil.

I have done redwork on a single layer of fabric, and the knots show through from the back. I've tried backing the fabric with very lightweight iron-on interfacing, but the interfacing wrinkled. This time I used a double layer of the Kona cotton. I ironed the layers together and used an embroidery hoop. I didn't baste the two layers together, but it has not been a problem. I've been very pleased with the results so far.

I did make one change to the design. I added the name of the month to each block by finding a script font on my computer and enlarging it to 72.

Spring

I’m shouting
I’m singing
I’m swinging through trees
I’m winging sky-high
With the buzzing black bees.
I’m the sun
I’m the moon
I’m the dew on the rose.
I’m a rabbit
Whose habit
Is twitching his nose.
I’m lively
I’m lovely
I’m kicking my heels.
I’m crying “Come dance”
to the freshwater eels.
I’m racing through meadows
Without any coat
I’m a gamboling lamb
I’m a light leaping goat
I’m a bud
I’m a bloom
I’m a dove on the wing.
I’m running on rooftops
And welcoming spring!

      Karla Kuskin

Spring Is

Spring is when
        the morning sputters like
bacon
          and
           your
              sneakers
                run
                  down
                    the
                      stairs
so fast you can hardly keep up with them,
and
spring is when
        your scrambled eggs
          jump
            off
              the
                plate
and turn into a million daffodils
trembling in the sunshine.

                            Bobbi Katz

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post here. 

5 comments:

  1. I enjoy seeing your redwork and also enjoy doing it. Keep up the great work.

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  2. I love seeing your work Susan, your hand stitching is awesome. The little birds are so cute.

    I am currently working on Winter Twitterings, I am doing it in DMC 311 blue, I almost have my third block done.

    I like hand stitching because you can do it just about anywhere.

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  3. Love this quilt, thanks for sharing it with us. I will have to make it at some stage & have downloaded the pattern. Mine will be done in red too as I'm addicted to red work, I had problems with interfacings in the past & now back all my stitcheries with a H640 weight Pelion. The extra padding works well for me.

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  4. Gotta love those little birdies ... all year long.

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  5. Gotta love RED! I need to practice my embroidery 'the correct way' soon, as I need to get started putting titles on my Harry Potter book blocks.

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