simple pleasures

we can go for short walks now, as we did indeed do yesterday; humidity was between 70 and 75% which made for a heavy day, whew!





woven mud

the shirt (which came into our household in a plastic bag full of clothes for the boys, as a basic white shirt, too small in the shoulders for them, but fitting me quite perfectly) has - after dyeing - been modified ever so slightly: the cuffs have been removed and are now used to line the newly formed V-neckline, two curtain ties have been turned into cuffs; I decided to turn the shirt inside-out, as I preferred the stitched result better on what was the inside; all has been sewn (on) with my favourite running stitch, in some spots criss-crossed, like a sort of weave, one tiny corner is an actual weave. At the back of my mind is Jude's class Considering Weave; one could say the shirt has been inspired by all the classes I have attended/am following: Contemporary Boro 2, What If Diaries and Considering Weave







still some stuff to be done: sew buttons on what has become the 'right' side, fasten the darts, maybe some extra stitching in certain spots


"Should not every house possess at least one sampler? A real sampler, an example; every stitch that can be discovered being given separately. These for the use of all persons, not only for would-be embroiderers, but also for all those who would 'acquire a knowledge to enable them to appreciate the work of others', and thus add joy to their own lives."
Introduction of the catalogue for the Exhibition of Wessex Stitchery, Mrs. Forster 1934, page61
from: Early 20th Century Embroidery Techniques, by Gail Marsh 2011
ISBN 978 1 86108 820 8

Comments

jude said…
oh that quote is great! and the shirt is so softened by all the treatment, the soft colors, the weave the stitch, love the weave stitch on the front too. the texture can be imagined.
Saskia said…
hello Jude, the texture is very touchy-feely; the quote has inspired me to make a sampler with the help of all that is shown in this amazing book, ha...just goes to show, never too old to learn
Liz A said…
The colors on the shirt remind me of the sunrise backlit trees in your June 10 post ... I love how subtle they are and even so your photos show the details
it came out beautifully, the dye
and how interesting to me that
you "changed sides"... sewing
the darts will give it that much
more identity..
so...a white shirt, now something quite far from that...

it is so good to see you and the
pup walking. he must have
mastered Come!
Mo Crow said…
what a transformation Saskia, cloth alchemy!
Linda Marcille said…
I love what Mo said "Cloth Alchemy". This truly s a magical transformation.
Suzanna said…
I love the inside-out treatment and the cuffs! I like how you attached them...
Anonymous said…
shirt as map... there seem to be whole worlds in there!
Saskia said…
have been readjusting to office life once more, so replies are late

Liz: thank you for stopping by and commenting; such an observant eye! I like that you linked the shirt with the landscape imagery, as I am always hoping to make pieces that are connected with what surrounds me.

Grace: yes, a white shirt no more and even better: I now wear it and it feels wonderFul.

yes Mo and Linda: cloth alchemy, sometimes the magic happens....

Suzanna: hmmm, those cuffs were a lot of work as I initially sewed them on with the 'neat side' showing and realised I preferred the rough edges and so had to undo them and stitch them on again! I will definitely do this again, straight away that is.

oh Dee, that is a lovely idea; and also I have always meant to make a map-like-drawing of my walks, or use the meandering as a kind of guide for the stitching, why haven't I actually done that? you might ask. I don't have a good answer, but I must get round to that Soon!

tungsten

tungsten

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