I bought a job lot of 1950s embroidery projects from Ebay a while ago and this is the second one which I’ve tackled. The design is very traditional and old fashioned this time and none of the work had been started, it had obviously spent the last 60 years or so folded away in a drawer. When we move I’m hoping to get a house with a conservatory this time as I want a place for my cactus plants which will be safe for them. I’ve been keeping them in the greenhouse for years with no problems but the last two years I’ve had cactus fatalities when my aluminium greenhouse door froze up for weeks on end, so I couldn’t even rescue them. I digress – the cushions are for a conservatory which doesn’t exist as yet – except in my imagination.
As you can see from the first photo I should have done a lot (18 to be exact) of satin stitch circles but I thought the boredom of that might kill me. My solution was to rake through my mum’s old button tin and it came up trumps, as usual. Of course I’ve added buttons to the tin over the years but about half of them were mum’s. I found two sets of buttons of a similar rusty colour, I think they were originally on shirts which wore out. As luck would have it I had exactly nine of each set – perfect and they were very quickly sewn on. I think they look better than the satin stitching would have looked anyway. The flowers are going to be filled in yellow like buttercups and the others will be daisies. I’m hoping to get it finished soon because I have another Jacobean embroidery project which I’m chewing at the bit to start.
The bottom left hand button looks strange but in reality it looks like the others, it must have been the flash or angle or something!
That’s a cleaver idea and adds dimension to the seat cover. It’s very pretty. I don’t know how you find the time to read and do needlework projects!
Joan,
Thanks, I have so much time on my hands now but I usually do crafting at night time and watch TV at the same time. I’ve been busy putting the tender plants in pots into the greenhouse and generally tidying the garden this week.
The buttons are perfect for cushion covers – very clever. I never could get the hang of embroidery stitches and prefer to cross-stitch but embroidery pieces are so pretty!
Debbie,
I haven’t done any cross stitch for ages, I find it quite addictive and when I start it’s like doing a jig-saw puzzle and I think – I’ll just do this bit, then this bit. But it’s more of a strain on my eyes especially at night time!
You do gorgeous work!
Stefanie,
I don’t know about that but I think I’m improving, which is the main thing!
This looks like a real heirloom!That is the trouble when you are working on thing, you want to be doing something else!
Jo,
I have so many things in my head which I want to try out that I’m always impatient to get on to the next one – like all crafters I suppose!
Very pretty! I’d like to see it when all of the flowers are filled in.
Anbolyn,
I’ll definitely show you the finished article! The main reason for putting the cushion on ‘Pining’ is that it will make me finish it before I move on to the next project!
I amm no needlewoman so I do admire your talent and your patience! Well, I’ve done a bit of cross stitch in my time but it has to be something that is finished yesterday!!! Now bobbin lacemaking is more my thing!!! Haven’t done a lot of that either lately!
Evee,
I’ve seen people making bobbin lace and it looks fiendishly difficult to me! I’m sure I couldn’t do it but it does look lovely!