Margret Gatis band #5

I know, it is taking me forever to stitch this band! Stitching over three threads on 36 ct is really hard on my ageing eyes! Taking frequent breaks is a must, and it`s frustrating how slowly I am progressing. I am thinking of stitching the centre motif of double running in this band in a different colour...it calls for DMC 3047, but this won`t show up at all on my dyed fabric. Maybe I`ll use one of the reds. I have searched for a pic of the original antique sampler, but came up empty.

ETA: I decided on a soft pink...DMC 3064.

The satin stitched red flower in the centre of this band is backstitched...the instructions call for it to be backstitched first, then filled in with satin. Not sure if this was the norm at the time the original was stitched, but I have run across this in other repros, most notably Jane Turner. Here is a pic of the band stitched by TOMMYE and it looks beautiful!

 

Here is a closer look at the flower TOMMYE stitched

 Backstitching (or double running stitch) first makes it much easier to count the satin stitches, but it is hard to do it neatly, but, I think if I use double running for the outline, then satin stitch over the outline, then double running stitch around the motif, I will get the look I am going for. I can`t take credit for this idea, it was told to me by a lady on one of the stitching boards I frequent. I am going to give it a go anyway...we will see how it turns out. I hope to have a pic up of my stitching of this band the first of the week. Thank you TOMMYE for letting me use the pics of your gorgeous stitching!

Keep stitching ladies!

Margret Gatis a little progress

Well, I don`t have much to show you, but every little bit counts, right? Anyway, here is my MG to date

 

 

 

 

 

and a closer pic of the double running in the single strand. I had started it in 2 strands (DMC) but didn`t like it. Maybe I read the directions wrong? 

Cross over three is fine, but double running over three seems to be hard on my eyes for some reason. At any rate, I plan to stitch more on her tonight. I am participating in Nicolas Scarlet Letter Year and trying to have a finish in 2013 of a pattern or kit from The Scarlet Letter. I doubt very very much this will be even half way finished by January 1. But any stitching is better than none, right?

 

Keep stitching ladies!

 

Margret Gatis

Ok...after sifting through my humongous pile of WIP/UFOs, I decided on Margret Gatis from The Scarlet Letter. I hadn`t picked her up since March and looking at her I see why I put her down. I am on row 5, which is a double running band. The instructions say if using 35 ct (I am using 36) to use 2 starnds of DMC, but I didn`t like the way it looked. I put it down to ponder the problem and she got shuffled to the pile of WIPs in my sewing room. I have decided to rip out row 5 (I didn`t have much done) and re stitch with 1 strand, and I`m liking it better. What I am not enjoying as much is doing double running over three threads of linen! Double running hurts my brain anyway, and it`s worse with it being over three rather than two. I just don`t seem to be able to concentrate as much as I used to for some reason, and I end up doing a lot of ripping...