Drawing Lace at Gawthorpe Hall

Drawing the different laces made me examine their structure in more detail. The bell flowers in the schiffli piece below are made of two layers and there is padding in between them. 

This relates to the padded nature of my work with layers of satin stitch.

Drawing of Schiffli embroidery above.

Flounce, pont de gaze (Brussels) RBKS 24264

Detail of small flower from flounce above, under the digital microscope.

Looking for a colour palette in the edges of heaven and earth

The colours as the sun sets are beautifully bright and muted 

but I'd prefer to work with a broader colour palette.

Tutorial with Nigel

• Pursue ways of cutting the satin stitch and constructing motifs onto dissolvable fabric. 
• How big can the motifs go?
• Try different threads and bobbin thread.
• Try the obi stitch.
• Change scale of motifs.
• Create my own set ups for drawing.
• Dye fabric to create grounds as with Nigel's sample below.

Silk velvet and chiffon, overstitched with twin needle  - Nigel Hurlstone  

More satin stitch circles

Experimenting with different ways of cutting the satin stitch, continuing with the circle motif for now.

Lost in Lace

I liked the way lace was used to delineate space 

using layers, both within the stitches as well as the reflected shadows.

Liz Nilsson's The Latticed Eye of Memory represents the layers and changing nature of memories, the holes in the outer layers allow the viewer to see through to the deeper and more brightly coloured layer. I'm interested in her depiction of something unseen but none the less very real.

The Latticed Eye of Memory Liz Nilsson

The Latticed Eye of Memory detail,  Liz Nilsson

Installation of Moucharabieh Annie Bascoul

Installation of Moucharabieh (detail) Annie Bascoul

Line (detail) Diana Harrison

Satin stitch circles

Satin stitch circles created by changing a running stitch circle into satin stitch.

Cutting the satin stitch gives a soft textured feel, a bit like candlewick bedspreads! The missing stitches, top right, came away with the stitch and tear; working out how to stabilise the stitches is essential.

Layered satin stitch circles, the running stitch line in the centre is the tacking underlay which I need to work out how to delete.

Inspired 2012

Below are some of the lace items from the Rachel B. Kay-Shuttleworth collection at Gawthorpe Hall to introduce the Inspired 2012 lace competition. The raised 3D effect of the Greek embroidery done in blanket stitch and the Belgian needle lace interested me.

Detail from Greek embroidery from Gawthorpe Hall above.

 Flounce, pont de gaze (Brussels) RBKS 24264.

Lace edged cloth with printed motifs.

detail of cloth above

The appliqué printed motifs on the cloth above have a worn, delicate look 

that contrasts with the black ground. I would like to incorporate images under my satin stitch, 

perhaps photo stitch or digital prints for a kind of advent calendar look!