Shisha (Mirror) Work-4

Frame Work Stitches-2

I have been wanting to post this for long. But photographing the shisha is really difficult. I wanted my photographs to be clear. Moreover writing the tutorials is also a bit difficult since the elaborate explanations should be simple and clear. Hope you are able to understand my posts.

My previous posts on this topic are here:

http://summersofindia.blogspot.com/search/label/Mirror%20Work

Continuing from my previous posts...

2. Square Frame: This is the traditional or most used method. I am posting for a circular Mirror. But the same goes well with a square mirror. Look at the pictures below:

Stick the mirror where you want to stitch it. Or if you can hold it with you fingers,  it is well and good

Bring the thread from under the fabric at A and insert at B making a long straight stitch. Again take out C and bring down at D.

Take out the thread to the surface at E and bring it under the fabric at F.

Finally take out the thread on to the surface of fabric at G and bring down at H. With this we have finished one square frame. But we need to stitch one more square frame intersecting this one.

 So start at I and finish it off as shown below.

This is the basic frame. For paillettes we can stop with this as they are very light and if the frame is tight they will not fall off. But for mirrors, we need to cover the rough edges as they will damage the fabric and also may be dangerous for the person wearing the dress. There are many ways or varieties of stitches covering the edges which I will be posting in the next posts.


3. Rectangular Frame:

This is stitched like in the above one. But here the frame is in the shape of rectangle. This is used for square as well as round mirrors.


4. Sri Chakra or Triangular or Six point Star Frame:

This is stitched the same way as in Square Frame. But instead of four only three stitches per frame are used. This is suitable only for round mirrors.


I hope my tutorials are clear. If they are not or you have any doubts, please mail me...


Wait for more posts.....on mirror work....

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Whipped Wheel-1

TAST-2012-11th Week-Whipped Wheel

This weeks challenge announced by Sharon is Whipped Wheel. Here is the link you can visit her page:

http://www.pintangle.com/journal/2012/3/13/take-a-stitch-tuesday-week-11.html 

Though I knew about the whipped and woven wheels I never had a chance to explore them much. I also don't have much practice. But they both are very easy to stitch. Here are my first attempts. I need lot of doodling before I can think of something creative.

Any way I am using various other stitches (as per TAST rules)in combination with this stitch. Let us see how far I am successful.

I started with straight stitch base. Then Fly stitch and two Straight  Stitches.

Here I completed the whipping and in the second one I added a chain circle.

 This was my second one. 

 This is Detached Chain.

 This one is again fly stitch.

 This one is done on a base of Detached Chain Stitch.

I ended up adding some beads. 

This one is Pistil Stitch.

This is the whipped wheel on a frame work pf pistil stitch.


Well with heavy power cuts, severe back pain, I am not able to do much. But I will try and keep you p[posted.

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Running Stitch-3

TAST-2012-10th Week-Running Stitch

Here are some more of my explorations of the stitch:

I could have done better because I had so many ideas. But with constant power cuts and hot weather, it is difficult to find time for my hobbies. Any ways, I will work on them and post them later....I need to go along with all other TAST participants....

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Running Stitch-1

TAST-2012-10th Week-Running Stitch

This week Sharon has announced the Running Stitch for the challenge.You can visit Sharon's Page for TAST-2012 here:

http://www.pintangle.com/journal/2012/3/6/take-a-stitch-tuesday-week-10.html

Running Stitch is very simple and easy but also one of the stitches which can be combined with many other stitches easily. The beauty of this stitch is that one can create so many patterns out of this stitch.

The Running Stitch is used in India in the most famous traditional embroidery of Kanta. In fact Kanta work is one of my favorite work. I have embroidered many saris, blouses, kurthas in this work for the simple reason that it is very easy to work and one can finish off early. There is a rythum in this stitch/work which when achieved is very soothing on ones nerves like knitting. The beauty of well aligned stitches is the high light of this work.

In Kanta work a simple running stitch is used in many ways and combinations. Motifs like, flowers, animals, human figures and the objects found in every day lives of the simple village folk, geometrical patterns are worked. 

Running stitch is also used in Embroideries from Japan of Kogin and Shashiko which are more geometrical.

Here is one of my creations in Kanta which I designed and embroidered with the help of my mother and sister long time back:


This is a mustard colour fine cotton sari from Venkatagiri with green and gold borders. Me and my sister both bought two of the same saris. The design in the borders are different but the peacock motifs on the pallu of both saris are same. I used only three colours-black red and green.

 These are the borders on top and bottom of the sari.

A closer look at the border.

These are the Peacocks on Pallu.

I couldn't photograph my sis's sari. I will try to get one. But do keep an eye for more on this stitch as incidentally I have been working on this stitch building up a sampler.

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Couching Stitches-2

TAST-2012-9th Week-Couching Stitches

Here are some more of my exploration of Couching Stitches. 

I was so busy with my work that I hardly had any time to do much on these stitches. But I am jotting down all my ideas for further exploration after all this is over. Or else, it is difficult to keep up the pace and I will be left behind. 

But do keep an eye on my blog for more.....

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Couching Stitches-1

TAST-2012-9th Week-Couching Stitches

This week Sharon has announced Couching Stitches for the challenge. You can visit Sharon's Page at Pintangle for further information.

I have not done much couching before. So I am very excited to get this opportunity to explore the couching stitches. here are my first set of attempts:

My stitches are not perfect as I am finding it difficult sometimes to work on even weave fabric. I need more practice. Moreover after working many hours on key board, when I finally take up this needle work late in the night, my fingers don't co-operate with me :) :)....

Well these are my first attempt and I am warming up. But I have some idea in my mind for exploring which may be different and unique. Well let me explore and see whether they turn out well. So Keep an eye.

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Chain Stitch-1

TAST-2012-8th Week-Chain Stitch

The Stitch for 8th Week in TAST challenge is-Chain Stitch. The link to Sharon's page who is running this challenge is here:

http://www.pintangle.com/journal/2012/2/21/take-a-stitch-tuesday-week-8.html

Here are my efforts:

1. Chain Stitch

2. Chain Stitch with varied lengths of stitches

3. Magic Chain or Checkered Chain Stitch

4. Chain Stitch with Running Stitch

5. Chain Stitch with French Knots

6.Chain Stitch with Bullion Knots

7. Chain Stitch with Beads in the center

8. Chain Stitch whipped at the bottom

 9. Chain Stitch whipped both sides in one direction

10. Chain Stitch whipped both sides in opposite direction

11. Chain Stitch whipped as a whole

12. Two Chain Stitch rows whipped in one direction

13. Two Chain Stitch rows whipped in opposite direction

14. Chain Stitch with glass tube beads

15. Chain Stitches laced

16. Chain Stitch with beads

17. Chain Stitch laced on one side

18. Chain Stitch laced on both sides

19. Chain Stitch-each stitch laced separately

20. Chain Stitch laced from the center

21. Chain Stitch with three coloured threads (6 strands each)

22. Three Chain Stitch rows interwoven

23. Herring Bone with Chain Stitch

Well there are lots and lots of ideas but no time. I will do them sometime. So keep an eye.....

I refrained form exploring, other varieties of chain stitches as they may be featured in TAST some time in the future.

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Chevron Stitch-2

TAST-2012-6th Week-Chevron Stitch

I could not post much these past few days as I was not feeling well. I sort of felt very tired and listless and din't have the energy to spend long periods of time on my computer. My experimenting with the stitches is also not much but I am going to pick up by this week end hopefully. 

Here are some more of my experiments with Chevron stitch:

13. with French knots,

14. with glass(tube) beads and other embellishments

15. with double shaded metallic thread

16. with different colour threads and Fly Stitch anchored with Detached Chain Stitch

17. with Detached Chain Stitch and Slipped Detached Chain Stitch

18 with Silk Ribbon and Chevron used for couching

19. with Fly Stich anchored with Detached Chain (upside down)

20. First Petal Stitch was embroidered and then half Chevron Stitch was embroidered lacing around the Chain Stitches on the top side. I hope you can get the idea clearly if not, I will post a tutorial separately.

21. Chevron used as waves with different coloured threads.

22. Beaded Chevron

I still have lot to do with this stitch. I havenot yet touched the half chevron. I have so many ideas. But for now this will have to do. I am lagging behind by two weeks now.

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