Stitchalong: Pink Mallow

Today's element of the #PeaceForUkraineSAL is the pink mallow flower. It's a big bloom, and adds some shiny pinks to the mix. There are quite a few different bits to this one: from the little bud done in satin stitch to the central stamen in french knots to the 3 layer long-and-short stitch that makes up the flower itself. And then all the outlines and little details. 

But somehow this one didn't feel like it took that long to me. I really enjoyed the repetitive nature of the stitching that makes up the flower. Like always, when you're at the first layer of stitching it doesn't look like much. But as you add in the colours and the petals fill up it starts to look really great. 

I probably could have extended the medium pink a bit further out into the petals, but I am happy with how this turned out. I like the mix of colours and think that the little details like the central cream and green streaks around the stamen add so much. The pale pink split stitch outline on the petals really makes it pop as well. I think it has a sense of a cupped flower with those details. 

I've really been following along with the pattern and not deviating much, and I enjoy the design and all the thoughtfulness put into the smallest bits to make them just so. All of the shading really makes the design, to my eye. Among the traceable patterns in the instructions there is also one with directional guide lines drawn in, and I've been using that one for this week's and last week's work in particular. To make the petal edges look distinct, it's useful to change the direction of your stitches, and seeing them sketched out in the pattern is so helpful. It saves time when someone else has already thought about and worked out the best placement for the effect you want! 

This flower is really lovely and I'm very impressed with the finished look. I wasn't fully sure I liked the pinks when I started but I love the finished bloom. Only two more flowers and then I will be done this project. But there's no limit on the support we can give to Ukraine. Victory to Ukraine!

Stitchalong: Oh the Red Kalyna!

This week I finished up the two sprays of kalyna berries on my #PeaceForUkraineSAL project. As always, you can find this design on Embroidery Art by Nat's website.

This element may look simple but it wasn't; it took longer than some of the larger elements! This is because the berries are all done in padded satin stitch. So, to make them you're basically stitching them twice.

I outlined each one in one-strand split stitch, then filled in the berry with rough long split stitches. I made the pad stitches at a 90° angle to the direction I wanted the final stitches to lie, since there will be better coverage if the stitches are sitting opposite - no creeping between as might happen if they were all lying the same way. 

Anyhow, after all that split stitching came the second layer of satin stitch in two strands. Each berry was finished and then outlined in stem stitch, and I added a french knot to each to give them that berry look. Most were fine but a couple of the knots slid down between two stitches so I added another one on top in that case. I just keep fiddling until it looks about right ;)

The stems were a nice quick whipped back stitch and I'm glad part of these two sprays was easy since I found this element very fiddly indeed! But I love the finished look and the pad stitching really does make them pop off the backing nicely. Next up, I'll be working on the pink mallow flower at the bottom of the design.

The instructions give a little bit of the history, legend and/or meanings behind each of the elements, and I think people may be familiar with the Kalyna (or viburnum) now that the folk song Chervona Kalyna seems to be everywhere. Today I'm sharing my favourite version: 

Marigold on my Stitchalong

More updates on my #PeaceForUkraineSAL project! This week's element is this cheery bright marigold. It has french knots, satin stitch and split stitch outlines. Once again there is some shading of a deeper colour in the centre of the petals, though it's quite subtle here. I love the effect of it each time it's used. 

There are three bands of colour, all kind of rosy coral pinks. After satin stitching the petals, they are all outlined using single strand split stitch. I find split stitch a bit wobbly but when I switch to split backstitch I get neater stitches and better curved lines. Either one is fine, I just find backstitch easier! (what's the difference between them? Great explanation at Needle N Thread)

The inner petals are done in the lighter yellow of the wheat stalks but when I got to the outer rings and the darker pink, I decided to switch to the slightly darker yellow that I used for the french knots in the centre of the marigold. I like the definition this gives, and it also makes the back layer of petals recede a little visually, which I feel has a bit more of a 3D effect. 

 

This element was actually pretty easy to complete, as it was mainly a lot of satin stitch, which I find quite easy to do. My french knots are getting better with all this practice too! Don't forget that this pattern can be found at the designer's website, Embroidery Art by Nat, and is a Ukraine fundraiser. You can find so many of her other beautiful designs there as well! 

Embroidering some Peace for Ukraine

I recently acquired this embroidery project by Embroidery Art by Nat on Etsy. All the details on it can be found on her Etsy listing and her social media -- essentially she was asking for a donation to a Ukrainian charity (a list can be found on the main post on her website) in return for receiving the pattern. And now you can just buy it outright and stitch along as well, though a donation never goes amiss!

I finally had a chance to get the project started this week. But just barely begun! I found some pale blue linen blend fabric in my stash, and prepped a piece of it for a 10" hoop (she has both an 8" and 10" version to print off).

Just starting...

I used the classic technique of taping the pattern to a window and taping the fabric carefully on top. It was a sunny day and my porch windows make for a bright location. I used a Frixion pen to trace off the fine lines of this pattern, and now the pattern is ready to work on! 

All done!

But I also had to take some time to go through my thread stash and pull out all the colours in this pattern. Fortunately I have most of the 30 recommended colours, so will only have to pop out to buy 8 more skeins to complete my kit bag. 

It's quite a complex image with a lot of different flowers in it -- each one has meaning to Ukrainians, and they are all described and explained in her pattern info. The instructions are clear and cover a lot; the colours and stitches used, a pattern with stitch direction lines drawn in, and as mentioned 2 sizes of the traceable pattern, a colour guide and more. Plus, there are videos on her YouTube channel explaining the sections of the pattern, that show her embroidering the flower while explaining the hows and whys. About half of the pattern is currently posted, and she's working on the next ones while also sharing videos for her other patterns; she has a lot of really interesting designs! 

I'm a Ukrainian Canadian, and so this project is especially meaningful to me right now. I encourage you to keep reading and sharing information about what Ukraine is suffering right now, and to stand up and support Ukraine. Fellow Canadians, you can also write to our government about their decision to send turbines to Germany (aka Russia) this week. If we all speak up, we can keep Ukraine in focus. But being able to stitch quietly while thinking about the situation is a way to keep from burning out, to stay engaged and involved. And so I've begun this project and will share my progress along the way.