CQJP 2017 March Block Motifs 6 & 7

Feather stitched vegetaton accented with petite glass seed beads created motif 6 on my Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) 2017 block.

Size 12 green perle cotton floss was used for the feather stitches.

Motif 7 was added to both sides of the block. 

Using size 5 variegated perle cotton, I created vines with the barred chain stitch.

The flowers were made with a variegated size 8 perle cotton by making groups of 3 bullion stitches. Straight stitches were placed between the bullion stitches and over the ends where the bullion stitches met the vines.

My progress on this block has been slow, but I am enjoying it!

I am joining the Monday Stitchery Link Party #134 at Super Mom - No Cape! 

CQJP 2017 is a challenge to create a crazy quilt block that is at least 8-inches square in size each month. You may learn more about it and see the blocks completed this year here at the CQJP 2017 blog.

Related Posts:

CQJP 2017 March Block Motif 1 and Seams 1 & 2 - here

CQJP 2017 March Block Motifs 2-4 and Seam 3 - here

CQJP 2017 March Block Motif 5 - here

CQJP 2017 February Block - here

CQJP 2017 January Block - here

My CQJP 2017 progress is all shared on this Pinterest Board.

Thank you for stopping by!

Renee

CQJP 2017 March Block Motif 5

This is the 5th motif added to my Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) 2017 March block. I had a bit of fun playing with Sharon B.'s Stitchers Templates making this one. 

Click on any image for a larger view.

First, I traced a few of the wavy vine lines from the templates onto the back (muslin foundation) of my block with a pencil.

The vines were created with whipped chain stitches.

A chain stitch was added following the lines of one of the vines with size 8 DMC #954 perle cotton. Size 8 DMC #125 perle cotton whipped around the chain stitches.

After giving some thought to the way I wanted the vines to wrap around one another, I continued adding chain stitches to the other vines. 

In this photo of the back, you may see that I wanted the vine sketched on the left to cross over in front of the middle vine on the lower junction. So, I embroidered the middle vine first. On the upper junction, I wanted the middle vine to be in front, so I stopped just below where those lines met and embroidered the vine to the left before continuing the middle vine. 

I did not whip these two vines until both had been embroidered with chain stitches. 

You may also note that I did not follow the entire shape from this vine. I wanted leave enough room to add the flowers.

After whipping the chain stitches, I added a pearl bead to the top of each stem, and then added rice beads for each of the "spokes" I had traced on the back. For these flower petals, I added the middle "spoke" first and then added two beads to each side, to be sure they all fit together well.

Small straight stitches were added to the vines with the variegated green thread to add a bit more detail.

This was such a fun motif to create!

Thank you for stopping by!
Renee

Notes: 

I am not affiliated with Sharon B.'s templates. However, I did receive them in exchange for an honest review and have so much fun playing with them!

CQJP stands for Crazy Quilt Journal Project. You may find the CQJP 2017 blog here.

Related Blog Posts:

CQJP 2017 March Block Seams 1 & 2 and Motif 1 - here

CQJP 2017 March Block Seam 3 and Motifs 2, 3 & 4 - here

CQJP 2017 February Block Tote - here

CQJP 2017 January Block - here

On this Pinterest board, I am saving each step of my CQJP 2017 progress. 

TAST Stitches 79, 97 and 100

This round of TAST (Take a Stitch Tuesday) had 100 stitches.

Although this round of TAST ends this week, I have 30 stitches I missed along the way that I plan to complete before the end of the year.

TAST Stitch 79: Whipped Spoke Stitch

The Whipped Spoke Stitch was a fun one to work. I used a size 5 variegated pearl cotton.

You may see how it looked after adding the spokes.

 And how it looked after whipping the spokes. Later, I plan to add a bead to the center.

I realized today that I shared this stitch on Instagram in July, but forgot to share it here on the blog. Oops!

TAST Stitch 97: Feather and Chain Stitch

This was my first attempt with the Feather and Chain Stitch, and I found it fun to play with.

I used 2 strands of DMC 93, a variegated blue.

TAST Stitch 100: Drizzle Stitch

The Drizzle Stitch is always a fun one! 

Once again, I used the stitch to create a jellyfish. The body was outlined with a split-stitch and then covered with a satin stitch using size 12 white perle cotton.

I have used this stitch in the past. Below are photos of a few favorites.

The green vegetation at the bottom of the block I embellished for Sandy B. in an Under the Sea Round Robin was created with the drizzle stitch.

 

These jellyfish - inspired by the work of Kathlein Klein - used the drizzle stitch on a block I embellished for Mary B. in an Under the Sea Round Robin. 

You may click on any photo for a larger view.

These 3 TAST stitches were all worked on my CQJP 2017 March block. 

This Pinterest board was created to record the work on my CQJP 2017 blocks. 

TAST stands for Take A Stitch Tuesday, a personal stitching challenge offered by Sharon B. of Pintangle.com. A new round of TAST will begin in January. However, you may work any of the stitches shared this year. The list is at the bottom of the TAST FAQ page, here.

CQJP 2017 stands for Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2017. This is an annual challenge to create a crazy quilt block (8-inches square or larger this year) each month. Sign-ups for CQJP 2018 will likely be announced in November and remain open until December. You may find more details here and see blocks completed this year here.

Thank you for stopping by!

Renee

CQJP 2017 March Block - 2 Seams & 1 Motif

Better late than never? Last week, I finally felt inspired to work on another under-the-sea themed block, so I pulled out my CQJP 2017 March block and added this seahorse.

I traced the shape on the back foundation of the block with light pencil marks. Using the marks on the back to guide me, I outlined the body with split stitches. The body and stomach area were then filled with satin stitches using a single strand of variegated DMC floss. DMC 4077 was used for the tummy and DMC 90 was used for the head and body.

The first seam embellished on the block was created with a strand of size 5 DMC #4020 and buttonhole stitches in various clusters and angles. At a later stage of embellishement, beads will be added to this seam.

The second seam was a quick one. Fly stitches were created with 2 strands of DMC 93 variegated blue floss.

If you have not heard about CQJP, it stands for Crazy Quilt Journal Project. It is a personal challenge to complete a crazy quilt block at least 8-inches square each month. Registration generally opens in November and closes in December the year prior to the challenge. You may read more about it here and see blocks others have created here.

Related Blog Posts

Seahorse Tutorial - here
CQJP 2017 January Block - here
CQJP 2017 February Block - here
My CQJP 2017 Pinterest Board - here

I am linking this post with Monday Stitchery Link Party #119 at Super Mom - No Cape! 

If you have a blog and do hand embroidery, I hope you will join the party!

Thank you so much for stopping by!
Renee

CQJP 2017 February Block Tote

The February block for my Crazy Quilt Journal Project is 

completely embellished and sewn into a pocket on a tote bag.

(This is a photo heavy post. 

You may click on any photo for a larger view.)

The set was donated to an auction to raise funds for engineering scholarships. There are over 34 hours of embroidery and beading in this block. The octopus was created with the use of a Stitcher's Revolution Sailor's Delight Iron-on Transfer. 

I have a confession. The tote bag took about 4 hours longer than anticipated to assemble. (Tip: If using polyester straps, take extra care when ironing your nearly completed tote bag. You might be a little quicker ripping out all of the seams to replace the partially melted straps and sew everything back together than I was, but I would love to save you the trouble!) 

Seam 1:

A buttonhole stitch created with 3 strands of DMC #4050 floss embellished the first seam.

After all of the embroidery was completed, I added Mill Hill Petite Glass Beads #42027 to the seam with a strand of DMC #225 floss. 

Note: When adding beads, I secure each bead to the block. On a piece that will be functional, this is particularly important. If one bead is snagged and pulled off, the other beads will still be attached to the block.

Seam 2:

For the 2nd seam, I back stitched across the seam with size 5 DMC #796 perle cotton. Then I added fly stitches between each of the backstitches.

Seam 3:

A wavy line of fish embellished the 3rd seam. Using 2 strands of DMC #67, each fish was made with a detached chain stitch for the body and 2 straight stitches for the tail. I began by tracing a line on the back foundation fabric and then added the fish.

Motif 3:

The net was added next using a strand of DMC Ecru floss to make small straight stitches for the cloud filling stitch. Then, I wove Watercolours by Caron #000 Natural floss through those foundation stitches. I found this thread to be too thick to pull through the block (even using a large needle). So, I knotted the ends and left them on the top of the block, outside of the seam lines. 

When the block was sewn to the pocket lining fabric, the stitching held the floss more firmly in place. And when the pocket was stitched onto the block, another seam held the thread in place (as seen in the photo above), so it should be quite secure. 

Motif 4:

For the 4th motif, I traced several of the vine-like shapes from Sharon B.'s Crazy Quilt Templates Sets 1 and 2. (I received the templates in return for an honest review, but am not affiliated with them. I do enjoy working with them!) 

Using size 8 DMC #125 perle cotton, I followed the traced lines with a whipped chain stitch. Flowers were added to the vines with sets of 3 detached chain stitches and a small straight stitch using size 8 DMC #48 perle cotton.

Motif 5:

The 5th motif was also created with Sharon B.'s Crazy Quilt Templates. This time, I used size 5 DMC #4045 and the barred chain stitch to create the vines. Flower sequins held into place with size 10/0 Beaders Paradise Rose seed beads completed the motif.

Motif 6:

Feather stitched sea vegetation was added with a strand of size 5 DMC #4125 perle cotton.

Motif 7:

French knots created coral with 3 strands of DMC #52 floss.

Motif 8: 

Sea stars were added next. 

The one on the far left was created with a whipped wheel stitch using a strand of DMC #437 blended with a strand of DMC #3772 floss. 

The bullion stitched sea star near the anchor was made with 2 strands of DMC #4120 floss.

The one beneath that was made with a strand of DMC 3778 blended with a strand of DMC 3779 floss.

The whipped wheel stitched sea star to the left of the net was made with 2 strands of DMC #4130.

To help tack the net down and protect it from snagging in the future, I put a sea star on it. This one was created with 2 strands of DMC #48 and 5 bullion knots. 

Motif 9:

While adding the sea stars, I was careful to leave space for the anchor. (Adding the anchor first would have made it more difficult to work the bullion knots and the whipped wheels.) 

The anchor pendant was attached with clear quilting thread.

Next, size 5 DMC #5283 silver metallic thread was couched down to create a rope/wire holding the anchor. 







Motif 10:

Three small jellies were added with a strand of DMC white floss.

Split stitches were used to create the body outlines and satin stitches filled the body in. Tentacles were created by couching a strand of white floss down with tiny straight stitches.



Motif 11:

Random fish were added to fill in the remainder of the block using 2 strands of DMC #90 floss.

Motif 1 completed:

Three seed beads were then added to complete the seahorse motif.

Thank you so much for stopping by and making it through this fairly long post!
-Renee

Additional Notes:
The Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) is a personal challenge to complete a crazy quilt block each month that measures at least 8- by 8-inches. You may read more about CQJP 2017 here and see blocks others have created here.

Posts related to this block and my CQJP 2017:
CQJP 2017 February Motif 2: Octopus - here
CQJP 2017 February Motif 1: Seahorse - here
CQJP 2017 January Block - here

Every step of my CQJP 2017 progress is shared on this Pinterest board.

I sometimes add sneak peeks of my work on my Instagram account and my Hand Stitched Treasure Facebook page.

CQJP 2017 February Block Motif 2

Well... in my mind, I thought it took me roughly 12 hours to finish the first octopus I embroidered using the octopus design from Aunt Martha's Stitcher's Revolution Sailor's Delight Iron-on Transfers. However, my blog post guesstimated about 10 hours. I decided to time this one...

Please note: this is a photo heavy post. 

I used DMC 3354, 3689, white and black flosses and Mill Hill Petite Glass Beads #42018 to embroider this piece. Stitches used included: split stitch, satin stitch, and the long and short stitch.

Wow. 12 hours and 55 minutes to finish this octopus! 

(I am not very fast - especially with the long and short stitch.)

This is the second motif on my Crazy Quilt Journal 2017 (CQJP 2017) February block. I did not time how long it took to create the seahorse, but I think it was roughly 5 hours. So there are roughly 18 hours of embroidery in this piece so far.

The Crazy Quilt Journal Project is a personal challenge to create a crazy quilt block each month that measures at least 8-inches square. (Obviously, I am running behind schedule.) You may learn more about the CQJP 2017 here and see blocks participants have completed here.

Other posts related to this block include:

February Block Motif 1 - here

CQJP 2017 January Block - here

Every step of my CQJP 2017 project is recorded on this Pinterest board.

Sneak peeks of my work are sometimes shared on Instagram - here and on my Hand Stitched Treasure Facebook Page - here.

Thank you for stopping by!

Renee