New Post After a Long Time

It has been ages since I wrote something on both of my blogs. Lots of things have happened during this time. My beloved dad passed away after being hospitalized for almost a month. My mother-in-law underwent a major eye operation. I actually had no time and the mindset to even think about embroidery and sewing.

Recently I managed to find some time to embroider on the yoke of a dress for my younger daughter. She is 1 year old now.

For this simple project I have used some shades of pink for the flower on the right, and variegated thread (consisting of lilac, off-white, peach, blush pink colors) for the flower on the left. I just wanted to experiment needle painting with variegated thread. I outlined the leaves instead of filling up with long and short stitch (to save time of course, because I have planned to finish this project in a week's time.)

Embroidering after a long break is so refreshing, as well as connecting with you all too, of course.

Progress on Doily and Neck Design

I have made a little progress on the doily and the neck design projects. I am doing both the projects simultaneously, so that I could make some progress on both. The center flower on the doily is almost finished (but I am having trouble embroidering on the satin fabric), and in the neck design, I am focusing on the blue flowers, hoping to finish them today or tomorrow. Here are the pictures.

Have a happy Monday and a great week ahead!

One Finished Project And Five Unfinished Projects

Hi friends! Sorry for being missing in action over the past three months—I was away on a long vacation. Since I was traveling most of the time, I couldn’t work on any embroidery or sewing projects, nor did I get the chance to update my blog or visit yours.

Once I returned, I decided to take stock of my unfinished projects before starting anything new. To my surprise, there were six in total! I made a promise to myself to finish them all before beginning a fresh project. So far, I’ve managed to complete one out of the six.

Finished Project:

Cushion cover with embroidered flowers

Unfinished Projects:

1. Embroidered Doily:

2. Kameez neck design:

3. Pillow cover with embroidered roses:

4. Embroidery on a silk sari:

5. Embroidery on a crape sari:

All the unfinished projects except the last one involve long and short embroidery. This is one of the reasons for the delay. Also, I could not spend more time on embroidering for the past one year due to various reasons. Now, as I have got more time to spend on embroidery and sewing, I have determined to complete these projects that I have been keeping on hold for a long time. I will update you on the progress of these projects.

Now, I am starting to visit all your blogs. Have a lovely Monday!

Neck Design Project Update

Here are some photos of the neck design I am embroidering now. I finished the big pink flower at the bottom of the design and now am moving on further upward. But it doesn't look like more progress, does it?

Embroidered Neck Design---Progress

Exploring Long and Short Stitch Variations in My Neck Design

This is my progress so far on the neck design! I’ve been slowly bringing the floral motifs to life, and as you can see, the two large pink flowers are finally taking shape. Each time I sit down to work on this piece, I’m reminded why I love embroidery so much — every single stitch adds dimension, personality, and a story of its own.

Now, if you take a closer look at the two flowers, you might notice a subtle difference between them. Can you spot it? Both are worked in long and short shading, but the technique I used for each flower is slightly different — and that small variation has created two very distinct visual effects.

For the first flower, I used a method where I did not split back into the previous rows of stitches. Instead, I began each new row by inserting the needle at the endpoints of the stitches from the previous row. This approach results in smoother transitions between rows, with a more satin-like surface. The color blending feels more directional, creating a layered, petal-like texture. From what I’ve read and observed, this method seems to be quite common in East Asian embroidery traditions, where precision and surface smoothness are emphasized.

For the second flower, I used the traditional splitting method, where each new stitch pierces or overlaps the stitches from the previous row. This creates a much softer blending effect — the colors seem to melt into one another, giving the flower a more painterly, natural look. It also adds a touch of texture, since the stitches interact more with each other.

It’s fascinating how such a small change in stitching technique can make such a big difference in the final outcome. The first flower appears more structured and crisp, while the second looks softer and fuller. Both have their own charm, and together, they add richness and variation to the overall design.

Working on this neck design has been a wonderful exercise in patience and observation. Sometimes, I find that experimenting on the same motif — using slightly different methods — teaches me more than following a fixed pattern ever could. Each stitch becomes a little experiment, a chance to understand how thread, tension, and direction interact with light and fabric.

I’m still working my way through the rest of the piece. The leaves and smaller flowers are next, and I’m planning to continue experimenting with stitch variations to see how they influence the overall look. I’ll be sure to share more progress soon — hopefully with both of these pink blossoms fully completed and glowing against the dark background fabric.

Have you ever tried using two different methods for long and short stitch in the same project? I’d love to hear about your experience and which effect you prefer — the smooth precision of the first, or the soft blending of the second!

Embroidered Neck Design---Progress

Do you remember this one? It’s a project I had to set aside some time ago because I ran out of threads right in the middle of stitching. I didn’t want to substitute colors and risk losing the harmony of the design, so I decided to wait until I could get the exact shades I wanted.

Now that I finally have all the threads ready, I’m excited to start working on it again! There’s something so satisfying about returning to a piece after a break — it feels a bit like catching up with an old friend. I’ve made just a little progress so far; I’ve added a few leaves to the design and started planning the big pink flower that will bloom on the right side.

The leaves are bringing lovely life and balance to the composition, and I can already imagine how beautiful the finished piece will look once that large flower is completed. Sometimes, even slow progress feels rewarding. Each stitch adds a bit of color and joy. I’m looking forward to sharing more updates as this embroidery comes back to life!

Hi friends,

I hope you’re all doing well. We recently shifted to a new place, which explains my long break from blogging. To refresh myself, I’ve started a new project (hopefully a quick one, since it doesn’t involve long and short stitch). It’s a small embroidery design on a bag I’m making as a gift. The fabric I’m using is a silk-cotton blend. I traced a simple pattern and began the embroidery yesterday. Here are some pictures.

This is what I have done so far.

 

The stitches I am using are buttonhole stitch for the leaves, fly stitch for the flower petals, and French knots for the flower centers, and I am using variegated floss for the flowers.

Note: I am still waiting for the 25th follower on my blog and am ready to announce the next give-away. It's a pattern book again. Watch out for the give-away!
My hearty thanks to all my followers and visitors for keeping my blog still alive on the blogosphere.

Chain-Stitch Flower

Rediscovering an Old Embroidery Project: A Cushion Cover in Progress

Yesterday, while I was cleaning out the closets, I stumbled upon something that immediately brought back a rush of memories — a half-finished embroidered cushion cover tucked away beneath a stack of fabric. I remembered starting this piece several months ago with great excitement, only to set it aside when other projects took priority. Between experimenting with new stitches and diving deep into larger, more intricate works, this little project somehow slipped out of sight — and out of mind.

When I looked at the design, I immediately knew I wanted to continue working on it. After spending weeks on a more time-consuming embroidery project (especially one involving long and short stitch shading), I realized how refreshing it would be to switch gears and return to something simpler. Sometimes, a small and straightforward piece can be just what your creative spirit needs — a way to reconnect with the joy of stitching without overthinking the process.

This cushion cover uses only three stitches: the chain stitch, the satin stitch, and French knots. That’s all it takes — and yet these three can create such depth and texture when combined thoughtfully. The chain stitch outlines the main shapes, giving the design a rhythmic flow. Satin stitches to fill the petals at the center of the big flower with soft, solid color, while French knots add that playful, dotted texture for the pollens.

As I stitched last night, I was thinking how lovely this design would look done entirely in redwork style — just one vibrant shade of red against a neutral background. There’s something timeless about monochrome embroidery; it highlights the texture and rhythm of each stitch, letting the craftsmanship shine.

I plan to finish this cushion cover over the next few evenings — nothing rushed, just a few relaxed stitching sessions with a cup of coffee nearby. I’ll share photos of my progress as I go, and perhaps some of you will feel inspired to pull out an old unfinished project of your own. 

Happy stitching!

---Flora

Decorative Pattern on Doily---Experimenting with Long-and-Short Shading

I would like to thank Megan of ElmsleyRose.blogspot.com for helping me take a strong decision to discontinue working on doily no. 1 and start doily no. 2.


This is my progress on the decorative pattern on doily no. 2 so far.

I am working with long-and-short shading instead of chain stitch filling, as I wanted to try the design with long-and-short shading.

Spring Bouquet---Done

I have finished the spring bouquet project.

The stitches used in this project are: stem, fly, bullion and French knot.

The book has lot of simple yet elegant designs like this one.

Spring Bouquet

Today I started a small embroidery project on a handkerchief. The design is a bouquet of spring flowers. I took the design from one of the Ondori books "A New Look for Needlework." It's a lovely design. I have almost finished it.


Here are some photos of the project.

I will post the remaining photos tomorrow.

Bullion Roses

I embroidered these bullion roses yesterday. I took the roses design from a pattern book and added the leaves on my own. I am going to sew this piece into a pocket on my little one's A-line dress which I am planning to sew next week or I will make this into a little purse. I will show you when it is done.

I Am Excited to Receive a Comment from Trish Burr!

I am excited to receive a comment from one of the masters of embroidery, Trish Burr, in one of my posts.

Thanks, Trish! Your words are very encouraging.

I recently bought Trish Burr's another book "Redoute's Finest Flowers in Embroidery," which has many beautiful flower projects. I have planned to do some of these projects on hankies and bags.

I hope 2011 has started well for all of you. This new year, I have plans to do a lot of projects, but with a resolution not to take up more than three projects at a time and not to increase the count of unfinished projects. You will see a lot of activities coming forth on my blog---book giveaways, book reviews, tutorials, and much more.

In the photos below you will see the completed long-and-short Chinese lotus embroidery. I have strongly decided to take up another project only after completing this. I have also decided to take a short break from long-and-short embroidery and would like to try my hands on other forms of embroidery. I will start a new project in a day or two.

This design is from the book Traditional Chinese Designs by Barbara Christopher, published by Dover Publications. 

Before signing off, I would like to wish you all (though it is belated) "A Very Happy New Year!"

Long-and-Short Chinese Lotus---Progress

Sorry for the short post. I just wanted to share with you all my progress of the long-and-short Chinese lotus.

More images

Here are some close-up pictures of my silk saree embroidery.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions or ideas.

Friends, I'm Back!

Hi Friends,

I am back after a long break. I try to update my blog everyday, but lot of responsibilities keep me away from devoting some time for my blog. Well...below are some photos that show the progress of the embroidery on the silk saree which I mentioned in my last post. Actually, I did not finish embroidering the whole saree. My poor friend, she understood my situation and said I can finish it whenever I find time. I have a dozen UFOs and I keep on adding UFOs. I hate this habit of mine. Now I am planning to finish at least the two projects---the Chinese yellow lotus and the silk saree---as fast as i can.

I will post the close-up images tomorrow.

Long-and-Short Sweet Pea---Images

When I was digging out my closet today I found this piece which I embroidered in 2009. I did not post the images of the finished piece then. I thought of sharing some images with you all now.