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.

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!

Decorative Pattern on Doily---A little progress

Steady Progress on My Decorative Embroidery Pattern (Inspired by the Ondori Book)

Lately, I’ve been carving out a little pocket of time each day — about half an hour — to continue working on this colorful decorative embroidery pattern. Even though my progress is slow, I’m genuinely happy with how steadily it’s coming along. Sometimes, small and consistent effort adds up beautifully over time, especially with a design as detailed and layered as this one.

The pattern I’m working on is inspired by the Ondori book Embroidery of Roses — a timeless Japanese embroidery guide known for its delicate floral motifs and elegant stitchwork. The Ondori books have always fascinated me; they combine traditional artistry with a graceful modern touch, and even their simplest designs carry a refined sense of balance and color. This particular motif captures that spirit perfectly — bold yet harmonious.

In my piece, I’ve been playing with vibrant color transitions — rich orange petals blending into cool blues and purples, framed by softer tones to give depth. The satin stitches are building up layer by layer, creating a soft sheen that catches the light beautifully. You can still see some of the pencil outlines in places — a little reminder that every embroidery project is a journey in stages.

Even with limited time each day, I find these short stitching sessions incredibly relaxing. They help me reconnect with the tactile joy of thread and fabric — the slow rhythm of each stitch feels meditative after a long day. Progress may be gradual, but every little bit adds a touch of color and satisfaction.

I’ll keep sharing updates as this pattern unfolds, and I hope it inspires you to pick up an unfinished piece or start a small daily embroidery habit of your own. A few quiet minutes with needle and thread can truly brighten the day. 

Here are the pictures!

Ondori books are available at the links below:

Amazon USA

Amazon UK

Embroidery Details

• Pattern: Decorative floral design from Ondori – Embroidery of Roses

• Stitches Used: Satin stitch, long and short stitch, chain stitch and split stitch

• Threads: Cotton embroidery floss in orange, purple, blue, and light beige tones

• Fabric: Cream-colored cotton

Blooming Bookmark---Part 4

Sorry friends. I've been “out of action” for a while... I haven't had even a little spare time for over a month.

However, I found some time today to finish the tutorial.

Step 7: After we are done with the second row we are now going to start the third row which is also the final row. Thread one strand of the darkest shade of pink in your needle. Bring up your needle by splitting the center stitch of the second row and down at a point on the inner edge of the flower. Continue this on the left side and then the right side. Now you have completed shading petal no.1.
 

Step 8: Repeat Steps 5 thru 7 in all the petals. First Petals labeled as B, then C, and at last D.

Step 9: Fill in the center of the flower with french knots with different shades of threads of your choice. I used yellow and brown shades.

Voila! Your flower is done!

Step 10: We should now cut the flower out from the fabric. Make a slit from the edge of the fabric and toward the outer edge of the flower. Carefully cut the fabric on the edges making sure you don't run your scissors into the buttonhole stitches. This will spoil the whole thing.

Step 11: Follow the photos below to make a loop at the top of the flower.

Sew buttonhole stitch to cover the loop.

Insert a 8-inch long satin ribbon and make a knot at the loop. The ribbon should be of same length on both sides of the knot.

The blooming bookmark is ready now. You can use the flower in other creative ways too.


Did you like this tutorial? Please let me know through your comments.

Blooming Bookmark---Part 3

Dear friends,

I should say sorry to all of you for taking a long break from blogging without informing you all and without completing the Blooming Bookmark tutorial. I feel bad for keeping you waiting. I visited my mom, dad, and siblings last month and stayed at our home for quite some time. I had a very nice time there, however, I didn't find enough time to update the blog. I returned home last week, and after a month-long hiatus I managed to write on my blog only today.

Let us continue with the next step of the tutorial.

Step 5: We are going to start the long and short shading on petal A. I have used three shades of pink for this petal. Before starting the first row of the soft shading, draw guidelines for direction using a pencil. Then outline the petal with split stitch with the lightest shade of pink. Using the same shade, work long and short stitches with one strand of thread by carefully following the guidelines drawn. It is always better to divide the petal into half vertically, and start from the center and work on the left side of the petal. Upon completing it, start again from the center and work on the right side. Work your long and short stitches as closely as possible. The long and short stitches need not be such that all your long stitches are of same length and all your short stitches are of same length. You can vary the length of your stitches to give a natural appeal to the flower. For example, think of painting with a brush. If your strokes are of same length and the direction is only from top to down (and not from the sides) then your painting won't look natural. The same thing applies here as well. The image here shows the completed first row with long and short stitches of alternating lengths.

Step 6: Select the next shade to make row 2. Using one strand of this shade, work the second row of stitches. First, split up through the end of the center stitch of the first row and down into the fabric. The length of the stitch should be similar to the length of the long stitch of the first row. Work only long stitches in the second row and vary their length slightly. As u did in row 1, divide the petal into half vertically, work the left side first and then the right side.

Blooming Bookmark---Part 2

We will see steps 3 and 4 today.

Step 3: Now, with everything set, you are ready to start the embroidery. With two strands of the darkest shade of pink sew buttonhole stitch around the edges of the flower pattern. Buttonhole stitch is used here to avoid frayed edges when the flower is cut out from the fabric. Place the buttonhole stitches very close together.

Step 4: Before you start the shading, observe the flower and find the order of working the flower. When you shade the flower, first shade the petal which is underneath all the other petals. Marked as A in the photo below. Next, petals marked as B, and then petal C. And at last, petal D, which is on top of all the other petals.

You can find steps 1 and 2 here

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.

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.

 

Embroidery on Silk --- Progress

I did not make much progress with my new project. This is what I have done so far on the saree pallu design.

Embroidery on Silk

I have started a new project---embroidery on a silk saree. I am planning to finish this project as fast as possible, because I am doing this for one of my friends. She wants to wear the saree for a family function next month. This project appears to be a daunting task for me.

The image below shows the border of the saree:



The paisley design is my own creation. I have finished only one paisley (in the image below) out of fifteen.



Fourteen more to do........... :-(

And, here is flower design I am stitching on the pallu (the ornamental end piece of the sari usually draped over the shoulder). I decided to test whether long-and-short stitch works fine on silk, and I am really pleased with the result. In my own experience, I find it very easy to stitch long and short on silk than on cotton or georgette. Since I have less time, I didn't use split stitch for the corners of the petals.



I got the design for the pallu from a book I bought at a local embroidery shop. I will post the design tomorrow.

Please keep your fingers crossed for me.... I hope I will make some progress tomorrow.

P.S.: I have kept my Chinese lotus project aside, at least for some time.