Tag: embroidery cursive

Are We There Yet?

Dear Liza,

I’ve been working on the French Map Quilt for a couple of months now, and I think I’m almost done with the top.

My problem is, I can’t look at the WHOLE thing at once, except when I take a picture of it. At about a meter across, it’s a lot to focus on. Below, I have broken it up into four photos.



Looking here, I can see that I need more ‘grazing’ icons on the Massif Central and heading up into the Alps.

Here, the Pyrenees Mountains look a bit bare. And should there be something at the shore? Wavy lines to show the foam and dunes, maybe?

It’s hard for me to be objective… what do you think?

For now, I’m going to fold it up and let it sit. I’ll get back to it when I can see it fresh.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Cities in Cursive

Dear Liza,

I love doing embroidery. It can be restful and contemplative, just making stitch after stitch and feeling a picture grow under my fingers. But sometimes I wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew.


My French map quilt needs the city names, and these pieces of paper aren’t going to do the trick. The names need to be stitched. All 27 of them!

So I practiced a bit, and then wrote, in pencil, each name on the map. You need to squint a bit to see them, I’m afraid.

Then came the stitching.

I used the embroidery hoop because the fabric felt floppy and it gave me more control, and it worked pretty well.

Once the name was embroidered, I used a small blanket stitch to make sure the city “dots” stayed in place.

I’m still working on this, but making progress. Moving Paris and some other cities slowed me down a bit.

I ask your patience, and my own, as well. Breathe and stitch, Judy. Breathe and stitch.

Love,

Grandma Judy