Wow factor.

I must be a fan of the wow factor.  I tend to show my projects when they're finished; maybe a hint at the beginning, not much of the process, and then the big wow, look at this.  This morning I realized that I am in the middle of a lot of projects, and that I won't have much to blog about if I don't take advantage of that. 

 
Remember my string quilting idea from last week?  I began playing around with my hand-dyed jersey by cutting out the front and one sleeve and layering colors together.  When I string pieced the first strip onto the front, I decided to add some handpainting and stitching unique to that segment. 

 
I am amazed at how quickly the color comes together sometimes.  I use SetaColor textile paints by Pebeo.  I was out of yellow, but was able to use a metallic lime green Jacquard paint I had on hand,  mixed into some white and turquoise.

 
For reverse applique projects, I like the durability of buttonhole thread -- but not the limited color palette.  So for this project, I expanded my toolbox with variegated thread, pearl cotton, and embroidery floss.  I made up a little swatch of each thread stitched on a scrap of the fabric, and decided to go with a monochromatic scheme of embroidery floss in 3 shades of blue-green.  (Most of my embroidery floss is leftover from my cross-stitching days in high school.  I meticulously organized it at the time onto little cardboard spools.  I'm glad it doesn't take up much space or I probably would have gotten rid of it years ago.)

 
I first stitched one complete fern to make sure I liked it, then got going on just the lighter green bits.  As you can see, there is another "string" to the right in a brighter blue -- I stitched that on after the painting (since I wanted the painting to go right to the edge of the strip), but before the embroidery.  I might do the same pattern on that strip in a different color, or a different pattern altogether, or possibly even leave it blank.

Sometimes you get going on a project and you come to a point where you don't like it.  Or you wonder if the fabric you dyed is "good enough" for all the hand-sewing effort.  I am working at embracing the process and being less concerned with the final result.

I have several other projects to share, and hope for a calm and healthy week to share them with you!  Last week passed in a blur of taking care of sick kids and rushing off to meetings.  Today I'm looking forward to catching up on work and Downton Abbey, and starting the audiobook Wolf Hall.

Comments

[Jane]

Thank you for sharing your "middle" moments. It is inspiring especially to someone who struggle with not blogging without finished projects. Maybe I will start posting more of my middle moments too. Thank you!