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I don't think I have ever stitched so much in one day but I was really hoping to finish this kilim in time for one last post before January is over. I didn't make it as you can see because it is already the 1st day of February. Maybe if I didn't divert to repair a broken handbag handle, I could have......Still, my little tribal house now has a new kilim and I am happy! I finally made something mini after such a long hiatus!
Front
Back
I started this rug on 26th Oct 2010 , shortly before I left for Sri Lanka. This was my 2nd #25 rug and after this one, I am sure I will never go back to #18 again.
And I think you can see why from this picture. The one on the left is embroidered on a #18 canvas. Here is another picture to show you what I mean..
One of my earlier attempts, I finished this small afghan rug on an #18 canvas almost the same time last year. I remember how I was not very pleased with this rug because I was having warping problem despite having completed 3 rugs already. Now, I have the additional dissatisfaction of the design appearing too big and clumsy.
I do love the colours though because they go really well in almost any setting...
Be it with a modern classic like an Eames lounge chair,
Or a couple of old and rusty Cosmos swivel chair that not only do not swivel but can send you sprawling if you are not careful ..
AND especially with the riotously colourful Indian pillows or tapestries that are always screaming for attention,
these blue and red Baluch or Bokkhara rugs make perfect companions.
Quiet, unobtrusive, reliable.
After looking at my life size carpets, I am already thinking I must make my rugs even smaller. Ever work on a #90 canvas? I had just bought some from Natalia , purely out of curiosity and true enough, I can barely see any holes.
I had also bought a classical Tabriz rug pattern called Mist that is to be sewn on a #49. Maybe the same time next year, you will read about my attempt. For the time being, I shall give my bleary eyes some rest...
76 comments:
The kilim is amazing! It resembles the carpet in my living room. I love these colours they bring alive everything in the room
Me encantan las alfombras. Una de ellas me chifla.
Besujis!!!!
Sans! It is still January here, so you made it! I love your Kilim a lot! Congratulations!Now it is time to go to the lower count, true? Are you ready? For example, 40 count and make a pillow in Kilim. Natalia
Hola Sans ¡¡ Son todas preciosas y quedan perfectas donde las has colocado. Un beso ¡¡¡¡
My goodness Sans, it is beautiful. Such patience you must have! i agree beautiful pieces will find a place in any setting.
I think you did an amazing job :-)
The new carpet is really nice and well done, best ever ...
Indeed, the colors make it suitable for many environments, but of course in your palace is spectacular ;-)
Here in the Netherlands it's still january aslo, so for me, you made it ;-)
It's beautiful Sans!!!
I don't have the patience for mini-embroidery, so I really admire those who have the skill and patience!!
Beautiful work Sans! I wish I could see that well. Patience is a virtue I do not possess.
Victoria ♥
Sans!, by the way, you are my January Winner! http://scarletsailsminiatures.blogspot.com/2011/01/januarys-winner.html
Natalia
I am always shocked with your tiny rugs or carpets. It is awesome to stich something so small :)
Well for me will be a huge work!!
I am happy that you stich again, good recovery ;P
Anyway, follow in your new relaxing way of life (you will remember this when you com back to work..LOL)
here is still the 31 January !!!!LOL, so you did it! eh!eh! I love the kilim, great work, just like the real ones, which I love too.
Hugs
Ana
It's still January here in Texas as well so Congrats from me!! The rug is beautiful! I can't imagine stitching that much on any size canvas! It takes talent + patience! A rare combination that you have for sure!
hugs, ara
Happy to see this post, your Kilim is beautiful. Want to see more with seriously smaller gauge, hehe)!!! Hugs and Aloha, A
It's January in Italy as well!
Susan , it's fabulous !!!!! YOU ARE GREAT ! hugs Rosanna
I'm reading this in the very first hour of February and I think it's a nice way to welcome the new month with such a beautiful rug. I can't even imagine to hold that fabric in my hands while searching the hole for the needle to go through *grin* For me it's kind of a fight when sewing and turning the ears of my bears... Great work - have fun with the next one!
Greetings
Birgit
Sans! It is still January here too... for another couple of hours at least! Your newest carpet is LOVELY! And it may make the first ones look a bit too coarse.... but DO NOT get rid of them! They look perfect from HERE! And even though one's abilities improve with the years and practice, the first efforts are still a triumph! Congratulations on another Beautiful carpet! I still aspire to learn to do needlepoint properly! You MUST get a magnifier for the really tiny stitches!
I'm happy to see you stitching again! :)
Es una preciosidad de alfombra y con tanto trabajo... felicidades.
Un abrazo
Well to all we already know about you, Sans, I have to add a big patience.;) The kilim is beautiful.:) And so are the rugs so I hope to see more of them in your post one day :)
Wow really Drora? I am so pleased to hear that my rug resembles the real one you have. Of course, I cannot take credit for the pattern . It is from the book "Making Miniature Oriental Rugs & Carpets" by Meik & Ian McNaughton :).
I made a few mistakes though and my rug is bigger than the one in the book so I had to modify the pattern a bit . 2 mistakes I kept making despite having done 6 rugs so far (I complete about 3 a year). The beginning when I am counting the stitches and the end with the edging. Apart from this 2 aspects, I love every bit about stitching!
I love stitcing too, but I think I can never do something so small as you do. Your kilim look amazing, congratulations:D
Hugs, piikko
Virginia, también me encanta la alfombra. Y quiero que todos mis casas de muñecas para tener alfombras cosidos por mÃ.
¿Acabas de darme un silbato? No entiendo "Una de ellas me chifla" Jeje
Thank you Natalia !!! I have made the pictures big so maybe you can let me know if I am dong it right :):)? Don't be afraid to hurt my feelings, I am made of steel !
I am not happy with the edging and am thinking maybe next time I will just use glue . The edging invariably makes the rug quite thick at the sides.
Also, I need to get thinner needles and maybe finer threads. Was wondering when they say silk threads, do they mean those use for normal sewing?
I think making something small like cushion on #40 is a fantastic idea! I have been thinking of a bench covered in kilim ! :) I am not sure if the supplies like needles and threads can be found here in Singapore though. One thing is for sure, the smallest count canvas available here is 32 and only from an online shop.
Yes, you can ! needles at Mustafa and the silk threads at the bead shop where Pamela took me. Not the cheaper one, the one where they sell fabrics as well. I didn't buy them cos it would have costed me an arm if bought all the colours I wanted but you can buy a few a the time.
love, Rosanna
My most sincere congratulations for such lovely work!!! This kilim is a treasure!!!
Nice to see how many beautiful works you have added to your blog.
Take care and warm regards,
Meli
Mis mas sinceras felicitaciones.
Has conseguido un trabajo fantastico (algo que yo nunca podre hacer, porque soy torpe cosiendo hasta le infinito jejeje)
Me encanta el acabado y los colores.
Se ve que te gustan las alfombras las tienes grandes, medianas, pequeñas, en tamaño real en miniatura jejejeje
Todas seguro que hacen un servicio y ademas quedan genial.
besitos ascension
The kilm is just lovely, it'd get a big tick from my mum, when I was a child learning to embroider the first thing she did was check the back which she said should be as neat as the front - mine never passed that inspection.
Thanks for dropping by to say hi, altho I love 'hanging out' at the cottage it's nice to be back to the buzz of the big city and my computer!!
Preciosas alfombras!
Felicidades,por terminarlas porque tienen muchisimo trabajo,son preciosa.besos.
Todas tus alfombras son muy bellas, pero la que has terminado ahora , con sus 25 agujeros ... ha necesitado más esfuerzo pero el resultado es notablemente mejor ... está perfecta por delante y por detrás. El diseño de la que has hecho con 18 es de una belleza excepcional ...eres una artista :)
!!!Mariajo
Gracias Marta! ¿Va a tratar de coser su propia alfombra un dÃa? Estoy seguro de que les encantará la experiencia! Yo nunca he cosido en mi vida y pensé que lo odiaba. Pero ahora, el bordado es mi pasatiempo favorito!
abrazossss
Janice, THANK YOU!! :) Embroidering does transform me. You know Harry Potter owns a cloak of invisibility , I have the Cloth of Patience Making. Each time I hold a piece of unfinished embroidery and start stitching, I become a a triple P, perfectly patient person. I can sit through a most repetitious and boring conversation and actually listen to every piece of info , said over and over again.
No waiting is too long, no meeting too tedious. But only if I have my Cloth. Once I went to see the doctor with my sis. We both went in together and after the doc was done with me, I immediately whipped out my rug and started stitching. The doctor was intrigued . I told her this was how I would get through her session with my sis patiently :).
Flora, thank you so much for your sweet comment. Hmmm, not sure if this is my favourite todate though or the best :):). I took out the pink one that I did to compare and maybe that one was stitched slightly better. But I do prefer the colours of this one. Pink is a bit too adventurous :).
I didn't dare take out the peacock embroidery done by Rosanna to compare for fear that I may just give up stitching forever!
O Margriet, my dearest and closest will tell you I may have some really good qualities (and then pause for quite a while to think what they are) but they will be triple quick to point out that PATIENCE is MOST DEFINITELY NOT one of them.
In fact , a quick temper and impatience ranks No. 1 as my worst qualities. :)
So I actually think that impatient mini lovers /makers will really love micro stitchery. I really think so.
Margriet, if you can sew a pair of thongs for Ms Tarty, you can stitch, trust me!:)
Victoria, ditto :).
Although I must agree if I didn't have myopia , I may never want to stitch. You know that with myopia, I don't need reading glasses if I don't wear my contact lenses. So I can see real well up close. It is impossible for me to stitch with reading glasses as I can't see the holes clearly at all. Never tried doing it with a magnifier.
For the 1st time in my life, I actually started wearing glasses instead of contact lenses so that I can just stitch anytime by just removing those glasses. Stitching before beauty!!! What a mindset change too :):). Apart from being impatient, I was also vain :). There's a cure for 2 bad qualities! Vanity is Dead! Long Live Stitching! Almost true :)
Woohoo Natalia! Your January winner (I already found out yesterday of course, after I made this post)! Do you think there's a correlation between being the January winner on your embroidery blog and wanting to do this post by the end of Jan?
Eva, I was just thinking that yesterday! About how I am really getting used to this leisurely lifestyle. I mean, mending a broken bag handle!???? Almost never when I was working! (Although the half mended bag is still on my dining table with the other handle still broken and waiting to be fixed. :).
But you know what's a tell tale sign that I miss work? Imposing a silly dateline for myself like a last post before Jan is over ..haha! I think I overdid the stitching and rushing because the edging didn't turn out well at all! But I guess I must have missed having datelines more !
Ana, why is it that we are closer to the sun than you are :)???? Hehe, I know I can cheat by adjusting my clock too on my computer to maybe Lisbon time :).
And what is it with me and datelines and targets ? I am now sitting here , almost late for my reunion lunch (it's the eve of Chinese New Year today and all Chinese families have a reunion meal on this day when everyone comes home :) ) and thinking another 3 replies before I run :).
Just want to thank you for the encouraging comment :). And to let you know, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE KILIMS. More than the treasured and exquisite Persian pile carpet of the many thousand knots. I love flatweaves and the folk patterns and the rough knots. :)
Hmm, Ara, I think beautiful and remarkable embroidery takes talent. But my type of embroidery , it just takes practice.
Speaking of remarkable embroidery, have you ever heard of the Chinese double sided embroidery? It means on a single piece of cloth, both the front and back is embroidered. In most cases, they are the same design but in exceptional ones, the front and back designs are different. I was blown away when I read about the technique because at all time, the embroiderer is sewing only on 1 side of the cloth!
This is what I read:
The double sided embroidery is a technique in which stitching takes place on both sides of a single transparent silk fabric. The design shows on both sides (front and reverse). Such a piece is normally mounted on a wooden frame as a screen, one really can't tell which side is the front or the back.
The embroiderer always works on the same side of the background, even though the picture on the other side may be entirely different. She must keep both images in her mind, which requires intense concentration. When embroidering areas that are the same color on both sides, the artist uses one threaded needle to do both sides at once. When embroidering areas that are differently colored on each side, the artist uses two needles threaded with different colors. She holds down satin stitches on the upper side with couching stitches from the underside. The couching stitches are not visible on the upper side because the thread is so fine. On the underside, the thread makes satin stitches as it travels from couching stitch to couching stitch. The result: parallel satin stitches on top and bottom in two different colors.
Ok I don't know what's couching stitches but I don't think I can ever ever do that. Can you imagine it takes them 1/2 - a year to complete one embroidery and I take about the same time ?
Alison, I just started a #32 . I just can't go a day without knowing if I feel like stitching, I have one to work on. Preparing the cloth is a pain because I have to draw grids on them . See what a novice I still am? I know the experienced ones don't need grids anymore or ever. :)But without them, I don't know how to begin :).
You want to see real fine embroidery? Go to http://www.china-silk.biz/silkart1.htm to look at this piece call Full Moon.
It shows a Chinese lady admiring something on a tree on a full moon night on one side and the other side shows her back doing the same thing! WOW!
Darling Rosanna!!!!!!!!! It's Chinese New Year's Eve!! Fai wants to know if you have laid out the mandarin oranges and put the red packets with the Chinese word for prosperity on your door. Remember to paste it upside down meaning " FU" or prosperity will arrive at your door :).
Remember how around this time last year, we were in Genoa with you ?
Fai has gone home to Ipoh and with this comment, I will have to run back to mum's for yummy reunion lunch :). Write again later :).
By the way, I am feeling very good today :):):)
wah....it's always so strange 'visiting' your house via your blog, cos i never seem to notice these little details when i'm actually over -_-" my eyes are more drawn to your mini house! :X
HAPPY NEW YEAR PULL YOUR EAR!!! ^ ^
You did a perfect job with the rug, Sans! It's sooo beautiful!
I really admire you in this because I can't see me doing the mini embroidery ;)
Warm hugs, Jollie
I like all of your kilims. Not only the newer one, Sans.
Such a fine mini work is very hard to do. I tried once - and my kilim is not ready. And I think - it will be a never ending piece in my collection...
Hugs and greetings
Marion
Sans, do you know the traditional Portuguese rugs named Arraiolos, They are quite known , they are made of wool, colorized with natural dyes, and the older one have more then 200 years. The name is related with a small town, where they are traditionally made by women, in a kind of cross switch.
Sans- the kilim is beautiful- I LOVE the colors! Makes me ashamed that I have needlework still sitting abandoned on a hoop- perhaps I better get back to it soon. I am happy to see that you are feeling a bit better. I adore the glimpses into your real home- all the colors- heaven! #90 canvas! I think I would go blind! Whatever you make from that is going to be incredible :) Take care ♥
The rug is just lovely! I can imagine the hard work you put into it.
Sans! Gung Hay Fat Choy! Natalia
Hello Birgit :) , this year , February is the beginning of Spring for us Chinese and we celebrate the Lunar New Year today. So yes,the rug is in time for the celebration. :)
I find sewing a button neatly harder than cross stitching because of the holes. I can never stitch neatly on a piece of normal cloth without holes..haha! So as far as I am concerned, if you can sew the back of Flutterby's ears, you are way ahead of me :).
Hey Betsy, I still find it impossible to discard anything I made. Even the really horrible attempts. For me, it was a chronicle of my journey into miniature and to see how far I have come ..or not :). For stitching , I still can't throw them away. You really should see my very 1st attempt. It was so bad.
It's the time spent on each piece. Time is so precious you know :). So for some of you who give away embroidery after all the many hours you spent on them, those are the super precious gifts that must be treasured forever!
I have a pattern of a carpet that is based on a 15th century Jan van Eyck painting called "Madonna and Child". I even have a picture of this painting . Apparently the design of the carpet was based on the mosaic tiled floor of a church. So if you fancy sewing a rug for your castle, let me know and I will let you have the pattern :).
Gracias, mi querido Rosamagarita:). Su comentario me hizo sonreÃr:)
besos y abrazos
Sans! I am pretty positive you will like working on 40 count silk gauze, and even 49. I bet after trying 40 count you'll never go back to 32. Wait till I get you the thread suitable for 40 count. And, yes, when they say "silk thread" it means pure silk. You'll see the difference. Be patient, I am also done with your surprise and will pack everything next week. Natalia
Ewa, I have already started on a new rug yesterday :). On a smaller count and a slightly more complicated design.
I still laugh at myself sometimes. Imagine me petite pointing , haha! How ladylike of me :)!
Thank you my dear for your sweet praises!
Piiko, I bet you can! Of course you can! You know you can! :)
Let me know if you want to start :). I am sure I can share some stuff with you.
Rosanna, I know you will come to my rescue!!! Imagine my Italian friend telling me where to shop in Singapore! :)
I used the same needle I did for my #25 for the #32 that I am working on now. These needles are from the shop in Chinatown (the one Pam brought you). The needles I bought in Mustapha will be perfect for maybe the smaller count rugs with only 2 threads. I am still using 4 threads. The rug feels plusher with #32.
Think I will go get more needles from Mustapha because mine now breaks easily.
So I guess we can still use the DMC like threads for the smaller count up till maybe 49. I am tons of threads with maybe colours (think about 30 boxes) Not going to buy anymore until I start on 60 or something. Wow, that will be the day!
Thank you Meli!!! I see you have also been stitching a few rugs :).
I still remember how you told me when I blogged about my earlier rugs that you started on one and then left it aside. Good to see that you have finished it now! :):)
Muchas gracias, la Ascensión! Abrazos para ti! :)
Y sÃ, tengo alfombras en todos los tamaños! Los amo:). Por cierto el pequeño mostré en el costo de imagen séptimo sólo $ S 15.00. Asà que me compré cinco (7th picture) ! El dueño de la tienda dijo que habÃa mantenido durante más de 15 años y que son piezas antiguas ... jajaja!
Verá muchas alfombras muchos en mi casa de muñecas:)
besossssss
Norma, thanks for the nod from your mum! :):)
It is a practice I adopted from my 1st carpet. To make the back as tidy as possible. Now, I hope to take it one step further and make it almost like the front. This morning, I just unpicked a long row of stitches from my current rug because the back of them looked messy. :):) I am going mad!
Muchas gracias No Soy Job or Kike! :):)
Muchas gracias, querida Malu! :)
Punto de cruz es una de las cosas más divertidas que hacer en el mundo!
Mariajo, I enjoy your work a lot;). And thanks for your kind compliments:). M These patterns are my nits and come from a book called "miniature rugs and carpets Oreintal Meil Ian McNaught and I have very lucky to have found the book because I wanted to sew a rug for my dollhouse.:.
Gong xi gong xi, Natalia :):). It's the third day of Chinese New Year and traditionally you stay home today because it's bad luck to be visiting anyone . :) So I am going to finally have some time to work on minis.
My goodness, I am just reading the replies I made yesterday and they reeked of stinking mistakes . No more comments when I am sleepy, rushing or medicated ! :):) Wonder if my google translated Spanish is just as bad :)
Shucks, Cindy, isn't there a rejoinder after Happy New Year, Pull Your Ear!?
Something like Kiss A Toad and Doe a Deer???
Jollie, yes you can!!! :):) It is easier to stitch than to type lying on your back :):) yea thats what I a doing now without looking at my keyboard! haha
AND thank you so much for your compliments although my rug is far from perfect :).
Marion, my #32 is very hard but then again, I once found it hard to work on #25 and almost gave it up!Thank goodness for Rosanna.
Can you use the sewing machine? Will you believe I don't know how? If someone as stitch challenged as me can do it, anyone can.
Oh Ana, I am in love with your Arraiolos. I read that the 16th century rugs used primitive Persian motifs. I cannot believe some of these carpets. They look like woven rugs and not hand stitched!!And cross-stitched too!!!!
I even found the Patricia Stone book which the "Stitch with a Shimmy" used for that beautiful cushion.
Ana, you must must must make some in minis. They are absolutely gorgeous. If I go to Lisbon to visit you, you must bring me to see some of these rugs. They must be terribly expensive though.
Kim, at this point, I seriously don't see myself ever stitching a #90. It may have to be like typing while lying on my back, purely by instinct because I can't even see any holes!
I have a range of cloth, #40, #49, 60, 72, 84 and 90 :):). My hoops are all broken now :). Yes, not only do I break needles, I break the hoops too :). Some of them standard issues from my niece's school and I haven't told her yet. :)
Thank you so much Ann. Embroidery is mostly pleasure for me , so not much hard work :)
Natalia, I am feeling a little challenged now by the #32. The holes are getting smaller with every row :). And my goodness, so hard to count!
And I can't wait to see the package from you, my dear sweet Natalia! But I shall be patient :).
It is a perfect rug, so many stitches and I love the colours too. *Jean
Wow, its really really great to see you back in blogland, Jean :):).
And thank you so much for your compliments. I still remember you sharing with me how you had problems with warping when you first started stitching and I had thought.."even the master...!" :)
I think your rug is fabulous, you should be proud! :)
I look forward to seeing the next rugs! :)
Thank you my dear Dale. I fear though that the next one will take a while. #32 with 4 threads is tougher than I anticipate.
You will do just fine, I have no worries. :)
But, I do think you need a better light source for working, it will save your eyes in the long run.
Signed,
mother hen ;)
I have done that, Dale. Bought a really good table reading lamp . Panasonic with adjustable arm and clamp type. So I carry it around in the house. Very good for taking photographs too :)
WOw Susan! Hats off! Can't believe you made a Kilim rug from scratch!
Wow, Divya, I can't believe you are reading so many of my posts. Don't they give you a headache after a while? LOL! But thank you :).
I am taking forever with the current one which is half of this size. Arghh
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