Tapestry

I am definitely not gifted when it comes to drawing Fennel, even in art classes I was the one who sat and sharpened the pencils ?

Newcastle is a little too far from Powys ?

Oh come on Annie - your usual answer.
"I can't do it because....."
A 3 year old can draw a house, a 5yr old a tree, a 6yr old a sheep.
Anyway I hope you find a site with tapestry kits.

If you google Beth Russell and request a brochure you will see that she does heavenly designs! I also buy from Ehrman, who will send a catalogue to you. Exquisite designs.

thank you Ngaiol

One more question and I will shut up , until I am stuck again !

I have been reading so much on tapestry and came across this -

If your canvas is too wide to fit the frame turn the canvas on it’s side . !

You don't need to be able to draw. To transfer a picture to tapestry canvas, sit in a good light near the window, lay the canvas over the picture so that you can just see it through the holes, and draw round the outlines with a felt tip. Choose a pen of a fairly pale neutral colour that won't show through. It just needs to show you where to put which colour wool. If you keep the picture handy you can refer to it as you go to see where the detail goes.

Thank you Elegran what a great idea x

Annie I never used a frame.
I also got a book out of the library about embroidery stitches and used some of those, as well as the usual method.

I have no choice Fennel, I only have the use of thumb and forefinger on my left hand (I am left handed ) and thumb and two fingers on the right, couldn’t hold canvas, never mind , I now have tapestry to do ?

Hit a problem. Have looked on uTube, no help. Bought a small kit to practice on. Great until I reached the butterflies.
How is it possible to stitch 4 stitch in one colour, start and finish off the wool?

Either take the wool through the backs of the previous stitches, or if that won't be enough to hold it, leave a couple of inches of wool at the back and cover them with the backs of stitches done later. If there are more stitches the same colour quite near the few that you have done, you could stitch those too before finishing off the wool, but that gets a bit like a jigsaw puzzle if it happens often.

I'm so glad you've taken the plunge, Annie .
Good advice from Elegran - don't worry if the back is a bit untidy.

It would be easier if one could tie a knot ?

It gets easier to secure a new strand Annie once you’ve done a little more of the design. You’ve then got more stitches to slide your needle through the back of four or five stitches. Pull that strand through till there’s just a smidgen showing, then push the needle through to the front and pull the thread through.

It does work, trust us!

And don't tie knots as it would cause a bump on the picture side. Keep the back flat and smooth.

Start off by doing a bit with lots of stitches the same colour - then you have something solid at the back to take that end through. for later stitches you will have more already in place.

Hold down with the other hand the starting end of the first colour you use until you have the backs of a couple of stitches covering it.

Elegran this was my mistake, I chose a small kit but butterflies wasn’t a wise choice .

Are there scattered bits of a colour? You could move around them, carrying the thread across the back between patches? Not as neat as working in rows, but it would start holding ends.

I think butterflies are an excellent choice. It's one of my favourite symbols too:
www.gardenswithwings.com/butterfly-stories/butterfly-symbolism.html

I love butterflies as did my elder daughter , I have a glass one with beautiful painted wings she bought me

Back again !

I have been practicing tapestry stitching , now ready for one to show off .

Can’t get to a craft shop so have to buy on line. Seen a lovely
cushion for my younger daughter , not sure if I like the unstitched fabric surrounding the roses , surely the holes look odd ?

annie have you looked at Vervaco kits? I’ve done several cushion fronts and found them quite easy with lots of choice. Cross stitch, on the other hand, I struggle with. I bought a kit to make a Christmas stocking for the grandson. Two Christmas ‘s later it’s still not finished (maybe this will be the year?)

Annie
Have you seen 'Bargello' tapestry?
It might look difficult to some but it's very very simple, believe me. It's done with wool and silks.
Here's one I made earlier

Thank you .

I had no problem with cross stitch, until arthritis struck my hands.

Lovely cusion petra, my younger daughter wants roses , I found one she loved but I didn’t like the unstitched parts on the work,

I will look at Vervaco and Bargello tapestry