tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48936475481767138152024-03-14T03:44:32.471+09:00Ma MercerieChloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-8151663514378881442022-03-29T11:02:00.003+09:002022-03-29T14:00:04.566+09:00Thimble Making Tips<p>Thank you for coming back to my blog after so long a leave (again). I plan to update my blog at least once a month but as you see it has been almost 6 months since my last post and I apologize for it.</p><p>It looks like some people mentioned me somewhere on the web and my blog and my Etsy shop have been getting a big attention recently. I made a big sale (for me) on "<a href="https://www.etsy.com/jp/listing/89735244/your-first-japanese-silk-thimble-making?click_key=1cabc8d2c81ea6bbbacd0cfd641d1404fe66181c%3A89735244&click_sum=d5307d57&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=your+first+thimble+making+kit+japanese&ref=sr_gallery-1-2&organic_search_click=1">Your First Japanese Silk Thimble Making Kit</a>", a trial kit for the people who is new to thimble making. Unfortunately I cannot sell the kit to the residents of EU countries because of EU customs requirement, Etsy billing system, and Japan Post's shipping system. In addition to it, I can only ship via surface mail, which takes 2-3 months without tracking and because of that I suppose some people may have given up the thimble making and that thought makes me sad as it's not very difficult to make your own thimbles, though it requires a little getting used to it.</p><p>I have posted several how-to on this blog and here is links to these posts:</p><p><a href="http://mamercerie.blogspot.com/2009/02/thimble-base-this-is-how-i-do.html" target="_blank">base making</a></p><p><a href="http://mamercerie.blogspot.com/2009/04/stitches-this-is-how-i-do.html" target="_blank">how to stitch</a> - the design I made in this post is not the basic one but you can see step by step photos of how to make stitches here. </p><p><a href="http://mamercerie.blogspot.com/2009/05/initial-stitch-this-is-how-i-do.html">how to make an initial stich</a></p><p><a href="http://mamercerie.blogspot.com/2009/12/marking-paper-this-is-how-i-do.html" target="_blank">marking paper</a></p><p><a href="http://mamercerie.blogspot.com/2009/10/bi-coloured-scales-design-thimbmle-this.html" target="_blank">how to stitch the basic bi-coloured scales design</a> - design interpretation</p><p>I hope above posts will help you start thimble making and if you have questions please do not hesitate to ask.</p><p>Let me wish you happy stitching!</p><p><br /></p>Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-3075240461262668312021-10-01T18:46:00.001+09:002022-03-29T14:00:31.880+09:00Other Variations of Bi-Coloured Scales Design<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It has been quite a long time since my last post and it's October now. I meant to post this sooner, actually I have started this post at the beginning of July but I have been a bit busy..... well, no excuse. Here is another variation of of bi-coloured scales design.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EnU7uk7-05o/YVbXTc2LLtI/AAAAAAAABFE/Nuh5xdQh4Sg59k6jyaLvNu_Z2aBEv7YmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/F7C9654F-3D22-48A5-8152-5BD24A580D5C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EnU7uk7-05o/YVbXTc2LLtI/AAAAAAAABFE/Nuh5xdQh4Sg59k6jyaLvNu_Z2aBEv7YmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/F7C9654F-3D22-48A5-8152-5BD24A580D5C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a very simple design with a single colour for both stitching paths and a contrasting colour at the mid-point and last of the section. However, if you stich as if it's a good old bi-coloured scales design and switch the colour of the thread at the mid-point and switch back to the original one and continue stitching until the section is filled with stiches except for the last row of the stitch for which you switch to the contrasting colour again, your thimble appears like below:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m2cyOquJl0g/YLCa8tm-S5I/AAAAAAAABDA/tj6frQXZatMxmPDKkMKJ4olg3ezhMiZkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1397/01-00.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1397" height="217" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m2cyOquJl0g/YLCa8tm-S5I/AAAAAAAABDA/tj6frQXZatMxmPDKkMKJ4olg3ezhMiZkwCLcBGAsYHQ/w522-h217/01-00.png" width="522" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The difference of the designs between top photo and the above design diagram comes from the way the threads layer each other. When you make a new row of stitches, the thread travels on the thimble body and it layers on the existing thread(s) and form the design. And so, the contrasting colour at the mid-point does not appear fully as the design of the thimble does in the photo because the latter half of the threads in the original colour lay on the thread of the contrasting colour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nogIFgOrFYw/YLCa8o9sUVI/AAAAAAAABDE/6lGizbENgywzPyij3CYO9L5zdx6KGi94wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1403/01-01.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="1403" height="215" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nogIFgOrFYw/YLCa8o9sUVI/AAAAAAAABDE/6lGizbENgywzPyij3CYO9L5zdx6KGi94wCLcBGAsYHQ/w513-h215/01-01.png" width="513" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now I am going to explain how to stitch the thimble in the photo. Start stitching as usual and stop one stitch before you got to the mid-point and finish the thread. You have to know how many stitches you make in one section so that you will know when to stop stitching for this design: <br />= "total number of the stitches in one section" / 2 - "1 stitch"<br />In the diagram above, it requires total 20 stitches to fill one section so I made nine stitches. 20 devided by 2 and minus 1 makes 9.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GYVtBP9NlWY/YLCa8rzv5KI/AAAAAAAABDI/WfewceScPfwkzdOvJMp6kQzT1wzBVWUOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1403/01-02.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="1403" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GYVtBP9NlWY/YLCa8rzv5KI/AAAAAAAABDI/WfewceScPfwkzdOvJMp6kQzT1wzBVWUOQCLcBGAsYHQ/w511-h214/01-02.png" width="511" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Start a new thread leaving a space for just one stich.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AwK7HqYRvp0/YLCa9pmB5bI/AAAAAAAABDM/VpseGJCtWYMzlFMmg_ZFYubEFXSS0US7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1397/01-04.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1397" height="217" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AwK7HqYRvp0/YLCa9pmB5bI/AAAAAAAABDM/VpseGJCtWYMzlFMmg_ZFYubEFXSS0US7gCLcBGAsYHQ/w520-h217/01-04.png" width="520" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Continue stitching until all are filled with stitches but a tiny space for the last stich. You are going to make the same number of the stitches for the second half of the section and it automatically give you a space for one stitch. In the diagram above, I made another nine stitches. There are four spaces left in two sections (two stitching paths), 2 at the mid-point and another two at the last. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GcwuwjQhWU0/YLCa-BuCojI/AAAAAAAABDQ/Iig3YTRv4nwr2GN5mvh8C0ls71Hr7_qDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1397/01-05.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1397" height="217" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GcwuwjQhWU0/YLCa-BuCojI/AAAAAAAABDQ/Iig3YTRv4nwr2GN5mvh8C0ls71Hr7_qDgCLcBGAsYHQ/w523-h217/01-05.png" width="523" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Start a new thread in the contrasting colour and start stitching for all four spaces and you will get your new thimble now. You can compare the above diagram with the top one and see in the top diagram the latter half of the blue threads covers the half of the first yellow thread and it makes a big difference on the finished thimble.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some of you may wonder if you could make the same design by having four stitching paths in the same colour with a contrasting colour for the last stich, instead. The answer is YES. Well, sort of, not totally the same but quite similar.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sB4McBZa24E/YQi6aN26_2I/AAAAAAAABEM/VUHF9J3dTUEhBkAXWYWJG6S_U9FMUh6nQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1388/01-05-1%2Bquad.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="1388" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sB4McBZa24E/YQi6aN26_2I/AAAAAAAABEM/VUHF9J3dTUEhBkAXWYWJG6S_U9FMUh6nQCLcBGAsYHQ/w523-h214/01-05-1%2Bquad.png" width="523" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">See? It looks quite similar, but not THE same. However, it does not much of a difference. The effect is (almost) the same. <br />This is not bi- but quad-coloured scales though all four sections are in the identical colour scheme. In this way you stich four stitching paths in the same colour and switch the colour just for the last stitch. It's certainly more easier than stich the design as bi-coloured scales. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, stitching as bi-coloured scales and quad-coloured scales have a big difference. Firstly you only have two working threads at one time for bi-coloured, while four for quad-coloured. Having four is not a big deal, but how about eight, or perhaps sixteen?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ov32Q2kGuc/YQi8ie80a7I/AAAAAAAABEU/WJlq8RA14I0fYZ7RZbx181gfSx5O2T6igCLcBGAsYHQ/s1388/01-05-2%2Bquad%2Bx%2B2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="1388" height="216" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ov32Q2kGuc/YQi8ie80a7I/AAAAAAAABEU/WJlq8RA14I0fYZ7RZbx181gfSx5O2T6igCLcBGAsYHQ/w528-h216/01-05-2%2Bquad%2Bx%2B2.png" width="528" /></a></div>The above diagram is a quad-coloured scales with the technique of stitching the mid- and last stitches lastly. You can of course stitch this as oct-coloured, I mean, 8 section design period. The design period is the number of the sections where the thread travels from the top to bottom and then up to the top again. In this design the tread travels total eight sections, that is, 8 section design period. I believe I have posted about the design period and design repeat in the past. Having eight working threads is not very easy to handle especially all are in the same colour because you have to make track of which stitching path you are working with all the time, and more importantly, what you are making is a ring sized object. Working on the ring sized object with eight threads hanging is NOT easy at all,I can tell you.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />-------</div><br /><div>Lastly, I would like to thank you all who bought my "First Thimble Kit" via Etsy. If you are interested in the kit, there is a link to my Etsy shop on the right column. I am sorry but at the moment I cannot ship it to EU countries through Etsy due to their new duty declaration system. If any of you who lives in the EU countries and would like to buy the kit, please kindly contact me. My profile page has my email address. </div><div><div> <p></p></div></div></div>Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-25475826351265883532021-05-13T10:36:00.001+09:002021-05-13T10:36:59.550+09:00Bi-Coloured Scales Design Variations<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I mean to post at least twice monthly but it has already been more than a month since my last post. Time flies indeed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I talked about the monotonous work when making bi-coloured scales design thimbles in my last post and the magic solution is colour variation. It does not necessarily mean to encourage you to buy new thread in different colours but the colour placement on the designs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is one example. When you got to the half point of the section when stitching the bi-coloured scales, just switch the colours for one round. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-14Liv_jHKoE/YJtto9QifOI/AAAAAAAABAU/TVij39odKHsK7-Jq3_JY4ZZ-fl2z4ezNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1396/01-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2Bhalfway%2B%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1396" height="209" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-14Liv_jHKoE/YJtto9QifOI/AAAAAAAABAU/TVij39odKHsK7-Jq3_JY4ZZ-fl2z4ezNwCLcBGAsYHQ/w502-h209/01-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2Bhalfway%2B%25282%2529.png" width="502" /></a></div></div></div>Then switch back to the original colours and keep going until finished. It's just one round of stiches but it makes a big difference as shown below.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sXBnYiEA6xE/YJttoumnMtI/AAAAAAAABAQ/_9LhyyoXdYoWitF5cSRwoMx42l8Wl5sLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1404/01-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2Bfinished%2B%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="1404" height="210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sXBnYiEA6xE/YJttoumnMtI/AAAAAAAABAQ/_9LhyyoXdYoWitF5cSRwoMx42l8Wl5sLgCLcBGAsYHQ/w505-h210/01-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2Bfinished%2B%25282%2529.png" width="505" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Or you switch the colours altogether from the halfway point. Your thimble will look completely different from the bi-coloured scales, as you see below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AsrkmCFC3IQ/YJtuGOY3hoI/AAAAAAAABAk/7hzLo6Fqp1s9AAzAPPUfl-bhyGZNqyWRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1402/02-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2Bfinished%2B%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1402" height="207" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AsrkmCFC3IQ/YJtuGOY3hoI/AAAAAAAABAk/7hzLo6Fqp1s9AAzAPPUfl-bhyGZNqyWRgCLcBGAsYHQ/w503-h207/02-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2Bfinished%2B%25282%2529.png" width="503" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Perhaps you may want to try stripes. Add two stitches in the colour for the second stitching path when stiching the last part of the first path and your thimble will look like this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AP1f1pgBItc/YJtvMFVOBQI/AAAAAAAABBo/NgVw1nbVyNskRHJZ4UBrw9cGO14tE-R8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1397/05-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bwith%2Bstripes%2Bfinished.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1397" height="209" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AP1f1pgBItc/YJtvMFVOBQI/AAAAAAAABBo/NgVw1nbVyNskRHJZ4UBrw9cGO14tE-R8ACLcBGAsYHQ/w502-h209/05-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bwith%2Bstripes%2Bfinished.png" width="502" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Or stripes in both paths and it looks rather different.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82wcRgzI80w/YJtut5bF9KI/AAAAAAAABBM/WV1dN8YWbyUbD--WEsWHvFTX5TuBGd4qgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1397/05-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bwith%2Bstripes%2Bfinished.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1397" height="210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82wcRgzI80w/YJtut5bF9KI/AAAAAAAABBM/WV1dN8YWbyUbD--WEsWHvFTX5TuBGd4qgCLcBGAsYHQ/w506-h210/05-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bwith%2Bstripes%2Bfinished.png" width="506" /></a></div><div><br /></div>From here the design called Blue Wave (Seikaiha, in Japanese) but it's one of the variations of bi-coloured scales. It's actually bi-coloured scales with stripes.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-36eaRS6Ig14/YJtvbFnVTtI/AAAAAAAABBw/VmnHQXszC8sa4l-IcUhyEjYQJA1jUj58wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1374/03-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2B1-2%2B%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="1374" height="202" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-36eaRS6Ig14/YJtvbFnVTtI/AAAAAAAABBw/VmnHQXszC8sa4l-IcUhyEjYQJA1jUj58wCLcBGAsYHQ/w497-h202/03-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2B1-2%2B%25282%2529.png" width="497" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x7egU77KX9E/YJtvbMPBoVI/AAAAAAAABBs/X6AJdIX1vF4-Nhb83p30PBnwqwSweEEXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1399/03-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2B1-3%2B%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1399" height="209" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x7egU77KX9E/YJtvbMPBoVI/AAAAAAAABBs/X6AJdIX1vF4-Nhb83p30PBnwqwSweEEXwCLcBGAsYHQ/w503-h209/03-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2B1-3%2B%25282%2529.png" width="503" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_a_L8JIsB8s/YJtvbMtL0fI/AAAAAAAABB0/B6ondbImPi8rXP_czLD5K3BczAsVqOQfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1390/03-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2B1-4%2Bfinished%2B%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="1390" height="206" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_a_L8JIsB8s/YJtvbMtL0fI/AAAAAAAABB0/B6ondbImPi8rXP_czLD5K3BczAsVqOQfwCLcBGAsYHQ/w503-h206/03-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2B1-4%2Bfinished%2B%25282%2529.png" width="503" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As before you can make stripes in both stitching paths and ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v--O-nokZc0/YJtvmbou5EI/AAAAAAAABCA/QANUv2cC89kzytOgShOqU2HDcOunU5QNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1374/04-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2B1-2%2B%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="1374" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v--O-nokZc0/YJtvmbou5EI/AAAAAAAABCA/QANUv2cC89kzytOgShOqU2HDcOunU5QNgCLcBGAsYHQ/w492-h200/04-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2B1-2%2B%25282%2529.png" width="492" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mIm-ar5uUUI/YJtvmRAkAmI/AAAAAAAABCE/VaLikSQnLFgPxmaRJv83lMU2M5BJpEHLACLcBGAsYHQ/s1399/04-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2B1-3%2B%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1399" height="209" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mIm-ar5uUUI/YJtvmRAkAmI/AAAAAAAABCE/VaLikSQnLFgPxmaRJv83lMU2M5BJpEHLACLcBGAsYHQ/w503-h209/04-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2B1-3%2B%25282%2529.png" width="503" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H0AfpR8sEW0/YJtvmcFB-pI/AAAAAAAABB8/WZyV6CLhDlYHRzw-XfrvLC_cuq2nxAfpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1390/04-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2B1-4%2Bfinished%2B%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="1390" height="207" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H0AfpR8sEW0/YJtvmcFB-pI/AAAAAAAABB8/WZyV6CLhDlYHRzw-XfrvLC_cuq2nxAfpwCLcBGAsYHQ/w506-h207/04-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bvariation%2B1-4%2Bfinished%2B%25282%2529.png" width="506" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until now I chose the different colours for two stitching paths but if you choose a single colour for both, it looks like this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9aLDxtrQEWo/YJtv5VzGZ9I/AAAAAAAABCg/X6Yn3Js5aUYFkhcskX0k1bF9r_qyDb-3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1401/00-01%2Bblue%2Bwave%2B1-2%2B%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="1401" height="208" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9aLDxtrQEWo/YJtv5VzGZ9I/AAAAAAAABCg/X6Yn3Js5aUYFkhcskX0k1bF9r_qyDb-3wCLcBGAsYHQ/w500-h208/00-01%2Bblue%2Bwave%2B1-2%2B%25282%2529.png" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8fAdVJpWQY/YJtv5WPHHoI/AAAAAAAABCk/lsypsJZnHBQU7YB_wEvX7gbi7jeUIeyUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1374/00-04%2Bblue%2Bwave%2Bone%2Bquoter%2B%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="1374" height="205" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8fAdVJpWQY/YJtv5WPHHoI/AAAAAAAABCk/lsypsJZnHBQU7YB_wEvX7gbi7jeUIeyUwCLcBGAsYHQ/w506-h205/00-04%2Bblue%2Bwave%2Bone%2Bquoter%2B%25282%2529.png" width="506" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0VQxrDaTE1E/YJtv5ZCx2BI/AAAAAAAABCc/1f9SWZ30UOYfhFnKTNq13b7ademFFhD9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1399/00-05%2Bblue%2Bwave%2Bhalfway%2B%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="1399" height="208" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0VQxrDaTE1E/YJtv5ZCx2BI/AAAAAAAABCc/1f9SWZ30UOYfhFnKTNq13b7ademFFhD9QCLcBGAsYHQ/w504-h208/00-05%2Bblue%2Bwave%2Bhalfway%2B%25282%2529.png" width="504" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rJ-ABhHDDMU/YJtv5_pUnsI/AAAAAAAABCo/t9FL-cjhqk0mw-YzrR3S8R9O0mvV6L7fQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1395/00-06%2Bblue%2Bwave%2Bfinished%2B%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1395" height="207" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rJ-ABhHDDMU/YJtv5_pUnsI/AAAAAAAABCo/t9FL-cjhqk0mw-YzrR3S8R9O0mvV6L7fQCLcBGAsYHQ/w502-h207/00-06%2Bblue%2Bwave%2Bfinished%2B%25282%2529.png" width="502" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am thinking to assemble a new kit to sell at my Etsy Shop, so that the people who are new to thimble making can still working on the thimbles after "Your First Thimble Kit". It will be a kit with a few of the finished thimble bases with two round of stitches done, a needle, and threads. What do you think of the idea?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In any case, please keep counting the number of the stitches in one section and try to make the same number of stitches every time you make thimbles. It will help you to explore new designs. The stripes designs above require the exact number of the stitches to make even stripes, though uneven stripes are fun, too. However, there are designs which have to be exact and I will show them in my next post, hopefully soon. </div><br /><br /><br />Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-75599682715365245912021-04-04T22:38:00.002+09:002021-04-06T16:57:20.878+09:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-50FQBT87ciU/YGmzP8VC7zI/AAAAAAAAA90/22LI-3wDX5Y5DLoYPzScP9DZ6zupYoJRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s428/TH-SCL08-004S.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="428" height="384" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-50FQBT87ciU/YGmzP8VC7zI/AAAAAAAAA90/22LI-3wDX5Y5DLoYPzScP9DZ6zupYoJRQCLcBGAsYHQ/w514-h384/TH-SCL08-004S.JPG" width="514" /></a></div><br />This design is called bi-coloured scales, the most basic of the thimbles. Here are the step by step diagrams to show you how the design is formed as you stitch:<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XNVtCQ6NjU8/YGm0EalTfOI/AAAAAAAAA98/M3cbmuFU2YEEDcr1uhdsrWZC3GZq3UsSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1385/00-01-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1385" height="286" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XNVtCQ6NjU8/YGm0EalTfOI/AAAAAAAAA98/M3cbmuFU2YEEDcr1uhdsrWZC3GZq3UsSQCLcBGAsYHQ/w508-h286/00-01-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales.png" width="508" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the first stitching path of the first row. You just stich from the top side to bottom and then go up to top again. The above diagram only has six sections so that it becomes easy for me to draw but it can be eight or ten, or even more, depending on the size of the ring base you use as long as it is even number.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AXEtxHr1Aug/YGm0EZ102vI/AAAAAAAAA-E/e3xwx6Ura2smfSOJ2AaB8aJ9-moKtvuKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1420/00-01-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1420" height="295" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AXEtxHr1Aug/YGm0EZ102vI/AAAAAAAAA-E/e3xwx6Ura2smfSOJ2AaB8aJ9-moKtvuKwCLcBGAsYHQ/w525-h295/00-01-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales.png" width="525" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here, you have stitched the second stitching path of the first row in light blue, in the same way you did the first stitching path. The light blue thread lies on top of the green thread of the first stitching path.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wv0vn4QY7UQ/YGm0EbPdwTI/AAAAAAAAA-A/KOwhGnRKUi437PTMqfzC5P6sr2U9qL49gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1599/00-02-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1599" height="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wv0vn4QY7UQ/YGm0EbPdwTI/AAAAAAAAA-A/KOwhGnRKUi437PTMqfzC5P6sr2U9qL49gCLcBGAsYHQ/w531-h299/00-02-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales.png" width="531" /></a></div>Then this is for the second row. You can see the crossing points are forming as you go.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGarOCyhqEI/YGm06PYyY0I/AAAAAAAAA-w/nJTWmew7an0fHLytQ4kAXgX1bf-jLhBaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1596/00-02-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1596" height="306" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGarOCyhqEI/YGm06PYyY0I/AAAAAAAAA-w/nJTWmew7an0fHLytQ4kAXgX1bf-jLhBaQCLcBGAsYHQ/w542-h306/00-02-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales.png" width="542" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second rows are done. By the way, the thimble base included in Your First Japanese Silk Thimble Making Kit has two rows of stitches done and you are going to start stitching from the third rows shown below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vfYYVP_8-_s/YGm0FoPTFVI/AAAAAAAAA-M/p4hCMKshOjMjqlrOpNHqlQQtMWWfsMDGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1596/00-03-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1596" height="293" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vfYYVP_8-_s/YGm0FoPTFVI/AAAAAAAAA-M/p4hCMKshOjMjqlrOpNHqlQQtMWWfsMDGQCLcBGAsYHQ/w522-h293/00-03-01%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales.png" width="522" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PKuq2mCwaXY/YGm0FxiGo6I/AAAAAAAAA-U/1B8Ioufi_9gqcnUXqiFtrUUOgsHJBg4AACLcBGAsYHQ/s1602/00-03-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1602" height="277" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PKuq2mCwaXY/YGm0FxiGo6I/AAAAAAAAA-U/1B8Ioufi_9gqcnUXqiFtrUUOgsHJBg4AACLcBGAsYHQ/w494-h277/00-03-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales.png" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is the third row, both paths are done, and you can see the vertical line forming at the crossing points.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OE0uKHd1qMk/YGm0F1RL7OI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/kDs4bNrEl5k8rT4FL4HkwaA2L_Tqw2nDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1589/00-04-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bone%2Bquoter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1589" height="295" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OE0uKHd1qMk/YGm0F1RL7OI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/kDs4bNrEl5k8rT4FL4HkwaA2L_Tqw2nDQCLcBGAsYHQ/w524-h295/00-04-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bone%2Bquoter.png" width="524" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One quarter of the sections are filled with stiches and...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NT4OuZJd324/YGm0GdpCFqI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/cu4PHntjk3U4EIYTSSsdL83asm3zoUfFACLcBGAsYHQ/s1591/00-05-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bhalfway.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1591" height="296" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NT4OuZJd324/YGm0GdpCFqI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/cu4PHntjk3U4EIYTSSsdL83asm3zoUfFACLcBGAsYHQ/w527-h296/00-05-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bhalfway.png" width="527" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now a half of the each sections is done. You can see the forming design.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YCEhpbu0YXk/YGm1V0-YlZI/AAAAAAAAA-4/FFsPWayylR0V5IfE1KvSmU3XSJIvhtqRACLcBGAsYHQ/s1589/00-06-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bfinished.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="895" data-original-width="1589" height="297" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YCEhpbu0YXk/YGm1V0-YlZI/AAAAAAAAA-4/FFsPWayylR0V5IfE1KvSmU3XSJIvhtqRACLcBGAsYHQ/w529-h297/00-06-02%2Bbi-coloured%2Bscales%2Bfinished.png" width="529" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All the sections are filled with stitches and you have your bi-coloured scale thimble in your hand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If this is your very first thimble and maybe you are not very happy with the thimble you have just made but it's true that practice makes perfect where thimble making is concerned, or practice makes nicer ones, I should say. The more you make, the nicer, neater, and more beautiful ones your thimbles become.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also recommend to use the same materials; the lining fabric, paper for the base, and marking paper, on the same tube as a mould so that your thimbles are always the same size. Why? So that you can count the number of the stiches in one section. Why should you need to know the number of the stitches in one section? Because it becomes easier for you when you work with the new designs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The problem of keeping making bi-coloured thimbles is it's monotonous, though the design is simply beautiful. My answer to that particular problem is colour variation and I do not mean to encourage you to purchase new threads in different colours, though it would be more fun for you to have a stash of threads. What I mean is colour placement and I will explain it in my next post. </div>Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-87482560529017119882021-03-05T11:50:00.002+09:002021-03-05T11:50:23.711+09:00Thimble Design Diagram Finally Completed<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4UUEDAVZXp0/YEGWMB9kHvI/AAAAAAAAA9U/v-VTyDf38HQX3xaz1XZpJ6POz2QToFGLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1381/999%2B%25E5%25AE%258C%25E6%2588%2590%2B-%2B%25E3%2582%25B3%25E3%2583%2594%25E3%2583%25BC%2Btrimmed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="1381" height="291" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4UUEDAVZXp0/YEGWMB9kHvI/AAAAAAAAA9U/v-VTyDf38HQX3xaz1XZpJ6POz2QToFGLwCLcBGAsYHQ/w514-h291/999%2B%25E5%25AE%258C%25E6%2588%2590%2B-%2B%25E3%2582%25B3%25E3%2583%2594%25E3%2583%25BC%2Btrimmed.png" width="514" /></a></div><br />Finally I finished the design diagram I have been working on. This is the diagram of the thimble I posted early last month. The thimble itself is on the book I checked out from the library and following the instruction I was able to finish it relatively easily. However, drawing the design diagram was a completely different story.<p></p><p>I am not good at digital things. I wanted to try some fancy drawing software but I ended up with good old Paint. I drew the diamond grid pattern and filled each cells with colours. It was a tedious work and took very long to finish but what it took me so long was for me to understand the design itself.</p><p>I made the thimble so I should have understood how to stitch to form the design but I did not. It was a very good experience for me to fully understand the design.</p><p>As you enlarge the above diagram, you can see how the stitching threads travel and which travels on (or beneath) which threads. Most of the design diagram on the books, if not all, are just rectangle divided by vertical and diagonal lines and colour-blocked. You cannot see how the threads layer each other.</p><p>I am now working on the step by step diagrams. Actually I made copies of the image while working and hopefully I could finish them up sooner so that you could stitch the thimble, too.</p><p>Lastly, it's the same image but I will show you the finished thimble here again. I am sorry but I placed it upside down in the photo and you may have a little difficulty to compare it with the design diagram to understand how to stitch.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5jRBh-coGwI/YEGbBwKkPFI/AAAAAAAAA9c/eLOBsGLqigc8vZmY22Q2yBsmdAb9GVGegCLcBGAsYHQ/s1713/IMG_3630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="1713" height="375" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5jRBh-coGwI/YEGbBwKkPFI/AAAAAAAAA9c/eLOBsGLqigc8vZmY22Q2yBsmdAb9GVGegCLcBGAsYHQ/w500-h375/IMG_3630.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p><p></p>Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-67998982904457180522021-02-17T15:28:00.001+09:002021-02-17T16:54:44.521+09:00Your First Japanese Silk Thimble Making Kit<p> I have just posted 5 of “Your First Japanese Silk Thimble Making Kit” at my Etsy shop.</p><p><a href="https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/MaMercerie/tools/listings?ref=seller-platform-mcnav">https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/MaMercerie/tools/listings?ref=seller-platform-mcnav</a></p><p>Due to the decreased international flights because of Corvid-19, please contact me BEFORE placing your order so that I could double the postal service situation from Japan to your country. </p><p>Thank you.</p>Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-44422690667632065622021-02-08T18:01:00.000+09:002021-02-08T18:01:30.564+09:00Time flies...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MyRg5Ucx1VQ/YCD8tflkklI/AAAAAAAAA8s/XU5dgIlNEykGZ7stUqSqmQYcMW0OpKTzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1713/9DCC8E1D-C66E-4B17-B586-55EA0C190B63.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="1713" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MyRg5Ucx1VQ/YCD8tflkklI/AAAAAAAAA8s/XU5dgIlNEykGZ7stUqSqmQYcMW0OpKTzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/9DCC8E1D-C66E-4B17-B586-55EA0C190B63.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I have finished this thimble more than a week ago but has not got around to post it here. The major reason was I wanted post it with a design interpretation and have still been working on a design diagram. I don’t think it would be ready anytime soon, so this post is just a photo of the finished thimble, only.</p>Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-13454344108846851042021-01-11T22:18:00.001+09:002021-01-11T22:18:26.348+09:00First Thimble of the Year<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4SOorYKxxJ4/X_w_CzPXrLI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/YTS7HaZ_d40w1TiTOXnvzURedqaNmnPFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/1C6E0CE0-01A1-416D-8FA7-8756724683DA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4SOorYKxxJ4/X_w_CzPXrLI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/YTS7HaZ_d40w1TiTOXnvzURedqaNmnPFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/1C6E0CE0-01A1-416D-8FA7-8756724683DA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Here is my first thimble of the year.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 游ゴシック; margin: 0in;">Skill Level: Intermediate</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 游ゴシック; margin: 0in;">Required technique(s): Forward stitch and back stitch</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 游ゴシック; margin: 0in;">Number of stitching path(s): Four then later two</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 游ゴシック; margin: 0in;">Design period: Four sections</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 游ゴシック; margin: 0in;">Design repeat: Four sections</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 游ゴシック; margin: 0in;">Number of round(s): Single</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 游ゴシック; margin: 0in;"><span lang="ja">Number of colour(s) used: Five</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 游ゴシック; margin: 0in;"><span lang="ja"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 游ゴシック; margin: 0in;">My original design choice was Nine-patch Diamonds in red and white as these colours represent celebration in Japan however, I have too many of them in my stash and I wanted something different. It turned out all right but the black lining is just too strong a contrast for the pastel hues I chose for the design. I almost always choose black for lining because matching the lining colour to the threads colours is not very easy especially as I use readymade bias binding tape. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 游ゴシック; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 游ゴシック; margin: 0in;">When I had selected four threads from my stash I thought they would work but no, they did not. Putting the thread cards (silk hand sewing thread comes on a card, and not on a bobbin) side by side does not always guarantee that you made a right colour choice. You have to stitch them to make sure these are what you want. Unfortunately the light beige I chose does not work well with the light lavender. They are too similar hue when stitched next to each other and that is why I had to stitch the additional round in white. But all in all it turned all right I suppose.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 游ゴシック; margin: 0in;"><br /></p>Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-86589137122471408052020-12-09T00:21:00.001+09:002020-12-09T00:21:16.885+09:00Study in Green<p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLdyW-wH0WI/X8-Kq_bUIOI/AAAAAAAAA7s/6AHAVjYfNCcWyc7shdoIElE2zbNd1fEWACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/862CB74F-B8E0-4EF6-A9D7-D735D2F9C2A0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLdyW-wH0WI/X8-Kq_bUIOI/AAAAAAAAA7s/6AHAVjYfNCcWyc7shdoIElE2zbNd1fEWACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/862CB74F-B8E0-4EF6-A9D7-D735D2F9C2A0.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have just finished a new thimble tonight. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="游ゴシック" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="游ゴシック" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Skill Level: Advanced</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="游ゴシック" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Required techniques: Forward stitch, back stitch, and weaving</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="游ゴシック" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Number of stitching paths: Two</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="游ゴシック" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Design period: Four sections</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="游ゴシック" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Design repeat: Two sections</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="游ゴシック" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Number of rounds of stitches: Single</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="游ゴシック" lang="ja" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Number of colours used: Three</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="游ゴシック" lang="ja" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="游ゴシック" lang="ja" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">It’s weaving all over and quite challenging. I like the design but I don’t think I chose the best colours for it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="游ゴシック" lang="ja" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="游ゴシック" lang="ja" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Speaking of the weaving stitches, I have been working on a new (to me) design. It is called “Asanoha” in Japanese, meaning Linen Leaves. I found the photo of the finished thimble on the web and was quite intrigued. It seems that the design is on one of the temari books but my local libraries do not have it. I might ask either of them to borrow it from the Diet Library which has all the books published in Japan, though I cannot check it out and take it to home. I was able to finished the body design by myself but am still working on the best way to apply the accent stitches. Here is a on the process photo of it. It’ a modified hexagons and it requires a 36-section marking paper and it was not just practical to divide a strip of paper of 5.8mm into 36 sections so I simplified it to 12 sections and just had to make do with it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="游ゴシック" lang="ja" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u-6Mn3bZ4To/X8-SSwECS4I/AAAAAAAAA74/FQlZ34T2YOIWUL7a187-iSPHQW5E6HNQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/27B5F9A8-C1E9-4AEB-A455-3B236A0B6932.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u-6Mn3bZ4To/X8-SSwECS4I/AAAAAAAAA74/FQlZ34T2YOIWUL7a187-iSPHQW5E6HNQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/27B5F9A8-C1E9-4AEB-A455-3B236A0B6932.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was not very easy to figure out how to stitch the colour blocks but I am satisfied with this one. It’s not too bad for the first trial, if I may say so myself. However, I have no idea what to do with the accent stitches (white thread in the photo). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The design period of the colour block part is 6 (out of 36 sections) while the widest part of the accent stitches is 18 and it also has to run vertically and horizontally, too. I am not quite sure if I could figure it out anytime soon...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="游ゴシック" lang="ja" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p lang="en-US" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 游ゴシック; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></p></div>Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-31336982955215639902020-11-23T07:00:00.001+09:002020-11-23T07:00:02.060+09:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J0NF25ttABc/X7p_-lQnwqI/AAAAAAAAA68/gQbe9-E93HomEl9pPXdjx2n6-QuBVP9NACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/E6C24365-A239-4AA8-A0BF-56836918E90C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J0NF25ttABc/X7p_-lQnwqI/AAAAAAAAA68/gQbe9-E93HomEl9pPXdjx2n6-QuBVP9NACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/E6C24365-A239-4AA8-A0BF-56836918E90C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I have just finished a pin cushion and I would like to share a few photos with you. In my previous post I said it had not fun at all to stitch all in a single colour. This ring has two stitching paths and as you can see in two colours. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TVQInxK2jtc/X7qBQ9h-5zI/AAAAAAAAA7E/QE2TlaRkTTkHD40_tQi3d8JHa3YpuIJfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/6243539D-E954-4B62-8FA6-790A7914E3C4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TVQInxK2jtc/X7qBQ9h-5zI/AAAAAAAAA7E/QE2TlaRkTTkHD40_tQi3d8JHa3YpuIJfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/6243539D-E954-4B62-8FA6-790A7914E3C4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The above photo is a ring with three rows of stitches. Can you see the tiny triangles are forming?<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuyq6DT5oFQ/X7qBx8dJy2I/AAAAAAAAA7M/fHwmH0PDHdUcujX0N7h2LN83Wh2U8iMYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/D980F288-B5F0-4266-83F2-51AF48EA96E2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuyq6DT5oFQ/X7qBx8dJy2I/AAAAAAAAA7M/fHwmH0PDHdUcujX0N7h2LN83Wh2U8iMYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/D980F288-B5F0-4266-83F2-51AF48EA96E2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>It is clearer now with seven rows of stitches are done and pink and crimson triangles are there.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wBYOWReLyoA/X7qCTyTMrNI/AAAAAAAAA7U/8UTG3jX8PkUoNpKB41fJUzF-9OSw2lI_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/AA4104EA-DF77-41FA-A82A-49CDB0D1AB49.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wBYOWReLyoA/X7qCTyTMrNI/AAAAAAAAA7U/8UTG3jX8PkUoNpKB41fJUzF-9OSw2lI_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AA4104EA-DF77-41FA-A82A-49CDB0D1AB49.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>It’s almost there: another two rows of stitches and it will be done.</div><div><br /></div><div>I find stitching thimbles, or any other ring shaped rings, very therapeutic but all in a single colour is so monotonous that it discourage me to keep going. I like the way the trinket tray in the previous post looks but I don’t think I want to make another one anytime soon.</div><div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-67898362902091833532020-11-21T00:01:00.009+09:002020-11-21T21:21:14.117+09:00Gold and Silver Trinket Tray<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vcoM4Xfohhs/X7fMX_j3HLI/AAAAAAAAA6M/olUyYtJXt_452It9Im8PwEhYF1LUeP0VgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/9F933CAA-7308-455A-9D23-D476EB04ED0C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vcoM4Xfohhs/X7fMX_j3HLI/AAAAAAAAA6M/olUyYtJXt_452It9Im8PwEhYF1LUeP0VgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/9F933CAA-7308-455A-9D23-D476EB04ED0C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>This is my newest creation; a trinket tray using the same technique of the thimble making. This is a variation of the design of <a href="https://mamercerie.blogspot.com/2020/11/my-first-silk-thimble-after-so-long.html?m=0" target="_blank">the thimble I posted before</a>, but it appears quite differently because of the colors and the way I arranged them.</p><p>The design of the the previous thimble, “Blue Wave”, is actually the same as “Scales”, meaning fish, snakes, and dragons scales in Japanese, but changing the colours so that it appears as stripes. This one has four stitching paths and I chose the darkest grey I have for all four so that it appears solid grey besides the last three rounds of stitches, for which I chose gold and silver threads with contrasting coloured silk threads. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zU6tdHE7E0Y/X7fTHYuIk3I/AAAAAAAAA6Y/Kp-yAwu0CkoOJ3D7wqz7VF9v0p-PnzY2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1650/81E554CC-1BA5-4EF4-A0F3-B6ED4AED78CF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="1650" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zU6tdHE7E0Y/X7fTHYuIk3I/AAAAAAAAA6Y/Kp-yAwu0CkoOJ3D7wqz7VF9v0p-PnzY2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/81E554CC-1BA5-4EF4-A0F3-B6ED4AED78CF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>As you can see it appears like “Scales” or “Blue Wave” but in a single colour.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E647hOHauj0/X7fTn4-FTcI/AAAAAAAAA6g/FA2AnIraCQoW2YHGptLMS5q06JY6pgdDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/9808AEC9-F1E2-4A68-AB26-B59A59F0A019.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E647hOHauj0/X7fTn4-FTcI/AAAAAAAAA6g/FA2AnIraCQoW2YHGptLMS5q06JY6pgdDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/9808AEC9-F1E2-4A68-AB26-B59A59F0A019.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Here, all you can see is the diamonds in gold and silver. The reason why it took me so long to finish this one is stitching four path in the same colour was no fun at all. Using the different colours for each stitching paths gives you the satisfaction to see how much you progressed and/or anticipation how it will be once finished. But not this one. What I did was just filling the space with stitches. When I finally thread the needle with the silver thread, then the gold, I cannot say how much fun I had, especially it changed the hue of grey when I added the silk threads along with the metal threads, then it changed once again with the last stitches in silver and gold. It was amazing and I regretted that I did not take step by step photos to share with you.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tHbJgfkoiWE/X7fWpXu6ptI/AAAAAAAAA6s/e00OM1S58rYxaUgeNpAtZDwdEiGpnmReACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/7F7021D9-92C2-44DE-BBC3-DC2F67202F93.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tHbJgfkoiWE/X7fWpXu6ptI/AAAAAAAAA6s/e00OM1S58rYxaUgeNpAtZDwdEiGpnmReACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/7F7021D9-92C2-44DE-BBC3-DC2F67202F93.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><p>I am considering reopening my shop at Etsy but am not sure because of the shipping options I can offer. Japan Post does not give me much choice with so less air traffic due to Covid-19. If you are interested in purchasing “Your First Silk Thimble Trial Kit” (and/or this trinket tray and previous thimbles for earrings, or any other thimbles/pin cushions posted before for that matter), please let me know by email. You can find my email address in the profile section. Please let me know which country you live so that I can check with the postal service to see what options we have.</p></div>Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-6151148383595159042020-11-16T01:10:00.002+09:002020-11-16T01:13:09.699+09:00Thimbles on Earrings<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6q2LAp4lw9s/X7FMp8LuMLI/AAAAAAAAA5g/xXD5zrEoPicuWW7zqIbP53NcQ1k_91lHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s750/414D1A74-7795-437A-9D27-E36896071BAF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="750" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6q2LAp4lw9s/X7FMp8LuMLI/AAAAAAAAA5g/xXD5zrEoPicuWW7zqIbP53NcQ1k_91lHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/414D1A74-7795-437A-9D27-E36896071BAF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I have been working on the new project as I mentioned in the previous post however, it has not progressed as I hoped. It’s a trinket tray and I should have finished it by now. The reason why it has taken me so long is the design I chose for it. I will tell you what it is and why in the next post when I finish it. </p><p>It takes me two to four hours to finish one thimble and naturally I have ended up with so many in my stash. In recent years I do not do embroidery and I really do not need thimbles in the practical way. So here is my new way to use stock up thimbles; thimbles on earrings.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nJmCiwSmEHE/X7FQmKdTxDI/AAAAAAAAA50/R-uEyUrwCdIH_bMIAV8XQi1CKBLsP5R0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s728/4B375455-6372-445B-8611-2280EDA0DC61.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="728" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nJmCiwSmEHE/X7FQmKdTxDI/AAAAAAAAA50/R-uEyUrwCdIH_bMIAV8XQi1CKBLsP5R0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/4B375455-6372-445B-8611-2280EDA0DC61.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>One of the above thimbles is the one I made in the past and I am not quite sure but I think I posted it here once. I made another one to match but not identical on purpose. I put them on the hoop earrings and here I am a proud owner of the new lovely earrings.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-55SbrNjtcjw/X7FSDIR0OSI/AAAAAAAAA6A/Vc4LoA-LGO8zNTtSxbZivG8yuML66tL0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s750/3F975E9E-CE09-4CC6-ADE7-E6D8C2DE0331.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="750" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-55SbrNjtcjw/X7FSDIR0OSI/AAAAAAAAA6A/Vc4LoA-LGO8zNTtSxbZivG8yuML66tL0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/3F975E9E-CE09-4CC6-ADE7-E6D8C2DE0331.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p><br /></p>Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-89500255132864008792020-11-06T03:02:00.002+09:002020-11-06T03:14:19.794+09:00My first silk thimble after so long a leave<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Tq197p8ROk/X6Q8nN6Y8PI/AAAAAAAAA5A/cqqlZov3NqI3MAje_sNdwZzGIW-mvm2yACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DCAE8477-1BC5-4E21-AA6D-2EC59B8506C8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Tq197p8ROk/X6Q8nN6Y8PI/AAAAAAAAA5A/cqqlZov3NqI3MAje_sNdwZzGIW-mvm2yACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DCAE8477-1BC5-4E21-AA6D-2EC59B8506C8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px;"> </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px;">I am back on line after so long a leave and here is my latest thimble. The design is called “Seikaiha” or “Seigaiha” in Japanese and its direct translation is “Blue Wave”.</div><div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px;">I did not intend to make this design as my first thimble but a simple bi-coloured Scales however, I mistakenly used a nine-section marking paper and here I am with this one.</div><div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px;">It took me a little over two hours and it was not too bad for the design. I have started a new one which is not a thimble and when it’s finished I will share it with you here. In the mean time here is an another photo of the same thimble, this time on my finger.</div><div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VpkVW0Of4ro/X6Q9iU0-7eI/AAAAAAAAA5U/i0VOl2IlELg-V5bNgJhNpYHyOz8ptRP_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/8F4EB738-298E-41EE-95A4-9B061227D85D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VpkVW0Of4ro/X6Q9iU0-7eI/AAAAAAAAA5U/i0VOl2IlELg-V5bNgJhNpYHyOz8ptRP_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/8F4EB738-298E-41EE-95A4-9B061227D85D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div>Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-14228815729203466112011-10-09T14:35:00.000+09:002011-10-09T14:35:37.212+09:00Design Memo -- Harlequin (or nine-patch diamonds)I have received requests now and then for the design interpretation for certain designs, mostly advanced ones, and while I do not wish to encourage you to try the new designs while you are still not ready for it by posting advanced design here, it's not very practical for me to answer to the requesters by sending an e-mail one by one and some cases the requester did not provide me with the way to contact them by leaving a comment anonymously without the link to their e-mail addresses or blog posts/web pages. So I have decided to give you a design memo of the most requested one today. Although I freely share the design memo with you, it is still my intellectual property and I would like you to respect it. It is not my intention to imply that any one of you would abuse it, but I just wanted to make a statement so that no misunderstanding would arise at later date, is all. You would be horrified to know how serious the copyright infringements are on the web. Having said that, here we go: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mhp_glR1pJw/TpEoSnJuaqI/AAAAAAAAAzs/ONxa_OVKzAM/s1600/TH-HQN10-022S.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mhp_glR1pJw/TpEoSnJuaqI/AAAAAAAAAzs/ONxa_OVKzAM/s400/TH-HQN10-022S.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Skill Level: Advanced<br />
Required technique(s): Forward stitch, back stitch, and weaving<br />
Number of stitching path(s): Two and then later becomes four<br />
Design period: Two sections<br />
Design repeat: Two sections<br />
Number of round(s): Single<br />
Number of colour(s) used: Four <br />
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This design is a kind of my original. The reason why I affixed "a kind of" before "my original" is I cannot be certain that anyone had ever made it before I did but I stitched the design without referring anything, so this is "a kind of" my original. I call it "Harlequin" because it reminds me of Agatha Christie's "Mysterious Mr Quinn" which based on the Italian masked character, Harlequin. <br />
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The design consists of the centre part of nine-patch diamonds and framing and you have to determine before you start stitching how many stitches you are going to make in one section.<br />
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My framing takes six stitches so subtract six from the number of the stitches in one section and the reminder is the number of stitches you are going to stitch for the centre nine-patch diamonds. It may not be very convenient number for you to form nine-patch so you have to adjust it by:<br />
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1) Adding or taking a stitch or two from the total number of the stitches of the section. Although this is easiest, you may have some difficulty to pack extra two stitches in a section, especially the section is already too packed to start with. <br />
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2) Changing the number of the sections i.e. narrowing/widening the section. Please note that the number of the sections has to be an even number as "rounding" will not work for the design. Also please note that the number of the sections will affect the shape of the diamonds, i.e. the more sections, the skinnier the diamonds become.<br />
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3) Making the ring size smaller/bigger/shorter/taller, possibly in conjunction with changing the number of sections. Although It involves most tedious work, you get the best result. However, if your thimble has to be in the specific size, then it's not an option for you. <br />
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Start stitching with two paths and weave 3x3 as you go to form nine-patch's. As this is nine-patch diamonds, the colour of the second stitching path appears at the four corners and centre small diamonds, so make sure to stitch with the right colour for each path.<br />
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Then start stitching the framing commencing from both sides of the portion you have already stitched, therefore the number of your stitching paths now becomes four, stitching alternatively and all in the same colour. Stitch a row in the first path with back stitch starting from the left side of the first path of the diamonds, then in the same way stitch the third path, then the second path with forward stitch starting from the right side followed by fourth path. Thread the different colour and stitch the second row in the same fashion, and for the final third row, change back to the colour you used for the first row.<br />
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As I stitch the diamonds portion all by forward stitches so the threads lay slanted in the top and bottom triangles however, if you opted for back stitches, back-to-back with forward stitches, then it appears as V-shaped. <br />
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Wish you happy stitching!Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-44670885549082456772011-09-19T11:29:00.000+09:002011-09-19T11:29:51.179+09:00La Chanson Japonaise ... ???A Japanese music duo was featured in one of the morning TV show a few weeks ago I was told, that they are Japanese but sing in France and that they sang in a TV trailer of Festival Paris Cinema last year. Must be very talented, I thought. So, I went and looked for them on YouTube and found them.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfB8VNEDxCE&feature=related">Zoun-Doko Bushi by Les Romanesques on YouTube</a><br />
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I do not have a word to describe their performance. Unusual? Different? Humoristique? Peculiar? Whatever I (and you) think of them, their song sure sticks to you.<br />
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<i>Tout va bien-ien-ien, tout les citoyens-yens-yens</i><br />
<i>Je me prom<em>è</em>ne le dimanche matin</i><br />
<i>Les pigeons picorent des miettes de pain</i><br />
<i>Je mets mes pieds sur une crotte de chien</i><br />
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The melody itself is of a Japanese origin, but their lyrics are their own I think.<br />
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Then there is another song:<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btaqC-AZf90&feature=related">Mademoiselles by Les Romanesques on YouTube</a><br />
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<i>Comment allez-vous, </i><br />
<i>ma jolie petite fille, mademoiselle? </i><br />
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They are quite something else.<br />
<i> </i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jrmdpbh1Fvg/TnamEocup7I/AAAAAAAAAzk/O0bG2VhYKII/s1600/DSC01757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jrmdpbh1Fvg/TnamEocup7I/AAAAAAAAAzk/O0bG2VhYKII/s400/DSC01757.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><i> </i>The picture is nothing to do with today's post, but it's always nice to have some pictures so I thought I should include at least one. This is one of the "on the process" pictures I took last summer when I made several thimbles in the same design but with silk thread in various colours and gold thread.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FgW3vqNeGNw/TnaodVB2ABI/AAAAAAAAAzo/pNjVzRZWYJY/s1600/DSC01766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FgW3vqNeGNw/TnaodVB2ABI/AAAAAAAAAzo/pNjVzRZWYJY/s400/DSC01766.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I believe I have shown this picture before and some of you might remember.<br />
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<i> </i><br />
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*** Shop Update ***<br />
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The listings of four Japanese print (cotton fabric) are going to expire very soon and as I announced it before I am not going to re-list them. If you ear-marked them, please go and have a final look. The listing of a set of 24 silk sewing thread has already expired. I plan to revamp my shop (not know when I actually get around to do so, though), so it will remain unavailable at Etsy however, if you would like to purchase it I can list it as "specially reserved" for you. Please drop me a line.Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-27476377459435925342011-09-13T23:23:00.000+09:002011-09-13T23:23:31.180+09:00Welcome to my blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LXSxu9QIkk8/Tm9LuaIUKOI/AAAAAAAAAzY/ztfq_0DIrbY/s1600/TH-SQR07-009S.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LXSxu9QIkk8/Tm9LuaIUKOI/AAAAAAAAAzY/ztfq_0DIrbY/s400/TH-SQR07-009S.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last week <a href="http://needlework.craftgossip.com/">Craftgossip</a> generously featured my last post, in which I listed links to my previously published posts about "how I make my thimbles" so that you could find them easier and <a href="http://friendstitch.over-blog.com/">friendstitch</a> listed a link to it, too. Thanks to these two wonderful sites (if you haven't visited either of them, I strongly suggest you do so now. You won't regret it, I am sure) I received a great number of the visitors and I would like to welcome those of you who have chose to return to read my post, again.</div><br />
Let me introduced myself quickly. My name is Chloe Patricia and I live in Japan. I am a thimble maker (not for a profession, of course) and I make the kind of thimbles in the photo above. Not looking very much the thimbles you are familiar with, I know. Japanese thimbles are traditionally ring shaped and not a cap. There are metal and leather thimbles (also in ring shapes) but Japanese people have been making their own thimbles at home, re-purposing leftover fabric and threads. <br />
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The thimbles I make are the most elaborate form: stitched all over with silk threads. With less and less people who do dressmaking and kimono sewing, along with factory made metal thimbles, this kind of thimbles were almost extinct after World War II until several years ago it was re-discovered. They are highly decorative but they are still a working tool, too. Since the core of the ring is paper, it's pliant enough to re-shape itself to conform your finger as you are wearing it while it's sturdy enough to help you pushing the needle without pricking your finger. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2YwJq0Hh-7c/Tm9fSo77xCI/AAAAAAAAAzg/jZo2Va_A4oE/s1600/TH-SQR08-006S.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2YwJq0Hh-7c/Tm9fSo77xCI/AAAAAAAAAzg/jZo2Va_A4oE/s400/TH-SQR08-006S.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>It requires a little getting use to to make your own, but as I showed you in the previous posts (you can find the links to these posts in my previous post) it's not very difficult once you got the basics. I would like you to remember that these posts are not tutorials. They are merely the posts which show you how I make my thimbles. Please also remember the ways I showed you are not the only ways. There are other ways and possibly better ways. If you are happy with the way you do, please stick to it and tell me about it so that I will consider converting to it. <br />
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If you are not quite sure if this kind of thimble making is really your thing, or you would like to try it first quickly before fully committing to it, I have a kit at my Etsy shop. The kit includes a finished thimble base with starter stitches done and an instruction booklet, so that you can just thread the needle (also included) and carry on stitching. It takes about two to three hours to finish it. <br />
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I also host a photo sharing group at <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/share_your_thimbles/">Flickr</a> where you can share the photos of your thimbles (or anything else you made using the same technique) with the rest of the group, or any other visitors for that matter. By the way, we have a new member recently there and PokiPaws (alias of the new member) shows us her first and second thimbles. I am amazed that although she used DMC's 6-strand embroidery floss, the finish has luster as if it's silk or rayon. It made me wonder if I should re-evaluate the value of the cotton floss. My photo sharing group is not a contest; I merely wanted to give my fellow thimble switchers a place to show off their work when I started it and it remains the same, no critics either. The primary rule, aside from the thimbles you upload the photo of have to be your own work, is for you to mention the size of the mould on which you formed your thimble base and the material you used. The size of the mould does not have to be very precise. Just measure the circumference of the tube you use with a measuring tape, either in inches or millimeters will do. <br />
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I love to hear from you and if you have a question about thimble making, please don't hesitate to ask. You can leave the question as the comment or e-mail me. You should be able to find my e-mail address at my profile page. It may take for a while but I will try to answer it. Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-29301946865125260322011-09-04T21:57:00.000+09:002011-09-04T21:57:42.094+09:00another mumbling with the typhoon gone but a new one approaching ...The current typhoon is over the island and now on the sea but it was disastrous leaving 21 death and 54 missing. As I told you yesterday, it proceeded (is still proceeding) extremely slowly and it dropped a tremendous amount of rainfall over Japan, leaving floods and landslide all over the country. Even it has been over, it still keeps raining, heavily in certain areas. <br />
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We are doing fine, virtually no damage at all, just a heavy rain last night. Kyoto had been a capital city of Japan for over 1000 years for a reason with less damages by earthquake, floods, and other natural disasters than other area.<br />
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However, there is a new typhoon has appeared on the weather forecasts. It's 13th and is heading to this way ....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0AQULlxY1E/TmNq0JAhl8I/AAAAAAAAAzU/TfaUtDWlAXo/s1600/TH-SQR07-005S.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0AQULlxY1E/TmNq0JAhl8I/AAAAAAAAAzU/TfaUtDWlAXo/s400/TH-SQR07-005S.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>This is one of the two thimbles I told you I had made recently with the one I showed to you yesterday. The technique is the same, but the colour scheme is different and as a result it appears as a different design. I wanted this one in shades in the same way as the previous gray one. I used three colours but obviously the lightest in shades is too light and the contrast in colours is stronger than I hoped it would be. I am going to dig in my thread stash boxes later to see if I can find a suitable one.<br />
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I opened one of the word documents I have neglected for so long today. It is titled "Starter Kit". As you may have correctly assumed, it's my long standing project of silk thimble starter kit instruction. I really hope I can offer the kit (or maybe it becomes an on-line course) later this year. I posted about how I make my thimbles before and you are supposed to make your own thimble following my instruction. Here are the links to these posts:<br />
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<a href="http://mamercerie.blogspot.com/2009/02/thimble-base-this-is-how-i-do.html">thimble base making</a><br />
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<a href="http://mamercerie.blogspot.com/2009/12/marking-paper-this-is-how-i-do.html">marking paper</a><br />
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<a href="http://mamercerie.blogspot.com/2009/04/stitches-this-is-how-i-do.html">how to stitch</a><br />
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<a href="http://mamercerie.blogspot.com/2010/03/answers-to-recent-questions-kind-of-how.html">post script of how to stitch</a> (please scroll down a little bit since it started with other subject) <br />
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<a href="http://mamercerie.blogspot.com/2009/05/initial-stitch-this-is-how-i-do.html">tidying up your initial stitch</a><br />
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<a href="http://mamercerie.blogspot.com/2009/10/bi-coloured-scales-design-thimbmle-this.html">how to make two-scales design thimble</a> (one I used to call bi-coloured scales)<br />
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<a href="http://mamercerie.blogspot.com/2009/12/cosmetic-touch-up-this-is-how-i-do.html">cosmetic touch-up</a><br />
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There are other posts tagged as "how I make my thimbles" but you do not need these recent posts, yet, in order to make your own first one. Please be patient with my English. I read these posts mentioned above and found a lot of grammatical and typing mistakes. Also I used to call "sections" as "segments" in the earlier posts until I had to use the word "segment" to represent a portion of the line. Questions are always welcome. You can leave a question at either the particular post or at the most current one, it doesn't matter.<br />
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If you would like to see what it is like quickly, may I suggest "First Thimble Kit" at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MaMercerie">Etsy</a>. The kit includes a ready-made thimble base with two rows of stitches done and a instruction booklet. So you just thread a needle (also included) and continue stitching. Please note that the instruction booklet does not show you how to make a thimble base. how to apply padding, or how to mark your marking paper.<br />
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Lastly I am still hosting a photo sharing group at <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/share_your_thimbles/">Flickr</a>. Please come join us once you made your own, or just pop in and admire our work there. Thank you.<br />
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Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-11012476496820374642011-09-03T11:51:00.000+09:002011-09-03T11:51:24.842+09:00mumbling with typhoon coming and staying ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dNSsfHsgkOY/TmF8lNKyn0I/AAAAAAAAAzM/sRvpnfrSn_A/s1600/TH-SQR07-07S.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dNSsfHsgkOY/TmF8lNKyn0I/AAAAAAAAAzM/sRvpnfrSn_A/s400/TH-SQR07-07S.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>It was not very nice to have a typhoon hanging around for a week and finally the 12th typhoon (we don't name typhoons in Japan. We just give them the ordinal numbers instead) is now almost at the edge of the one of the four main islands and moving northward VERY slowly. It is said that the typhoon is similar in size to Irene which hit NYC and moving in the speed equivalent to jolly bicycle ride. The news report said that some parts of the country got half the annual rain fall over the night. The morning news was full of flood and landslide. Fortunately for me, the area we live has not affected very much, so far. It's just like a very windy day now but it's going to be very rough tonight. It seems that the typhoon got slowed down further. <br />
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The photo is my most recent thimble. I have made two more in the same design but in different colours. I like its blue and gray hue. Since I do not dye my threads, I have to shop looking for the "right" colours. The haberdashery I frequent only sells Fujix Tire silk thread but about a year ago I purchased other manufacturer's silk thread on-line as dead stock as they were out of business. The brand name was Hyoutan and their colours are very delicate and in lovely hue as you can see in the picture. It's quite a shame that they are no longer in the business.<br />
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As you may know I have listed Japanese cotton prints fabric at my Etsy shop and the listings will expire on 19th September and I am not going to re-list them. If you ear-marked them for the future purchase, please have another look at them before the listing will be gone.<br />
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Speaking of Etsy, well, I am not very happy with some of the listings there. It's about copyright infringement. I switched from paper books to e-books years ago except the picture heavy crafts and cooking books and a few years ago something called "geographic restriction" was introduced in e-books market and you cannot buy certain books if your credit cards are not issued in the correct country. It's about the publishers and/or writer's copyright. The certain publishing house only bought the right to sell in the certain countries and if you do not have a credit card issued in that group of countries you are not entitled to buy it in e-book format while you are welcome to import the paper book published by the same publishing house. It does not matter where you are currently living, it's the credit card which matters. Weired. I am not very happy about the situation and I do not fully understand or agree with their reasoning but I can accept it. The writers' and publishers' rights have be protected after all. What I am upset about is there are many of the sellers at Etsy who simply scan the paper books and sell it in JPEG or PDF format saying it's "e-books". It's outright piracy. What upsets me more is the fact that there have been many people who bought them. It's quite easy to realize that the "book" was scanned manually because the listed photos of sample pages show the edges of the pages of the book or a trace of shadow which indicate that curved pages at the binding. It's quite clear that the pages of the books are scanned and they chose to ignore the fact that they were buying the illegally copied books, or just don't care if it was a legitimate book or not as long as it was cheaper than buying from the bookshop. I have reported several sellers but it's a up-hill battle. Please pop in to Etsy and search for "ebook". You would be amazed to find so many scanned PDF/JPEG files among the seller's original patterns and instructions. When you add "Japanese", then the majority of the results would be piracy. What the world has become ... Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-68492869678029994142011-08-20T14:56:00.000+09:002011-08-20T14:56:58.334+09:00hot, hotter, and hottest and ...Hello, I am back. Not that I was on holiday or was ill. Thank you for visiting my blog while my absence.<br />
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It's August. The most detested month if you ask me. Most Japanese people do not like summer (in my opinion), unless you are on the beach side. It's really, really a miserable month down here. However, this year I have my beloved ice cream maker with me. I have of course made a regular ice cream but I find sorbet is easier to make and more to my liking. To make fruit sorbet, you just process your fruit through the blender, sieve, and chilled it in the fridge, then process it in the machine. My absolute favorite is watermelon. Oh, how I love my ice cream maker.<br />
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As you may know I live in Japan and one of the traditional performing arts is called Noh. Kabuki is the other and more famous and fancier. Kabuki has been performed in both Europe and North America so you may have known what it is like. Noh, on the other hand, is a masked play, mostly singing and dancing. The singing is on a little monotonous side and sounds like chanting and dancing is very subdued, so subdued the performer almost do not move. No set or prop on a few metres squares of a stage. Not for everyone but it's beautiful nonetheless, especially if you could catch the meanings of chant like singing. There will be a performance held at the Noh Theatre near our place later this month and I am looking forward to it. <br />
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In case you are wondering if this is still a craft blog heavy on Japanese silk thimbles, here are two of my latest thimbles:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aQHLoPEkM1k/Tk9GzcZ6gTI/AAAAAAAAAzA/R2Bi_bg1MUE/s1600/HQN10-021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aQHLoPEkM1k/Tk9GzcZ6gTI/AAAAAAAAAzA/R2Bi_bg1MUE/s400/HQN10-021.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used to make a lot of this design. This is a weaved nine patch diamonds but I like to call it "Harlequin" because it reminds me of the cover of Agatha Christie's "Mysterious Mr Quinn". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mjiVSdxBhWc/Tk9Hv8VyQhI/AAAAAAAAAzI/ilQ5c6ayLv8/s1600/SQR07-004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mjiVSdxBhWc/Tk9Hv8VyQhI/AAAAAAAAAzI/ilQ5c6ayLv8/s400/SQR07-004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>This one is the same design I have been making recently a lot; pinwheel. Because of the colours I chose for this one, red, green, and gold, it resembles poinsettias.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have added the poinsettias thimble to my "Share Your Thimbles" at Flickr and found out that we have a new member to the group. Please kindly go over to the group's page <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/share_your_thimbles/">here</a>, and welcome our newest active member, May as magic_pochacco. She has uploaded a lot of lovely thimbles and beadings. May, if you are reading this post, please kindly mention the size and material of your work in the description field of the photo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If case you are interested in purchasing my thimbles, here is a link to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MaMercerie?ref=si_shop">Etsy</a>.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div>Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-78238664419750372102011-07-16T22:40:00.001+09:002011-07-16T22:40:00.932+09:00hot, hotter, and humid ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Half way though July and it's getting hotter. As you may know, I am not a summer girl; as a matter of fact, summer is my least favorite season. For those of you who live in northern (or far southern) parts, summer is a season with nice warm weather with longer days, but those of us down here, it's just very uncomfortable months. It's almost 36 degrees C with 70% humidity outside today. For your (who lives in North America) information, 36 degrees is about body temperature. Of course Nadia who lives in Tunisia who left me a comment on the previous post said she was suffering from 100 degrees F, which I understand is over 37 degrees C, so I should not complain much (it's just one degree in difference, but I know one degree at this high temperature makes a very big difference) but still it's not very fun enduring steamy weather. I am unable to enjoy the heat, I just can't. No sun bathing for me, thank you very much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got myself an ice cream machine the other day. I have always wanted one but didn't have a reasonable excuse to buy one. Not that I got a good reason this year, but I went ahead and bought it anyway. My machine is a small one and it can only process about half a litter of ice cream base at one go. It consists of two parts; a container which requires to be kept in the freezer for over 10 hours in advance so that it will be nice and well chilled when processing the ice cream, and an electric paddle which placed on top of the container (as a lid) and whisk the ice cream during processing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My favorite flavor so far is apricot sherbet. Just cooked apricots in the syrup with a slice of lemon and processed it in the blender and sieved and chilled, then processed it through ice cream machine. It's very yummy as the way it comes out of the machine, all nice and soft and chilly, but once the sherbet is stored in the freezer, it becomes firm and you can make ice cream soda with it. Well, it's not ice cream, so I should not call it ice cream soda. Can you tell me what's supposed to be called?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dr8srVKSm4s/TiGPvN_RGTI/AAAAAAAAAy4/rQaKBYfM5Lo/s1600/DSC03427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dr8srVKSm4s/TiGPvN_RGTI/AAAAAAAAAy4/rQaKBYfM5Lo/s400/DSC03427.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Instead of club soda, you can use dry white wine or sparkling wine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LITwAEfI_90/TiGTV2eeXxI/AAAAAAAAAy8/lCJ6j55oVOM/s1600/DSC03425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LITwAEfI_90/TiGTV2eeXxI/AAAAAAAAAy8/lCJ6j55oVOM/s400/DSC03425.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and it's a lovely treat for hot and humid summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-81598131153156465702011-06-21T09:00:00.001+09:002011-06-21T09:00:02.407+09:00Bal MasqueSome of you who lives in Northern countries actually celebrate Midsummer while it's just another day in wet season down here in Japan. It's kind of funny since Midwinter is marked on the calender as one of the days of importance. To be precise, Midsummer is marked as a day of importance on the calender but we do not celebrate or anything. Perhaps everybody so hate winter and we all need a reminder spring will come eventually, before the weather becomes harsher (the coldest is February here). <br />
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Anyway June in Japan is not a very nice month. It's VERY WET. It's either wet and chilly or wet and hot. It's a transitional month before summer which is worse; July being hotter and humid and August being the hottest and more humid. <br />
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It's not very comfortable to wear a mask in June in Japan (or any other summer month, for that matter) but if I were to attend a masquerade ball on Midsummer's night, then I would like one of these masques <a href="http://www.angel-mask.com/faemagic.htm">here</a> and dress like Titania. "<a href="http://www.angel-mask.com/">The Merchant of Venice</a>" is a mask maker whose web page I stumbled across years ago. They do not update their web page very often, if ever, so after a few visits I stopped checking on it until about a month ago when I moved from Internet Explore to Firefox and thought it was a good idea to make sure all the bookmarks still worked. The page still exists and I am glad for it but I doubt they have added any new mask since last time I visited their site. I have not purchased any yet, but my favorite is a one called "succubus" which you can find in Gothic category. I might one day place an order for it...<br />
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Happy Midsummer and enjoy the longest day of the year.<br />
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P.S. I wonder it's also called a midsummer even in Southern hemisphere?Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-63436569115813868972011-06-16T16:00:00.003+09:002011-06-17T01:57:15.253+09:00prototype I and II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wRq6Cov0lyA/TfmhyFT5wiI/AAAAAAAAAyY/DfsenquSJYg/s1600/DSC03400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wRq6Cov0lyA/TfmhyFT5wiI/AAAAAAAAAyY/DfsenquSJYg/s400/DSC03400.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>It's already halfway past the month and I finally managed to upload my contribution to Flickr photo sharing. <br />
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When I announced this month's photo sharing earlier, I gave you a small peek of my current project. It was a needlework tray and pin cushion set as many of you figured it out. I have stitched two third of the tray and pin cushion and before continue stitching the rest, I thought it would be very prudent to make a prototype to determine the colours I chose would really work fine. <br />
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Not too bad, but not exactly what I thought it would appear. The darker blue and green are too conspicuous and needed to reduced it to a single round. Toup and silver look too much alike and no, it won't do. Perhaps much darker colour might have worked better?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yRZxxyRUIh8/Tfmk0nvVskI/AAAAAAAAAyc/FvWaIKlPNQk/s1600/Pin+Cushion+%2528prototype+II%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yRZxxyRUIh8/Tfmk0nvVskI/AAAAAAAAAyc/FvWaIKlPNQk/s400/Pin+Cushion+%2528prototype+II%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Sorry about the blurry picture, but one less dark blue and green with dark charcoal and dark olive, the pin cushion appears completely differently. The pin wheel parts and squares appear more prominent and this is not the effect I prefer for this particular project. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9fP2RfhD5Aw/TfmmgikZHtI/AAAAAAAAAyg/s2kz1stz1sc/s1600/DSC03413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9fP2RfhD5Aw/TfmmgikZHtI/AAAAAAAAAyg/s2kz1stz1sc/s400/DSC03413.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>So, it's white that I finally chose for the tray with silver metal thread. My metal threads are smaller in size than the silk I use and since I reversed the proportion of silk and silver for the last part of the stitching, I encountered the small problem of coverage at the edges and it shows as you can see. I really should have made the third prototype. The stitching part of the tray is finished and it only require attaching the lining to the inner bottom. I am not really sure if velvet works better than satin but as I have some velvet in my stash and no satin at all, it's most likely I would use velvet. I will show you when I finished lining the bottom, in either material, along with the new pin cushion in matching design. In the meantime, wish you happy stitching.Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-25942514443265277062011-06-02T07:44:00.000+09:002011-06-02T07:44:36.202+09:00Share Your Thimbles June 2011It's June and it's time for "<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/share_your_thimbles/">Share Your Thimble" on Flickr</a>. Last month we only had four people who showed us their thimbles. All are regular participants and their works are lovelier than ever. If you have not visited the Flickr to admire these little beauties yet, please do so from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/share_your_thimbles/">here</a>. Although all the May's thimbles were advanced design, the simple yet elegant and sophisticated two-scales are always welcome. "Share Your Thimble on Flickr" is a photo sharing group where anyone can upload the photos of their Japanese silk thimbles and not a contest. No one win. No one criticize anyone's work. Just the place to show off your thimbles. You can join the group with your very first thimbles. <br />
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Here are the rules:<br />
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1. The thimbles (or any other rings) have to be your own work.<br />
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2. Although the name of the group reads as "thimbles", your work is not necessarily a thimble and you can make your rings in any size you would like, as small as a focal beading for a necklace or as big as a bracelet, or even bigger.<br />
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3. As stated above, they have to be your own works however, you can use the ring base from the kit if you choose to do so. It may not seem to be fair, considering I sell the kits, however, they are many other kits available (at least in Japan) and some of you may be able to obtain them, and it is definitely not fair to exclude the people who is brave enough to share their first work with us from the group.<br />
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4. No technique restriction applies. You can use back stitch and weaving in addition to the forward stitch, and even embroidery on the surface if you choose to do so. This is not a contest. You do not need to use these techniques if you are not up to them or you simply do not feel like it. A simple yet elegant two-scales design is always welcomed (and it's one of my favorite designs).<br />
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5. You can use any material, and in any colours, you would like.<br />
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6. Please state the size of the mould on which you formed your ring base in the description field of the photo, either in millimeters or in inches. Please also mention what threads and padding you used, too, so that we could compare notes. In case you bought one of my kits, here are the sizes and materials: "first thimble" is 50mm in circumference and Tire Silk size 9 & floss silk padding. "small pincushion" is 61mm in circumference and Tire Silk size9 & floss silk padding. "medium pincushion" is 103mm and Tire Silk size 16 & knitting yarn for padding.<br />
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7. You can upload as many photos as you like. You can upload several photos of one thimble if you choose to do so.<br />
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Now, please start uploading your photo from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/share_your_thimbles/">here</a>.<br />
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I have not finished my contribution to this month's photo sharing yet however, it's preferable when the post is with photos, any photo. So here is a small peek...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kg-2SA2vJgA/TebAO5so_YI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/Nz7RUzpW4Jg/s1600/DSC03407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kg-2SA2vJgA/TebAO5so_YI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/Nz7RUzpW4Jg/s400/DSC03407.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Can you guess what they would be when finished?Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-12591334720285888792011-05-27T22:35:00.001+09:002011-05-27T22:35:00.985+09:00a little bit of cheating - this is how I make my thimblesAs announced in my last "how I do" post, I am going to tell you a way to cheat a little so that you can simplify your marking paper. <br />
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The crossing of the threads always happens at the mid-point of two sections. This is the fact. When I posted <a href="http://mamercerie.blogspot.com/2010/07/keep-it-simple-how-i-make-my-thimbles.html">this article</a>, I showed you how to apply this fact to simplify your marking paper, as in 28 sections into simple 7 sections. Today I am going to show you how to simply your markings of period of eight scales design. This involves "weaving" so you may not find it simplifying but I will show you how nonetheless.<br />
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The weaving is exactly what the name suggests; you weave your thread when stitching. When you stitch the first path, there is nothing on the thimble body so no crossing of threads at all. When the second path is stitched, your current thread travels over the thread of the first path and it makes the crossing of the threads and the crossings form the horizontal line on your thimble as you go, to give it a two-scales design. The weaving is to have the thread travel beneath the existing threads on the thimble body. How many threads under which your stitching thread travels and where to weave determine the design.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9kTdU8I-jos/TZ5vfaGDsGI/AAAAAAAAAt4/AZ9RVVSPHsg/s1600/period+of+4+sections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="102" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9kTdU8I-jos/TZ5vfaGDsGI/AAAAAAAAAt4/AZ9RVVSPHsg/s400/period+of+4+sections.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is a design diagram of period of four scales (four-scales) design. In order to make it easier and simple, I am going to explain how weaving technique helps you with this design. <br />
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According to the design diagram, you are supposed to start stitching from first path in red, then the second in blue, the third in green, and the last in yellow with the marking paper of sixteen sections.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, I will show you how to stitch a period of four scales design without having four-section-marked paper. There supposed to be sixteen sections in total for four sets of four sections (period of four). Instead of having sixteen-section marked paper, I made my marking paper with only eight sections. Then, stitched the first path, then the third path skipping the second path.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rZqXxksqQwI/TZ52JSJ4rzI/AAAAAAAAAuI/bQYs-LXbcCk/s1600/DSC03203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rZqXxksqQwI/TZ52JSJ4rzI/AAAAAAAAAuI/bQYs-LXbcCk/s400/DSC03203.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is a picture where I finished stitching first (white) and third (green) paths as if I was going to make a two-scales thimble.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SCHwT2oxAj8/TZ537E3kOHI/AAAAAAAAAuM/Yt3eaBCYPTU/s1600/DSC03204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SCHwT2oxAj8/TZ537E3kOHI/AAAAAAAAAuM/Yt3eaBCYPTU/s400/DSC03204.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Here I was trying to start the second path. As I told you, the crossing of the threads always appear at the mid-point of the sections, so the start of the second path should be where the tip of the needle appears on the top side in this photo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f4w7qIx7KkY/TZ55UI2z9RI/AAAAAAAAAuc/A5orO1dmReM/s1600/DSC03205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f4w7qIx7KkY/TZ55UI2z9RI/AAAAAAAAAuc/A5orO1dmReM/s400/DSC03205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Made an initial stitch and was trying to make a downstroke stitch. Please focus on the light brown thread and green thread. In the picture, the light brown is placed on the green one and this will not do. As the light brown is the second path and green the third, light brown should have traveled beneath the green thread. Now is the time to use weaving technique; making your stitching thread travel beneath the existing threads on the thimble body.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X7BOvDvB3YA/TZ54_3U0k0I/AAAAAAAAAuQ/EXew_QfeMGc/s1600/DSC03207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X7BOvDvB3YA/TZ54_3U0k0I/AAAAAAAAAuQ/EXew_QfeMGc/s400/DSC03207.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">You slide the needle, the other end, where the eys is, firstly beneath the green thread. Please make sure not to disturb the padding. By disturbing, I mean try not to pick any padding material.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U-4BE_u5ZFg/TZ565t-TL9I/AAAAAAAAAug/a3AzNbYi3hU/s1600/DSC03208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U-4BE_u5ZFg/TZ565t-TL9I/AAAAAAAAAug/a3AzNbYi3hU/s400/DSC03208.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Pulled the needle through. I am sorry the picture is not very clear. I hope you could see the green thread is on top of the light brown one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-szxDBcScvQo/TZ58GMnVUxI/AAAAAAAAAuo/hbJfs_LPdfs/s1600/DSC03209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-szxDBcScvQo/TZ58GMnVUxI/AAAAAAAAAuo/hbJfs_LPdfs/s400/DSC03209.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This picture shows it better, that light brown travels beneath green, on the other hand please note that the light brown is on the white thread of the first path. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3BFO2KCN450/TZ6dBJ_jtrI/AAAAAAAAAuw/lPp4D0xbNaw/s1600/DSC03210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3BFO2KCN450/TZ6dBJ_jtrI/AAAAAAAAAuw/lPp4D0xbNaw/s400/DSC03210.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Here I made all the stitches of the second path in light brown, traveling beneath the green, i.e. woven, which is the third path and on white which is the first path.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bVHlIJSIYIA/TZ6dVmcU3yI/AAAAAAAAAu0/1t3w3Yowf-8/s1600/DSC03211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bVHlIJSIYIA/TZ6dVmcU3yI/AAAAAAAAAu0/1t3w3Yowf-8/s400/DSC03211.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, it's time to start the fourth path. Make an initial stitch at the mid-point of the section. Make sure that the stitch at the bottom in light brown, the crossing of green and white, and your initial stitch stay vertically at the same position.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V25tD1jQyw0/TZ6d9WX0b6I/AAAAAAAAAu4/Ugb4GGzivvc/s1600/DSC03213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V25tD1jQyw0/TZ6d9WX0b6I/AAAAAAAAAu4/Ugb4GGzivvc/s400/DSC03213.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I used white for the fourth path so it's not very clear to see, but since it's the fourth path, you do not need to weave your stitching thread at all. The thread of the fourth path travels on top of all the threads.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CMk7GlCOs08/TZ6eUPClYHI/AAAAAAAAAu8/jX620S9wsvQ/s1600/DSC03214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CMk7GlCOs08/TZ6eUPClYHI/AAAAAAAAAu8/jX620S9wsvQ/s400/DSC03214.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Here, all done nicely with only an eight-section marking paper. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">In the same way you can make a period of eight scales (32 sections over all) design with an eight-section marking paper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_CLmIibhltQ/TZ6iveQyKPI/AAAAAAAAAvA/wKU_rio_TMg/s1600/12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_CLmIibhltQ/TZ6iveQyKPI/AAAAAAAAAvA/wKU_rio_TMg/s400/12.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Started a new path between path 1 and path 2 of the previous four-scales. I was trying to make eight-scales so the path 2 was to be path 3 and the new path I was creating in the picture was to be path 2.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Aj177wtk0I/TZ6iyc2YCmI/AAAAAAAAAvE/vszxYBi5yvk/s1600/13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Aj177wtk0I/TZ6iyc2YCmI/AAAAAAAAAvE/vszxYBi5yvk/s400/13.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>My current stitching thread was of path 2 of eight paths so it should have had to travel beneath all the other three threads except the first path because the other three were to be 3rd, 5th 7th path respectively.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZw3oijf0ZQ/TZ6i0N7-LjI/AAAAAAAAAvI/75m11k86BHA/s1600/14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZw3oijf0ZQ/TZ6i0N7-LjI/AAAAAAAAAvI/75m11k86BHA/s400/14.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The needle is passing beneath the green thread of path 5 and ...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b58uJPl4l1c/TZ6i1mx3HsI/AAAAAAAAAvM/NPGVxEl1evo/s1600/15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b58uJPl4l1c/TZ6i1mx3HsI/AAAAAAAAAvM/NPGVxEl1evo/s400/15.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">path 7 in white. The last thread on the thimble body in white was of the path 1, so the stitching thread had to travel over it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h9Jn6zJjCi4/TZ6i783MfPI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/i9AiNpXKino/s1600/16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h9Jn6zJjCi4/TZ6i783MfPI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/i9AiNpXKino/s400/16.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Here the down stroke stitch was made. Please note that the green thread of path 2 travels beneath firstly light brown (path 3), another green (path 5), and white (path 7), but not the last white which is path 1.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r1cpw4IRSlE/TZ6i9lxv3pI/AAAAAAAAAvU/mL4SShPj6tI/s1600/17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r1cpw4IRSlE/TZ6i9lxv3pI/AAAAAAAAAvU/mL4SShPj6tI/s400/17.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Have done whole row of path 2.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X5tBpv8oMjQ/TZ6i_SyRoXI/AAAAAAAAAvY/g1LuYH7hsgo/s1600/18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X5tBpv8oMjQ/TZ6i_SyRoXI/AAAAAAAAAvY/g1LuYH7hsgo/s400/18.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Was starting the path 4 ...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-99z2duKdevU/TZ6jBR5pS2I/AAAAAAAAAvc/Ognu7iRsMX8/s1600/19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-99z2duKdevU/TZ6jBR5pS2I/AAAAAAAAAvc/Ognu7iRsMX8/s400/19.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>In the same way as before, wove only the 5th and 7th paths, as the current thread was of path 4.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BCFaYgGzk9E/TZ6jC-sBK9I/AAAAAAAAAvg/EJNS3bZ7gVk/s1600/20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BCFaYgGzk9E/TZ6jC-sBK9I/AAAAAAAAAvg/EJNS3bZ7gVk/s400/20.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The white between light brown and green was my stitching thread of path 4. It travels beneath the green and first white but travels on the second white, second green, and light brown and the stitch at the bottom was made. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mwBO4lAc20E/TZ6jElayjvI/AAAAAAAAAvk/rv1wWXMlmxs/s1600/21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mwBO4lAc20E/TZ6jElayjvI/AAAAAAAAAvk/rv1wWXMlmxs/s400/21.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Path 4 was done.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LIb8a3rfP5E/TZ6jGDBOmwI/AAAAAAAAAvo/O0HrRMjiYog/s1600/22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LIb8a3rfP5E/TZ6jGDBOmwI/AAAAAAAAAvo/O0HrRMjiYog/s400/22.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>You now know the drill. This was start of path 6.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gmpfLB5un2k/TZ6jICinG7I/AAAAAAAAAvs/wVhTUn_C5Bo/s1600/23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gmpfLB5un2k/TZ6jICinG7I/AAAAAAAAAvs/wVhTUn_C5Bo/s400/23.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>You know what this was now. The 6th path in green (second green in the picture) only went beneath the white, and on everything else.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xdu_pfpW5PA/TZ6jLBfx1xI/AAAAAAAAAvw/GMgGKDnNj4I/s1600/24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xdu_pfpW5PA/TZ6jLBfx1xI/AAAAAAAAAvw/GMgGKDnNj4I/s400/24.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Path 6 was done.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0WeZe5YhHEc/TZ6jYJiUc7I/AAAAAAAAAv0/-J8rUWNROe8/s1600/25.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0WeZe5YhHEc/TZ6jYJiUc7I/AAAAAAAAAv0/-J8rUWNROe8/s400/25.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The last path at last. This is my favorite. Can guess why?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fuOOpdnqzmY/TZ6jaJUYWUI/AAAAAAAAAv4/XZQWjdbooQ4/s1600/26.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fuOOpdnqzmY/TZ6jaJUYWUI/AAAAAAAAAv4/XZQWjdbooQ4/s400/26.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>As this was the last path (path 8), no need to weave at all!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l1dWITWc0qQ/TZ6jb6qSmwI/AAAAAAAAAv8/XAEOfvvVTww/s1600/27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l1dWITWc0qQ/TZ6jb6qSmwI/AAAAAAAAAv8/XAEOfvvVTww/s400/27.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Here all done with only eight-section markings but now the thimble had 16 sections. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i1neCamGto8/TZ6jd6hwybI/AAAAAAAAAwA/Ua2PQs-I0So/s1600/28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i1neCamGto8/TZ6jd6hwybI/AAAAAAAAAwA/Ua2PQs-I0So/s400/28.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Perhaps you may find this rather daunting and not worth trying. I felt myself while writing this post that it sounded rather tiresome to determine which thread go on or beneath which. However, once you start stitching, it is not that difficult. Just need to make sure which path you are stitching, is all and you will know what to do. After all, you only have to do this for the first row. From the second row onward, you can stitch from path 1 to path 8, in numerical order.</div><div class="separator" style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: medium; clear: both; text-align: left;">I would appreciate the feedback from you once you tried this technique. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893647548176713815.post-31700708328245171772011-05-21T08:30:00.002+09:002011-05-21T08:30:01.104+09:00pin cushion in pink<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JGG3jHLnfCI/TdO0MZ4WUpI/AAAAAAAAAyI/5iSkm59m0rA/s1600/DSC03367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JGG3jHLnfCI/TdO0MZ4WUpI/AAAAAAAAAyI/5iSkm59m0rA/s400/DSC03367.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The design on my latest pin cushion was an experiment and it appeared as I thought it would be, so in that sense it was a success. However, I find it a little bit too busy. Maybe in different colours... Actually it is a prototype of my latest project (aside from new thimble kit). I thought it would be lovely to have a work tray for needlework with its side finished in the same way as thimbles. Actually I got around and made one for myself. That first one taught me I needed to improve how I attache a bottom to the ring. So I made another tray base, I would say an improved one, last weekend and I have started experimenting in the smaller scales, hence a pin cushion. The height of the side is 15mm plus bottom, the same as the tray so my experiment can be adapted to the tray easily. I like the design but it would look nicer when the design is two or three tired with higher sided ring. I may not pick this one for the tray but I believe I am going to start a new experiment on the design, too, for something else.<br />
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Beverly at <a href="http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/">How Sweet The Sound</a> is hosting Pink Saturday this weekend, too. She set up a list of links of the participants so that we can visit and see what other people has found for their posts in pink. I wish you all happy pink Saturday.Chloe Patriciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04991818867907950427noreply@blogger.com2