A Diamond Crazy quilt block

Back in January I pieced the diamond shaped blocks for another crazy quilt. This is an update on some rather slow progress of this project.

As you can see I have a block almost complete. I have yet to add some buttons and plan to when I lay out three of these diamonds together in a baby block formation.

The butterfly is a design I worked up after reading Helen Stevens Embroidered Butterflies I read this beautifully illustrated book from cover to cover enjoying the eye candy then put it to one side and worked on the butterfly. So it can be said that the butterfly is influenced by her technique but not followed in a slavish manner. By the way, if you enjoy thread painting this inexpensive book is well worth the money as it includes full instructions on how to create butterflies in silk thread. I did not use silk. I used DMC stranded cottons. I sketched out my own simple butterfly and used colours that sat well in the block. Stitching this area I realised I need new glasses as there was a little too much eye strain involved to be comfortable. Thread painting is also time consuming but very satisfying.

The other area of the block which may be of interest is a further experiment with a needle lace technique. The seam treatment is a combination of double drizzle stitch and the little pockets have been made from Detached buttonhole stitch.

I experimented with this technique on a fabric postcard in February after discovering this technique accidentally. I had been reading about Turkish Oya needle lace and decided the idea had potential so explored detached buttonhole a little more. This seam treatment is another exploration. As you can see I tucked small beads into the pockets.

I can’t quite believe the year is slipping by so quickly the start of the year was taken up the lessons for the online class which ran over at Joggles.com and ever since I have been working on a series of lessons which concentrates on stitching alone. I am feeling a bit dissatisfied at the rate of progress but there is only so much I can do after work so I should not be too harsh on myself.

Anyway I am off to do my usual Saturday morning tasks around the house.