I’ve been a bit quiet for the last few days – nothing new there – but this time, it’s for a reason…I have finished the big piece!
Finally, the fingers were functioning well enough, and in fact, there was surprisingly little still to do.
Here it is.
Most of the time that I’ve been working on it, I’ve called it ‘the big piece’ (it’s about 50cm x 80cm, if you were wondering), but as I came to the end, I kept thinking of the word firmament, so that’s what I’m going to call it.
This has been the largest single piece of needlepoint that I’ve ever made. I feels like a long time now, since the car boot sale, when I picked up the offcuts of upholstery canvas and a bag of tapestry wools, last spring. It’s been incredibly good value for money, as it’s kept me out of trouble for months. (OK, I might be turning the proverbial blind-eye to the cost of additional wools and silks, but I don’t worry about little things like that…)
So, there it is. Soon to be consigned to the pile of other pieces I’ve made over the last few years. I can’t bear to make any more cushions with them, so they’ll have to sit on the shelf until I find the inspiration to do something with them.
Working on loose weave upholstery canvas has been the biggest eye-opener for me on this project. It has a life all its own and behaves quite differently to the usual canvas, with its regimented lines of perfect squares. As soon as the weather picks up, I’m going to be out there in car boot land, looking for some more supplies – unless that is, anyone can point me in the direction of a supplier which doesn’t involve trudging round muddy fields?
Onwards then. Nature abhors a vacuum, apparently – so I’m already well on the way with Dunstanburgh Castle. I decided to make this roughly A4 sized, to see how long it would take to sew it and also to give it a marginally useful life after sewing – I’m looking for ways to put the tapestry out into the real world, other than in cushions.
Happy sewing etc.
Dreaming In Stitches 
Goodness, that’s impressive! Good title, too.
Thank you – the name just arrived in my head – funny when that happens.
I like the bright colours – how big is it?
I’ve always fancied a needlepoint rug, so i wondered if it was big enough for that
It’s really not big enough for a rug – only about 50cm x 80cm – and a bit wonky too, thanks to the uneven weave. If I ever get around to it, I think I might find a way to hang it – maybe give it a fringe?
That is just lovely, the colours really sing. It does look as though it felt much more alive to stitch than standard canvas, there’s a really vibrant energy to it. Beautiful.
Thank you, I’m really feeling the difference going back to the normal stuff – I’m going to have to find something else to work on.