Japanese Embroidery Phase 2 & 3 - Finished!

Here it is, all done! It's still on the frame though. I was planning on starting the framing process over the weekend but realized on Sunday I didn't have enough white cotton fabric. I'll be passing by the shop this week to get some as I want to complete the framing before end of year.

The pictures on the JEC shop is not very nice, but the colors came out fantastic. It was worth the 338.75 hours it took to stitch.

With this piece completed, I now have 4 phases done. I will be starting phase 5 and 6 next year. For now, I will having only one Japanese embroidery piece on the go. I should enjoy it as it won't be long before I have a slew of pieces on frames.

I've already taken my bird out of hiding and I decided I will attack it in areas. I will start with the isolated branch on the left. It's a good one to start with as I'll be able to stitch leaves, buds and a branch for practice. I will be off work for a week and a half starting Friday, and I'm hoping to have this branch completed by the end of it. If I'm able to get more done, all the better!

Hiogi - Finishing up

From my last update, I only had a few elements left. The first one is a little snowflake near the orange cord. This is the second element done with fuzzy effect. That one was done with diagonal held stitches (you can see it here), so now we get to try the second method with vertical holding stitches. 

I felt the piece didn't have enough silver in it, so my snowflake is stitched with #1 and #2 silver thread. I used #2 for the center and #1 for the spokes. 

The metal thread is couched down with a greay silk that I twisted to make couching thread from.

The second element is the outline of gold that goes around the fan to give it's shape. This was really difficult as it started with a straight edge and then curved. When we initially did the pre-work, none of us were aware we needed to leave some space for this outline. I had a little trouble getting a nice curve near the shippo cloud as the cardboard padding kept getting in the way. So for those stitching this in future, leave enough space next to the sayagata and shippo clouds for the 1.5 #1 gold. Still I'm happy with how mine came out.

The very last element are the fan lines. Technically, I should have put these in before the outline, but I wanted to make sure my lines were plunged in the right place. This was very tedious, especially as I was at the very end. It was couch, plunge, stitch down, couch, plunge, stitch down,... 

When plunging very short strands of gold, I would always plunge one end keeping the other side still wound on the koma. Once that's done, I would cut the other end and plunge the threads making sure to hold onto the threads under the fabric. This ensures they're not pulled out accidentally.

The picture above shows the very last stitch plunged on Hiogi and it's officially done! I've already visited the framer and we picked out the mat and frame. This weekend I will be doing the pasting and then I can start lacing. I can take my time with that as my framer will be closing for the holidays. I'm honestly still in shock that it's done and will take me a few days to adjust. Not sure how much stitching will get done...

I will probably pull out the peach blossom and bird piece I started over the summer, but I've already started looking into placing an order for the next phase piece.

Hiogi - Nearing the End

I didn't post last week but I'm still on my stitching streak. The 2-3 sessions for the cords ended up being one session. Below is my tassel fully stitched except for the couched lines and Japanese knots.

I'm getting so close to the end that I decided I needed a checklist of what's leftover. Doing this helps me plan what threads I need to make. Not the standard twisted threads but the karayori and katayori that need to be dampened and dried.

One full day was spent making threads and putting in the tassel lines. I'm realizing now I have no pictures from that but it's the same thing as the purple tassel. Below are my katayori and karayori. They're both meant to be couched and the katayori is a bumpy thread vs the smooth karayori. It's actually very pretty when twisting it with gold thread.

The clouds all have two rows of pairs of katayori couched. This helps hide the edges.

The same thing is done with the paulownia but this time with one katayori and one #5 gold thread. It's a really pretty way to neaten the edges.

Very pretty but leaves you with quite a mess. All these threads have to be plunged and tied down at the back.

The plunging is done but now I have tie downs to look forward to. My least favorite thing but it needs to be done. I finished quite late yesterday so the lighting is horrible. I'll take a nicer picture when I pull it out again.

Not long now, just a lot of couching left to do as well as that snowflake you can barely see near the orange cord. I'm looking through my notes and I put this piece on the frame December 15, 2018. It would be amazing to get it done before that date. Right on time for it's 3 year anniversary.

Hiogi - Tassel, cords & more

Two weeks ago, I set myself an objective for Hiogi. Well I met them and more!

The first objective was to stitch the second purple cord that had the color change.

Here you can see the light purple next to a twisted thread that had half light, half dark purple.  The color change is done in steps where you start introducing the mixed color thread slowly, completly replace it and then introduce your second color to finally end with just that one.

The second objective was to put in the veins on the tassel. I had previously transferred the lines using the tissue paper method using black couching silk. These lines could be put in by eye and they don't need to be very precise. At the time when I put in the black lines I thought it may have been overkill, especially as I had spent a whole session just doing that. However, when it came time to put in the karayori it really helped. So I will probably do the same on the other tassel using an orange couching silk.

The last touch comes on the "skirt" of the tassel. There is an outline of Japanese knots in light purple, I added some gold to the twist, and then a few scattered inside. The outline is easy, but how much should there be inside is a tough question. A friend reminded me that in Japanese embroidery, if you have to ask yourself if you put enough, chances are you did and should stop now.

Since I met my objective, I could go back to working inside the fan. I completed the white buds, adding in the stems. We could pick either a green or peach color and I went with the peach as it gave it a delicate look.

I was originally thinking of putting in the lines inside the fan but finally decided to wait for the clouds to be outlined. They're done using a non-stitchable gold thready and waiting will help me better judge where the gold lines should be plunged.

But wait, there's more! Since I'm doing so well, I decided to forgo working on the Armillary sphere on Sunday and spend one more day on Hiogi to start the orange cord.

The day went well, really well. I normally stop stitching around 3-4pm but that didn't happen yesterday. I stitched all day, with a break around 3pm for a nice walk and came right back to stitching. Things were going so well, that the stitches just kept flowing. 

The cord on the left is meant to be stitched with gold and dark orange with a color transition in between. I didn't particularly like the gold as I thought it was too flashy and clashed with the overall design. The kit comes with two shades of orange as the tassel is stitched with two. So I decided to use the light orange twisted with gold before it transitions to the dark orange.

The next session will be to work on the tassel as it is in the foreground while the second cord is in the background. There are a few steps to get through, so it may take 2 or 3 stitching sessions.

I'm really happy with how far I was able to get in two weekeds on this piece, especially on those cords. I'm thinking I should strike while it's hot and get phase 5 which is all about cords. Decisions, decisions...

Hiogi Update

It's been a while since I've shared an update on Hiogi. I'm looking at posts and the last update is from February when I completed the cherry blossom on the pink cloud. I did take it out once or twice to clean up the fan and add the stems on the cherry blossoms, but I didn't do much else for several months as I took on phase 4 and then the phase 2 bead embroidery project.

Since starting my new job, my Friday afternoons have been freed up and I'm able to join my Japanese stitching group who regularly meet on Fridays to stitch together. I made a decision to put more time on Hiogi and try to complete it. I won't say I will finish it this year but I will make more of an effort.

I started with the last paulownia leaf as it's been sitting half finished for a very long time. It just needed one leaf to stitch and then veins.

I used the tissue paper method to transfer the veins. I should be doing it using shell powder, the preferred JEC method but as I don't have any I couldn't. I'll get some and look for a future opportunity.

Once the veins are stitched and tissue paper teared off, I only had to put in a few stitches to keep the longer silk strands in place.

From there I went on to stitch the little white blossoms. These are stitched with twisted silk over cotton padding.

At this point the inside of the fan is well on it's way to being completed, but I feel that I've avoided those cords long enough.

So my focus as of right now are the cords. Over the weekend I completed the light purple cord and will start the last bit next weekend. I think I will aim to finish the right side completely before going back to finish the inside of the fan.

As I like to-do lists, here is what I need to get done:

• stitch the remaining cord. This involves a color transition from light to dark purple
• stitch the veins on the tassel. I had put in guidelines in black couching silk but they need to be covered in the dark purple
• add some Japanese knots on the "skirt" of the tassel in light purple

Superimposed Cherry Blossoms

The dreaded cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms in themselves are not hard to stitch, you just have to make sure each petal is symmetrical. However, when stitched over a foundation every stitch is a struggle. Every time you think you came out in the right spot, the foundation either shifts or is sort of plump and goes over the stitch making it look shorter.

So the trick to overcome this: find the point where your needle would normally come out, then come out even further back from there. Same when coming back down, you always want to aim farther. You also have to get over the fact that the petals will not look perfect up close. What really matters is how they will look once you step back. I think that was the hardest part for me, but once I got over that things went much better.

Looking at them now, they're so cute. The flowers are still missing their stamens, but that won't take long. I'm just happy I finally figured it out. The next step on this piece will be to plunge the goldwork threads and then work on the cords. There will be lots of twisting in my future, but that just makes the stitching go faster.

Holiday Stitching

Every year, I take time off between Christmas and New Years. It usually gives me about two full weeks off and I spend a lot of time stitching when I'm not being dragged outside by my family for my own good. This year due to COVID, we had nowhere to go! I like to give myself goals and the two projects I selected were Jen Goodwin's Colorwheel and Hiogi.

I would alternate between the two pieces. In the morning, I would stitch on Hiogi to take advantage of the light. As this piece is big, I concentrated on the fan handle which is stitched in couched gold threads.

(click on the post to see the animation below)

That took way more time than I expected. I was hoping to complete the handle and work on the cherry blossom but that will have to wait for another time. I still have to plunge the threads but that will be done at a later date.

In the evenings, I would spend my time working on the Colorwheel. This piece stitched up very fast and I was hoping for a 2020 finish. Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. I ran out of the purl pearl that is couched around the entire piece.

(click on the post to see the animation below)

Here's a close up of the intersecting areas. I wanted a true weave, so the couched purl pearl go over and under. A little something I picked up in my Islamic geometry classes.

Right now this piece is sitting on the side while I wait for more purl pearl to complete it.

Shifting Focus

Lately I'd been losing my interest in Hiogi. I still very much want to learn Japanese embroidery, but I'm not as in love with the piece itself. I'm happy to say my interest is back. Small wins are great motivators. 

For this month's session, I shifted my attention to the cords. Here's what they looked like the last time I touched them.

I concentrated on the top cord in dark purple as it needed to be done to work on the cord behind it, and decided to continue onto the tassel.

(click on the post to see the animation below)

I forgot how much I enjoyed stitching the cord in class. The tassel took a bit more thinking as the light and dark purple are blended together. It's not completed yet. I still have to put in some short stitches over the blended area to hide where the two colors share a hole, there are also Japanese knots and some vertical lines to add to define the shape of the head and body of the tassel. It will take another session or two.

Enthusiasm is running high, I'm hoping to work on the blended area on Friday (Hurrah for half days!), and maybe do the other steps on the weekend. We'll see! Once that's done I think I will shift to the handle of the fan as it's on top of the cords. It's made up of couched gold, so I will probably work on it more often than usual. I don't have a goldwork piece in my rotation and kind of miss it.

Dawn to Dusk - Motif 1-2

Quick, short update. I completed the second eight pointed star on Dawn to Dusk. There was lots of laying of thread in this one. I wanted to make sure nothing was twisted. I keep looking at it and I must say it's not my favorite so far (and I'm still only at the beginning).

(click on the post to see the animation below)

Not much else to say on this except I've already started the third star. I was very close to a finish until I realized I made a mistake in the foundation of the center motif. I'll share more of that later.

I also did some Japanese embroidery this weekend. Despite my hard earned win last month on those cherry blossoms, I'm back where I started. I've made the decision not to try again until I have at least a 3 or 4 days stretch to work on completing them. We were discussing this during our stitching meeting that unless we can stitch for a few hours every day, our bodies need time to adapt back to stitching with the silk. So I figure with 3 or 4 days, the first day will probably be a waste and by the second and third I should be back into the swing of things and knock those flowers off my check list. I did at least make some progress, I stitched the left side of the green leaf.

Struggling with Superimposed Stitches

It took me longer than I expected. Things kept coming up on the weekend and I didn't want to share another update of just a pink area. In my last post I mentioned that the next step was tying down the foundation. The process involves putting in short holding stitches across the foundation using a 1/2 twist (couching thread) of the same color as the foundation. A different color can be used for effect, but this is not necessary for my cloud.

Normally, I would have stitched the superimposed cherry blossoms first and then put in holding stitches on the leftover open areas. However, as I've been having a hard time with the flowers I decided to do this step first. It will help keep my foundation in place and prevent it from shifting while I stitch. In the picture below, my finger points to where I stopped for the day. The area on the left has been held down and you can see that it looks smoother than the right.

Here is a before and after picture.

The next step is putting back the outline of the cherry blossoms. There is a number of ways to do this, here I am using the tracing paper method.

The elements are drawn on a piece of tracing paper, which is then held in place and the lines are stitched. You can use Japanese back stitch but here I am using the line of held thread technique as it gives me a nicer curve.

Once all the elements are transferred, I removed the tracing paper.

Here you can see all 5 cherry blossoms.

Here is where I was back to struggling. No matter what I did I couldn't stitch a petal I was happy with. I'm so used to seeing images of beautifully stitched round petals and no matter what I did, I couldn't recreate that. This weekend, I had a nice chat with my mentor on superimposed stitches and we looked at examples together. It turns out I was looking at this all wrong, jagged edges ARE okay. The smooth lines will come when you look at the piece from a distance. We are so used to having our noses almost pressed up to our stitching that we forget to take a step back and really look at what we've done. Once I got that in my head, I was able to get one petal stitched.

That was one hell of a pep talk, because look, I managed to stitch one whole flower! I'm so proud (and relieved).

So there will be three red flowers and two that will be silver. I originally wanted to do them in red and white silk, but the instructions ask they be done in silver and gold. Since I ditched the gold, I figured I will compromise and use the silver so I don't get in trouble if I submit my piece for review one day. 

By the way, ignore that silver petal. I was thinking about my progress the day after and was puzzled about the color of that petal. Why was it yellowish? Shouldn't it be closer to white? I took another look at the pictures I took and quickly realized that I used the wrong #1 silver. I used the twisted metal thread instead of the regular one. No harm done as it's only one petal, but I'm glad I caught it.