Friday Finish - Virgin Queen’s Stitching Pocket

I finished the stitching in summer 2023, but the finish finishing was scary. This week I spent a day finally doing it.

This is a Betsy Morgan design and the instructions are in the book Willing Hands 2.

Work In Progress Wednesday

 Finishing the Queen’s Pocket progress

Hawaiian progress - I only worked a bit more on this, then folded it up. I’ll press it before I work on it again.

Summertime Mt. Fuji progress

Japanese Pattern 33

Work in Progress Wednesday

Japanese Pattern 32

Mill Hill Frosty progress - getting close to finish…

Summertime Fuji progress

The Virgin Queen’s Stitching Pocket 

I finished the stitching quite a while ago. The time has come to do the finish finishing. This is a Betsy Morgan design, with the directions in this book, Willing Hands 2. After I finish it, I’ll use it and imagine Queen Elizabeth I using hers.

New start - Hawaiian table mat

I’ve wanted to try this technique, but I don’t want to take on a large quilt project. This piece is about 30 inches square, so it will finish slightly smaller. I’m not very good at needle turn appliqué, because I need much more practice! The scissors are pointing to the small bit I have done so far.

Throwback Thursday

 This is a lookback on what I wrote about on September 24th since coming to Japan. (Click on the year to see the full post.)

In 2019, I wrote about the Relay for Life Event in Nagaizumi.

2018 was a Monday post and Week 20 of the temperature quilt.

In 2017, I wrote about a day spent in Nagasaki, including the Bekko Craft Museum.

My 2016 post featured a famous Shizuoka Snack.

In 2015, I wrote about a visit to the Sapporo Science Center and Planetarium with my student Miyu.

2014 was a simple post about a small finish for the Smalls Stitch A Long.

In 2013 ,  I was busy with buttons.

And finally in 2012, I was working on Queen Elizabeth's sleeves.

It is sometimes good to look back.  What an interesting time I've had here.

Work in Progress Wednesday - Getting Unstuck #3 - The Queen is finished!

This project has been stuck for too long.  There was so little left to do, too.

I stopped working on it when I finished the second little bead cluster on her necklace and decided it was too low.  I needed to cut it off and do it again.  I was afraid to cut the beads off because I didn’t want to disturb the silk threads underneath the beads.  So, there she sat unfinished.
 

Finally, I decided I just needed to do it. I cut off the offending beads.  I did it again and took it out again. I worked on her left side and misjudged the spacing.  Out it came.

I had to stitch and cut several times and it’s still not as evenly spaced as I’d like, but I wanted/needed to finish.  So here she is! Queen Elizabeth I.
 

I have the kits for two companion pieces, Mary and Bess. I wish I hadn’t purchased them, but because they were so expensive, I will stitch them.

 

Work in Progress Wednesday - June 4th

I only did one bead cluster on the queen’s jewel necklace this week and it’s too low, so I’ll have to take it out.  I have very little to do to finish this piece, but it’s very difficult to work on.

 

I did work on the second pocket of the hussif this week.  This is more fun than the queen right now.

 

Check out WIPW at Pintangle.

Work in Progress Wednesday - a Day Late

Not much progress on the queen. I did this one bead cluster.  The necklace makes me kind of nervous so I’m taking it slow.

The table cloth is coming along.

 

Not much progress on the big projects this week, but I’ve been working on some other small things.  I hope to have more to report on the big things next week.

Work in Progress Wednesday - the Queen's Cap and Starting a Pocket

This week, I stitched the pearls and gold beads on the Queen’s cap.

 

I started with one of the side pockets of the hussif.

before

 

One of the things I like about this kind of stitching is that I can do whatever pops into my head, with whatever thread I put into the needle.  If I don't like it, I just add more stitching.  Sometimes, I add more stitching even when I do like it. Come back next week to see what I add....

Work in Progress Wednesday - Pearls and Pieces

This week I worked on the pearls of the Queen’s veil and skirt and the pearls and crystals at her waist.

 

I also pieced the main part of the hussif and the two side pockets.  I hope to have some embellishing to show next week!

 

Linking up with WIPW at Sharon B’s Pintangle blog.