With just TWO more full days to go we now have *** 60 *** stitchers participating !!!
For this week’s Mary Monday my intention was to explore Bands 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of Section 1.
However, I have been contacted by a couple of stitchers who expressed concern about the layout of the more complicated letters and in particular the letter “A”.
I have also received a request asking if I would stitch out a section of the alphabet for a stitcher to follow so I sat down on Sunday evening to do that.
I have now realised that I will need to work a little further ahead than I had intended. This is not a problem but I want to emphasise that Mary Hurst is not a race and there are no brownie points for finishing first.
On January 1st when you sit down to stitch please hold in your mind Doris’ words of wisdom
"Just remember when looking at larger and more "complicated" samplers that they are not "hard", they are just big, and just like the longest journey that begins with a single step, so does the largest sampler begin with a single stitch. Those different stitches begin the same way, by sticking the needle first in, then out, of the fabric. Only difference between one type of stitch and the other is where you put that needle and how you manipulate the thread. Think of each band as a mini sampler”
If you have a query or need ANY help don’t be afraid to ask either publicly on Facebook/blog or privately by messenger, email, skype, facetime, telephone.
Many have already contacted me with all sorts of questions.
Next Monday I am looking forward to seeing lots of Mary Hursts started.
ENJOY !!!!!!
December 29th 2014 - MASTERING MARY - 2015 GROUP LEARNING PROJECT Section 1 - Band 1 & 2
Only a few days and it is time to start Mary Hurst – you should have studied your chart and the instructions, your fabric should be hemmed (to avoid fraying) and your threads sorted.
The chart is large and you may find it easier to photocopy sections (FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY AND TO BE DESTROYED LATER) to work from.
My fabric is on my Millennium frame and I have basted a border to correspond with the edges of Section 1 as charted i.e. 112 graphed squares wide (224 threads) which I have marked out across the top in groups of two threads, noting every tenth as I find it easier to count precisely this way.
I have basted out the side borders the depth of my frame and will continue basting downwards as the bands progress and the fabric rolled forward on my bars.
This week my intention was to explore Bands 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of Section 1. However, I have been contacted by a couple of stitchers who expressed concern about the layout of the more complicated letters and in particular the letter “A”.
Every stitcher, no matter what level of experience they are at, has to pause at the beginning of a chart to work out their stitch paths.
We have previously looked at the letter “S” which is one of the easier letters to stitch as the stitch path is relatively straightforward.
Four of the S's (excluding the middle S) are stitched with the thread going in the shortest direction.
The first from the left is one stitch pass, the second has been stitched twice.
The middle S shows a padding stitch laid.
The next S has been stitched with one stitch pass over the padding stitch and the final S being stitched twice over a padding thread.
All four are correct and down to personal taste.
The letter “A” is charted as the diagram to the left above. For bands 1 and 2 when working out your stitch path bear in mind that your satin stitches will be no longer than two threads – see the diagram to the right above.
If you are using a padding stitch, which I am, this has to lay in the opposite direction to the satin stitch – see the middle diagram above in red.
If you apply the same principles for the letter “A” to the rest of the alphabet you should be able to find your stitch path.
I could show each letter here worked out as above but I do have to respect the copyright of the chart. If anyone has difficulty with a particular letter contact me and I will send you that letter’s stitch path charted in the manner above.
I have also received a request asking if I would stitch out a section of the alphabet for that stitcher to follow so I sat down on Sunday evening to do that.
I had been dithering about the thread colour for the white work section. Here are my threads laid out with both 111 and 112 shown.
When I started stitching the first letter I realised that AVAS 111 would not show up clearly enough to demonstrate on photographs so I have plumped for AVAS 112.
If you decide to change the colour of this section (and please feel free to do so) I suggest that you choose a colour/shade that shimmers and reflects light. You do not want a “flat” shade for the white work section.
As an example the thread legend for Mary specifies two very similar blues AVAS 1712 and AVAS 1713 (see the two blues in the middle of the threads above). Just as an example - lay these side by side – 1713 is a “flatter” shade of blue. The beauty of white work comes from the light reflecting off the threads as it lays in different directions so if I was deciding between these two I would opt for 1712.
We all find our own way of stitching. On the “S” I have started with a pin stitch, laid out the padding stitch – working bottom left to top right, stitched a single pass of satin stitches from top right to bottom left then the second pass of satin stitches from bottom left to top right.
On the “T” I have started with a waste knot and worked the padding and satin stitches in blocks. You should choose the way and path that is comfortable for you.
On the “V” I have reverted to my favourite method of starting with a pin stitch then worked the padding and satin stitches in blocks. All three look equally as good when finished.
I will be making an adaptation to Band 1 and 2.
The Bands are charted
S T V W X Y Z
A B C E F H I K L M N O P Q R
A B C E F H I K L M N O P Q R
I will be inter-changing mine to
A B C D E F H I K L M N O P Q R
S T V W X Y Z
S T V W X Y Z
When I have finished the sampler I will go back and put a little something in the gap on the second row maybe the year and my initials. 2015 NP
As requested here is a small start with my adaptation.
