Still Slow Stitching in the New Year
The last time I updated you back in early November about my slow stitching project, this is what it looked like. I had started adding some leaves to the foreground trees.
I have been continuing my slow stitching over the holidays and it has been nice to sit down for 15-20 minutes a day and just do detached chain stitch in different shades of yellow, yellow-orange and orange. Ignoring any drama of the holidays or other issues that arose for a few minutes, calmed my mind.
Here’s how the trees are looking. I think that I will be adding a bit more orange but than I’m going to go back to the yellow shades.
Here’s what the full piece looks like now. It is definitely taking shape as a landscape. As I look at it in a thumbnail format, I can see that it still needs more dark values for shadowed areas but I like the progression. It’s interesting to me how the slow progression makes me look at it more closely and how the different colors affect each other. It’s been an interesting project and I imagine it will continue through most of this year.
What are your thoughts on a slow moving project? Do you get a Zen feeling or perhaps you are impatient and want to move on to a different project?
17 thoughts on “Still Slow Stitching in the New Year”
I think that this picture is coming on a treat, and I like the idea of detached chain stitch – I might steal the idea from you when I’m next able to get on with my next landscape picture.
I’ve never really thought about the way the slow progress on a picture makes me feel. I am generally impatient – a good deal of my wet felting projects end up going through the washing machine just to speed things up (and save my back – I can’t do it sitting down and standing too long makes my back ache very much.) I do enjoy the time spent stitching and needlefelting my pictures, but most of the time I am listening to an audio book, mainly to keep the brain occupied while my hands are doing the work (and also to block out some of the inane chatter that sometimes occurs at the workshop where I [used to] go once a week). I used to work on my pictures almost only at the workshop, spending four and a half or five hours on it. Then when I got home I’d stick the picture up on my bedroom wall so that I could spend time looking at it and deciding what else needed doing to it next time.
It’s occurred to me that the virus is the reason why I haven’t started another picture – because I can’t go to the workshop. So I’d better start one at home – I will not let the virus beat me.
Thanks Ann! I think I stole the idea of detached chain stitch for leaves from someone else so I hope you give it a go. I tend to be impatient too so this very slow progress has been an interesting change for me. I would love to see your picture in progress or finished. Good on you for forging ahead.
I don’t know why my reply above is showing as anonymous, must have pressed the wrong button. It’s from me, Ann at frabjous fabrica
I love seeing this picture progress. It’s absolutely gorgeous. How will you decide it’s finished? I don’t think I’ve ever done a slow project of this type – certainly not deliberately working on something for a limited time each day. However, I do sometimes make beaded jewellery and that’s a slow project however hard you go at it!
Thanks Lindsay. I’m not sure how I will decide when it’s finished. I still have quite a ways to go to finish the foreground. And every time I look at it from a distance, I feel I need to add a bit more here or there to improve it.
I don’t do much beading but I know how long it takes so I definitely think that could be considered a slow project.
It’s looking great Ruth and I hope everyone viewing this post expands the image to appreciate just how much stitching is going into this work. I like having a project I can pick up and put down whenever I feel like doing a few minutes work on it. I made a wet felted necklace about three years ago and every now and then I pick it up and add more embroidery and beads to it. It’s taking on a life of its own!!
Thanks Karen! There are definitely tons of stitches in this project. It is nice to always have a project on the go so that if you have a few spare moments, you have something already ready to work on. Have we seen this necklace? It sounds intriguing.
Your work is beautiful. I share the slow beauty with my eyes. Thank you.
Thank you, I appreciate your kind comment.
It is coming along great, Ruth. The leaves really pop the trees out. I don’t have a slow project at the moment. Doing something quiet every day is relaxing and uplifting at the same time.
Thanks Ann, I’m glad the leaves are making the trees stand out. That’s the effect I was going for. It is good to relax a few minutes each day with some hand stitching.
The trees are looking so pretty! That’s a great stitch to use – and it’s well applied of course.
As I read about your progress I can feel myself relaxing as if I were also taking part in the slow stitching 🙂
Thanks Lyn! I’m glad I can give you a little relaxation today 🙂
We have been slowly progressing with you on this piece and there are soooooo many stitches.
Your decision to use detached chain for the leaves was inspired, regardless of where the idea came from.
I know you haven’t finished the foreground yet, but just a thought…..is there any merit in dotting a few random chain stitches below the main foliage line between and on the trunks – as if you were looking through a few very sparse lower branches?
Slow stitching, which I haven’t done for ages, is a great way to chill & take ones mind to a different place.
Looking forward to the next viewing 😊
Thanks Antje! It’s funny you should say that about adding chain stitch below the main foliage line. I was just thinking that when I was stitching yesterday. So yes, good idea! Great minds 😉
Perhaps starting a slow stitch project would be a good way to get a little creative moment into a busy day?
What a beautiful piece! The hours of work that it represents must be enormous. Perhaps COVID has been a blessing for t his type of endeavour. I know that I have been more patient on my piece as a result. Thank you for sharing your progress and inspiring me to try some of your techniques.
Thanks Linda! There are many hours spent so far and more to come but I have found it relaxing. And yes, the pandemic has definitely made it easier for me to do more slow stitching which isn’t really a bad thing, is it? You’re welcome and I am honored that I have inspired you.