Showing off the stitches

I may have mentioned that I took part in Artists' Open Houses during the Eastbourne Festival this year. It wasn't a great success and I doubt I will do it again, but that's another story. Anyway, having described myself as a "Doll-making Embroiderer", I produced this strange little figure to show the kind of embroidery I put on some of my dolls.

This is the front view:

Here's a close-up:

What have we got here? Down the middle is my favourite interlaced raised chain band, with elongated tie stitches. This stitch reminds me of the frog fasteners on vintage military coats, and the embroidery on some Native Amercian clothing I saw in the museum in Bar Harbour. A couple of rows of laced herringbone on either side. Around the "arms" is another of my favourites, trellis stitch on a buttonhole foundation.

This is the back view:

I was more pleased with this, than the front. Another close-up:

Very simple, cretan and running stitch.

and here, cretan, herringbone and buttonhole.

Now I just have to decide what she/it is!

Using up the leftovers.

I love fabric and I hate to waste it, so every so often I go through my box of "bits" and make up a few of these little things ready for embellishing. These are made from offcuts left over from doll making. Sometimes I will just pick a couple out, take myself of into a corner and sit and stitch quietly, embroidering with stranded cotton, in a world of my own. For me, it's as good as meditation or a sound bath.