Slow Stitching - Door Decor - Sunflower

I finally got my sunflower for the front door done.  It has been on the to do list for weeks.

I painted the background with Inktense about a week ago but decided this morning it needed to be darker so painted it again.  I should look into a few more colors.  Once dry and set with heat I invisible basted it to a foundation layer.  

I cut a bunch of petals from various yellow fabrics and in 3 sizes. I laid the first layer and stitched those on with running stitch and yellow thread.  Making sure that I did not get too close to the edge to leave space for my binding fabric. Then I added the second layer of petals and stitched again in yellow thread.  

I remembered in time to leave the petal where the stem was originating open until I had that worked out.  I chose a deep olive colored flannel fabric which I cut my hand. The stem and the leaves.  I stitched the stem on then I could finish the last petal.   I added the leaves and the stems for the leaves. I added some texture to the leaves with some brown thread.

It took a while to find a scrap of brown fabric as I would not pick that in the wild because it really does not speak to me. I did managed to find a piece and decided how big it should be.  I cut my brown center. I added 5 rows of running stitch in yellow thread around the outer edge.  Then I created a mix of brown threads and did a bunch of French Knots in the middle.  It is quite textural and heavily stitched.

I had cut some leaves from this yellow fabric and after some consideration of blues and greens decided to use the yellow cotton.  I cut it 1" bigger than the front and ironed over the binding from the back.  I stitched it on with the sewing machine.  I hand stitched a hanger and it's hanging on the door!

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 34 - Q2 - Quarters

I am caught up with my slow stitching!

I am following K3N Cloth Tales' 2026 A to Z challenge.

We are on the second Q prompt. Not too many options. K chose Quadrant and I chose Quarters.

There were no colors starting with Q so I cut 4 squares in 4 different colors and stitched them onto my white back layer.

Purple, yellow, green and magenta quick squares with matching thread and running stitch.

It's okay that some are simple. 

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 28 - N2 - Notan and Navy

Working on the slow stitch project hosted by K3N Cloth Tales for 2026.  We are working through the alphabet A-Z. We are working on the second prompt of the letter N.

This one came together so much faster than the last one.

I chose yellow and Navy which is one of my favorite color combo's.   The prompt was Notan which is a Japanese design concept that translates to "light-dark harmony". It focuses on the balance and interaction between positive (light) and negative (dark) spaces.

I cut 2 piece of fabric the same size then traced a circle in the middle and cut it out. Switched the pieces into the other space and stitched them to my white book page.

Love it!

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 24 - L2 - Laundry Line, Lemon, Licorice, Lilac

I am following K3N Cloth Tales' Slow Stitching project for 2026 - A to Z of slow stitching.

We are on the community choice for L - Layers and Leaf.  

I chose differently.  I chose Laundry Line with pieces of Lime, Lilac, Lavender, Licorice, Lemon and Laguna Teal.  

I added some running stitches blue for sky and green for the hills behind the Laundry Line.

The fabric I am stitching on is Linen.

I like it!    

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 22 - K2 - Kintsugi

I am following K3N Cloth Tales' slow stitching project for 2026.

To get 52 pieces we are doing A to Z of stitching where the first week she chooses the theme and the second is a the  community choice. I am making a slow stitch book where the 2 pages of each letter are front to back.

This week the community choice is Kintsugi - golden joinery. A Japanese tradition of putting  broken vessels back together with gold and embracing the imperfect.

This is my put back together vase.  I broke the vase then placed yellow fabric behind for it to show through the cracks. I stitched the vase pieces onto my linen page with turquoise running stitch. Then I put seed stitches in golden yellow in the cracks.  I then added couching stitches along the edges to make the golden fix more prominent.  My perspective on the table is a bit wonky. The edges of the vase are a bit wonky as well.  I could have check my placement more often. 

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 21 - K1 - Kantha Stitching

I am following K3N Cloth Tales' A to Z project for 2026.

This week's prompt was Kantha Stitching. No surprise there.

I wanted mine to be bright so I selected a bunch of colors.

I did the 3 outside circles in stem stitch in red, yellow and navy. 

I did the next circle and quadrants in leaf green.

I did the cross in dark grey thread.

I filled the quadrants with orange, purple, turquoise and pink. 

I finished it a needle craft night.
 

Cards - Stitched on Fabric

I chose to upcycle a piece of denim. 

I trimmed it to 4.00 x 5.25" keeping the seam on the left of center. I added a square of red gingham in top left hand corner.  I stitched it with white crosses and red French knots. 

I added running stitches parallel to the seam then red running stitching horizontally along the top of the piece of denim. 

I found a metal button that I thought would work well and then added a circle of white then a circle of red running stitch around the button.

I had pulled threads to create some fluffy edges so I had threads which matched in color. I couched some in an arch around the button. 

I stitched the fabric to a navy A2 card base. A nice country looking card.

I loved this scrap piece of linen because of the colors and the watercolor feeling.

I saw a flower so I stitched along the edges of the petals and added some dark in and around the center.

I stitched on a metal butterfly charm on the right hand side where there was a bit of open space.

I stitched the fabric layer to the front of a turquoise A2 card base.

I will bringing fabric cards to the gallery.

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 16 - H2

I am following K3N Cloth Tale's Slow Stitch Project 2026.

This week's prompt was Haiku but I chose Hills instead. My piece also includes Hamlet, Houses, Home, Heart and High Street. 

I cut my Hills from 2 shades of green fabric and stitched those with running stitch. I added a High Street in the front with grey fabric. I added a deep green polka dots fabric where I just put a small stitch in each dot.

I painted the sky with my Derwent Inktense colors applied with a brush and dried with a hot iron.

I added some sun in the corner and a couple of white clouds in the sky.  I then added 5 houses with small bits of colorful fabric which becomes a Hamlet. I gave them peaked roofs. I added a pink Heart to the center one. These are also Homes.  In the UK the main street is called the High Street.   This turned out really well.

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 11 - F1

I am following K3N Cloth Tales' slow stitch challenge for 2026.

We are working through the alphabet A-Z. First is her choice and second is the community choice.

K3N chose Feather but I did not. I chose Fish, Five Fantastic/Fabulous ones. 

I chose a bluish background cotton fabric and invisible stitched it to my thin white foundation layer.

I chose fabrics for my Fish from bright cotton scraps. I pinned them in place and used a running stitch to secure them to the background. 

I then decorated them in bright colors and stitch patterns. French Knots and running stitch in a variety of patterns.

I then used green thread to create plants in the water from the bottom and water pattern along the top of the piece in blue embroidery thread. I left space on the left for the eventual binding the piece into a book.

I think I got carried away with the stitching.  Decompressing from a very busy week. 

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 9 - E1

I am following K3N Cloth Tales' slow stitch project for 2026.  Her prompt this week prompt was Earth, English Paper Piecing and Ermine Stitch.

I loved the Earth and skipped the EPP. 

I prepared a navy blue piece to fit my book (7"T x 8"W) and invisible basted to my foundation layer.

I did some research and decide to loosely represent the land mass of the continents. I then drew a circle with space to expand.  I divided the circle based on land mass.  Cut the paper apart and dug into my scrap bin to find colors that represented the continents. 

The orange top left is Asia, top right is Africa, the next green is tropical South America, the purple is Australia, the blue is North America, the paisley is Europe and the blue ellipse at the bottom is Antarctica.  I stitched my pieces down with running stitch in coordinated thread. I spread the piece apart because the continents are all surrounded by water. I liked the white stitched row around the earth for atmosphere that K3N used.  I put my stars beyond the line in space using the Ermine Stitch. 

Slow Stitching - August 2025 - Week 4

My August piece is complete.  The theme for my piece this month was Friends. I am following Kathryn at K3NClothTales - Comfort Coverlet 2025. 

I finished the background in running stitch and white thread.

A reminder of my friends and how much they mean to me.

I have no plan for September yet as I have been unpacking for ages.

I am sure inspiration will provide something.

Slow Stitching - August 2025 - Week 3

Comfort Coverlet 2025 - August - Week 3.

My theme for this month is Friends.  

I have diecut fabric with my Bigshot machine from fabric which I associate with each of these friends.

I have started a running stitch background around the stars with a matching colored floss.

Slow Stitching - April 2025 - Week 1

I chose tea for the subject of my April slow stitching square.

I chose a mottle blue piece of cotton fabric which I invisible basted to a thin cotton foundation layer.

I chose to create a tea bag and tag which adds a border around my square.

The tea bag has been running stitch around the edge of it with seed stitches towards the bottom to represent the tea.  

The green tag is at the other end onto which I added TEA lettered in turquoise.

The string was embroidery with stem stitch in a grey floss. 

Slow Stitching 2025 - Week 3

This is week 3 of the Comfort Coverlet Slow Stitching 2025 project hosted by K3N Cloth Tales. 

I continued to work on this January piece by adding the frame.  I used 2 strands of green embroidery floss with a running stitch.

I stayed 1 inch away from the outside edge to allow for assembly later on.

I added the seed stitching in the four corners with ecru pearl cotton. 

Slow Stitching - Extra Squares

Another extra square of slow stitching. I have used up the supplies I had packed for being away so I will have to dig out some more.

White cotton top layer on a foundation piece.  I did not learn my lesson about now covering the front with fabric as well which makes for a thick piece.  In all fairness, I did not have a plan when I started.

I chose strips of purple fabric in various patterns. I stitched the horizontal lines first in running stitch with purple thread from the ORTS tin.

Then I did the vertical ones with bright pink thread. Along the way I had found the lace flower I had dyed a while back and decided to use it.

I tacked it in place then added a purple circle which I over cast stitched to the piece. Then I added a lot of French Knots in yellow in the middle of that.  That was very thick with 4 layers of fabric.  Turned out nice.

Slow Stitching - Extra Squares

Another Extra Square for my slow stitching project.

I decided on a landscape composition.  I invisilbe stitched my white layer to my foundation layer.

I added a couple of pieces of blue for the sky with a yellow sun.

Two grey mountains and a green layer of trees.

A deeper blue layer at the bottom of lake and a brown piece for land.

Mostly running stitches on these pieces. A bit of seed stitching. 

I did triangles on the green for trees but it is not very visible.

Slow Stitching - Extra Squares

Sewing Group

I have joined a group who meets to do sewing the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month.

The last group shut down when the pandemic hit and our leader moved away.

I got a call in early October to attend the first meeting. We brainstormed who we could find from the old group to invite? What was the purpose of the group? When were we going to meet? 

A women's group. Tradition quilting is the focus but all are welcome with whatever project they are working on.

We will meet from 10 to 12 Noon then have lunch together for fellowship.

I missed the last meeting due to commitments here at home and made it for a bit of lunch. 

Today, was our third meeting and fortunately I was able to attend.  With most of my stuff packed I brought my slow stitching.  The 2024 challenge will produce 53 pieces about I think I need 56 for the project so there is room for a few free lance pieces.  I pull some fabric bits, some foundation pieces, my tools box and the floss box and a bit of lunch and headed out.  It was a great time. Three of the ladies are working on their own traditional quilting projects, another brought knitting and me with my slow stitching. We shared our projects and then 3 of us had lunch together it was great.

I cut my foundation pieces 5.5 inches square from white cotton - top white and the bottom stained. I brought pink fabric scraps and some green.  I cut the petals and leaves, pinned the pieces and stitched them down. Added the yellow center circle with running stitch and French Knots. I added blue seed stitches to the upper part of the background then some green below.  A bit of a brown strip at the bottom. I think it was supposed to be ground but now it's just a random element/.

Slow Stitching - No. 045 - Kantha Stitches

K3N Cloth Tales Slow Stitching Challenge 2024.

Week 45 - Kantha Stitches

I made a sandwich of thin linen, gauze in the middle and cotton on the back. I did invisible basting around the edge and down the middle.

I chose heavier thread for all of these and it made it harder at times.

I liked the double running stitch in blue and pink thread. 

I was familiar with the stem stitch though I made my stitches too long. In deep pink thread.

The cable stitch = French Knot and a chain stitch. I several several and had a heck of a time taking them out with all those knots.  I just settled for the chain stitch in yellow thread.

The Mala Stitch I did not even attempt.  I have been packing boxes today and this one was just too challenging.

Patterned Darning was really cool. I did three rows so I could alternate the stitches in each row.  Done in blue thread.  Again, pretty physically and mentally tired so I skipped the wheel/swirl pattern.

Convent Stitch which is a fill in stitch. Here done in greens. Basically couching which is familiar. Lovely stitch.

Jali Stitch - Creating diamonds which was great. Done here in turquoise thread.

I am not likely to have time to practice my stitches with the packing that needs to be done.  We shall see.

Slow Stitching - No. 043 - Sensory Stitching

K3N Cloth Tales Slow Stitching Challenge 2024.

Week 43 - Sensory Stitching

This week's focus is using our senses when stitching.

The sense of touch as we are stitching. How does it feel when the needle and thread goes through different fabric? Elements to excite our sight as we see our piece. Do we hear the needle as it goes through stiff fabric?

I chose a black fabric with a hint of herringbone texture to it.

I added the couched yarn, the button, the pom pom trim, the lace, the corduroy and the netting for my fingers. 

The button and colors for my eyes. 

The taffeta fabric below the button certainly engaged my ears as the needle went through that fabric.  Also there was printing on the piece of white tone on tone fabric in the bottom left hand corner and as I put in my seed stitches it was more difficult to push through the printed areas.

Slow Stitching - No. 042 - From the Same Cloth

K3N Cloth Tales 2024 Slow Stitch challenge.

Week 42 - From the Same Cloth - Pulling Threads and Running Stitch.

This is a piece pale yellow linen.

I pulled thread from the bottom area and stitched them into the cloth above.

Lovely finished piece and a very simple process.