Whitework Homework - The twisted stems

Homework 18-20 September

Catching up posting the blog... I started my notes before the holiday, but didn't get around to taking the photos.  Here is the September progress:

Must make some progress with the pulled work for my work, I seem to have been working on the Practice piece too much.  Ha! Ha!, what does the homework start with… Sampling for one of the large stems -  Reverse Single Faggot stitch.  Cordonet Special no.20 B5200 over three horizontal/vertical threads.  I like the holey effect this has but it is quite difficult to work it on a long curving stem,  the edges are not very smooth, I don't think the trailing will be able to hid the unevenness.  Will have to rethink this stitch.

Sampling stitches for the main stems

For second stem, tried a variation of a Counted Satin Stitch (also known as Gobelin filling stitch), 1 vertical stitch over 6 horizontal threads, then repeat, right across the row.  On Second row, stitch between the previous stitches, dropping thee rows to creating an interlocking pattern similar to brick pattern. 

Also tried a variation of brick pattern, using two then three adjacent stitches over the verticals.  Sample with different threads to have a texture contrast with first stem.  Not so sure about this.

The final version of stems is shown below.  I used the Gobelin filling with Cordonet No20 on one stem, then I eventually decided to use a double mock faggot stitch for .  This has a very similar look to the Reverse Single Faggot, but is worked horizontally across the shape.  I found this much easier to work.  The trailing should smooth off the edges.

Twisted stems on the final piece