One of my goals for this 365 project was to spend some time trying out different techniques or ways to embroider. To meet this goal, I've learned 25 new stitches, incorporated other types of materials into my work, and have tried several different styles to help loosen my personal technique. Abstract embroidery is one of my favorite things now, and I can't wait to work on some larger abstract pieces in 2022 (including, hint, the next 365 project).
Another thing I tried was making the back the front of the embroidery. As I shared the first time I did this, how you treat the back of your work is one of those things no one who embroiders necessarily agrees on. Historically, embroiderers were expected to have perfect and neat backs or cover them with material to hide any imperfections. More recently, people have embraced the messy back or the perfectly neat back as part of the finished work. I like back of a piece. It's interesting to see what the stitches look like on the back (they don't always look like the actual stitch) and it's fun to see the path of stitching. And remember, people and embroidery can be messy. There's nothing wrong with that.
My intention for my final piece stitched from the back was to create something original using what the back of stitches look like to create an image. This piece is not that. Honestly, I haven't had time to put together the stitch guide I need or to think about a design or pattern that would work. Since stitches don't necessarily resemble their true self on the back of a piece, you really have to know what they do look like, and I don't feel confident I do. So, I'm moving the goal of an original piece designed specifically to be done backward to 2022. I'm planning a small series of them and will share them here on the blog.
I did, however, want to try two of the more recent stitches I learned from the back, so today's piece is another stitch study from the back. I focused on the feather stitch and the tete de boeuf, two of my favorite stitches I learned this year. I wasn't sure they'd be particularly interesting in reverse. Feather stitch creates a series of straight stitches, which is useful. The more interesting part is adding French knots and detached chain stitches; you can see the "path" of the stitches across the fabric. The tete de boeuf no longer resembles a bull's head in reverse, but the stitches are fun and from different patterns depending on the direction in which the tete de boeuf is stitched. I could see this being used as flowers or leaves.
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| The back that's now the front |
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| Two views of the front that's now the back. |
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