Lichens and Encrustations

Who knew those things that grow on rocks and walls were so very beautiful? We all normally just ignore them or see them as a mess on our patios or stone planters, but they are in fact complex organisms/plants.

February we had a Day School and Sandra Kendall came all the way from Cumbria to show us how to stitch Lichens and Encrustations. Take a look at a few of her many gorgeous pieces.

 This was a single Lichen for the beginners to start with. Curly wool fibres were laid onto our hooped up fabric - some people had pre-painted theirs to look like rock - and secured with stab stitch. I know now why its called stab.... ouch!!

Fly stitch, pistil stitch, bullions and French knots were used to decorate. Beads were also used to great effect by those people who were clever enough to manage to thread their beading needle..... I only manage threading mine by putting it under my magnifier and then its tricky as I don't have any of that special Beading Thread and just used ordinary floss....

Right and Below examples of sewn Lichen on felt pebbles.

They are so life like :-)

A grey/green version.

I love the way the green background really brings out the details of the stitched Encrustations and shows off the thread colour.

This piece has curtain rings covered in Button Hole stitch and more advanced embroiderers could use Raised Cup stitch, Buttonhole Wheels and flowers or Woven Spider Web Circles.

Monogram Magic left.

On Wood.

Another piece using bright yellows and a piece of wood to great effect.

Right - a small piece in framed by a hoop.

This looks like a very large piece of bark but it is in fact fabric.

It was a very enjoyable day and not as hard to get good results as I had previously imagined.

As this post is rather long I will show you pics of the groups efforts in the next post.

Till then Happy Stitching .