Machine Embroidery

In this last post documenting the Exhibition of work by the Lytham St Annes Embroiderers Guild, we have a selection of machine embroidery.
This table had a Japanese theme to it (the other half of the table held the display of  Tama bags made from Kimono fabric - read about these here). 
The Kimono wearing ladies on the cushions have been designed on the laptop painstakingly drawing with a mouse and then stitched on a specialist embroidery machine to make these exquisitely decorated soft furnishings below. 

Here are the Japanese Ladies in close up, above and below. 
Notice the traditional footwear.
Our designer went to a lot of trouble to explain the process to make these embroideries on her Brother Super Galaxie 3000 embroidery machine as you can see from the stitched samples and information cards in the first photo of this post.
Whilst the embroidery itself was done in 15 minutes it took 2 hours at the programming, laying and editing stages if you are not using a commercial pattern.
You will need to import an image and make changes, or draw free-hand from scratch using a stylus making sure that all the lines are joined up so that when you select the colour and stitches to fill in there is not a bleed through when it is transferred to the embroidery machine for stitching.
The result is a very professional finish. This was how the bib was made in the previous post.
A twin needle was used to make the square quilting pattern on both cushions.

Love the orange silk Kimono design above!
Below, we have the Oust House. This has been free-machined, which means no patterns or computer programming but you do need concentration and a good eye as well as steady hands and a lot of practise.
Very nice detailing on the brickwork and roof and fabulous floral and green touches growing up the walls of the oust house. See the little attic door in the roof?

Another little door in the trunk of this tree, above. Do fairies or elves live here? Lovely textural stitching make up the grass and greenery.
Below, a beautiful Poppy Bag fit for an evening out.

More free-machining on this interestingly shaped Triangular Bag above, you can just see the beaded flower detail on the Tama bag behind it (see link to see the other Tama bags).

Free-machining on this Nuno Felted bag above, and also free machine quilting on the Owl wall hanging below.

This is Woody, the 'green man' owl. Isn't he lovely? There were a few owls submitted in various stages but Woody was the first quilted and finished (and the best outcome in editing..) To see the other Owls in the making, click here, here and here. The Owls are from a design by Lizzie Wall the Tutor who took the Day School in the links. 


Lastly, we have a couple of free-machine embroidered and embellished book covers. The Terracotta Triangles book cover, above, has couched gold braid that has been free-machine couched using zig-zag and a loose lower tension. Also loving the charms on the ribbon closure.

Not sure what the correct colour of the next Spiral Book Cover should be. The reddish pink/coral colour above, or the terracotta below? Both look great but the flash has altered the colour of one. What do you think? Which is your fave?

Whisper - think it may be this one above as the stitching style seems to be that of the maker of the first Terracotta Triangles book cover.

Well, thats all the photos from the Exhibition that came out well enough to post.
We do hope that you enjoyed viewing them. Our stitchers and makers certainly put in a great deal of time and effort not to mention those who gave their time to catalogue, set up, steward, take down, tidy up and all the other jobs and organisation that go into a 3 day Embroidery Exhibition, on top of the making.
Grateful thanks to you all for making everything such a success.

If you can't wait for our next exhibition in 2019 consider coming along to our monthly meetings and join us. You will be very welcome. Address on the right hand sidebar.