Better late than never...

[vandy]

I ordered my embroidery sample kit from the embroidery people at Plimoth Plantation. I had seen the project a while back, not really registered what it was, and then re-discovered it in December. And of course they were closed when I tried to order my sample for the first time. But it is now ordered! I am considering using one of our free tickets to go out there and visit and embroider if they are still having sessions after the plantation opens again at the end of March, since I have never been to either there or Williamsburg, and have always thought it would be cool to go to at least one of our big historic sites on the east coast. Considering the amount of time I have nw spent on this type of embroidery due to the endless embroidery project, it would rock to be able to go out there and see how it do it the "right way." While my sleeves look pretty sweet, I have known for a while that they had quite a few shortcomings. I made the same mistake they made when drafting out their first trail motifs - mine are too large (I apparently looked at the same picture that was supposed to be shown at real size that was actually larger than life). Sadly, I didn't know anyone at the V&A to correct me. I also used cotton thread because I am poor and didn't attempt to keep my colors accurate to the various types of flowers because I lost my color key while in Washington DC and decided to just use whatever color I felt like. I knew my mistake about size after visiting the V&A and the Bath Costume Museum - my motifs were definitely too large. But at least I have the look down, and the plaited braid stitch. Since my visit to England I have been struggling with the desire to start over on a new project and use the endless embroidery as a pillow cover or something. When they finally come out with the historically accurate silk twist threads I may give in and start the endless embroidery mark 2... 

Comments

[chemicallace]

Oooh! I had no idea about the embroidery people at Plimoth. That's so neat. Now I have an excuse to make the trek out there next time I'm home.

I've been trying to find the "right" thread for my MQS cross-stitch forever and I really can't afford what I want to use, so it's been on hold forever. Maybe they'll have something good...

[countess-e.livejournal.com]

We shall talk at 12th Night regarding the plaited braid stitch, or so I sincerely hope. I have yet to get that down correctly with the right thread.

[gargoyal3.livejournal.com]

DUDE.
NO more embroidering in cotton!!! Silk is easy to get, and really really cheap. Welcome to the land of silk sweater unravelling :)

If you don't want to go to the work of doing that, I'll HAPPILY trade you ball upon ball of lovely silk thread :) I'll bring some of the heavenly red to 12th night if you want, grin.

[aelfgyfu.livejournal.com]

Part of my problem is being seriously picky about color matching and combinations. :-P I couldn't find the colors I wanted in silk thread that I could afford about 5 years ago... of course I wasn't so well hooked into the artsy craftsy sca network of doom yet then either, so I was probably missing a lot. I would love to check out the red thread of heavenlyness. Anyway, I do want to start another project so I have to decide about what to do with the Embroidery of Doom. Aside from using it to pimp the embroidery frames we are selling.

[de-foxley.livejournal.com]

Where are you getting your silk thread please? In need quantities for knitting. :)

[aelfgyfu.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, and now that I remember that you are the Thrift Store Goddess (tm), Kathal (he is the one with the magic, right?) really wants you to find dark green, medium green, and medium yellow silk threads. ;-)

[rectangularcat]

I love this project - I am thinking of getting a kit too - just to support them! I don't have the embroidery talent to go over there but I hope with the new frame, I can get inspired and do more embroidery this year. You can find their blog as a feed here on LJ plimoth_embroid if you haven't added it already *grins*

From what I read, it's only the gilt threads that are going to be specially marketed by Access Commodities. For the other stuff they are using Au ver A soie Soie Perlee which is easily found online. I love that embroidery thread with a huge passion - it makes a huge difference in the quality of my stitches. Now I need to get better needles so that I can play with the gilt stuff (because you know I will order some!)