Chapter 2, asks for couching to attach 'metallic' threads both conventional and unconventional. here follows my hand stitched samples. i used a wool flannel dyed navy blue. the first few samples are 'traditional' ways of couching threads. many of my couched threads are unconventional though. i realise i put no measurements on the photos but the above measures 8cm x 4cm approx. i have used a blue DMC metallic stranded thread with a cotton perle couching thread. the silver vertical pieces are metallic 'scoobies' cut into short lengths. 
next one, above: i have used the same DMC thread with cut-outs from a 'Tunnocks teacake' wrapper, mmm.... couching worked with a silk thread. 7cm x 4cm.
Next above: the wool background has been stencilled with metallic fabric paint to give added depth. the shapes are taken from shapes made by the movement of the hand in mid air when writing. the silver stranded thread was couched with silk. 9cm x 6cm approx.
a simple swirly patter that ended in a sort of 1950's triangle! threads as previous samples. 6cm x 5cm.
going for a more unconventional approach in the above sample i have used a gold card cut from a chocolate box with strips of woven metal 'fabric', all couched with a fine metallic thread. 8cm x 6cm.
above: various 'metallic' strips couched with silk thread. from top metallic Tyvek, gold 'brown' paper, vacuum packed coffee wrapper, chocolate wrapper and 'silver' parchment paper. all quite tricky to cut out but i am rather pleased with the effect achieved. 11cm x 8cm.
next one, trying to think of different ways of couching things down, the above metallic card pieces are couched with staples. 11cm x 8cm.
after my trip to ally pally i thought i would like to try knitting with plastic bags. the above is an experiment with vacuum packed coffee wrapper, which is thicker than a plastic bag and has a plastic coating over the foil. i cut strips and knitted them and then heat set with an iron. couched with silk. 11cm x 8cm.
above, the following are worked on a maroon wool flannel, twisted silver wire, couched with silk through the twisted 'purl' bits. 10cm x 6cm.
using a crocheted silver wire with random couching in silk thread. 10cm x 6cm.
above sample i have used a traditional metal wire strip from a collection of old threads used for 'goldwork' and couched it with silk thread. 10cm x 6cm.
i found these pins some time ago thinking they might come in useful and so they have! couched with silk thread. 10cm x 6cm. my next samples will be different ways of couching threads etc. using the sewing machine.
I'm not very good first thing in the morning, usually grumpy, still feeling tired and i do love a cup of coffee before getting up! so last saturday was a shock to the system, starting at 5.15 in the morning, taxi (luckily) and train to Paddington at 6.40! the reason for this was of course 'the knitting and Stitching show' at Ally Pally and cheap train tickets. the plan was i would go to the show and my husband and son would have a 'fun' day at Games Workshop and the Science Museum.
Now for the history lesson! in 1936 on November 2nd the world's first 'high' definition television broadcasts began from Ally Pally. the service originally alternated on a weekly basis between Baird's film system and Marconi-Emi's system. the above photograph taken about the same time shows two of John Logie baird's employees having a bit of fun. the one on the right is my father a Cathode Ray Tube maker. it must have been quite a time to be involved in the beginnings of television, and look how far we have come! mainly good but i think my father and Baird would be shocked by some of the trash that is now out there.
i don't visit Ally Pally very often but always think of my father working there when i do.
but back to the show! this might sound uninspiring to many but one of the highlights was seeing Kyoko Nagasawa's piece in 'The art of stitch' before i even got out of the entrance hall! such a simple idea, knitted strips of plastic carrier bags that were flattened by heat. beautiful! the next highlight was Dionne Swift's 'New grounds' work. the show was rich with figurative work, from kerry Mosley's portraits, Alice Kettle's figures and others; this will help with some of the exercises in Module 2. Seeing Sian's 'Tread softly' in the Pfaff Art Exhibition was an inspiration and i also enjoyed Christine Atkins' 'shelf life' houses, as featured in Embroidery magazine, Vol.59 Sept/Oct 2008.
there came a point at about 1.30 when i realised quite how tired and hungry i was so had to have a rest before the next enslaught. but i am now well stocked with glittery things and many ideas!
i met up with the guys at the V&A in the late afternoon to see 'Telling Tales' fantasy and fear in contemporary design, all i can say is WOW!!!!! what beautiful pieces, even my 9 year old was impressed.
got home about 11 after a much longer train ride than the morning with one of the family behaving badly, fidgeting and generally causing a nuisance (me!).
'show me a satisfied soul and i will show you a winged horse caught in a fisherman's net' Georgia Blizzard.
Chapter 2, asks for couching to attach 'metallic' threads both conventional and unconventional. here follows my hand stitched samples. i used a wool flannel dyed navy blue. the first few samples are 'traditional' ways of couching threads. many of my couched threads are unconventional though. i realise i put no measurements on the photos but the above measures 8cm x 4cm approx. i have used a blue DMC metallic stranded thread with a cotton perle couching thread. the silver vertical pieces are metallic 'scoobies' cut into short lengths. 
next one, above: i have used the same DMC thread with cut-outs from a 'Tunnocks teacake' wrapper, mmm.... couching worked with a silk thread. 7cm x 4cm.
Next above: the wool background has been stencilled with metallic fabric paint to give added depth. the shapes are taken from shapes made by the movement of the hand in mid air when writing. the silver stranded thread was couched with silk. 9cm x 6cm approx.
a simple swirly patter that ended in a sort of 1950's triangle! threads as previous samples. 6cm x 5cm.
going for a more unconventional approach in the above sample i have used a gold card cut from a chocolate box with strips of woven metal 'fabric', all couched with a fine metallic thread. 8cm x 6cm.
above: various 'metallic' strips couched with silk thread. from top metallic Tyvek, gold 'brown' paper, vacuum packed coffee wrapper, chocolate wrapper and 'silver' parchment paper. all quite tricky to cut out but i am rather pleased with the effect achieved. 11cm x 8cm.
next one, trying to think of different ways of couching things down, the above metallic card pieces are couched with staples. 11cm x 8cm.
after my trip to ally pally i thought i would like to try knitting with plastic bags. the above is an experiment with vacuum packed coffee wrapper, which is thicker than a plastic bag and has a plastic coating over the foil. i cut strips and knitted them and then heat set with an iron. couched with silk. 11cm x 8cm.
above, the following are worked on a maroon wool flannel, twisted silver wire, couched with silk through the twisted 'purl' bits. 10cm x 6cm.
using a crocheted silver wire with random couching in silk thread. 10cm x 6cm.
above sample i have used a traditional metal wire strip from a collection of old threads used for 'goldwork' and couched it with silk thread. 10cm x 6cm.
i found these pins some time ago thinking they might come in useful and so they have! couched with silk thread. 10cm x 6cm. my next samples will be different ways of couching threads etc. using the sewing machine.
