This is where I've gotten to so far:
This is the upper left corner. In order to distinguish "which end is up" I've hemstitched the top of the piece in green, and the rest of the
fabric is hemstitched in white. Hopefully that'll keep it straight for me (but I'm betting I'll make at least one mistake at some point). The
fabric is antique white 28 count lugana. I am probably going to substitute some of the specialty threads with DMC colors that are already used in the piece.
Knotgarden is my first Chatelaine piece, and I'm planning on doing several of the mandala gardens as a series. I am definately doing Watergarden and
Alhambra as part of the set (I just got those patterns), and probably a fourth which I have not decided upon as yet. I'm leaning towards Convent's
Herbgarden, but I have plenty of time to decide. What that also means is that it's going to be a loooong time before I get them framed, since I'll
wait until I'm done stitching them and frame them to match all at one time. Normally I stitch on 32 count, but because there are some solid areas of
beading on Alhambra and Watergarden, I opted to switch to a 28 count because I think that seed beads sit better on that size fabric and I wanted to use the
same fabric for all of the pieces.
I've
been working on it just over a year now (one week out of every 5), and am just about 1/2 done, I guess:
. I have finished the center
medallion and moving out to the right. I want to actually finish a gate. I love gates. I'll post pictures of both after the 4th of July, I'm hoping
to make quite a bit of progress at All-Stars games:) I just have to be careful to wash my hands and stay away from the ball field. The dirt sort of jumps on
the fabric.
