A Triquetra

The triquetra and cross on the centre back have been stitched down....

(The triquetra pops up in many different cultures. Christians adopted it as a symbol of the Trinity, and a circle weaving over and under the interconnected loops is a sign of unity. For more info on this ancient symbol see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triquetra)

...and now I can turn my attention to the finishing...piping and lining. These two striped ties have made great piping!

The next step will be to stitch the piping to the edges...

A Stole For Ordinary Times, continued...

This is a great collection of green neckties. Here's a view of the pieced fabric and a detail shot...before cutting into the two halves of the stole.

Ignore the tape measure across the fabric!

The client has chosen a pointed back which allows a little more room for the cross.  A "triquetra" background was requested, along with a type of Celtic cross.  Here are some images where I tried out the arrangement. The cross will be created from gold metallic fabric, and embellished with stitching.

The triquetra has been created from bias strips of a soft gold necktie.

Stitching a Green Stole

I had a good day in the studio today working with these wonderful materials...

A good start:

Midway:

The piecing is almost complete:

The next decision to be made is whether or not the back will be triangular or round.  I am waiting to hear back from the commissioner.

A Green Stole for Ordinary Times

A new commission is underway. This stole is in honour of a pastor's 25th anniversary with the church, and will be made from neckties collected by the congregation. The first step in the process is to take the ties apart and wash them...

And meanwhile to think about the design....

Design #2 has been chosen, and now it's time to get to work!

The Stole has Arrived!

Just over a week ago I posted the stole to Australia, and it has arrived.  Here are some images of Noel in his new stole:

It's always a relief to know when a stole has safely arrived, and even better to know that it's received with great joy.  Thank you Kristen and Noel for your support and trust.  

A Tree of Life is Complete

Ready to ship to Australia:

Detail view, lower edges

Detail view, a little higher up

Detail view, closer to the shoulders

Full view, front

Back view, detail

Stitching many leaves

Leaves pinned to the surface

Leaves stitched down.

Next up:  the lining, piping and label.

Leaves for a Tree of Life

A pile of leaves about to be pressed.

The first leaves--these were cut from scraps of brilliant Harris Tweeds.

Raw edges have been trimmed, and leaves laid on the surface.  I'll leave the stole on the cutting table for the next few days and play with the placement before stitching them down.

A Tree of Life stole, Part 2

Herewith some images of the stole progress:

Kristen sent along this sketch for the stole design.

My interpretation

The stole design takes shape:  I drew the outlines of roots, branches and leaves on the unbleached cotton foundation fabric.

Stuffing the "roots"--a large eyed darning needle has been threaded with cotton yarn.

The "roots" from the topside.

The two halves of the stole are on my design wall.  The stitching and stuffing has been completed.

Detail view.

I'm now making the many leaves which will be appliqued on top.

I used fusible interfacing to stabilize the fabric, and then stitched leaf shapes through the layers.

Each shape was stitched twice, then cut out.  Cutting a slit in one side allows the shape to be turned right side out.

Some finished leaves.

I have many more leaves to stitch and turn!  A good project while listening to the radio...

A New Tree of Life Takes Shape

 A few months ago, I received a package in the mail from Australia with materials for a second stole for Noel.  The suggested theme was "tree of life" with the colours predominatly green for "ordinary times".  Included in the package was a green satin evening dress with a voluminous skirt cut on the bias.

This collection includes the evening dress in the lower left as well as some scraps of Harris tweeds contributed by a friend in Scotland.

 I think I was a bit overwhelmed with the amount of fabric in the dress, so the collection had to sit on my table for a few months until I was hit by bolt of inspiration--to use the fabric in the dress in a "whole cloth" approach, creating an outline of a tree and then stuffing the leaves and stems from the back (a quilting technique called trapunto).

Sampler of the potential design.

The sampler from the backside.  I drew the design in pencil on the unbleached cotton and then stitched on top of the lines.  The stems are stuffed with cotton yarn, and the leaf shapes are stuffed with wool fleece.

A few more leaf shapes are appliqued on top.

Once I was satisfied that this approach would work, it was time to take it to the next level (next posting).

Scott's New Stole

It's always a relief to hear that a stole has been safely delivered, and a thrill to hear what the response has been.  I received this picture of Scott in his new stole with the following comments:  

"Our congregation was thrilled!! Scott loved it and says he will cherish it".

Scott's stole is almost finished.

Except for a bit of hand-stitching, this green stole is almost ready to ship.  I now have it draped on my mannequin (covered in a white sheet) to enjoy in my studio for another few days.

A Tree of Life has taken shape.

I feel however that the Tree of Life has morphed into "Leaves of Life".  I've managed to use a bit of almost every necktie from the congregation either as background, trunk, stems, or leaves.

The upper left side

Central section, both sides.

Back detail

This has been a very satisfying project.  I have revelled in the process, enjoying the luxury to work a little or a lot at any one time.  This has left me lots of thinking and planning time, an important part of the creative process.  

The Green Stole--lining & piping

Along with all the neckties came a beautiful selection of green cottons.  I cut a 3" strip off each one and pieced them together for the lining.  I inserted my label as well.

A finishing detail that I consider mandatory is piping.  The brown piping will be applied to the inside edges (along the "tree trunk") and the green piping along the outer edges and neckline.

Another source of amusement for me!  Just like the ladybug peeking out from under a leaf, here I've stitched some dark green leaves with a fish motif just above the "water"...

I've been able to use something from each tie or fabric sent to me.  In some cases, I used up every last scrap (the light greens for the background). 

Svinda has received her stoles

I think she looks pretty happy!

This is the stole she'll be wearing on her ordination day at the end of May.