Embroidery in a Void - drawn thread work

 Last Saturday was another fabulous Certificate Course Workshop with Di Kirshner on drawn thread work where threads are removed altogether and the space filled with embroidery. I've done some of this before, but have much to learn, and Di is a very accomplished teacher.

I'm not going to give much detail. The class was very much the intellectual property of Di and I'm trying not to breach that. 

Much of the class time was taken up preparing the spaces in which to embroider. It is, I think, a really nice design, and simple enough to work as a sampler, in part or whole.

It took me a couple of days to finish at home and I was excited to find a way to make it up in an appropriate form.

I tested a couple of ideas out on Katherine, Niamh, Veronica and Anthony. Their views, while not unanimous were similar enough to guide me to a pouch, or pocket.

I found some dark green silk, which they all agreed was appropriate, so this is the result. I did think of a Christmas present that would fit into it!. I lined the piece completely with the silk, then folded it to form a long thin pouch, folding the corners in at one end and stitching up the other end.

I even ironed it very carefully

before stitching the back seam down using four-sided stitch and adding a Dorset button I had from some previous class.  I also stitched the lining down on the inside - not strictly necessary since it was firmly attached to the linen, but neater and less likely to catch on any contents.

I have every reason to be pleased with this result.

I'm really grateful for these classes. Many thanks to all who helped along the way.

Andrea Mowry's Nightshift as Prayer Shawl

Nearly twenty years ago I came across the Prayer Shawl Ministry which describes itself as a program of applied Feminist Spirituality.  I like the concept - and have used it numerous times since. While I have most of the knitted Prayer Shawl books, any pattern can be used.  

For the past few weeks I've been working on a third Nightshift shawl using Noro Ito wool. I made two for my daughters last year and had the wool for a third for myself, but other things had higher priorities. When a friend in Sydney became very ill this year, I decided to make her a prayer shawl - and Nightshift was perfect. Using the Noro yarn simplifies the pattern - and adds to the effect.

It's also a joy to knit. The meditation of knitting for healing works both ways.

It's a simple pattern in the mosaic style, using two balls of yarn - two rows from one, two rows from the other.

I prefer knitting shawls from the long side, decreasing with progress.

This one works the other way - so rows take longer as you progress and it takes longer to see that progress. I just kept going until I judged I had only enough yarn left for the cast-off.

I blocked it on the carpet, using blocking wires to keep the edges straight.

It blocked really well and came out large, soft and flexible.

It has reached its destination and is bringing pleasure and warmth to Robin as she recovers in the last of our cool weather.

It brought me pleasure and warmth too.