EMBROIDERY ON MY SECOND VICTORIAN APRON

Second post of the day

Back in November I began work on my second Victorian-style linen apron, designing the embroidery and transferring it onto the fabric pieces for the bib and pockets. You can see this here.

I began the embroidery but have not done very much of it yet. It is a slow process and I have been very busy with other things lately, not least the online art course, but I picked it up again the other night and shall be putting a few stitches in here and there when I get the opportunity.

I must say I am thoroughly enjoying doing this. It is many years since I did any “traditional” embroidery, and previously I was always hopeless at satin stitch and long-and-short stitch, probably because I never worked in a frame. With the advent of these gorgeous little frames with the rubber outer part, everything is now possible! The frames are small enough to be able to hold in one hand and work with ease, and it is easy to shift the fabric to a new area when necessary.

You can see the impression made by the frame in this photo, where I have removed the embroidery to get a better view of it.

I am loving the process of “painting with the needle,” adding shading to the petals. The colours are so fresh and vibrant, and I am very pleased with how the reference photos have transposed so well into embroidery designs.

Here is a reminder of the original inspiration:

and the designs for the pockets, taken from the centre portion of the circular design, and the corner of the Axminster carpet respectively.

At the rate I am going, it is obvious that it is going to be some time before I get to wear this apron, but in the meantime, I am wearing the other one, which I have washed several times on a hot wash with the towels. It is surviving splendidly, and looks much better with a little starch. It will be very good to have the second one, so that I can dispense with my rather shabby butcher’s aprons and wear something pretty all the time!