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This is a bit of a variation on traditional stitching - but quite effective in the outcome of representing a thistle, from Sandy. Prepare a 2.5 to 3 inch diameter mari. The base of the thistle uses 2 shades of green pearl cotton. The thistle is worked using 3 strands of 6-strand floss. |
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Start with an S-8 marked ball, approximately 2.5
to 3 inches in diameter. Add horizontal lines at regular intervals in order to facilitate the ball’s spacing. For the example shown, these horizontal lines were each spaced at 1/8 of the total vertical distance. Start at the south pole point. Work the Rose (Garden) stitch in shades of green perle cotton. On a 3 inch diameter ball I used one row of dark sage, 3 rows of light sage and 2 rows of dark sage for each row of Rose petals. When you reach the first of the 1/8 vertical divisions you will likely notice that the petal edges are starting to curve. Place a small couching stitch in a matching thread color where the curve’s apex crosses the vertical line in order to maintain the curve. Continue building the Rose rows until the points are above the center line and the curves are roughly at the center line. There will probably be a difference of about 1/8 of the ball’s height between these points. |
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Start at the north pole with the lightest purple
shade, using three strands of six-strand floss. Work in rya
stitch (also called turkey stitch and tufted stitch) until you reach
the first 1/8 point. Loops of about ¼ inch height seem to
work well. Be sure to keep the stitches closely spaced. Try
to minimize the amount of wrap thread that remains exposed between the
stitches. Switch to medium purple and continue to work in rya stitch with three strands of floss until the next 1/8 line is reached. Fill in the remaining exposed area with the darkest purple shade using rya stitch and three strands of floss. Trim and fluff this area until the stitches look uniform. |
| To create the stem, stick a sharpened narrow
dowel rod or a bamboo
kabob skewer into the south pole point. Use yarn that matches the
colors used for the rose stitch region and braid a cover over this
stick. Finish the end of the stitck with a tidy knot or some
lashing in a matching color of thread or yarn. |