The Next Step

After thinking and pondering and several trials I decided that machine embroidery is what needed to happen.  The squares needed detail and that needed to be done before they were joined.  So I first experimented.  I have at least four squares that I probably won't use in the quilt and tried different weight threads, different stitches, and different types of threads.  

Here is my first prototype.  

 

I wasn't thrilled with this...but it tell tell me that lighter colored thread on dark background and probably dark thread on light background.  The more contrast the better. So I started with my least favorite square.....the Water Lily.

  

The stitching helped this beyond what I had hoped.  I don't know if this was on an earlier post but it was a disappointment when I was done and I wasn't sure it would be included in the final...but it just got moved up to most probably.  

I have also been dyeing (of course!) and ground up some oakgalls in an old coffee grinder. Then I put them in the crockpot and cooked them.

I also tried a steam wrap of some oak, maple and poplar leaves.  These I wrapped tight with silk on one side and white felt on the other.  

 

  

I'm also waiting for the onion skin jar to see what happens.

I shall see what these bring over the next week.  But tomorrow.... I will be doing more machine embroidery to go forward with The Quilt.