I've heard it before..... you don't like spiders. I kind of like them, especially on stitching and this sneaky spider makes me smile. Maybe it's my fascination with the amazing webs they weave. If you don't like them, just add some bees instead.
Before we get started, don't you just love the quilting on this project? Cindy Paulson at Quilted Connection is a true artist, bringing each one of my quilts to life. As you get close to finishing Solstice Dream, I encourage you to think about the quilting and contact Cindy to be added to her calendar.
Flower Petals:
Three of the petals have an inner petal of cotton that has been appliqued in place, with another petal that is really a show-stopper. Let's begin with the "different" petal.
Iron the freezer paper template for inner petal #3 in place marking the center of the outside rounded edge. Using a #24 Chenille needle and Silken Pearl #5, Back Stitch (page 10) around the freezer paper template from the point to the center mark. Before proceeding, count how many stitches you made. Proceed with Back Stitches to the point taking the same number of stitches. This is important to keep the weaving in the next step even.
Remove the freezer paper template and thread a #1 Milliner needle with the same Silken Pearl #5 and weave Double Pekinese (page 14) through the back stitches.
Tip: Use the "eye" end of the needle for the weaving to avoid catching the underlying fabric or piercing the back stitch threads.
Outline all 4 inner petals with Bullion Knots (page 18) using a #1 Milliner needle and Silken Pearl #5.
Outline the outer petals with Back Stitch (page 10) using a #1 Milliner and Sea Grass.
Yellow Flower Center:
Use a #1 Milliner needle and Silken Pearl #5 to make Bullion Knots (page 18) of varying lengths across the bottom of the flower center.
Randomly stitch French Knots (page 94) with 2 wraps, using a #24 Chenille Needle and Dazzle thread along the top.
Stem and Curvy Branches:
By now you know I just "eyeballed" the curvy branches, but if you feel more comfortable with a line, just draw them on with some type of marking pencil.
Thread a large-eyed needle similar to a #18 Chenille with Pearl Cotton #3, bringing the ends together to make a double thread. Pull the needle up from the back side and hold the threads along your drawn line (or eyeballed line) as you Couch (page 66) in place with Pearl Cotton #8 in a #24 Chenille needle. To finish, take all the threads to the back and secure with a knot.
Sneaky Spider:
I appliqued a 1/4" wool circle in place for the spider's body, and then covered it with Satin Stitch (page 132) using a #24 Chenille needle and Dazzle thread. The wool circle gave me a guide for my Satin Stitches and more texture than stitching directly onto the background block. The legs (remember, there are 8), are small Bullion Knots (page 18) with the same Dazzle thread in a #1 Milliner needle. I used 5 wraps on the Bullion Knots. I added 2 eyes using a yellow Dazzle in a #24 Chenille needle to make French Knots (page 94) with just 1 wrap.
This Sneaky Spider is hanging by a Dazzle thread that is Couched in place. Both the long stitch and couching stitches are the same Dazzle thread.
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