One of the joys of hand embroidery is the meditative act of stitching. Sure it requires patience and time and perseverance. But the rewards in having a final product are worth it. I’m pleased with this piece stitched on silk and am looking forward to the next iteration of the “I’ll Fly Away” series. I expect more quiet joy in the making of it too.

The next field on my silk quilt is embroidered with undulating rows of thread. By replicating that tilt or angle of the tree tops, this field adds even more movement to the piece. Skinny lines in this field are made with the stem stitch using a size 12 Pickle Juice thread.

The alternating heavy lines are created with a size 8 Lime Frappe couched with a size 12 Really Red thread. Don’t you love how couching the green thread with the highly contrasting red thread creates a wonderful striped pattern?

Next to the green fields, I’ve tamed things down with nearly vertical stripes of chain stitches. This size 12 Aquamarine thread stitches like a dream, is in high contrast to the blue silk fabric, and repeats the colors found in the sky.

Then there are the fly stitches that make up the final field on the right. These are also made with a size 8 Lime Frappe. I love how the variegation of the thread colors travel across the fabric’s surface creating more movement and pattern.

You have to love the blanket stitch. It’s not just for holding down the edges of fabric shapes applied to another fabrics. It’s also a great decorative stitch. See the furrows in the field above? Blanket stitch.

Using a size 8 Lime Frappe pearl cotton thread, I varied the height of the tines on the blanket stitches to imitate crops growing. This variegated thread also adds movement and variety to the plants.

Notice the running stitch on the right of the blue fabric? That marks where I’ll insert another field.

This field is made with lazy daisy stitches using a size 8 Really Red pearl cotton thread. Rows of this looping stitch are placed vertically across the fabric. But they look a little drab to me.

So I’ve added running stitches crossing over the loops with a size 12 Ocean thread repeating the light blue of the clouds and adding more texture. I may revisit both of these fields later to add more embroidery. One can never have too much embroidery!