Firstly, a bit of Thistle Thread University stuff......

It's occurred to me that for the Thistle Thread Masterclass, I'll need some EverTite frames for the projects.

For the projects :
"The first is a small (6" x 10") spot sampler based on a piece in a private collection." so I guess 8" and 12" bars. 

The other two projects are 3" square.

I think I'd want to use stretcher frames rather than going for a hoop, even a really good one. So much gold work, and given it's going to be intense work, the ground is going to need to have great tension on it and *keep up * great tension, regardless of the small project size.

The only stretcher bars I've ever used are the Evertite ones, and they are just great, so no reason to use anything different. (And Mary C highly recommends them too!)

…..<pause to look up the smallest Evertite stretcher bar length>…...

4" is the shortest frame according to http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Accessories/Frames_Bars_Hoops.html.

32" is the longest, on special order, just fyi

Cool. The bars increase in single inch increments up to 22", then the length starts to go up in 2" increments.
 

S0 - to get 2x 8" and 2x12" Evertite stretcher bars by the end of April, when the project starts and some smaller ones later on.

If anyone thinks I'm picking the wrong length bars please do shout out!
 

Now - I'll need a doodle ground where I can practise (and practise, and scream, and cry over and howl triumphantly, all that good stuff) these Masterclass stitches as well.

I'll have to get more stretcher bars (of whatever size - ideally ones to suit some future project) since the only ones I currently own are attached to my own Sampler (and are very long - far too long for a doodle cloth).
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A cushion

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Description of item from Etsy :

I bet a child made this as a Christmas gift many long years ago. It's made of Victorian silk plush.
The top layer of fringe is Dusty Rose and an Olive Drab color.
The bottom layer of fringe is a solid Dusty Rose.
The front of the pillow is a deep burgundy color, the back is a gray/green color.
The front is not all 1 solid piece but has a corner piece sewn in, also a 1/2" of edge.
Overall measurement is: 20" x 21"
Shows a few wear spots on the top side.
This is listed as a supply for you to all the pillow and sew shut.

Sold on Nov 18, 2009 to Elmsley Rose.

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The burgundy side :– now long faded to rust. The fringe is 11cm (just over 4”) long, and mixed pink and green. Very luxurious!

The large uneven stitches in black thread that were used to construct the cushion are quite visible to the eye.

This stitching, and the use of scraps for the burgundy side, is what lead the Etsy seller to believe it was made by a child.

The green side :-This has a second layer of fringe, also 11cm under that top layer – but this one is just pink.

,

When I went to fill the cushion almost all the seam stitching just gave way all in one go.

I re-stitched the seams (in a vintage cotton thread in pink just to keep everything ‘in theme’), sewing through the bases of the two fringes, which were quite thick and undamaged by time. The fringe itself is still lovely, still with generally well twisted and shiny threads.

Here I show where I’ve almost finished stitching, ready to put some pillow insert into the cushion.

I added some trim which I had in my stash that seemed to work with the colours well. I removed the flat green part of the trim, leaving just the multi-coloured cord.

And now – a simple job – but a lovely, decadent new cushion for my couch, which happens to be the same burgundy faded to rust colour. It’s sitting on the couch in the photo below – but looks more orange – I guess from the flash. They are actually the same colour.

It’s now taken up a habitat just about where that photo was taken,  propped up against the other cushions you can see at the top of the photo.

I don’t know if the cushion is actually Victorian, and I don’t really care. That burgundy velvet fades pretty quickly. The only indication of age was the way the black thread just gave way in a single smooth movement. I didn’t pick any of the bits of black thread out – I left them there for posterity to add to the history of the piece, which I can only otherwise wonder about.