I completed this peacock last night including the addition of some Swarovski Crystals and some cut glass beads. You know, I have the embellishment bug in me!
The entire design is worked in DMC Rayon Floss which I'll honestly admit, is a challenge to work with! But there are some tips to using it:
-Use short lengths, about 12 inches long
-Separate strands before threading needle
-Dangle your needle every few minutes to avoid twisting
-Thread Heaven does help to control it
-DO NOT wet it! Some stitchers say that if you wet it, it's easier to work with. Actually, it's more difficult to work with when it's wet as it won't budge!
-When pressing your finished pieces with rayon threads, always place your piece face down on a terrycloth towel. This helps to pad the stitches so they don't flatten out.
I really love the shiny look of rayon threads and I thought they were perfect for this project. Patience is necessary though. It took me a little longer to stitch up then it would have with cotton floss but the results are so beautiful that it was worth the extra stitching time.
I'll be making this piece into a handbag for myself. I'll post photos when I get to the finishing.
If you would like to have the pattern, you can find it here.
Switching gears somewhat
-
This is the time of year I want to hibernate and not set foot outside
unless I absolutely have to (can you tell I'm not a fan of winter?) so what
to do ...
1 day ago