As I completed the final set in the Orchids for Ruth collection I was deciding on a new colour scheme and which fabric to use. I had stitched on ivory, brown and moss-green silk dupion and experimented with several thread palettes. To find floral colours I usually search photographs of the species — after discovering some beautiful orchid photos I chose something bolder.

I recently returned from New Hampshire visiting my friend Pamela Cox and found the autumn colours especially inspiring. I chose yellows and oranges with a hint of gold metallic for my embroidery.

I visited Delectable Mountain Cloth in Brattleboro, Vermont — an "extravagant adventure for natural fibre textile enthusiasts." It felt like an Aladdin’s cave of buttons, lace, silk and vintage handkerchiefs. The shopkeepers were friendly and we had a marvellous time exploring their treasures.

I came away with tiny buttons for crazy quilt blocks, an antique embroidered handkerchief, lengths of lace and silk dupion, and a couple of yards of honey-coloured tussah silk. Tussah is slubby and loosely woven (wild silk), so I took care when hooping to avoid distortion on stitch-and-tear stabiliser.

When the first colour stitched out I found Sulky Rayon 1071 (off-white) was lost against the fabric, so I rethreaded with Sulky Rayon 40 wt SR 1838 Cocoa Cream and restarted. I also changed SR 1082 Ecru to SR 1265 Burnt Toast. A good rule: place thread on the fabric to check visibility before stitching — if it disappears it won't show well in running, triple or back stitch.

The orchids were stitched out in SR 1066 Primrose and I introduced Guterman-Dekor Ultra metallic 9980 Old gold for the veins, finishing the centres of the orchids with SR 1126 Tan and SR 521 Nutmeg. (Gunold is a manufacturer of Sulky Rayon threads available in the UK)

Now you may have noticed that the dragonflies in this collection are listed separately in the stitch out even though they use the same colours as the orchids? I have done this so you have the option to change the colours which is what I did this for this design. I still used SR 1071 off white thread for the base of the dragonflies but used the following threads  to complete them: SR 1216 Medium maple, SR 508 Sand, SR 521 Nutmeg and SR 1126 Tan.

As you can see on this 12″ x 8″ finished design the fibres have were not distorted in the hooping or during stitch out. The embroidery was done on 2 layers of stitch and tear. I was delighted with the end result and as this is precious fabric I must decided how to use it. Any ideas?

This is another special design in this new set and it makes a beautiful combination when a  a pair are mirror imaged. Imagine this on the back of a silk jacket!

Happy embroidering from Hazel

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