And here we have...drumroll please....the 25th block--and we are halfway home with more lovely violets! Four states share the violet as their offical flower, making Wisconsin the third one to be stitched so far--soon to be followed closely on the heels by another (Rhode Island) next. To see the first two, go to Illinois and New Jersey. I'm varying the colors a bit to add variety to my quilt. Petals have all been filled with Satin Stitch--and oh, how they shine!
Here's a bit of the history for those who are interested and keeping track...On Arbor Day 1909, the school children of Wisconsin selected a flower to represent their state. The wild rose, trailing arbutus, and white water lily were in the running, but it was the common wood violet that won hearts and twice as many votes. But even though it was the sure winner, it was not made official until 1948, when the Youth Committee of the Wisconsin Centennial Commission, discovered that the violet had never been designated as such. Without wasting time, a bill was prepared, and by an act of legislature the wood violet (Viola papilionacea) was adopted forty years later, on June 4, 1949. Better late than never, I say.
COLORS: J.&P. COATS variegated lavender six-strand cotton floss for petals; DMC#3822 flower centers & #3349 for leaves and stems. Satin-stitching done with 3 strands; French Knots with two; Outline with three.
BRILLIANT IDEAS:
- Due to changes on Flickr, it was brought to my attention that some people were not able to print out the patterns due to incompatible issues with certain browsers. By changing the liscensing on my pattern images, everyone should be able to download and print them out now. If anyone is still having problems please let me know and I will keep trying. Patterns are HERE.
- The advantage of saving images to a file is that you can reverse and print them out quickly if you plan to use a transfer pen to trace them. Use tracing paper rather than tracing on printer paper--ink soaks in and bleeds and lines may not be as fine as you want them.
- There are many means and methods for transferring embroidery designs directly to cloth--and here is one that someone sent me recently. If you have a glass coffee table, place a small lamp under it and turn it into an instant "light table".
