Japanese Embroidery adventures

A group of people, all women, in St. John's NL, are working on phase 2/3 of Japanese Embroidery through the Jaoanese Embroidery Center. Our teacher has come to us from Edmonton AB, and was supposed to come in April 2020, needless to say that did not happen, so in the time of Covid 19 we have been learning via Zoom. With Zoom classes, two people were able to finish up their phase one pieces, two of us were already done, and now four of us are at different stages of the phase 2/3 piece called Hiogi.

Here is the piece with the pre-work done, the temporary holding threads on the top section are in correct, and had to be fixed before stitching there could begin, not a big deal ( fortunately).

There are some advantages to the Zoom style of learning. We can have shorter sessions spread out over time so that we can concentrate on one or two areas of the piece and then finish them before moving on to the next bit. Also we can discuss the prework that needs to be done for and  have it ready for the next zoom session, so we don't waste time stitching the foundation in class time but have it ready to do. Twisitng threads for classes can be done ahead of time too, and that can save a large chunk of class time. It looks like we will be able to have large chunks of this piece done before we will really need to have the teacher physically in the room with us. It is exciting to see it advance.

I found the woven effect ( in blue with a touch of gold) paulownia leaf hard, as the individually threads seem to swim together when you want to catch a specific thread to couch it down. And of course I managed to bleed on the white foundation thread for the tie dye effect leaf. Spit and blot, and tear out a section of thread, and changing the shape of the leaf slighlty fixed that little nightmare. However, the short stitch holding may defeat me.

I think the best way around this is to set up a hoop, and lay some flat silk and figure it out. And do a section of twisted thread too. I do have some Habutae and some orphan flat silks in my stash so this is possible.

I will add a photo of where I am as of today.