more on cords and tassels

 The flame coloured tassel and cords are complete. The karayori  lines on the tassels really work at defining the shape and flow of the tassel, and joy of joys I did remember how to do the round knot. The knots on the edge are made with a gold filament in the thread but the gold doesn't really show up, one or two tiny glints and that is it, so not sure why this was asked for, but the gold is there in case anybody ever asks. The flame cords are finished, and the snowflake bricked, so the lower left area of the design is done.

A friend, who is doing the same level 2/3 piece commented that she had a hand-written note to herself saying to pad the head of the tassel before stitching. I did not do any padding , and I'm not going back now to change it, though it sounds like a really good suggestion, and would make the tassel stand up more from the cord. That is something for others to contemplate with their pieces. I have sent out a message to our instructor for an opinion as to whether I should pad the teal coloured tassel head or not. I think not as this tassel isn't over a cord and the tassel head doesn't really need to be emphasized more that it is.

Looking at the fuzzy effect snowflakes, the lower one is completely bricked, and the upper right one is laid but doesn't have the short stitch holding. I have decided to add a third snowflake, and a stencil of the flake is basted on in the upper left position, but will probably be moved so that it is partly behind the fan. The actual placement will take some more thought. All this is going on while I avoid the cherry blossoms on the peach coloured cloud.

Where things stand at the moment:

Cords and Tassels

 So, after not having great success with the cherry blossoms, so they are just going to sit there as outlined and padded, until I get back to them, I have moved on to work on the cords. I am fairly pleased with the results, so far. with the teal cords on the right hand side, emerging from the grommet. I tried having the metallic thread in the dark section first but really didn't like it, so pulled that out, and re-stitched with solid colour, and put silver in the lighter teal thread. My eye liked that better. I transitioned from dark teal to the light with silver so there is only one transition in the teal cord, but I am satisfied with the blending.

With the flame coloured cords on the left hand side there are two colour transitions. Dark flame to light flame, to light flame with gold.  The tassels is ready for the karayori to be couched on, before the cords can be completed. The Fuzzy effect snow flake needs to be couched too. Progress is being made.