handmade

So I found a koi design I think will look pretty cool embroidered, and I’m excited to do it.  Just two problems: It’s a fairly large project, and I’ve never done that kind of embroidery (cross stitch really doesn’t count here).  I tend to prefer jumping into a more complex project rather than starting with a “beginner” project (I still haven’t knitted a scarf, I started out with gloves!), but it seemed like a good idea to at least try the different stitches before committing thread to fabric.  I looked up different stitches to figure out which ones I would want to use.  Then I sketched a small drawing that included elements that could use those stitches, traced it, and transferred it to a fabric similar to the one I intend to use (cotton duck). 

This is Rigel, Namir’s cousin, a puma.  I was actually planning to put him together first, to practice a new pattern with familiar fabric, but right from the start that presented problems.  So Namir was practice, and Rigel came next once I knew what I was doing.  He’s made of flannel (solid aqua) and quilting cotton (blue dot print and white cloud print).  I gave him big dark eyes and moved his ears up a little after seeing how Namir came out.  He looks like a warm weather cat, like an equator Puma, and Namir looks like an Amur leopard ready for winter, especially when you see them together!