Little lambs are wonderful! And it has been so much fun creating these little lambs. This one is the smaller of the two Angus Dei Ecclesiastical Embroidery projects. If it seems like he has been in the works for a long time, that is because he has. Life has a way of changing well made plans. When this little lamb was first begun, I was not working full time. That has since changed, which has delayed getting this little guy to the final stages.
Well, let’s talk for a few moments about some of the materials used to get him up and running. The lamb design has been worked on a lovely linen called Alba Maxima which came from Hedgehog Handworks. http://www.hedgehoghandworks.com/catalog/FAB10500.php Many of the flosses used on this Ecclesiastical Embroidery Design are also from Hedgehog Handworks. I really prefer the linen background for embroidery. Alba Maxima holds up great for the goldwork. It has a suitable weave that is neither too fine nor too course to work with a variety of stitches and threads. It even handled a fair amount of un-stitching and floss removal without even the slightest hiccup.
The project is stretched on an Evertite Frame. I have these in several sizes now, and they are my favorite embroidery frame. They are not unreasonably priced, and I purchase mine from a local needlework store which is about two hours from my home. These bars come in a wide range of sizes. And they are so simple to assemble and get a project framed and ready to go.
Stitching on this Littlest of Lambs takes on a variety of hand embroidery techniques. There is long and short stitch shading, satin stitch, laid work, goldwork couching, split stitch, and stem stitch outlining. Here is the Littlest Lamb up close.
He is on hold at the moment waiting for the bigger lamb to catch up to this same point. When I start the shading on the face, my plan is that it might be easier to maintain consistency if the Lambs are both stitched together.
Next time I will explain some of the stitches and the various flosses that were used. Until then, happy stitching!
Soli Deo Gloria
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Filed under: Agnus Dei, Christian Symbols, Church Embroidery and Church Vestments, Ecclesiastical Embroidery, Ecclesiastical Embroidery Design, Hand embroidery, Hedgehog Handworks Tagged: Agnus Dei, Alba Maxima Linen, Christian Symbols, Church Embroidery and Church Vestments, Ecclesiastical Embroidery, Ecclesiastical Embroidery Design, embroidery frame, goldwork embroidery, Hand embroidery, Hedgehog Handworks, The Tale of Two Lambs
