Ed052 Paisley

I remember wearing paisley patterned dresses and skirts as a young teacher in the 60’s, and as with all fashions, a current resurgence of this design in fabrics is not the first since that time. Paisley will always be around even for men’s fashions in ties, socks, shirts and even jackets. This is a classic paisley pattern prepared by Emy for a card front. I have used a cream linen textured card cut at 12.25 x 12.5cm. I have edged this with a bright green pen. I have chosen to complete this pattern in red, green and yellow for the stitching and red, dark red, and gold for the beading I used a single thread in yellow pure cotton to stitch the paisley shape and then completed the staggered circular shapes. I used a green single thread of polyester dark green to stitch the main group of swirls, the repeat of the paisley shape, and the larger of the 2 tail swirls. The single strand of burgundy polyester thread I used for the inside shapes surrounding the beads. I competed all this stitching before I began attaching the beads into position. I attached the single red rice bead to the green tiny paisley shape using the burgundy thread. I continued using this thread to then stitch all of the 50 tiny red glass seed beads. The smaller group of 7 red rice beads are sewn together with a tiny gold glass seed bead and for this stitching I used the yellow thread. I continued to use this yellow thread to then attach the 13 red rice beads in the larger spray of beads. Three of these have one gold glass seed bead attached the other 10 are each separated into pairs with a gold seed bead in between. I used the yellow thread to attach the 12 gold glass seed beads in the 2 arcs, situated near the yellow stitched circles I then used 6 strands of embroidery floss to crochet a tiny hat brooch. I have the pattern in my products list items. I decorated this with a tiny crochet flower. I stuffed it with toy filling, and stitched on a brooch backing. I made the main card from a green to match the green stitching and I cut this green card at 30 x 14.5cm and to this I attached a bright yellow backing sheet which measures 13.5 x 13.25cm using D.S. tape. I edged this with a gold pen. I finished all the stitching and beading and using D.S. tape and attached this completed topper to the yellow backing sheet, then used gold peel off strips to the outside edges of the yellow backing sheet and the main green card. I attached the hat using a small strip of D.S. tape as I wanted my friend to be able to wear the brooch. The card stands easel style, and at this stage I have not completed the inside with the insert, but I plan to use the burgundy lace from the denim and lace set I had previously purchased. The total number of beads I have used is 98 and this is made up with 50 red seed beads, 27 tiny gold glass seed beads and 21 red rice beads. The tiny hat has 3 extra beads attached. I have not counted these in the above total. I am delighted with this bright cheery result and will use the pattern many times over in all shades to suit the personality of the receiver.

Pamela Horton. The Whispering Platypus.