Swallows Stitchscape

Way back in June 2024 I was sat at my dining room table with the regional rep for Makower (well known printed cotton fabric supplier), drooling over their amazing prints and pre-ordering all sorts of fabulous designs. I had already done a little bit of research on their website and had come across a sort of sale section, or ‘last chance to buy’ area which included this really pretty swallows fabric in purple. 

It’s not a colour I tend to use that often but the scale looked about right and it reminded me a bit of the Lewis & Irene Swans print I used a couple of years ago so I took a chance and ordered it (along with heaps of other droolworthy fabrics which have been slowly trickling in since that appointment.) 

I wasn’t planning on using it for a kit but thought it would be worth adding to my Stitchscape shop as a fat samosa - they are cut up and ready to go, I just haven’t managed to take good enough photos of them yet to add to the shop. The perks of having this fabric means that I get first dibs, obviously, so I had a little rummage in my stash and put together this little 10cm hoop just for a bit of fun. 

The swallows are the most dominant fabric, partly because it’s a big strip in comparison to the other fabrics used. I didn’t want to cut too close to the birds so they’ve got quite a bit of space around them - and partly because it’s physically laid on top of the fabrics either side of it which gives it the bold look. If you’ve been to one of my workshops or talks you’ll know that I talk about layering the fabrics and how to create different effects with how you’ve layered, pushing areas back just simply by putting those fabrics underneath another. 

I’ve used stem stitch to go around the cloud lines and then filled in the plain background with seed stitch, varying the colour of the thread and also the thickness which creates a bit of movement as the birds swoop through the air. The darker shadow of a swallow has been outlined in single strand backstitch, using a colour that matches the fabric above to try and bring that colour down. 

My little swallows themselves have been outlined with blanket stitch for the wing and feather lines, and back stitch for their bodies (again a single strand), then tiny little yellow stitches for their yellow throats. All following the pattern exactly. 

I don’t necessarily stitch layers in order, it depends what needs to be stitched (if fraying), or what is going to be layered on top, or just which bit excites me most! I was chomping at the bit to get to the bottom of the hoop but I knew I wanted it to be very textural so it was a real test of patience having to wait until I’d stitched the other layers. The top layer was textured with rows of running stitch following the edges of the layer, or the gold pattern within it so I didn’t go over the gold. Bullion knots form the top edge and a mix of couched stranded threads the bottom, bringing the colours of the two fabrics together. 

The third layer down is also very simply treated just with single strand back stitch around the blocks of colour, and where there had been some greenish washes in the print, I’ve covered those with purple French knots to again help with the colour blending. 

Finally on to the bottom layer and this was so much fun! I had a little snip of a 3mm metallic silver ribbon from the-stitchery which I couched down to the fabric edge but, rather than stitching it flat, I’ve twisted it and curled it to create more interest and shadows. Single strand fly stitches have been made over the top to act like frosted ferns or icy foliage and French knot tapers have been worked between those as a kind of shadowy foxglove or something. The fabric itself is a glittery fern print so the silver shines through in little patches which is rather nice. 

For my birthday last year, Mr DT bought me a treasure trove of wonderful beads from Old Bicycle Shop and I had some frosted dagger beads which went perfectly with the colouring, and some tall flower beads which had a similar pinkish tone. Dagger beads need a little bit of help to stand upright so together they work really well. More silvery French knots and some pearly seed beads were added at the bottom to fill in any gaps and again help to keep the dagger beads from drooping down. 

This was such a fun little project and a good test to work outside of my usual go-to colour combos. I’ve got some more of this fabric left in my stash (plus the bolt!) so I’ll have to try it on a bigger scale, maybe in more of a sunset theme? Or with oast house silhouettes perhaps?

The stitch run down for this hoop is; bullion knots, running stitch, stem stitch, seed stitch, french knots, blanket stitch, back stitch, couching, fly stitch, beading and straight stitch.