by Sandra | March 15th, 2010
Scratching your head and wondering where my crazy head is at now? Let me explain myself. I was putting off this essential detail for design balance in the center portion of Jason’s quilt because I didn’t know ahead of time how I was going to pull it off with success.
This would be embroidery as a design element rather than “worker” embroidery discussed in the previous post of the leaf veins. Meaning this embroidery element would co-star with the applique. It had to stand on its own and equal to the applique in the design and visual impact, plus balance out the composition.
So how do you make grass starting to go to seed not look anemic in scale and comparison? hmmmmmm. Nothing to do but to just dive in and see what happens. Oh and Dad, if you are reading this, I know this is not botanically correct grass (and its seed), but I took artistic license with this one. 
Bullion knots are wonderful for mimicking seeds, pistils, etc. for plants. I have used them many a time and the last wonderful surprise of their potential was how well they duplicated the Fuchsia pistils. Perfect actually. So I used the stitch again to create the “seeds” hanging off the stem of the grass. The seed heads are just two Bullion Knots (DMC embroidery thread) created side by side with one slightly longer than the other.
Jason was quite perturbed at first that I was going to put a WEED <irritated gasp> in his pumpkin patch, but I explained to him that it was part of the fall season. Once he saw it finished, he loved it and also really liked the dimensional tactile feel of the bullion knots. “Wow mom, it looks real.” So the “weed”, aka grass, stays and he is very happy with it now. On to the next challenge.
Lovely. Is the bullion knot in your book ? Or in Elegant Stitches ?
Sara, you can find it in the Elegant Stitches book. If there is a “book 2″ I will get into more advanced stitches.
The weed is wonderful!
I love the fact that it has become a feature, and that it is an embroidered feature rather than applique. An applique would have overfilled he space.
Judy B
Being of farming stock, I can see this stitch being used for the ears of wheat. Thanks for sharing this stitch combination. lovely design. Regards
Dianne
Gorgeous! Did you use two strands of DMC and if so, are they different shades?
It looks real to me !! It actually looks AWESOME!
You can even make a grass ( a weed ) look good !
I certainly hope there is a book #2 and 3.
I would like to comment on Dianne’s comment. I also thought of wheat – also live on farming area . A few years ago I made an enormous applique with some embroidery and really struggled to applique wheat. Had I only known then what I have learned from you.
Sara and Dianne, YES! most definitely this would work for wheat. If you needed a larger scale wheat kernel, just use heavier threads.
Another idea: If you want to make the heads of English lavender flowers this also would work really well.
Thanks Boop, I am always amazed at what embroidery can do. Now can a machine do this? I think not.
Melanie, yes I used two strands of DMC and both are the same color. You certainly could use two values of the color for another interesting result. I thought about it, but went with one color this time. No particular reason.
Dianne, I am of farming stock as well! My father, why I referred to him, farms grass seed that ships all over the world so I was worried that he would point out the fact that my grass doesn’t really exist.
I call it an Oats and grass hybrid. LOL
Exactly Judy, Sometimes applique is TOO heavy and embroidery works far better for more subtle imagery.
Love the idea of bullion knots for the seed heads!!! Your mind is always working for these beautiful details to add such artistry to your applique quilts. What a great idea to use for English lavender flowers.
I cannot wait to see what you dream up next. Yes please, book 2, 3 and a DVD too!
Endless innovation and good ideas for incorporating realism (or whimsy!) Miss S., you are a treasure. The grass seed embroidery reminds me of sea oats. This adds so much to your quilt. I’m with Denise; time for a DVD!! As always, thanks for sharing.
You are most welcome dear Frances.
Sandra,
You amaze me so….
Love the grassy weed element…but you really caught my heart when you mentioned the bullion knots would work for lavender – my favorite herb of all time! Definitely something to experiment with!
Thank you so much.
Pat, I am so glad the idea for lavender with bullion knots made your heart skip a beat! This is what it is all about. Having fun and creating magic from needle and thread. It makes me happy just to know I helped!
Hello again – it’s been too long! (I’ve got a new job with absolutely NO time for surfing the net anymore!) Glad to be catching up with you, tho! I love the seeding grass and also thought of wheat. Lovely! I really like how you explained the difference between the “worker” embroidery and the embroidery as a design element. Perfect. Question tho (are you surprised?!) – when you do the embroidery, do you ever use a stabilizer on the back at all to keep the fabric from puckering? Have you ever had that problem?
How is your hand these days? (I may have missed any updates!)
LOVE the progress!