Bullion knots, buildings and a bit of frost

Golden Clock at the Musee d'Orsay - Claire

This month's challenge was to create a piece inspired by historical architecture, using bullion knots and incorporating a frosted appearance.

Most of us are happy with French knots but bullion knots are formed in a similar way by wrapping thread around the needle to create an elongated stitch that can be worked straight or curved, providing a 3D appearance to embroidery.  It's quite a tricky customer to master but top tips from the Textilia 3 team include using a milliner's needle because it has a long, straight shaft which doesn't bulge at the eye and wrapping thread in an anti-clockwise direction.

Claire was showing off by producing a representation of the golden clock at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris with no less than 60 bullion knots.  Jo took the prize for the longest knots found on her beautiful mermaid's hair inspired by a stone pillar at Durham Cathedral.  Sue went for quality not quantity with 5 knots on her fairy-tale tower, whilst Annie wrestled with the frosted part of the brief.  Well done ladies, some lovely work!

Annie

Durham Cathedral Stone Carving - Jo

Sue I