Skip to main content

Break for Boutis

Blocking Boutis:

Between all of the machine sewing and quilting that have kept me gainfully occupied over the last few months, I have taken a little time to work on my boutis.

You may remember the little saffron coloured boutis rose window below from my post on October 15, 2014    http://seamsfrench.blogspot.ca/2014_10_01_archive.html . Once stitched and corded, it was soaked in a basin of warm water with a little gentle soap (such as Orvis), and then straightened and squared up with thumb tacks on a heavy sheet of styrofoam. It was originally destined to become a pin cushion, however, at 5" x 5", I find it too large to be practical for that use. Currently, it's ultimate destiny is undetermined.

I used only 2 basic stitches on this piece: the running stitch and the back stitch. For more info on the stitches and their variations, click on the above link.

Done a number of years ago, the little cicada used in both of the pieces below was my first attempt at boutis design. Most of the stitching and cording had been completed at that time, and now required only a little more cording to finish. It's very simple design allowed for a little fun in the "glam-it-up" department, so I added some more embroidery (French knots) as well as some beading.

Washed and drying on the "blocking board".

All of the channels, as well as the filler stitch in the wings, were stitched with the running stitch. The legs were embroidered using a stem stitch. And little crystal beads were added as a final embellishment.

Stitched the same as the previous cicada, this one has French Knots added as a filler in the wings.

They measure approximately 5" x 6" and will mounted into card stock and make for a special little birthday card (or something!).
Labels:

Comments

  1. Marjorie's Busy CornerFebruary 17, 2015 at 5:15 PM

    Very pretty pieces...each of them

    ReplyDelete
  2. Donna in SW PAFebruary 18, 2015 at 11:01 AM

    looks great

    ReplyDelete
  3. MonicaFebruary 19, 2015 at 9:08 AM

    The cicadas look great, and I am wondering if I have seen them before, or if you have another design with cicadas?

    I still love that background fill on the rose window, and the whole design is really nice. 5" x 5" is not huge, but I agree, I prefer small pincushions too. What about a fabric covered box?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seams FrenchFebruary 19, 2015 at 7:03 PM

      You are right about seeing the cicadas before. Way back in 2011, I came up with the cicada design to teach to the interested parties at a family gathering. I had never quite finished them, so when I found them recently. I decided that it would be a fairly quick finish. It was. Now they just need to be mounted. Stay tuned, but don't hold your breath!

      A box is a good idea for the rose window boutis. Thanks for that. Whatever it will end up being, it's got to be easy and quick to finish up!

      Delete
  4. Esther AliuFebruary 23, 2015 at 10:50 PM

    Love your blog...and i am in love with your needlecase.

    ReplyDelete
  5. needle and nestFebruary 25, 2015 at 7:23 PM

    The rose window is quite lovely! And your cicadas are really sweet, too. I love the idea of mixing your work into cards - whoever ends up receiving them will no doubt be delighted!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seams FrenchFebruary 26, 2015 at 5:19 PM

      Thanks Michelle. Glad you stopped by. Been missing you on your blog!

      Delete
  6. Monika KinnerMarch 24, 2015 at 12:38 AM

    that is GORGEOUS
    : )

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Boutis: Traditional French Needlework

" Piqûre de Marseilles" or "Boutis" is a traditional French hand stitched and corded needlework technique, which uses embroidery stitches to create intricate channels that will later be stuffed with yarn, thereby creating a raised design with three layers. It's origins, and it's name, can be traced to the port of Marseilles in southern France to the 15th century. Traditional boutis was a technique invented to embellish otherwise plain white cotton with intricately patterned channels that would later be stuffed with a plump white yarn to give it relief. The resulting corded whitework created an elegant, embossed textile that was much sought after. Not only was it aesthetically appealing, but it also provided warmth and absorbency, so could be used for bed coverings, toilette linens (like towels), clothing items, home decor, etc. The first two photos below are from the collection of Mme. Monique Alphand, a well known French expert and collector of antique t...
3 comments
Read more

Amish Hand Quilting in France with Esther Miller

Esther Miller, was born into an Amish family in the U.S., and now lives in Germany where she has for many years taught the techniques and methods of Amish hand quilting to anyone interested in learning these skills. As a child, she would closely watch as the women of her community worked together on a quilt, and eventually she was rewarded with a needle of her own and encouraged to join the group. Through the years, she has mastered these skills and techniques and now generously shares them with anyone who has a genuine desire to learn. Esther Miller in Ste. Marie-aux-Mines in Alsace France. An example of her own work, Esther brings this intricately and perfectly hand stitched wall quilt to class as inspiration for her students.  Last week, at the "European Meeting of Patchwork" in Ste. Marie-aux-Mines, in Alsace France, www.patchwork-europe.com , I had the privilege of taking a 2 day workshop with Esther. The Amish...
1 comment
Read more

Blocking and Squaring Boutis

The door of her cage has been opened. She is free to fly off and find her destiny. After many months of hand stitching and then many more months of cording, my little "colibri" is ready to set off on her own. As this was my first attempt at designing so large a boutis piece, it was a learning curve. All of the tight swirls, curls and circles are a great deal more difficult and time consuming to cord then are the longer more gentle channels. Maintaining an even tension is absolutely necessary throughout the process, so patience comes in very handy when doing the cording. The process of stitching and cording a work of boutis subjects the fabric to a lot of handling and manipulation that can distort the design. For this reason, once all of the stitching and cording is complete, the boutis must be washed, blocked and squared.  The first step of washing is to remove all traces of the marking pencil as well as any soil that may have collected over the many months of working w...
17 comments
Read more