Tropical

This is my biggest embroidery project to date.
I started it back in June '24, picking it up now and then between other projects. So it took a while.
In the mood for cheerful colours I used a picture with a tropical motif and a wide colour spectrum as a reference.

I wrapped the inner frame with cotton ribbon. I sewed the ends together by hand. I don't like all this gluing that everyone shows. Sure, it's quick, but you can't separate it easily if you want to switch something, wash it or refurbish it.
A simple white cotton fabric is the base. To make it a little more stable, I doubled it up.
The embroidery thread is from DMC.
I used a friction pen to draw the motif.

So many colours! Where to put them?

I originally wanted to embroider everything in one direction... but that wasn't a good idea! The individual elements looked messy and the shine of the thread was lost.
So I unpicked the entire (finished) lower section and started again from scratch.
Yes, it's a bit frustrating, but what's the point in ending up with a result you don't like? It's a shame about all the time and effort you've put in. For me, it's always better to start again and be truly satisfied in the end.

I enjoyed the upper part the most. The colours are so vibrant. Here, I also ran the stitching directly from the inside to the outside ;)

Here is the finished project. The yarn shines beautifully, depending on how the light falls. Now I am also happy with the lower part. It was worth it!