WIP: Herb embroidery

Last summer I was inspired by the giant bronze fennel growing in my garden, and I started stitching what was intended to be a set of outdoor placemats.

 

I used sturdy hessian, which gives such a fantastic contrast to delicate stitching (and it's really cheap!).

My fennel had such bright orange leaves and golden yellow flowers, and I really enjoyed matching up floss and creating this herb embroidery. I even stitched a teensy weensy bee in the corner of the mat.

And then autumn arrived, and the 'set' of placemats was put aside for a while...until last week, actually, when I was pruning my lavender after collecting the flowers to dry.

 

I've returned to this WIP, stitching a lavender placemat using just straight and lazy daisy stitches. Before the summer ends I plan to enjoy an outdoor meal with at least one other person!

 

Perhaps next I'll stitch the daisy-like feverfew, or the starry blossoms of borage. C'mon summer, bring back the sunshine, keep me inspired!


What are you stitching? Please share in the &Stitches Flickr group. We'd love to see it!