32 Coffee Beans

Won second place in the contest.

The original pattern I believe is designed by Alessandra Adelaide, though I just picked the pattern up online and have had it in my stash for a while. Her original colors are super boring: three shades of brown! Bleh, I said, not fancy enough for all this swirly coolness! So I made myself totally insane and picked three metallic threads to make this the most awesome coffee cup ever. I had a bit of a fight with the scanner on this - partially because the piece is too large for it, partially because the scanner has no respect for glitter. The result is a two-part-scan image and one photograph. Hope you don't mind the page stretch, I really wanted to get the detail in there!

Signed, with my Pinky "P", and 14. Stitched between January 16th - January 30th. Three metallic threads: red-dark rainbow gradient, yellow-light rainbow gradient, and copper. Learned a lot about stitching with metallic threads, like how using one strand is way more helpful than trying to use two strands. On gradients, I learned that it looks like I spent a million years making sure every blue square is exactly where it's supposed to be, when in reality that was just the color that happened to be on the thread at the time that square was stitched.

Acquired the thread at the Michael's Craft Store in the next town over (since there isn't one here) many years ago. I've never used any of these colors as a main selection, only as small details like the frame trim on small motif gifts. Fabric has the same story: bought it a long time ago at the craft store and have had it stashed! The fabric is Charles Craft brand.

Another thing I learned is that metallic threads don't have a lot of give, so when a knot appears it is almost always a disaster, or how the metallic thread will snap but you won't know it because the regular thread it's wound around just keeps going. It also frays horribly around the needle, making it super tough. But I persevered, and I am rewarded with super cool stitching for my efforts!

When a knot appears, and you can't get it undone the usual ways, I found it safest to just cut the thread right below the knot and finish it off. The metallic is really unforgiving so don't fight with knots if you don't have to. Same when you realize your actual metallic shiny part has ended and you're only sewing with the plain thread (in my case the dark rainbow would give out and I'd be stitching with red, or the light rainbow would give and I'd be stitching with yellow). Just backtrack to a reasonable length for tying off and cut the excess, then start again. Don't wrestle with your metallic thread cause it'll be mean right back! Same advice goes for the needle: cut the frayed end, rethread it, go on with your life. Make everything easier on yourself this way!

Will be professionally stretched and framed for her wedding. I do hope she loves it!

Color Total: 3
Size: 9 x 9 inches
Time: 39 hours
18 Count platinum Aida fabric