My most recent fish design was inspired by a photo I saw recently of a line of Japanese kites in the shape of fish, blowing in the wind.
Japanese fish kites
That was the general idea, and all I did was to turn the shapes from kites to real (well, stylised) fish and add more interesting patterns to the bodies. For a background, there’s a simple pattern of blotchy blue painted fabric, and a few squiggles of loose embroidery to suggest waves and currents. But the photo doesn’t entirely capture the glitteriness of the fish, which were made with silver lame fabric as applique and with metallic thread. In real life they have a very satisfactory shine to them, but the photo doesn’t fully capture that
Translated from kites into silver fish
Usually you have to be careful using metallic fabric and thread, because if you overdo it, it can look over-the-top and rather kitschy. But if you overstitch lame with patterns done in non-metallic thread, the glitter gets cut back a bit and you get a more subtle effect. Also you can usually get away with using metallics on fish, because they’re naturally very shiny anyway
So, because it’s Christmas and most people (apart from me!) will be involved with things other than embroidery, I’ll take a short break from blogging, and be back early in January with a new freebie. I wish all the best to you and yours for a happy and peaceful holiday
Merry Christmas & a blessed New Year.
I love the translucence of the fish tails. Lamé can be such a bear to work with but worth the effort for the effect.
Lovely! May you have a blessed Christmas season.
I’m learning a lot from you! I just stitched a cat for my granddaughter and used metallic for the eyes. It was over the top but good for a child. The fish are subtle and lovely.
Mia, beautiful fish, love the bottom fish with what looks like metallic variegated thread. Just curious what type of fabric you use, looks a bit like felt, but with more texture.
Have a very blessed Christmas and Happy New Year. I’m looking forward to your blogs after the holidays. Deena
Your work is stunning as always! Love the idea about using lame under the stitching to tone down the metallic threads. The fabric (I assume it is some of your hand painted) that you stitched the fish on is beautiful and it appears that you have quilted the fabric surrounding the fish making the fabric look like waves. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
Gail
May I have the fish? The kites I remember from my childhood in Japan when my father was stationed there. Boys’ Day – now called Children’s Day – was also my birthday.Thank you, Joan