Fox is a sly creature if I quote a Slovenian song and that is true even in embroidery. Not only did the embroidery process take months to complete, there were even complications framing the piece. Nonetheless, the piece is lovely and I enjoyed working on it.
Process
The fabric was chosen first. I have always known the background would be in emerald green silk, and for the background support calico was used.
The tridimensionality of the fox is quite visible, therefore the padding was necessary.
After drawing the motive, I outlined the padded areas and prepared carpet felt for the tail. I tried to match color of the felt with the wires, as a result, three colors of felt are needed. White for the stomach, brown for the hind leg and orange for the tail.
The ear was supposed to be made with cutwork and soft string padding was needed. Firstly, I colored the thread, but the end result was disastrous. I unpicked it and put in white soft thread instead.
As usual, when working with metal threads, passing and rococo were worked first. Passing for the legs is worked with brown cotton threads in the manned of Italian shading to achieve a shading effect.
I made a deviation and continued with chipping on the stomach, continued with long and short on the tail and finished with S-ing for the brow and cutwork for the ear.
When it seemed the piece was finished, I noticed that the spine and the head looked unbalanced and empty. I had to give some character and sunning to the fox therefore the unpicking began. The head and the spine rococo threads were substituted with combination of passing, rococo and copper wire overlaid with silk thread for the head. The spine was a bit more complicated. I've sewn copper wire overlaid with silk thread thinking it will be enough, but later decided to add a braid from copper bright check purl on the inside of the spine.
Fox is a sly creature
that created problems even for the framers. He framed the piece in a shiny gold frame that totally overwhelmed the embroidery. After I saw it we changed it to a handmade wild cherry frame with subtle red undertones. I think it is quite charming.
Materials
polyster thread for sewing the felt
invisible thread for couching and sewing purls
white and orange felt
carpet felt
bright brown felt (3 mm)
soft string
brown cotton embroidery threads
copper passing
copper rococco
silver and copper bright check
sequin or a pearl
copper wire overlaid with silk thread or copper pearl purl
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