Explore texture and dimension in this goldwork design, which includes couching, cutwork and chipping to create a shimmering tail

BY JOYCE WONG

Although I’ve never had a goldfish, I’m always fascinated by their graceful movements. They look like little dancers in the water with their tails and fins moving beautifully around the wavy seaweeds. With this goldwork project you can keep a goldfish forever!

YOU WILL NEED

MATERIALS

• Fabric:

- Synthetic velvet, Dark blue, 25 x 25cm

- Lightweight calico, 25 x 25cm

- Felt, Yellow, 20 x 10cm

- Backing fabric, cotton (plain or print of your choice), 25 x 25cm

• Threads:

- Gutermann linen sewing thread, 4013

- DMC stranded cotton, 976 & 977

- Machine sewing thread, Dark blue (for finishing the back)

- Buttonhole thread, any colour (for plunging) and black (for finishing the back)

• Metallic threads:

- (a) Japanese thread, No 8, 10m

- (b) Smooth passing, No 5, 2m

- (c) Gilt twist No 1.5, 1m

- (d) Gilt medium rococo, 40cm

- (e) Gilt fine rococo, 1.2m

- (f) Pearl purl No 1, 45cm

- (g) Pearl purl No 3, 45cm

- (h) Smooth purl, Copper, No 8, 25cm

- (i) Bright check, No 6, 45cm

- (j) Bright check, Copper, No 6, 45cm

• Paint:

- Watercolour: Dark yellow

EQUIPMENT

• Pounce

• Pad (for rubbing the pounce)

• Tracing paper

• Soft brush

• Fine painting brush

• HB Pencil or water-soluble fabric pen

• Pins

• Fine waterproof pen

• Embroidery scissors

• Mellor

• Tweezers

• Embroidery hoop, 7 in

• Needles:

- Embroidery, Size 10 & 12

- Chenille, Size 20

- Curved, Size 12

STITCHES & TECHNIQUES

Goldwork, Back Stitch, Couching, Satin Stitch, Slip Stitch, Cutwork, Padding, Chipping, Plunging Threads

See Stitch Guide for stitch formation details.

Finished size: 11 x 13cm (stitching area) to fit a 7in hoop.

PREPARATION

1 Place the calico underneath the velvet fabric and put them in a hoop together.

2 Using the main outlines of the Stitch Plan on page 56 as a template, transfer the design with the prick and pounce method: Place tracing paper on top of the template and trace the design with a pencil or a marker pen.

3 Put the tracing paper on a soft surface such as a towel or a polystyrene block. Use a Size 10 embroidery needle to prick holes along the lines. 1

4 Position the tracing paper on the fabric. Pin on four sides to hold it in place. 2

5 Use a soft pad to rub the pounce through the holes in circular movements. Carefully remove the pins and lift the tracing paper without disturbing the pounce. 3

6 Use a fine painting brush and watercolour to join the dots. 4

7 Use a soft brush to remove the pounce.