posted by Lily on embroidery

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oh my! I remember the morning I started this needlepoint – Abby was a wee preschooler. I was working on a much more complicated needlepoint design from Mary Norden – her Persian Flowers – but wanted to start and finish a cushion really quickly. I wanted to have it sitting there, looking marvellous, the following Wednesday when a new friend was coming over for a play after preschool. Yeah right!

Oh, I am so silly sometimes :-)  Despite this rather simple needlepoint not being finished in time for that playdate of early September, 20002, I do have lovely memories of sitting with Mum, night after night, stitching away.  Squabbling over who’s skein of red that is! Hoarding our scissors.  Losing our needles.  Talking, talking, talking … and watching some amazing television in the wee hours of the morning.  We were especially fond of a documentary from the USA – a different emergency department each week – kept us glued to the television, needles flying until well and truly after midnight each and every Thursday.  Needlepoint with company is a very fine pursuit indeed :-)

The fringe is an inexpensive cotton I bought at the Button Shop in Glenferrie Road Malvern (quite the Melbourne institution – every knitter I’ve met in Melbourne has bought their buttons there!).  I then added the pink braid – just sewed it straight onto the orange fringe with my walking foot.  I think it really jazzes up the fringing and it’s nice to bring in the pink.

The backing – a beautiful boiled red wool.  I can’t remember why I bought this fabric, but when I found it in the cupboard, I knew it was perfect.  And there was just the right amount – which was a blessing ’cause this is an extra large cushion.  In fact, it’s stuffed with two of the rectangular, feather filled inserts from Ikea, making it around 60 cm square.  Ikea used to MAKE a 60cm square feather filled cushion (we each have one on our bed for reading) – but upon inquiry last week, it would seem they have dropped it in favour of a nasty polyfill one.  They called it “consolidating” Ugh!  Those polyfills lose their shape before you even get them home.  I do think that a cushion that has had HOURS dedicated to it, along with close to $100 worth of yarn, canvas, fabric and trim deserves feathers, yes?

Looking at it now, glowing crisply against the white sofa and lit by the morning sun, I think it was worth the wait.  I adore the smooth rich texture of needlepoint – that deep deep brown in the centre is so unbelievably sharp and velvety.  And I love the pink and red.  Yes, it’s further inspiration to keep going on my girl from last week – which is going well.

But would you look at what I found when I arrived home from school pickup this afternoon!!!!!  Seems that someone else is also attracted to the new cushion!  Good thing the white sofa is easily cleaned with soap and water.  If those little muddy feet found their way onto my needlepoint ….