Fan-tasia by Toni Gerdes

This is a wonderful piece designed by Debbie Stiehler to really stretch a stitcher. I loved it and did change the colors to my choice and the threads from cotton floss to silks. I learned to design my own Cartouche. The beading techniques were new to me and quite challenging with a beautiful effect. I had quilted before, but I had never combined it with needlepoint. I love all I learned on this piece.

Ground Material: 24-count cream Congress Cloth

Techniques and/or Stitches: Florentine Shell Pattern, Peyote Beading – Flat & Circular, Gold Lattice filling stitch, straight stitches, Sprat’s Head variation, couching, Florentine diamonds, Burden stitch variation, Flower Trellis filling pattern, Woven Ribbon Florentine, 2 pulled thread patterns, Diagonal Weaving stitch, Sashiko Quilting on Silk fabric with batting & backing fabric, canvas appliqué, loom beading attached to silk fabric, Chinese Double Coin knot appliquéd to finished piece with tassels.

Threads Used: Beading Thread, #12 Pearl Cotton, Kreinik Metallics: Japanese gold thread #1, 1/16" ribbon, #4 braid, and Torsade 2mm, Au Ver à Soie Silk, Silk ‘N Colors Overdyed Thread Gatherer Silk