PieceWork magazine's Winter 2023, Spring 2024, Summer 2024 & Fall 2024 floral designs by Deanna Hall West are now in one convenient Ebook "Ribbons of Silk"

Deanna doesn't realize it, but I've been a silent "groupie" of hers for a couple of decades--I own many of her silk ribbon embroidery books. Her "Stitch in Time" library is always so well researched, explained and diagramed.

Each of the four floral designs are based on a Victorian pelerine. "Pelerine" is a new word for me--as always, PieceWork articles are detailed and anticipate your questions. PieceWork Winter 2023 issue, page 42, has a photo of the inspiration behind "Marguerite Daisies" (the first of the four-part series) and explains "A pelerine is a short woman's cape or tippet made of fur or fabric.  It has long panels hanging down the center front and is waist length in the back."

If you don't have a copy of each of the four issues, you can access the ebook HERE, (requires an all-access subscription to PieceWork) from the publisher, Long Thread Media.

We've put together a threads & ribbon pack to sittch all four florals for your convenience. Each pack includes:
    2 skeins Zen Shin (spun silk thread) #317 Green Tourmaline
    1 skein Serenity (reeled silk thread) #303 Beehive Gold
    2 skeins 3.5mm silk ribbon #317 Green Tourmaline
    1 skein 3.5mm silk ribbon #00 Natural White
    1 skein 3.5mm silk ribbon in 65 Roses color "White Tea Rose"
    1 skein 3.5mm silk ribbon in Montano color "Canadian Fir"
    1 skein 3.5mm silk ribbon in Montano color "Concord"
    1 skein 3.5mm silk ribbon in Montano color "Daffodil"
    2 skeins 3.5mm silk ribbon in Montano color "Fuchsia"
    2 skeins 3.5mm silk ribbon in Montano color "Glacier Lake"
    1 skein 3.5mm silk ribbon in Montano color "Meadow"
    1 skein 3.5mm silk ribbon in Montano color "Pink Peony"
    2 skeins 3.5mm silk ribbon in Montano color "Spring Green"

105 yards total

Photo credit for image styled and stitched project: Matt Graves, courtesy of Long Thread Media

DETAILS & Tips About the Threads & Ribbons Fuchsias Pack
--All of the silks are from the Bombyx mori silk worm, often referred to as "mulberry" silk.
--Hand-dyed in Colorado--color fast. We use acid dyes with heat and then rinse until water runs clear.
--Wash in tepid to cold water

Zen Shin—100% Spun Silk—20/2

--equivalent in size and twist to #8 perle
--2-ply thread, not designed to separate the strands
--a wonderfully easy thread to use
--suitable for decorative stitches on 18-mesh canvas
10 yards (1 skein fits onto a standard sewing machine bobbin)

Stitching hints for Serenity Silk Thread:
--smooth hands are extremely helpful—use a sugar scrub or other hand exfoliant before handling Serenity
--use a needle with a large eye
   --needlepoint canvas, try tapestry 20 or 22 needle
   --fabric, try chenille needle size 18 or  #1 Gold Eyed Milliners needle
--Keep your thread length no longer than 18”
--stitch going straight up and straight up as much as possible, especially if stitching on needlepoint canvas (do not drag your thread across your canvas)
--suitable for 13-mesh canvas (brick stitch) and for decorative stitches on 18-mesh canvas

About Treenway Silks’ Ribbons (5-yards each skein)
--All widths of Treenway Silk's ribbons are woven with selvage edges.  The selvage edge can hold up to stitching on fabric or being pulled through canvas.
--The silk used is the highest quality reeled silk which still has the sericin in it.  The sericin acts as a natural sizing. 
     --The warp (length-wise) threads are two strands of fine silk which are twisted together. There are 300 fine warp threads per inch.
     --The weft (cross-wise threads) is a single silk strand.
     --The ribbon is woven in plain weave, where the weft thread goes over and under each individual warp thread, all the way across the ribbon, giving a strong, stable ribbon.