Some time has passed since I shared the story of my good fortune at having received a box filled with DMC embroidery floss (if you don’t remember that story, you can read about it by clicking here). I so enjoyed reading all the comments made to that post. Since then, I’ve had many people ask me if I’ve decided what to do with it all. There were many comments recommending I give it to charitable organizations, and I’m definitely planning on doing some donating.
One of the most popular suggestions was to give a packet of floss to volunteers who like to embroider, and have them make blocks to be put into a thank you quilt for Rowland and Carol (the owners of the B&B who gave the floss to me). I think that’s a wonderful idea, and I’m searching out block patterns to share, along with the floss – eventually. I will fine tune these ideas and let you in on my plans in a future post. But I have enough floss to do a number of things and this week I’ve decided to present a Floss Frenzy Challenge !!!
In the comments to the Floss Frenzy post, Jan M. shared this quote – “From one fine thread a work of art is born”. With that in mind – here’s the challenge (with a tiny bit of pre-story 😀 ):
Last Spring I completed a project using embroidery floss (prior to acquiring the big box). I used the “Big Stitch” on a jacket, which I wear in my newest lecture: Gone to the Dark Side (for a post on the Big Stitch technique click here and for information about my “Dark Side” lecture, please click here)
I began thinking of many other things quilters could do with floss:
* Make “redwork” (or “bluework”, or “yellowwork”, or whatever color you like) blocks and stitch them into a quilt.
* Tie a quilt with the floss.
* Embellish a tote by couching the floss onto it.
* Quilt a table runner using the “Big Stitch”.
* Find some quilterly thing to do with counted cross-stitch.
* Use the floss as a closure on a quilted cover for your e-reader.
I’m sure there are many, many more. So here are the “rules”:
Floss Frenzy Challenge
The challenge will happen via the United States Post Office, and the internet.
If you would like to participate:
1. Email me your snail mail address (for your own privacy, please don’t put it in a comment to this post). My email is: .
2. I will then mail you 3 skeins of floss. If you want it to be a real challenge, I will randomly choose the colors. Or… you may give me a suggestion of which colors you prefer. My goal is to have many people participate.
3. Make something with it! Anything you choose! No size requirements! No real rules at all 🙂 ! Make something you can use, or try a technique you’ve been wanting to play with, or make your dear Mother-in-law a candle mat for Christmas. It’s up to you.
4. Email me a picture of your project by February 28, 2015! That should give you plenty of time and something to do on cold winter nights (if you live somewhere with cold winter nights).
5. I will put these pictures into a virtual quilt show on a page on my blog for all to enjoy!
And there will be prizes!
I’m hoping to get good participation, so please email me today!
Lori says
Your jacket is beautiful. You’re so creative!
Lisa says
Hi Chris, I have a question for your challenge: what happens if you’re in the middle of the challenge and you run out of the color(s) you were given? Mmmmmmmmm
Just bought a pack of embroidery quilting designs/sayings that need a push to get started. This might be just what I need. Sign me up!
🙂
Pat Gilane says
I’m in too for the Floss Frenzy Challenge. Sounds like a fun Chris thing. You are always so creative. Love your jacket too.
Pat G.
toni Nevicosi says
Your jacket is one that looks like it will be so fun to see coming down the street…. art for others to enjoy… is what i feel wearable art is… So nice to see the clever floss quilting on it. Thanks for the floss… Hope my attempt is worthy of being in your blog slide show . . . Doing this little challenge will be fun.