MooshieStitch Monday: Goldwork Daisy Part 1

My goal this year is to learn a new embroidery technique and one that has been on my mind for quite some time now is goldwork. I thought it would be fun to document my experience learning the new technique - so this post is Part One of my goldwork series.

I started to search online for beginners goldwork embroidery kits and came across Sarah Homfray's website. I decided to purchase her Golden Daisy kit because: a) it was affordable and included most of the materials I needed, b) it was a beginner level kit and c) she has YouTube instructional videos on how to stitch the daisy.

Getting started and gathering my materials:

I ordered the Goldwork Daisy Material Kit. It includes fabric with the design printed on it, backing fabric, gold threads, sewing thread, felt padding, and embroidery needles. (There are no written instructions since you will use her YouTube videos instead)

I also ordered her Goldwork Essentials Starter Set because I needed some of the tools in it like the beeswax, mellor laying tool, and scissors. Here is a photo of everything in the starter set (I forgot to include the scissors when I took the photo though).

Here is a link to all of her Golden Daisy YouTube Videos for this kit.  I watched all the videos in entirety before I began stitching - and rewatched them many times while I was in the process of stitching.

Today's post will be what I learned from the following videos:

Part 1: Introduction and Felt Padding
Part 2: Applying Pearl Purl
Part 3: Applying Bright Check Purl Chips


Let's begin Stitching!

I traced and cut the middle of the flower with tracing paper and then used that as my pattern to cut the shape out of felt.

Here is the felt padding after it was sewn to the fabric.

Next will be couching the pearl purl - which I thought was awkward at first. I think just because it was not as "bendy" as I thought it would be. It is a wire that is wound into a coil and resembles a string of pearls.

(FYI: Being a complete #goldworknewbie I had no clue what to expect from the the metal threads until I was holding them in person. For a great online reference, check out this metal thread info page.)

Here is the outline of the middle and a few of the petals with couched pearl purl. At first I was not happy because I can see some of my couching stitches on the petals, but then again, I am new and just need lots more practice! :)

My next step was to fill in the middle flower felt shape with bright check purl "chips".

The bright check purl is a more flexible hollow tube shape that has a faceted (zig-zag) surface and is shiny. You cut the thread into "chips" and couch down onto the fabric. Below is a photo of a few of my cut chips for example. (Also the scissors that came in the Goldwork Essentials Kit - they have a serrated edge meant for cutting the metal threads)

Then start to randomly couch down the chips to fill in the felt shape...

This is so far my favorite process in goldwork. It is really satisfying and almost relaxing to stitch down each chip and fill in the space! Or maybe that's just me :)

Here it is completely filled in with the chip work.

Zoomed out - here is a look at what I have completed so far!

First thoughts on goldwork:

1. I am very happy I chose Sarah's daisy kit as my first goldwork project. Her videos are excellent for a beginner - not only are they high quality videos - she explains everything so thoroughly.

2. It takes getting used to working with the metal threads. Each are so different in feel and texture.

3. I am using tools and tricks that I have never used before in my embroidery - like beeswax to coat my sewing thread (protecting it when sewing your metal threads) and also the mellor (it is really helpful to use in nudging your metal threads into place).


To be continued.....see you next time for Part Two ... but before you go...


Be sure to check out Sarah's Instagram , subscribe to her YouTube Channel for lots of video tutorials, and go to her website where you can shop all things embroidery, including kits and supplies.