Oakshott...

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 I was very glad to hear that I am not the only Starter Non-Finisher amongst the group...although if I'm not careful I'll be getting myself a reputation for being a finisher too...
Nah, probably not!




 I received a bundle of Lipari Oakshott a couple of weeks now and in all honesty I don't think I have been as bowled over by a bundle of fabrics EVER! If you haven't got on the Oakshott bandwagon yet, you must! The shot cottons have the most incredible jewel like quality. i have to admit when I first saw images of it I wasn't 100% sure. The camera does not do this fabric justice. Not in any way. It is very hard to capture the effect that the black shot (I would use the technical warp and whatnot but I'd only get it wrong) running through these subtle colours has on each colour. You will just have to take my word for it...oh and try some out for yourself.



 I decided on a couple of projects with the fabric (you can see the start of the second one here...) and since we were away last week the hand stitching hexie project seemed a good one to start with.Do you have a plan when you start out with a project? Often I don't (that probably doesn't surprise you). I have a vague plan...as in it will incorporate hexies or whatever, but what shape or form this will take is anyone's guess at the start...and pretty much through to the end. I made all the hexies up last week and then started to piece them together. Again, I wasn't totally sure how this was going to be...flowers? coloured rows? random? Yes, definitely random! The jewelled colours seems to spring to life the more random the pattern.I got about half way across the width of the cushion when i decided enough was enough and thought a little more randomness was needed to added a bit more personality to the cushion.A few individually grouped hexies and a little sashiko embroidery later and the front was complete.I just need to point out at this point that the back was getting me all inspired...I could feel a screen print design coming on...well I could, until someone pointed out on Twitter that it looked rather phallic...hmmmm, maybe not then.

Reining it back in...here you have my Lipari Oakshott Cushion made from the truly wonderful colourful shot fabrics ethically sourced from master weavers along the Malabar coast of South West India. These really are beautiful cottons to work with.

I'm thinking the Ruby Reds may need trying out next...