I spent the afternoon experimenting with free machine embroidery again, this time not using appliqué, not using coloured threads, but simply grey rayon thread and straight stitch; I wanted to create embroideries that looks like pen and ink drawings. I tried a few different ways of “drawing” dandelion heads, with a view to making one or two pictures.
Frustratingly, just as I was really getting into it, the tension on my machine started to play up. Every time I fixed it, as soon as I started on the actual embroidery, the tension went crazy again, and I’ve no idea why. In the end, it wasn’t flowing smoothy at all, which caused my needle to break.
At that point, I decided to give in, oiled the machine, then put it aside to “rest” for a while – that’s why the one below looks a bit “empty” – I decided it was jinxed! I did the last two on a different machine, which sewed very well, but much more slowly, so it didn’t quite feel right.
Still, for experiments, they’re not bad. I want to try them out now on richer coloured fabric, perhaps with mid brown or green thread. 
