Fieldflowers in a Bowl by Margaret Light
26th May 2023
It’s big, it’s bold and it’s beautiful. ‘Fieldflowers in a Bowl’ is a spectacular piece by Margaret Light that takes its rightful position on the front cover of her new book A Fine Tradition 2.
This is a statement piece.
Be it scale, colour or complexity of technique, Fieldflowers in a Bowl encompasses all the elements one expects to see in a spectacular expression of embroidery.
As with all her projects from this book, Margaret’s inspiration is derived from some of her international trips, this time visits to Istanbul and Jaipur.
Palaces, museums, courtyards and the like, all adorned from floor to ceiling in still life paintings of fruit and flowers arranged in vessels mainly coloured in blue and white. Such overwhelming displays of artistic expression laid the foundation for this truly inspired project.
Bright red poppies and sky-blue cornflowers play strong supporting roles to ably assist our two hero performers, the sunflowers and the Delftware shallow-footed bowl. The composition of each is arranged in such a way as to achieve beautiful harmony and the perfect placement of colours.
Then, within these central characters, we discover the application of some remarkable needlework skills, the most notable being the centre and petals of the open sunflower.
The centre is achieved by combining surface darning stitch, a weaving technique, incorporating straight stitches laid vertically.
The petals have been created using needlewoven picots that are actually a lacemaking technique, in as much as creating each petal is akin to weaving together a small piece of fabric that, when completed, looks like a detached element, such are its three-dimensional qualities.
It should also be noted that of the 22 threads used, 20 are crewel wool, which manifests itself through the rich texture and bold substance this project emanates.
In all, there is a maturity and complexity in how Margaret has designed this project that transcends a normal still life replica into a bona fide work of art.
Should you attempt this project yourself? Absolutely! Don’t allow our exuberant commentary to leave you feeling unworthy or unable of re-creating this yourself.
In truth, the intricacies are achieved through clever layers of simplicity, all of which we can replicate ourselves, and it’s little tricks like that which make this such a stunning, yet achievable piece.
Make Your Own Fieldflowers in a Bowl
Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions
Fieldflowers in a Bowl by Margaret Light features bold sunflowers, bright poppies and a sky-blue cornflower displayed in a ceramic bowl.
A Fine Tradition 2
Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit
The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Fieldflowers in a Bowl includes everything* you need to re-create this vibrant display: Fabric with pre-printed design, embroidery threads, pin and needles.
Fieldflowers in a Bowl – AFT2 Kit
*Please Note: To cater for flexibility of purchase, instructions are not included with our kits. For step-by-step directions on how to create this project, please refer to the book.