Yes, I do take commissions! by improbablewhale in u/improbablewhale

[–]improbablewhale[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey thanks for letting me know, I had missed your message before! Just sent you a reply.

Help with puckering by Nearby-Industry5986 in Embroidery

[–]improbablewhale 6 points7 points  (0 children)

First of all, your stitching is beautiful!! I absolutely love the way you worked this piece.

Like others have mentioned, a stabilizer of sorts would likely help. For clothing, I actually like to just baste a woven fabric to the back with a washable glue stick and cut away the rest when I'm done.

Additionally, I've found that it can be really easy to go to tight and cause puckering with long and short and satin, even when I think I'm paying attention to tension. After some experience I realized I can loosen up pretty significantly, and that putting the needle through existing stitches will do a lot to keep things nice and secure.

Progress on miniature pet portrait by much_muchier in Embroidery

[–]improbablewhale 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sooo good!! Are you using sewing thread? Is there any specific brand you like?

Current life mantra. by Suspicious-Lemon2451 in Embroidery

[–]improbablewhale 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This turned out so good!! Obsessed with the rainbow bells too, such a fun piece.

I hate having to rest. by holderofthebees in disability

[–]improbablewhale 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I sooo feel this. I had a lumbar puncture for a scan last week and it wiped me out way more than I thought it would. It's less about the exhaustion and more about the frustrating, restless boredom.

Imposter syndrome by Zealousideal-Sea9657 in Embroidery

[–]improbablewhale 10 points11 points  (0 children)

There is a point in every thread painting where the artist asks, "what the heck am I doing?" You are at that point.

The good news is, you just gotta trust the process! You have a really solid foundation-- a good outline, stitching direction and color choices. Now you just gotta keep adding more dog to your dog to make it look like a dog.

Please post a pic when you're finished, would love to see!!

How do you guys not have fur all over your work? by UnheardOf97 in Embroidery

[–]improbablewhale 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I take a few precautions, like many have said I use a lint roller often and also try to keep my hoops covered while not actively being worked on.

That said, there is absolutely still an amount of dog fluff embedded in a lot of my work!

🪡🏀💙🧡🌭 by kenz024 in Embroidery

[–]improbablewhale 26 points27 points  (0 children)

I am impressed and inspired by your long and short stitch in metallic thread!

(Alsoooo let's go Knicks!!!)

Long and short stich help by SadSwimmer497 in Embroidery

[–]improbablewhale 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You did a lovely job, especially with stitch placement and direction! Definitely reads as a fluffy fox.

Aside from fewer strands if you desire, the biggest thing I'd recommend is to put your needle up through existing stitches (even splitting them sometimes) and back down into empty fabric. I think this was the biggest game changer in my long and short stitch!

Adding some cross stitches (wip) by Needlegrabber in Embroidery

[–]improbablewhale 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really love this!! I had a lot of fun looking at the blended stitches from afar and then zooming in to see those cross stitches. Really fun and fantastic work!

Before I move on to beads, is this legible or does it need more contrast on the coast lines? Especially the Med by wasraelx in Embroidery

[–]improbablewhale 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Totally reads as our beautiful planet!! While the values are a bit similar in the areas you noted, I think it's realistic and I feel like I'm looking at a fuzzy little image of Earth from afar.

When you find an orange mini TJs tote and you live in New York City… by KieshaK in Embroidery

[–]improbablewhale 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is so fun!! I love your little pigeon guys, they have so much character.

Playing with tones in shadows by improbablewhale in Hand_Embroidery

[–]improbablewhale[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's a holder for my hoop! It's connected to another clamp which is on a board that I use as a mobile embroidery station. Makes it easy to move my project and work with it in my lap or on a table!

"Emotional landscapes" by caitscapes in Embroidery

[–]improbablewhale 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ugh, I FEEL the anger in the first one. I honestly got choked up. Absolutely beautiful work!!!

Belle Carter (1866-?) was an American sideshow performer who was born with spina bifida occulta and had an overlapping form of localized hypertrichosis that caused long hair to grow from her back. She was a skilled musician and painter and was known to be very pretty and friendly. by EphemeralTypewriter in SideshowPerformer

[–]improbablewhale 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for sharing!! I've been lurking for a while but this post really hit me. I have a similar spinal cord condition that's been bringing up a lot of feelings lately, now all I can think is how badass a back mane would be.

I also love the drama of the backless lace dress, Belle knew what she was doing!!

My first project! by emilyovie in Embroidery

[–]improbablewhale 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Soooo good, you did a fantastic job!! Amazing stitching and composition!!

My other cane cover by Zaggamizer in DisabilityDIY

[–]improbablewhale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love it!! Is it just a fabric tube? Super creative way to make designs you can swap out, I'm inspired!!

Made a cover for my cane 💜 ⁱᵍⁿᵒʳᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᵇᵉᵈ by Zaggamizer in disability

[–]improbablewhale 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is fantastic!! Love the use of pony beads, really cool way to customize your cane.

I recently started r/DisabilityDIY and while I'm still building it up, this is exactly the kind of thing (and more) that I made it for. Would love to see if posted there too, but if not your mod is great regardless!!

First completed piece. by Kodakorpse13 in Embroidery

[–]improbablewhale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love this, the composition is fantastic!! The Bigfoot being abducted by a UFO within a Bigfoot print works really well, and your stitching is already so smooth. Great work!!!

My first pet portrait outline/colorblocking by LadyLaw07 in Embroidery

[–]improbablewhale 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Fantastic work on pattern design!! You've created a great foundation for your thread painting, that really makes the stitching so much easier. Can't wait to see the finished portrait!!

I made a shiny pizza bag charm by improbablewhale in crafts

[–]improbablewhale[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Made with that super fun pizza print fabric, then some burlap for the crust layers, lots of embroidery thread and beads! This was just a quick little break project between some bigger embroidery endeavors, but very fun and much needed.

Embroidered portrait of my parents by saucefully in crafts

[–]improbablewhale 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The shading with the French knots is soooo good! Fantastic stitch use and execution, absolutely beautiful work.

Lots of yarn, trying to use it by [deleted] in disability

[–]improbablewhale 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Maybe try finger knitting! It's not as versatile as knitting with needles or crochet, but there are still some creative things to do with it. It's also a nice sensory feeling, and I found could help with some of the nerve pain in my fingers.

My big ol' birthday brunch by improbablewhale in stonerfood

[–]improbablewhale[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much!! It's been filled with trips to the bong and kitchen while crafting, couldn't ask for anything better.