Each year I eagerly look forward to the appearance of the drifts of snowdrops that appear across the banks and hedgerows of the lanes around our village. They are so cheerful and brave, not caring that the days are still cold, damp and grey. I love to bring the ones from my garden indoors, not too many, but a good handful to enjoy in the warmth and comfort of my living room ….
I’ve never done anything else with them until this year when I spotted the idea of making flower nests in the British publication “Landscape Magazine” ….
Now realistically, although this is a lovely idea, I knew that I was most unlikely to get around to trying it for myself. But it started me wondering, what else could I create to celebrate this little flower? After all there are whole societies of galanthophiles or snowdrop lovers, dedicated to spotting even the smallest variations between different species and various snowdrop-themed events will take place across the country in the next couple of months. So I gathered together floss and fabric ….
then appliqued a Cornishware mug to hold my flossy snowdrops, and began to stitch …..
Nothing too complicated – snowdrops aren’t complicated flowers after all – at least not in my opinion! Some quite loosely worked satin stitches for the leaves and petals with stem stitch (of course!) for the stems. I used two different shades for their petals. I’m not sure if you can really tell in this picture but in real life using a slightly creamier,darker shade for the further-away petals helped to define the flower shapes. And of course three, or was it four? shades of green make for nice leaves.
Unusually I stitched this design in Anchor threads. I’m beginning to move away from DMC towards Anchor as I’m finding that they have more of the shades I’m currently enjoying working with. I’ve always kept to DMC as I know it’s widely available, but I think Anchor is too? Does anybody know at all? And now my snowdrops have joined other blue and white china on my kitchen cupboard ….
Where I think they look rather nice! You’ll find the snowdrops pattern in the February issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine that’s out on Thursday….
With lots more inside to enjoy too!
Pretty snowdrops, or as my grandmother told me when I was little girl, ‘faeries of the snow’, they are really lovely little flower. Can’t wait to see the pattern
When I worked in the craft shop we stocked every shade of Anchor and DMC sold equally in both. But, of course, old patterns of the 30’s and 40’s and earlier and latter always used Anchor………….
Julie xxxxxxxxx
Hi Julie, yes I know Anchor was the go-to brand when I was young, but another reader has commented it’s not as widely available in the USA.
Beautifully stitched snowdrops Helen. I love snowdrops and we have thousands in our garden! Many are self seeded; we have 5 or 6 different ones. Some have lovely large single flowers with quite a pronounced green ‘horseshoe’ on the white petals but I think my favourite are the fully double ones which remind me of flouncy underskirts 🙂 xx
You are so lucky Lynn, I have just a few clumps though they are spreading nicely, so hopefully in a few years time I will also have hundreds – though probably not thousands after the newfies with their big flubbery paws have trampled through them!
Can’t wait! The perfect prescription for the January blahs:)
JEnn
Wow, how beautiful! I love it! And, to answer your question, in my experience, Anchor is not as popular here in the U.S., thus DMC is more readily available. Personally, I like the feel and texture of DMC better than Anchor. Just my personal preference. Thanks!
Thanks Valerie, that’s worth knowing. We can get both equally easily here and yes I too like the feel of DMC, but they don’t seem to offer quite the right soft dusty shades I sometimes like to use.
I’m looking forward to the February issue of Bustle and Sew Magazine! Your snowdrops are lovely and will be a welcome project while waiting for the real ones to bloom in my yard.
XX Linda
Aw, thanks Linda – not long to wait either way!
Truly beautiful. I love it when our snowdrops make an appearance.
Make sure that they are not yellow snowdrops. 🙂 Lovely.
I didn’t know there were yellow snowdrops! I have learned something new today xx