A couple of years ago, I went through my box of silk pieces and decided to make lots of patchwork stars in the jewel bright colours that stared out at me. I had it in mind to embroider the individual pieces but after I’d done this to the first star, I realised that life was too short to do this to any more and that the colours were so sharp and the silk so shiny that they needed no further tampering with.

Silk patchwork star with embroidery: front

Silk patchwork star with embroidery: back

I still suffer from the idea that my sewing should be as good inside as out and while it would be perfectly fine to give these stars plain reverse sides, I just couldn’t do it. I think I rather like the luxury of knowing there’s as much to  much to look at on the reverse as there is on the front. I also like to think that should the wind blow them about they would still present their jolly face (what wind we have double glazing, cavity wall insulation and an air source heat pump for which the vicarage was specifically tested as to its air tightness – and not found wanting?) More to be expected,  should the stars be dislodged by human or animal intervention they would still look jewel bright and I won’t feel the need to rush over to the tree and neurotically twitch them to best face forward,

Each star is packed to its tips with lavender from the garden. I made about 20 originally and gave most of them away as  little Christmas presents. I now have 6 left and keep thinking I should make s few more…

Silk patchwork stars

Well, it seems I only have 5 left.  Only pure silk was used although I think the oversewing was in cotton. Each star measures about 7 inches (about 8 cm) at the widest point. I think one of these images will be used for our Christmas card this year.