OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern: Mirabilia
• Materials: 28 count Cashel “Ametrine” by Silkweaver, DMC, Kreinik, Waterlilies, Mill Hill as charted
• Size: 11.5″ x 18″
• Time to stitch: 17 days since March 2020 (thanks to lockdown!)

Presenting my fastest ever full size Mira finish!

When I first saw this chart, I was ambivalent, but my husband loved it and asked me to stitch her, so I did.  Much to my happy surprise, the colors are deep and vibrant, and she’s incredibly sparkly, qualities that are rather lacking in the pattern photo.  The specialty fibers, silks and Kreiniks are used extensively throughout, so it’s helpful to have them on hand at the beginning.  The pattern was pretty easy to follow, though I did make a spacing mistake on the leaves at the bottom and needed to fudge a little.  Also, I felt that the pattern had a few omissions- an empty stitch in her sleeve area, and some leaves connected to nothing, so I “fixed” those areas.  

It’s like the fabric was made for this chart, the Ametrine Cashel from Silkweaver; it’s a warm purplish brown mixed with green.   I picked up the bead pack at Needleworker’s Delight (the Silkweaver store) and when I saw the fabric on the table, I tossed the beads on and knew it was the one. Ultimately I’m glad to have used the 28 count fabric, though I usually prefer 32 count.  The bead pack is huge, with regular beads, petite beads, bicone treasures, and even 2 leaf shaped treasures, rather special.  The most extensively used beads are the regular size ones, and they fit better on 28 count.  It would have been a real headache to fit everything neatly on 32, I believe.  The Waterlilies are beautiful.  Copper is a variegated brown and Slate is grey/green/purple; they were lovely to work with for all the foliage.  3 colors of Kreinik are used; the 202HL (Aztec Gold high luster) is used the most and thankfully that color is easy to work with (and gorgeous).  The 102C (Vatican gold cord) was rather stiff and a bit trickier to sew.

My favorite details include her downcast, contemplative expression.  She’s not smiling, but I believe she’s content. The antler headdress is majestic, particularly with all the treasure bling.  She could be a Druidic deity. The teal greens in her dress are lovely.  You might think stitching all the foliage would be boring, but with all the sparkle and color variegated silk, it was engaging and fun.  I love the woods; every shade of green, tall trees, clean air, birdsong, whispering of wind through leaves, the subtle crunch and crackle of leaves underfoot.  Walking through old growth forest in particular feels like a kind of cathedral to me.   I think this piece evokes the mystery and magic of woodlands.  

There are a number of contenders for my next Mira… Renaissance Mermaid on Willow Wisp (Hand Dyed by Steph), Lady of the Flag on Mississippi Blue (Silkweaver), Stargazer on Winter Solstice (Hand Dyed by Steph), Portrait of Veronica on Barnwood (Picture this Plus).  If you have opinion as to which one I should start, please leave a comment and let me know.