Rachael- An Embroidered Portrait

[waiting_room]

This is a completed portrait of an old friend of mine, who i'd lost touch with a few years back. i'd changed phones and moved cities- and thought i'd never be able to find her again.

I decided to make Rachael my first portrait subject, because i had been thinking about our previous relationship a lot, and i knew i would be able to invest a lot of time in this project because of that!

This is all free stitched (no outline underneath), and consists of standard stitch and french knot stitch.
My only regret is that i stitched it onto cotton (an old pillowcase in fact), and i think i'd have been better with a sturdier fabric. Still, i'm happy with the end result!

also, bizarrely- rachael got in touch by letter just the other day!

Does anyone else have any tips when it comes to portraits? any particular methods you think work well?

Hayley x

[kittykill]

I can't believe you did it freehand. So cool.

[jemimah]

Well done - very expressive!

[waiting_room]

Thanks guys! x

[imera]

Amazing, both the emboidery and the fact that she got in touch with you Really wonderful