These will be overstitched in a contrasting thread, I think, when I come to do the appliqueing to the background. Meanwhile I need to press and straighten them up.
And the pro tip for embroiderers: notice the inner ring of the hoop is wrapped? Bias tape (thank you, Judy), or any old strip of bias fabric, works.
It protects your work from being abraded by the hoop. Here I'm working with cottons, so it's enough to wrap just the inner ring.
But when I've worked with silk, I've wrapped both parts of the hoop,s as not to deform the weave. Like this
Ideally you need to remove the hoop after every working period, so as not to put the imprint of the hoop on your work and the stretching pressure, too. I don't always live up to this ideal. Fabric is very responsive, and needs care in handling.
I have to be a bit cautious about how long I stitch for, because of eyestrain, what with that and more screen time these days. Otherwise I'd stitch until I was frozen in place.
And you did know that a good way to save strain on your neck is to stitch leaning back on pillows, holding the work up comfortably, light shining over your shoulder? It looks really slothful, but in fact it's a Good Thing. Especially when you're a bit up in years.
