Sunflower Stitching

I've sent off the next bit of my stitching to Kirsten. I knew that I was going to do something about the Day of Prayer for my March component. March includes the Day of Prayer, and International Women's Day - and usually Mothering Sunday. And my Mum died in March 1991 - so for me this month is all about prayer, and women and mothers.

I used a WDP cross stitch design I worked out in 2015 for a Christmas card - but this time did it on a circle of pale blue Aida. Then I felt I wanted to acknowledge the situation in Ukraine. I made a flag with blue and gold petersham ribbon, and stitched it down with a flagpole in couched brown crewel wool.

Finally I did a sunflower - I had some orange/gold random dye crochet cotton. I did detached chain for the petals, and brown crewel french knots for the seeds.

I was really pleased with all of this, and was just about ready to post it off. Then another news story hit the headlines, briefly pushing Ukraine off the top spot.

After all these years of hoping and praying, Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe was home. Something wonderful to celebrate 

I added a line of stitching to the side of the cloth

If this project is to represent our thoughts and feelings and activities, then this certainly deserves to be sewn, with joy and gratitude, onto my piece of linen!

[the sunflower is the Ukrainian national flower, and seen as a symbol of unity and hope]