:: July 2003 
Advice
Longstitch in Your Fibrework Repertoire
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Using Helen M. Stevens' World of Embroidery for inspiration, try your hand at a longstitch embroidery project. A simple flower would make a fine design for experimentation.
Actual kits of Ms. Stevens' designs are available from Twilleys of Stamford, Roman Mill, Little Casterton Road, Stamford, Lincs., UK PE9 1BG (Tel.: 01780 752661). A British friend brought the kingfisher kit in the photo to CyberFibres and fully intends to see the finished product on his next visit to the United States.
The opus plumarium(‘feather work') stitch does make regular DMC cotton floss reflect light more brightly than usual. It is pleasing to work straight stitches at various angles and achieve a much livelier effect than that of flat stitches alone. The kingfisher kit also includes some metallic accent threads.
Good luck to you and to CyberFibres in mastering this lovely embroidery technique