I've taken the Matariki theme quite literally with this work-in-progress Matariki Winter Craft project. My inspiration was this Miniature Rhino constellation embroidery hoop art; one of the first images I ever pinned on Pinterest, and still my favourite.
I like to think I've put my own spin on it, or taken the idea further by going beyond the simple star-line constellations and trying to translate in my rudimentary embroidery the excitement I feel when I look at the milky way in the winter night sky; and by embroidering pillow cases. Made from op-shopped navy linen, these are the first pillow cases I've ever made (I tore an old pillow case apart and used it as a template).
The layout of the constellations of the Southern Night sky at this time of year in the late evening (when I'm looking) is roughly accurate: The Southern Cross, Scorpio, Triangulum Australis and the Corona Borealis; excepting Matariki (Pleiades) which I have superimposed as they are seen in the dawn sky (when I'm sleeping).
I may add a little symbol for the taratula nebula: or a moon in one of it's phases: or one of the planets, discreetly, in an appropriate colour. Or I may not. Perhaps I shall think of my grandparents and other members of my family now gone, and embroider a star for each of them to celebrate Matariki in the way it is intended.We shall see.
The pillow cases don't look terribly exciting yet, but I think once I have completed a few more patches of milky way (it will sweep through the middle, bottom left to top right) and add plenty of random stars/dot/cross/knots they will look more complete and thats when I will stop.
I'm really enjoying this project, I just pick it up and have a play, unpicking the stitches if I don't like the result. Luckily, the linen seems quite forgiving. I'm also contemplating making a pair embroidered on navy brushed cotton, I think the fuzz would look quite effective in addition to being winter-cosier.
I haven't decided what to stitch on pillowcase two yet. Possibly, for nostalgias sake, the northern hemisphere winter night sky: I miss my pole star! Or the Southern Hemisphere summer night sky, for consistency? Either way I think this project will see me into spring: embroidering a universe is no mean feat!
Happy Matariki!
Prior Matariki Posts
Matariki 2012
Matariki Craft 2011
Matariki 2011
Also showing off at Show & Tell
