The jewel of the marine garden
Now that we’ve explored the seaweed, corals, anemones, starfish, and various shells that make up this crown, it’s time to wrap up our stroll along the seafloor with its centerpiece: the large scallop shell.
Well known for its natural elegance, it brings light, depth, and balance to the whole piece. Creating it takes a little more time than the other elements, but each step contributes to giving it that unique presence that immediately catches the eye.
The Large Scallop
To create this large scallop shell, I chose a technique that is intentionally simple but requires a great deal of precision to achieve a consistent and harmonious result.
The shell is divided into three distinct sections, each worked using an overcast weaving stitch. This stitch naturally replicates the shell’s characteristic ridges while creating a subtle texture that beautifully catches the light.
The three areas are then separated by lines of juxtaposed stem stitch, which highlight their structure and enhance the sense of volume without weighing down the overall design.
Although this project does not present any particular technical challenges, it requires meticulous attention to detail and precision. Consistent stitching, even spacing between the stitches, and following the curves precisely are essential to achieving a uniform finish and highlighting the shell’s natural elegance.
As is often the case with embroidery, it is not the complexity of the stitches that makes the result so beautiful, but the care taken in their execution and their evenness.
Soie d’Alger and DMC 4090
OR
DMC 4090, 3854 and 816
First, embroider the sides of the shell using the satin stitch with 1 thread. Draw 2 lines to divide it into 3 sections (ignore the top line, which I didn’t use). Carefully stretch the threads, 2 strands, which will serve as the base for weaving on the lowest part of the shell.
Use a 2-thread overcast weaving stitch to fill the upper half of this first section. Be careful not to displace the base threads as you work, and always weave in the same direction. To achieve a nice, even finish, you cannot weave back and forth.
Stretch the threads in the middle section in the same way. Use 3 threads to complete this step.
Weave 3 threads across the middle section of the shell, and stretch the threads across the top section as before, but using 4 threads.
Finish weaving with 4 threads, taking care to follow the curve of the shell.
