Month: May 2015

I thoroughly enjoyed working with this stitch – stem stitch, whipped with thread. The samples were were an excuse to play around with thread. I wanted to create samples with as much variety as possible so I raided my thread stash for as many textured threads as possible. This sample is created on Irish Linen using threads including hand dyed perle cotton, weaving silk, stranded embroidery thread and hand dyed silk thread.

This experimental sample was created on Aida Cross-stitch fabric using threads Perle cotton, vintage Anchor Fil a Dentelles No 70, viscose chainette and vintage Vicars Salome Tapesterie Rayon – Stem stitch wasn’t easy to sew into a curved line of stitch.

 

The variation in the work was created with changes in the length of the original stem stitch, variations in the thicknesses of thread, overlaying the stitches and playing around with the many ways of whipping the stitch. This was a joy to create. There are endless possibilities with this stitch, especially when you think about the potential for some fabulous colour combinations. I hope you have been inspired to have a go and experiment yourself.

Seed Stitch is a very versatile stitch, perfect for infilling a space, creating shadow, a sense of expansion or movement, density or airiness. This was a an interesting stitch to experiment with, in that it took some time and thought to find a way of creating variety in the samples.
The variation in the stitch sample below has been provided by a change of threads from one to six strands, and through the density of stitches across the fabric. DMC embroidery thread on Irish Linen.

The following experimental sample was created using 100% Polyester soft furnishing fabric and Perle cotton thread. The white thread was used as a contrast thread against the dark fabric to fill the negative space with stitch.

 

 

I have discovered that just by changing the density of stitches, the thickness of the thread used and the length of the stitch, a whole new variation of the stitch can be created. I like to think I have maintained an even stitch length throughout, but I know a little more practice will make it perfect. I hope you are enjoying these posts and are being inspired to be more experimental with your own stitches.

I am loving the challenges this embroidery course is unearthing – experimenting with stitches I already know and some I have have yet to discover. Bullion Knots were a new stitch to me. I always thought they were way too complicated to achieve, but the one thing I have discovered is that practice makes perfect.  The samples on wool plaid below were the first ones I have ever done. The following sample on Irish Linen was made for my Posh Sample Book, and is bullion knots graded from one to 6 strands of DMC cotton embroidery thread.

This experimental sample was created on 100% wool plaid upholstery fabric using DMC stranded embroidery thread, creating the variegation in density of stitch by using 1 –  6 strands. The sample has French Knots and Bullion Knots. I love the contrast of the sheen of the thread against the softness of the wool.

 

Just from the small amount of experimenting I have done with Bullion Knots and French Knots, I have discovered that I can create a huge amount of variegation in my work just by changing the size of stitch (number of strands used), the density if stitches on the fabric and the contrast of thread against the fabric. Have a go yourself ! Happy experimenting.