big B

Bienvenue à La Patisserie

2012-02-09T18:16:00.000-08:00

Bonjour! Vous aimez mes macarons?

et mon gâteau?

I have been busy with some new patterns:

stitching this sweet cake:

and these brightly colored and delicious looking macaroons:

The cake and macaroons are two of the patterns in my new pattern packet - La Patisserie:

This is a really beautiful pattern packet, 11 pages of patisserie inspired motifs and borders! I have just listed it in my Etsy shop!

100 Stitches rosette chain stitch

2012-01-31T18:04:00.000-08:00

This is the rosette chain stitch:

It is the latest stitch on my 100 Stitches journey. I think this is a beautiful stitch that would be nice for borders:

I had avoided learning this stitch because it looked so hard! I had tried it a few times and I just wasn't getting it. But I decided to try again and I am so glad I did because now that I know how to do it, it is very simple and straightforward. For my little demonstration, I am using pearl cotton floss, dmc #666 and I am going to be drawing some parallel guidelines:

I drew mine about 1/4" apart:

This stitch is always worked from right to left. The first step is to come up through the fabric on the right edge of the top line:

Pull the floss all the way through and to the left:

now bring the needle around to the right in a big circle and go back into the fabric on the top line, to the left of where the floss first emerged. Bring the needle back out on the bottom line. Notice the needle is goin into the fabric at a diagonal, from the top line coming out on the bottom line at a slant:

The needle goes over the working floss at the bottom of the big circle:

Pull all the way through and this is the crossed loop that forms:

Now bring your needle up under the right side of the crossed loop. Don't go into the fabric or pick up any fabric, just slide the needle under the floss:

Pull all the way through, but not too tight:

Now, bring the needle around again, creating a big circle. This time, the needle goes under the working floss, into the fabric on the top line at a slant and emerging on the bottom line:

Start pulling through and make sure the needle now goes over the working floss at the bottom of the big circle:

Pull all the way through and you have this crossed loop again:

Slide the needle up and under the right side of the crossed loop, again not picking up any fabric, just sliding under:

And just keep repeating these steps

until you have a full line:

of beautiful stitching:

This stitch is nice and neat on the underside:

and gorgeous on the topside!

I'm really happy to add this stitch to my repertoire. I know I will use it as a border on tea towels. 100 Stitches suggested working this in a circle to form small flowers - I am definitely going to try that too!
This is stitch #48 on the 100 Stitches list, it is in the linked stitches category. I have finished all 13 stitches in the linked stitches category!

Snow days and a quilt update

2012-01-20T16:06:00.000-08:00

We have had almost a week of snow!

We get snow most winters but not usually this much and it usually doesn't stay this long.

I love the gray sky:

and how beautiful the landscape looks

covered in white:

Rego and Berit LOVE the snow and everything about it!

Chasing snowballs, eating snow...

it's all good!

Speaking of snow, do you remember my snow quilt project?

I have made some progress with stitching motifs in the small plain fabric squares:

and I have decided to use the open cretan stitch for all the borders around the blocks:

I like this stitch, It is quick to do and suits the patchwork-y look of this quilt. So far so good - I will keep you updated on my progress.

100 stitches - knot stitch edging

2012-01-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

This beautiful stitching is knot stitch edging. According to 100 Stitches, this is also know as Antwerp Stitch Edging. This is the first stitch I have done on my 100 Stitches journey that is done of the edge of fabric and I didn't use an embroidery hoop!

I did however, very much enjoy making a hem using my wonderful sewing machine! I am really pleased with the nice way it stitches:

To demonstrate my stitch, I am using this lovely pink floss, DMC color variations pearl cotton #4180:

For the first step of this stitch, the 100 Stitches instructions say to bring the thread in from the back of the fabric. I wanted to hide the knot so I started by slipping the needle into the hem:

and out through the bottom of the hem pulling all the way through. Now the the knot is hidden inside the hem:

The next step is to set up your needle and floss like you are doing a single blanket stitch. Just bring your needle down through the top or right side of the fabric out the back. Where you put your needle in determines how long vertically your stitch will be. I put mine right on my hem stitching line so that I could use that line as a guide line. Notice the postition of the needle and the working thread - the needle is going to pass over the working thread:

as you pull, it begins to form a blanket stitch:

pull all the way through:

Bring your needle around and pass it above the floss that is edging the bottom of the fabric but behind the loop you have just formed:

and start to pull it through - again notice the needle is going to pass over the working thread:

pull all the way through forming the "knot"

That is all there is to it! Now you just set up for the next stitch:

make the single blanket stitch:

and then the knot stitch:

100 Stitches suggests that you space these stitches about 1/4" apart:

It makes for an impressive line of stitching. I think this would look so pretty as an edging on a pillowcase:

This stitch is just as beautiful on the back too:

This stitch was very easy to learn and do. It was a relief after all the trouble I had with the eyelet hole stitch :) Thank you again everyone for all your help!
This is stitch #56 and is in the knotted stitches section of 100 Stitches.

snowman and snowflakes

2012-01-06T07:56:00.001-08:00

Here is a snowman I've just finished stitching. I really like the look of this, especially with the snowflakes:

Do you like the color combination on his striped scarf? I do! This is not a color combination I would have thought to put together just looking through my embroidery floss collection. I had started with black floss for his top hat and I love the color combination of black and acid green so I put those together. Then I wanted some colors that went with the green. The acid green floss nicely matches the "yellow-green" color group on my color wheel. The complementary color group for the yellow greens is the "red-violet" group:

I had several beautiful floss colors that matched the colors in the red-violet group so I made this combination. I especially like the way it looks on the scarf fringe.

Here are the colors I used, with their floss numbers:

100 stitches - eyelet hole stitch Updated!

2012-01-05T12:07:00.000-08:00

Here are my newest eyelet hole stitches! I think they are a vast improvement over my first attempts! :) Thank you all for your encouraging and very helpful comments on my last post. Angela sent me an article that clearly explained how to do this stitch - with pictures of what the finished product should look like - thank you Angela! I still need to practice (these are still a bit lumpy and uneven) but at least now I know the correct technique:

There were two major things I was doing wrong. Number one, I was using the wrong sized needle. I was using my #24 chenille needle. The best needle for this stitch is apparently a #10 sharps needle. I couldn't find a #10 sharps but I had a #9 sharps in my supplies. Just look at the size difference between the #24 on the left and the #9 sharps on the right.

The sharps is so thin and flexible and a bit shorter in length. Look how tiny the eye is!

Number two, I shouldn't have drawn two circles - you don't need to draw an inner circle to follow. You only want the outside circle. Just stitch the running stitch along this circle using only one strand of floss, and then after piercing the center of the hole with an awl or making a small x, take very small overcast stitches all around the circle. These overcast stitches need to come out consistantly ;) right next to the outer edge of the circle. The rest of the steps are all correct in my original post.

So I am continuing to practice!I am sort of wondering why the different sized needle would make such a difference? Maybe because it is easier to take smaller closer stitches?

100 Stitches - eyelet hole stitch

2011-12-30T16:57:00.000-08:00

Well - I tried :( Unlike so many of the stitches that I have learned from 100 Stitches, this eyelet hole stitch looked sooooo easy but turned out to be almost impossible for me to do! These three are the best I could do:

Here is a darker picture so that you can see the white satin on white fabric. Don't look too carefully!

Here is the hall of shame with a few of my many attempts. What am I doing wrong?! At first I thought that these looked so horrible because the outer edge was so jaggedy and uneven looking.

So, I decided to use this hole template as a guide:

I drew a 1/4" inside hole and a 3/8" outside hole. After practicing with different types of floss, I decided to go with three strands of cotton floss:

The first step is to stitch a running stitch all around the outer circle:

The next step is to pierce the center of the small hole. 100 Stitches suggest either using a "stiletto" to pierce the fabric - or to cut across the center both ways. I used my scissors to cut two small x's:

I think at this point, I had the best results with using only one strand of my cotton floss:

Come up through the fabric right at the outer edge of your running stitch:

Now bring your needle down into the open area of the hole and back out through the fabric on the outside edge of the running stitch. Notice the needle is emerging right next to where the floss first came through. This is just a simple overcast stitch:

Pull all the way through:

and take the next overcast stitch by going back into the hole and out on the outside edge of the running stitch:

Just keep overcast stitching and it will start to draw the raw edges of the fabric to the underside of the fabric and enclose them in the stitching.

Just keep working your way around.

Until you are done. Now secure the floss on the underside.

Here is a closer look at the uneven outer edge! I seem to be having trouble with two things...keeping a consistent outer edge of my stitching and stitching so that there is even "coverage" all around the circle. I would very much appreciate any suggestions or tips or ideas for improvement!

Here is the underside of my stitching:

I think I like these best in a white on white. It seems more traditional, like eyelet lace fabric. I also really liked using the satin floss on these. I think it looks prettier.

This stitch is in the flat stitches section of 100 Stitches and is #21.

UPDATE - please read this post for updated instructions and corrections on this stitch!

Some Christmas crafting supplies!

2011-12-27T19:22:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! I had a wonderful Christmas. I wanted to share some of the beautiful crafting supplies I received. Plenty of embroidery floss in some gorgeous color combinations like these pinks:

This lovely blue and yellow:

and this pretty group of a blue and white variegated, a violet and a rich purple.

I am so happy to have received this:

a rotary cutter! I have really needed one of these. It cuts fabric with such a nice clean edge!

Speaking of fabric, do you remember this bright blue fabric? I am going to be stitching some snow motifs on it for a small project I am working on. I think the blue makes a nice background for this white pearl cotton floss:

Christmas gift tags

2011-12-19T17:08:00.000-08:00

Do you have all of your Christmas presents wrapped? I am still working on mine. I am so pleased to be using these beautiful gift tags:

I made these this year and I am selling them in my Etsy shop.

There are 46 different tags:

in a variety of styles and colors:

I like trying out different combinations of tags

and ribbon trim:

Remember this beautiful trim?

So, I printed all the tags, gathered up some embellishments like glitter glue and metallic markers for writing names:

This glitter glue works really well to add a little sparkle:

Wow!

It is really easy and fun to use these tags!

I loved the artwork on these so much, I used one of the trees for my Christmas cards!

Christmas tree!

2011-12-13T19:35:00.000-08:00

I am stitching up a Christmas tree featuring some metallic floss ornaments:

I love the look of this metallic floss! The tree is stitched in regular six strand cotton floss, the bow and planter are stitched in satin floss:

These are non-traditional Christmas colors but I think they are really festive and pretty! Here are the dmc numbers of the floss I used.

Door hanger - finished!

2011-12-05T14:05:00.001-08:00

Guess which project this regal looking trim is for? This is the trimming for the bottom edge:

and this matching trim is for the top:

This is trim for a wip I posted about a while back. Do you remember this little lion stitching?

It is a stitching from the Shhh...Baby's Sleeping embroidery pattern packet and it features a sleeping lion:

and the words Shhh...Baby's Sleeping

I finally found two beautiful trims that matched the colors of this stitching perfectly!

I needed these trims to finish my gift for a baby shower I attended this last weekend. My cousin is having a baby boy in January and for her gift, I made this door hanger. I used the top trim to make a loop that can fit over the baby's room door handle:

I love the way it turned out!

100 Stitches - Portuguese Border Stitch

2011-11-29T09:57:00.001-08:00

Bom Dia! This beautiful stitch is the Portuguese Border Stitch:

This stitch is the latest stitch I have learned from 100 Stitches. It is my favorite type of stitch: complex looking but fairly easy to learn and fun to do!

First you need some "foundation bars", which are just a row of horizontal straight stitches.

I spaced mine about 3/8" apart:

The foundation bars run horizontally and this stitch is done from the bottom to the top. Come up through the fabric centered below the first foundation bar.

Pull the working thread all the way through and up and over the first two foundation bars. Now the needle is going to slip under the first two foundation bars. It won't be piercing any fabric, just sliding under the foundation bars. Notice the needle position here - the working floss is always staying to the left of the needle.

Slide under both bars:

and gently pull all the way:

Then take the working floss up and over the bars again. Keeping the floss to the left of the needle still, the needle now slides under JUST the second foundation bar this time:

and OVER the first foundation bar:

Gently pull all the way through. That is the stitch! To continue, take the working floss back up and over the second and third foundation bar and slide back under the third and second foundation bars. Just like before, not piercing the fabric, just sliding under the bars. The working floss is staying to the left of the needle:

Slide under the third and second bars only and pull gently all the way through. Bring the working floss up and over the second and third foundation bars and then slide the needle under the third foundation bar only and over the second foundation bar:

Pull all the way through and then up and over the third and fourth foundation bar and slide under the fourth and third...

Same as before until...

You finish stitching around the top foundation bar. 100 Stitches didn't specify how to finish when you were at the top bar so when I slid my needle under the top foundation bar for the last time

I just went back into the fabric and brought my needle to the bottom of the first foundation bar. Now the stitching starts over. Come up through the fabric below the first foundation bar and to the left of your previous stitching:

You do everything exactly the same on this side, only this time the working floss always stays to the RIGHT of the needle:

Stitch all the way to the top:

Here is what the underside of my stitch looks like:

Isn't this such a beautiful stitch?!

For the floss, I used DMC pearl cotton color variations #4025. The Portuguese Border Stitch is #63 and is in the Composite Stitches section of 100 Stitches.

Progress report - autumn stitching

2011-11-17T18:25:00.001-08:00

These gorgeous autumn colors

from my back yard have reminded me

that I need to share a progress report on one of my many works in progress! Do you remember this project? I am really pleased with the progress I have made so far!

A closer look will show the different stitches I am using. For the sunflower, I used the split stitch for the petals and stem stitch for the center. I still want to add some sort of filling stitch for the sunflower center. Perhaps french knots? The zinnia (on the bottom left) is being done in satin stitch with two different floss colors for the petals. The chrysanthemum (bottom right) is done in back stitch in two rows with two different colors. I am not sure if I am done with that yet either! I may fill it in with more stitching. The little acorn needs to be filled in still, I am not sure how I am going to finish it. I am thrilled with how the pumpkin is turning out! I did the stem in back stitch and the ribs in split stitch:

I am filling the pumpkin using the long and short stitch. The unique color comes from combining three strands each of two different colors of floss. I love the effect!

Organization - pattern storage

2011-11-12T11:22:00.001-08:00

I love to organize my floss, supplies, fabric and all the other items in my craft room. Some of those other items are my embroidery patterns - I have a lot of embroidery patterns. With the recent addition of Victorian Christmas, I have 21 big B embroidery pattern packets!

Each of these packets has numerous pattern pages and that works out to a lot of individual motifs - I did a count recently, and from 21 different packets, I have 802 individual motifs! Most of the time, when I am getting ready to start a new embroidery project, I bring up the pdf file on my computer, look through the pages and then print the page, cut out what I want and transfer it to my project. But I also like to have all of the motifs cut out and ready to use. So with each pattern, I print all the pages and cut each motif out:

Then I put the indivdual motifs in this big scrapbook folder:

This has worked really well but now I have a much better solution! I recently received two very nice birthday presents, this fantastic Brother P-Touch labeler that I Love!:

And a nice clear view binder. I really enjoy using these clear-view binders and I have several of them already - I like to customize them with pretty paper and use them as garden journals and to organize my recipes. I think this new one will work really well for organizing embroidery patterns too!

I printed out labels for all my pattern packets:

and attached the labels to sheet protectors. Sheet protectors are just clear envelopes with an open top and three punched holes so that you can put them in your binder. I am going to have one for each pattern packet:

And then store them in the binder!

I will be able to easily see which motifs I want to use and that makes it so easy to lay out the pattern pieces when planning a project!

I will update you as soon as I get some nice artwork for the outside of the notebook!

100 Stitches - Leaf Stitch

2011-11-03T13:12:00.000-07:00

It's time for another stitch from my 100 Stitches journey! This beautiful stitch is appropriately named the leaf stitch:

How perfect for a couple of autumn leaves! You also might notice some french knots :

To stitch this, 100 Stitches did their demonstration using a leaf shape, so I used one from my Autumn embroidery pattern packet and transferred it to my fabric. I didn't transfer the little accent "leaf vein" lines, just the main center line. That center line is important for this stitch.

For my demonstration I am using this gorgeous green pearl cotton floss. The DMC number is 988:

This stitch seems to be all about sloping stitches criss-crossing over a center area. I just have a single center line, but 100 Stitches had double lines spaced a bit apart to indicate that you are not stitching on a center line, but to either side of it. The first step is to bring the floss up through the fabric on the left hand side of your center line:

pull the foss all the way through and take a sloping stitch to the opposite side of your leaf.

Pull the floss all the way through:

Next, come back up through the fabric on the right hand side of your center line:

Take a sloping stitch to the opposite side of the leaf. Notice, the floss is going over the first stitch:

Pull all the way through and this will form an x:

Come back up through the fabric just like your first stitch, on the left hand side of the center line :

and make a sloping stitch across to the opposite side of the leaf. Notice, this stitch is going over the second sloping stitch:

Pull all the way through and then come back up through the fabric on the right hand side of the center line:

Make your sloping stitch and then come back up through the fabric on the left hand side of the center line. You are just alternating stitches on each side:

stitch back and forth until you are at the leaf tip:

This is an easy stitch to do

and leaves ;) a nice, neat underside:

Now to finish this stitch, 100 Stitches suggested that you outline your leaf with either the stem stitch or the chain stitch. I chose the stem stitch:

I used the back stitch for the stem. I think it gives this leaf a beautiful finish!

This stitch is #13 and is in the flat stitches category of 100 Stitches.

Victorian Christmas stitching

2011-10-28T16:08:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share some stitching I recently finished. These patterns are all from my Victorian Christmas embroidery pattern packet.

I love this Victorian era inspired lantern and:

lettering:

It looks so beautiful! I stitched this on a huge piece of cotton, not knowing exactly what I was going to do with it when finished. I also have these patterns - Joy, Peace, and (not shown) Noel. I think these would be perfect for a table runner/napkin combo!

Here are the colors I used for this stitching:

Gingerbread wip - almost finished!

2011-10-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

I have been working on this elaborate little gingerbread house embroidery project:

You might remember in my first wip post for this project, I was detailing all the different stitches I was using.

I am now finished with all the stitching!

The only new stitch I added is the split stitch that I used for the candies that make up the roof tiles:

I don't really know what I am going to do with this. I stitched it on a nice piece of quilters weight cotton. The fabric piece measures 15" x 16" so I have a lot to work with.

I also have these beautiful trims:

and five more gingerbread house patterns. I would like to make a sort of series project. I have stitched three so far, this one that I just finished, the gingerbread townhouse and the little woodland cottage . I could make...maybe a series of stitched pictures for the holidays? Perhaps a series of pillows or maybe a gingerbread themed quilt top? I would love to hear any suggestions!

Here are the floss colors I used:

Progress report...

2011-10-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

Remember this wip? Well, I have made a bit of progress on it!

The last time I posted about this, I had started the candy canes and finished the swirly candy. For the swirly candy I used the whipped running stitch - I love the effect it gives!

For the second candy, I decided to use the couching stitch. It is a fun stitch to do and I love the look of it:

Here is the couching stitch completed:

and now a close up of the completed candy canes in the long and short stitch:

Almost done! I am just finishing this third candy which I am doing in back stitch:

I will post a picture of the finished project I make out of this soon. I have some ideas involving trim...

100 Stitches - Zig-Zag Cable Chain Stitch

2011-10-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

This is the zig-zag cable chain stitch:

Isn't it a beautiful stitch? It is the next stitch on my 100 Stitches list.

It looks a little like ric rac - a perfect trimming stitch!

I found that when learning and practicing this stitch, drawing two parallel guidelines really helps.

Nothing however could help make it easier for me to figure out this stitch! After an amazing amout of time spent staring at the 100 Stitches drawing, I think I have it down. Here is how I do the stitch. First step is to come up through the fabric on one end of one of the guidelines. As you can see in the picture, I am starting at the right end of the top guideline:

Pull all the way through and bring the needle and working floss around like this:

Position the needle over the working thread where it first emerged:

The basic steps for this stitch are to wrap the working thread around the needle. Sort of like a french knot but you are only wrapping the working floss around once:

Draw the working floss snugly around the needle, not too tight - and draw it almost to the tip of the needle:

Then a little to the left of where the floss first emerged, go back into the fabric:

and come back out on the opposite guideline. Notice that my needle is coming out on a diagonal to the guidelines:

Now adjust the working floss so that the needle is going to go over the working floss:

Pull all the way through:

and a nice loop forms:

Now the next stitch starts on the bottom guideline. The steps are the same. The needle is over the working floss where it emerged:

then the working floss is wapped around the needle:

Drawn snug and almost to the tip of the needle, the needle goes into the fabric:

emerges on the opposite guideline:

working floss is positioned under the needle:

start pulling the needle through:

and pull forming a loop:

and the second stitch is complete.

Just make the next stitch start on the top guideline exactly like the first stitch. Keep stitching and end up with this:

Here is a picture of the underside of the stitching:

The zig-zag cable chain stitch is #46 on the 100 Stitches list and is in the Linked Stitches section.

Victorian Christmas Embroidery Pattern!

2011-10-05T18:12:00.000-07:00

I have a new embroidery pattern packet in my Etsy shop! This one is full of gorgeous patterns for Christmas stitching projects. All the patterns are in a Victorian era theme. Here I am stitching some Victorian style lettering along with a lantern:

This is what the pattern packet looks like:

I will be sure to post my progress on this stitching!

Beginning steps for an autumn stitching

2011-09-27T18:08:00.000-07:00

I transferred this pattern to some fabric:

Now to choose some lovely autumn colors:

I think that for the acorn, I might try a combination of these sage greens, camel and dark brown:

For the big pumpkin, one of these oranges:

For the zinnia, petals in this dark red and the center in this deep yellow:

For the sunflower, a combination of these oranges for the petals, dark brown for the stripes in the center, and this soft yellow for the center:

For the chrysanthemum, I think a mixture of this warm yellow and dark yellow:

I will be posting updates on this project regularly, I am planning on using some fancy stitching that I will want to share!

100 Stitches - Spider Web Filling Stitch

2011-09-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

This interesting looking stitch is the spider web filling stitch.

This is the latest stitch on my 100 Stitches journey.

To demonstrate this stitch, I am using this beautiful pearl cotton floss - it is dmc color variations, #4025:

To set up this stitch, I really recommend using a circle as a guide. I also recommend making a dot in the middle of the circle:

The first step is to come up through the fabric on the upper left hand edge of the circle:

Then go back down into the fabric on the upper right hand edge of the circle:

Take a downward pointing stitch and have the needle come out right on the center dot. Notice that the needle is going to go over the working floss - pull and this will form...

the start of a simple fly stitch:

Go back into the fabric at the center of the bottom edge of the circle:

and pull all the way through:

now come up on the bottom left hand edge of the circle:

and go back into the fabric right on the center dot:

and pull all the way through:

and then come back up on the bottom right hand edge of the circle:

and go back into the fabric on the center dot:

Now you have five "spokes". You are going to weave under and over these spokes with the working floss. To do that, come back up at the center dot:

and just start weaving - go over the first spoke, under the second spoke:

over-under, over-under, around the spokes:

keep going around and around, filling in the circle:

When you are done, just go back into the fabric and secure on the underside to finish the stitch:

Does my stitch look correct? I am just wondering because 100 Stitches didn't show a finished stitch picture.

I like the way this looks, especially with the color variations floss. I think it would make a good stitch for stitching Christmas candy if I get some of this floss in red and white!

Here is the underside of the stitch...you would never know what was going on up on top from this picture!

This stitch is #73 and is in the couching and filling stitches section of 100 Stitches.

Two gingerbread stitchings

2011-09-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

I have two new stitchings I am working on. This group of yummy candy:

and this sweet gingerbread house:

Both of these are from the Gingerbread Embroidery Pattern Packet

On both of these, I am using some interesting stitches. The candy canes are the long and short stitch and the swirly candy is the whipped running stitch. I am using dmc pearl cotton floss size 5 for this:

On the gingerbread house, I am using the whipped running stitch in minty green and chocolate brown floss. I think it looks like chocolate chip mint frosting!

For the candy decoration on the side of the house I am using the checkered chain stitch in red and white - and I'm sure by now you recognize the whipped running stitch in pink and purple around the door:

On the foundation line of the house I am using the double knot stitch...sort of unevenly - looking at this picture, I'm thinking I may have to go back and restitch the left side as there are too many knots too close together!

Did you notice that I have partially stitched different areas all over this pattern? I find that I like to jump around and try out different colors and stitches to see how they are working together. I prefer to do that rather than complete one area and then move on to the next...I wonder if that is the case for most stitchers?
I will be back with more progress pictures later!

Some odds and ends

2011-09-05T11:36:00.000-07:00

I have some random odds and ends to post... First, I finished a wip:

This is a little octopus, some waves and sea grasses from the Seashells and Seahorses pattern packet. I think it makes a really sweet picture. I stitched double lines of back stitch in two blues for the waves:

and I combined these two greens to highlight the sea grasses:

Second, some I took some really interesting garden pictures. How fuzzy is this bumble bee? I am growing oregano and I have let a lot of it go to flower - the bees love it!

This is a picture of the beautiful berries on an oregon grape bush:

I have quite a few sunflowers blooming:

Here are a couple of blooms from my "Queen Elizabeth" rose bush that is

always fun to photograph!

and a bloom from "Chrysler Imperial"

And the best for last - Berit and Rego! Here they are relaxing in the shade:

and here is Berit - wishing I would come out of the weedy herb garden!

100 Stitches - Sheaf Filling Stitch

2011-09-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

This is the sheaf filling stitch:

I can see why it is called the sheaf filling stitch since these sort of look like sheaves of wheat!

This lovely stitch is the latest stitch I have learned from 100 Stitches

I am happy to report that this is a very easy stitch to learn and do.

It is made up of three vertical stitches and two horizontal stitches. So easy, and I think this stitch gives such a beautiful result:

I really love this "wheat" colored floss I am using. It is pearl cotton floss - color variations from dmc and is #4128. To demonstrate my stitching, I am marking three vertical, parallel lines, 1/2" apart:

The first step is to come up through the fabric on the left side of the top line:

Pull all the way through and go back into the fabric on left side of the middle line, directly below where your floss first emerged.

Pull all the way through to make a vertical straight stitch:

Come back out a little to the right of the first stitch

and make a second straight stitch:

Do the same think to make a third straight stitch:

Now for the two horizontal stitches. Bring your needle up through your fabric under the center vertical straight stitch. Don't pierce the vertical stitches, just slide the needle under them towards the left:

Pull the needle all the way towards the left:

Keep pulling all the way:

Now bring your needle around to the right side of the three vertical straight stitches and slide it under the three vertical stitches. Don't pierce the fabric or the stitches...just slide the needle under the stitches. Notice the working floss is curving around above the three stitches and the needle is sliding below where the floss emerged:

Slide the needle all the way and keep pulling to the left. Notice the loop forming?

Pull all the way until the loop is fairly tight and this will draw the three vertical stitches together. This is the first horizontal stitch:

Now to make the second horizontal stitch, bring the needle around to the right side of the three vertical stitches. Notice the working floss is looping over the vertical stitches and the needle is sliding to the left and under the vertical stitches and below the first horizontal stitch:

Keep sliding the needle to the left and keep pulling until the second horizontal stitch is formed:

To finish this first sheaf, just go back into the fabric under the two horizontal stitches;

If you were only doing this stitch as an isolated stitch, you would now secure the floss on the underside of the fabric.

To stitch in rows, now come back up through the fabric on the middle guide line, to the right of the fist sheaf filling stitch:

Make the three vertical straight stitches:

and then the two horizontal stitches:

and complete the second sheaf filling stitch:

just keep alternating stitching on the top and bottom rows for this border effect:

Here is the interesting look of the underside of this stitching:

Two finished wips

2011-08-23T20:10:00.000-07:00

Here is the autumn leaf wreath all finished!

I decided to go with the six strand embroidery floss instead of the color variations pearl cotton floss. The colors I chose were red - dmc 349, orange -dmc 3853, brown - dmc 918, and gold - dmc 680:

I love how this looks in the 6" wooden hoop and I added this rust colored grosgrain ribbon as an embellishement. I could also hang the hoop by this ribbon! After I was done stitching, I trimmed my fabric to about 2" wider than the hoop. Then I used a running stitch all the way around and pulled it to sort of gather the fabric and keep it inside the back of the hoop. I will have to experiment on how to secure it so that it lays (and stays) perfectly flat:

Remember this wip?!! I have finally finished it:

You might notice that the roof stitching looks different. I was very confident that the interlaced band stitch would work perfect for this roof but I was wrong! It was way too much floss and way too "busy". Instead I used a herringbone stitch that I couched sort of like the trellis or jacobean stitch :

I am really happy with both of these now completed wips!

Lovely autumn wreath wip

2011-08-20T13:13:00.000-07:00

I am just in the planning stages for stitching this little autumn leaf wreath. I love these floss colors, from left to right they are dmc 918, 814, 3853, 349, 680, and 699. I think these would look beautiful filling in the leaves. I also have these two:Dmc 4128 and 4130. They are the cotton pearl color variations which would give a really nice effect on autumn leaves. I wonder if mixing and matching both types would look good? Any suggestions are welcome! This pattern is sized to fit perfectly into a 6" hoop. I have transferred my pattern and have it all ready to go but I am stitching it in my 8" hoop. I personally find it easier to stitch in a medium to large size hoop. When I am finished, I am going to display this in my 6" hoop - I am so glad I have a 6" autumn-y looking wood hoop! For now I am off to experiment with color combinations.

Summer pillow completed!

2011-08-15T09:37:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I finished my summery pillow project:I didn't have too much left to do. I had already transferred my patterns onto the back panel:
I used these border patterns from the Daisy embroidery pattern packet:

I especially love this little motif I used for the center back of the pillow:

When the embroidering was all finished, I put the two panels right sides together: and pinned everything in place - notice my matching pins!
Next, I sewed them together, leaving a small space unsewn so that I could stuff the pillow: I decided to use a loose fiberfill to stuff the pillow - rather than a pillow form. My pillow measures 11-1/2" x 13" and I thought that I probably wouldn't find a pre-made pillow form with those dimensions! Plus, I wanted to customize the amount of puffiness for this pillow!
I stuffed the fiberfill into the pillow:
and then hand sewed the opening closed. Here is the finished pillow - front view:
and back:
I think the piping turned out to be the perfect trim!

100 Stitches - Raised Chain Band Stitch

2011-08-12T17:05:00.000-07:00

100 Stitches time again! This is the raised chain band stitch:I found this to be a very easy stitch to learn. To demonstrate this stitch, I am using dmc color variations pearl cotton floss #4210. I drew two parallel lines with my water soluble marker:
This stitch starts out sort of like the striped woven band stitch in that you make foundation bars, evenly spaced, perpendicular to your parallel lines. To do that, first come up through the fabric on the left parallel line:

and then go back into the fabric directly across on right parallel line:

this makes a small straight stitch or foundation bar:

come back up again on the left parallel line to start the next foundation bar. Just continue like this until you have all the foundation bars you want.

When you have all the foundation bars stitched, secure the floss on the underside. If you want to use a contrasting floss for the raised chain part of this stitch, you would now switch to that color. I opted to use the same floss. Bring the needle up through the fabric above the first foundation bar:

Pull it all the way through. Now bring the needle under the first foundation bar, not grabbing any fabric, just sliding under the foundation bar. Notice the needle position...it is pointing upwards and heading to the left of where the working floss emerged from the fabric:

pull the working floss all the way through:

now notice the needle/floss position - bring the needle around to point down and slide under the first foundation bar and the floss is in a big loop:

the needle is going to pass under the first foundation bar and head to the left:

to pass over the working floss:

keep pulling:

all the way:

to form the stitch:

Now you just start over on the second foundation bar. Slide the needle pointing upwards under the second foundation bar and heading towards the left:

pull all the way though:

now bring the needle around and pointing down to slide under the second foundation bar and over the working floss:

and pulling all the way to make the second stitch:

100 Stitches didn't specify how to finish this stitch so I just went back into the fabric:
below the last foundation bar:
Here is the neat underside of the stitching:
I think the raised chain band makes a beautiful line of stitching:

This stitch is #64 on the 100 Stitches list. It is in the composite stitches section of 100 Stitches.

Summer pillow wip - update

2011-07-29T11:06:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share a status update on my summer pillow wip. In my last post about this project, I was trying to decide which trim to use for the pillow edges. My favorite trim is pom-pom trim and that is what I had planned to use. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find the perfect size. So I decided to use the pom-pom trim pictured below but as it turns out, I don't have enough of it to go around the pillow. I thought maybe yellow pom-pom trim would work but I couldn't find a good enough color match. Thank you to everyone for so many helpful comments on that previous post - Julia suggested using piping as a trim. I was really happy to find this white bias tape piping. In case you have never seen it, piping is a woven cord encased in fabric. It comes already stitched right next to the cord and then has about a 1/4" seam allowance with a raw edge for you to sew into your seam. I think it is going to look great! I have cut out the front and back pillow panels. They are approximately 14" in width by 12-1/2" in height. I took Wendy's suggestion and did a zig-zag stitch all around the edges of both the front and back pieces to stop all that fraying:
I pinned the piping all around the front panel. I pinned it in place on the right side of the front panel with the raw edges together:
I was a little nervous about sewing around the square edge of this panel and being able to make a smooth corner with the piping. I did a little research and came up with this great tip: right where you want it to turn a corner, snip the raw edge of the piping (carefully!) almost to the stitching. You can even cut out a triangle shaped piece of the seam allowance. Once it is cut, it can easily curve around the corner:
Then I stitched it in place. I actually changed the presser foot on my new sewing machine - I used the zipper foot! I moved my needle all the way to the left so that it could sew really close to the cord on the piping. Here is what the zipper foot looks like with the needle in the left position: I also wondered how to finish the piping when I had gone all around the panel. After searching around on the net, I saw several recommendations for this method. Before you have stitched the piping all the way around the panel and are almost back to the starting point, cut the piping a little longer than you need so that you have a bit of a piping overlap. With a seam ripper, take out little bit of the seam that you stitched where you started sewing the piping in place. Now you have two free ends of piping. Use the seam ripper to take out a little of the seam holding the cord in place on one end of the piping. Cut out a piece of the cord where it will overlap with the other end of the piping:
Fold under the raw edges of the piping end where you just cut the cord and slip it over the piping end where you first started stitching. Now you can sew it in place and have nice, smooth and finished piping! After I sewed all of the piping in place, I noticed that I hadn't stitched close enough to the cord in the piping...you can see in this picture where my yellow stitches are not close enough.
I have since stitched around the whole panel again, this time really close to the piping stitching. Now to the back panel of the pillow. I have transferred my patterns and am starting to stitch! I will keep you updated on my progress.

100 Stitches - Striped Woven Band Stitch

2011-07-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

This may look like it was done on some sort of loom but it is actually the striped woven band stitch:
When I saw the illustration in 100 Stitches for this stitch I thought uh-oh! But it turns out that this is a really simple set of steps, it just looks complex.
This sample was stitched with two colors of the six strand embroidery floss and you see what a nice puffy effect it gives:
For my demonstration I am using pearl cotton floss just because it is so much easier to see the steps with the smooth, indivisible pearl cotton floss. I am using two needles and contrasting colors of floss:
I drew two parallel guidelines just to keep everything straight and even. The first step is to make what 100 Stitches calls foundation bars, which are just
evenly spaced
straight stitches:
Evenly space these along the guide lines. After all the straight stitches are in place, come up through the fabric on the left side guideline. 100 Stitches suggested that you use the lighter color of the two colors first so that is what I did. I started with the yellow floss:
Come up through the fabric and go under the first straight stitch - don't pierce the fabric, just slide under the first straight stitch
and pull all the way through:
Now you switch to the other needle. Come up through the fabric:
and this time go over the first straight stitch and then under the second straight stitch. Don't pierce the fabric just slide the needle under the second straight stitch:
and pull all the way through - and pull your floss under the light colored floss:
next, switch back to the needle with the light colored floss and go over the second straight stitch and under the third straight stitch - again not piercing the fabric - just sliding under the stitch:
Pull all the way through and pull the yellow floss under the blue floss:

Now back to the blue floss, over the third straight stitch and under the fourth. I am sure you are seeing the theme here, sort of like over-under weaving:
Just continue with these steps. When you reach the last straight stitch, bring your needle down to the underside of the fabric right below the final straight stitch. You can see the blue is already through:
and now it is yellow's turn:
Bring both needles back up to the first straight stitch and start the whole process again for the next row:
yellow first - under and over:
now blue - over and under:
Just continue these steps until all the space between the lines is filled:
I stitched this band with more spacing between the vertical rows, and you can really see how the floss is woven under and over. Especially with the pearl cotton floss:
I like the blue and yellow color combination. The blue is dmc #798 and the yellow is dmc #727.
Here is a picture of the underside of the stitching. There is definitely a lot going on here!
I really like this stitch and I am excited to try it on some actual embroidery patterns! This is stitch #66 and it is listed in the Composite Stitches section of 100 Stitches.

Autumn Embroidery Pattern

2011-07-18T13:04:00.000-07:00

It is a little early to be thinking about autumn...but not if you have autumnal projects to stitch!

I stitched these trees with their leaves in the colors of autumn:

These beautiful trees are from my new "Autumn" embroidery pattern packet. The colors I used for the leaves: yellow - dmc 973, red - dmc 666, beige - dmc 977, orange - dmc 740, burnt orange - dmc 919. The color I used for the tree trunks: dmc 434 and the color I used for the lettering: - dmc 720.

Lots of lazy daisy stitching! This is what the pattern packet looks like:

It is full of fun to stitch images and it is available here!

Finally here!!!

2011-07-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

I bought a sewing machine! It has been on backorder and I have been not so patiently waiting for it to arrive - it was finally ready to pick up yesterday! I did a lot of research on what type of sewing machine I wanted and I narrowed it down to the HusqvarnaViking line: I selected the Emerald 118 and here it is! This machine has so many exciting features. It has 18 different stitches, a one step buttonhole process, adjustable presser foot pressure, a see through drop-in bobbin case with an automatic bobbin thread pickup: and a built in automatic needle threader:It came with so many nice accessories - a few of which I have no idea how to use yet:and this model has 8 different presser feet: I am really excited to start sewing, so far I have only sewn basic straight seams with the presser foot that was already on the machine! Stay tuned!

100 Stitches - Trellis or Jacobean couching stitch

2011-07-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to have learned this beautiful stitch! This is a couching stitch
and it is the latest stitch on my 100 Stitches list
This is actually two couching stitches, the Trellis Couching Stitch and the Jacobean Couching Stitch. Since 100 Stitches counts them together, I am too. The Trellis Couching Stitch can be seen in the center of the pink flower and the yellow flower. The Jacobean Couching Stitch is in the center of the blue flower:
To show you how I learned the stitch, I drew two squares and put straight lines in one and diagonal lines in the other. I am using two different colors of pearl cotton floss so that it is really easy to see how these stitches work:
First I will do the square with the straight lines, this will show how to do the trellis couching stitch. Bring the floss through at one end of one of the straight lines. I don't think it matters where you start. Pull the floss through and go back into the fabric at the other end of the line you started on. You are making long stitches that are essentially laid threads :
Now do the same for the next line:
When you have completed all the vertical lines, come through at one end of one of the horizontal lines:
Stitch a long horizontal stitch on each of the horizontal lines. The next step is to "tie down" or couch the floss at each of the intersecting points.
If you are using two colors of floss like me, secure your first floss on the underside and then switch to your other color floss. Bring the new color floss through at one of the intersections:
Take a small slanting stitch to tie down the intersecting lines:
Head for the next intersection and do the same:
Do this at each intersection. That is the Trellis Couching Stitch:
Now for the Jacobean Couching Stitch. Start by bringing your needle up on one end of one of the diagonal lines:
go back into the fabric at the end of the line you started on:
and just like before, stitch each of the diagonal lines:
Next, tie down each intersection. According to 100 Stitches, the tying down can be done with a slanted stitch or a cross stitch. The 100 Stitches illustration did not show how to do the cross stitch, it just shows a horizontal
straight stitch:
and then a vertical:
straight stitch:
which cross each other:
Tie down each of the intersections:I think these stitches are so beautiful and really easy to stitch. They do make for a little bit of a messy underside however!
I like the way these stitches work as flower centers: These pretty flowers are part of a border from the Ladybug Pattern Packet
These stitches are in the Couching Stitches section of 100 Stitches and are #70 on the 100 Stitches list.

Red Tea Set

2011-06-20T11:08:00.000-07:00

I wish this were a real tea set! I love the look of this tea pot in red with delicate gold accents:I stitched this using red pearl cotton and this gorgeous gold metallic flossI used some images from the Tea embroidery pattern:I used one of the matching teapot sugar and creamer sets along with the appropriately sized tea word: This would look really good on a tea "cozy":or in a picture frame: but I think I am going to frame this in a wooden embroidery hoop, decorate the hoop with red and gold ribbon and give it to my sister! It should look nice in her kitchen and she loves tea!
I hope you noticed - and were impressed - that I used the double knot stitch on the decorative stripes and the herringbone stitch for the gold bands!

100 Stitches - Roumanian Couching Stitch

2011-06-14T19:09:00.001-07:00

Time for another 100 Stitches! I have just learned how to do the Roumanian Couching Stitch. According to 100 Stitches, this stitch is useful for filling in large areas. For my demonstration, I am going to use it to stitch this heart from the Be Mine Valentine embroidery pattern:and here it is: Isn't this a beautiful stitch?! I think it did a very nice filling job! Another plus, this was an easy stitch for me to learn. To show my progress, I am starting at an area of the heart that will take a full line of stitching...this will be easier to see than a little short line like you would have at the edge of the heart. So the first instruction was to come up through the fabric at the left or top of the shapeBring the floss all the way across the shape and take a small stitch on the right or the bottom of the shape. Make sure the working floss is to the right of the needle here: Pull the floss all the way through: Now cross over the floss line and take a small stitch under the floss line: Pull all the way through: again, cross over the floss line and take another small stitch under the floss line:pull all the way through:again, cross over the floss line and take another small stitch:pull all the way through and you are right in the perfect spot to start the whole process over again: You just fill in the whole shape with these lines of stitching!This stitch is #68 and is in the Couching and Filling Stitches section of 100 Stitches.

Ladybug Embroidery Pattern Packet

2011-06-09T11:33:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed stitching this little ladybug and whimsical mushrooms: This is one of the images from the new Ladybug Embroidery Pattern Packet:Can you spot all the different stitches I used? I used the back stitch, french knots, chain stitch, satin stitch and the long and short stitch! One of my favorite parts of a new embroidery project is the selecting of colors! I knew red and black would be on the short list...but for the rest, I relied on my color wheel:
I selected red as the "pure color"
according to the color wheel, the tetrad, or four colors that will make a nice relationship with red are orange, yellow, purple and blue. I didn't want to use blue, so I tried again, using orange as the pure color:
The four colors for orange are red, yellow, purple and green! Perfect!I have listed the pattern packet in the big B Etsy shop.

100 Stitches - loop stitch

2011-05-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

I have just learned another stitch from 100 Stitches - the loop stitch:This is an easy to learn and very quick to do stitch. For my demonstration, I am using this pretty pearl cotton floss:Just to keep everything looking even, I recommend using some guidelines with this stitch. I drew two parallel guidelines at 1/4" apart: This stitch is worked from right to left. The first step is to come up through the fabric halfway between the guidelines: Pull the floss all the way through and go back into the fabric on the top guideline: Pull the floss through, making a small stitch: Next, come back up through the fabric on the bottom guideline: Pull the floss all the way through. Bring your needle around to the stitch you made, and slide the needle under the stitch, not going into or catching any fabric, just sliding under the stitch. Once you have passed under the stitch the needle should go over the working floss: Pull all the way through: That is all there is to this stitch...now you just start again on the top guideline: Pull your needle all the way through to form a small stitch:
Bring your needle back up on the bottom guideline: Pull all the way through: and bring your needle around to slip under your stitch and over the working floss: Pull through: and start the next stitch:just keep stitching until you have the length of stitching line you want.100 Stitches does not have any instructions on how to end this stitch. For my line of stitching, I just ended it by going back into the fabric: pulling all the way through: and then securing my floss on the underside: Here it is all cleaned up without the guidelines:
It sort of looks like a zipper! The loop stitch is #33 on the list and is in the Looped Stitches section of 100 Stitches.

stitching some salad fixings

2011-05-18T11:21:00.001-07:00

I stitched up some of the vegetables from the Salad Fixings embroidery pattern packet: I love the way they turned out! I stitched a tomato:
a purple onion:
and a little radish:I am really pleased with the look of the running stitch around each one, sort of like a picture frame:
I also wanted to share - on a non-salad or even embroidery note - some beautiful garden pictures! These gorgeous blossoms are on my apple tree: and these blossoms are on the ornamental cherry - so dreamy!

100 Stitches - #43 zig-zag chain stitch

2011-05-10T09:40:00.001-07:00

Here is the latest stitch I have learned from 100 Stitches. It is the zig-zag chain stitch:I think it is a beautiful stitch! Especially when using this floss:This is pearl cotton floss, dmc color variations #4180: I found this to be a very easy to learn stitch. When I saw how slanted the stitches looked in the example picture in 100 Stitches, I thought I would need guide lines. I was right! I drew mine at 3/8" apart. The example in 100 Stitches is worked from right to left so that is what I did. The first step is to come up through the fabric on the top line:
Pull all the way through and go back into the fabric right next to where your needle emerged:
bring your needle out on the bottom line, at a diagonal from where the needle went into the fabric:
Now make sure the working thread is under the needle tip: and pull the needle all the way through forming a loop:
I was a bit surprised at this next step. You now take the needle and go back down into the fabric, but on the way you pierce the end of the loop!
You go right through the floss with your needle - then come back out of the fabric at a diagonal to the top line:
Then, as before, make sure your working thread is laying under your needle tip and pull all the way through.
making a loop that you pierce again to make the next stitch:
pull through
and continue
until you have a long line of stitching:
According to 100 Stitches, piercing the end of the loop will insure that each loop will be held in place. It makes a difference - the finished line of stitching looks so nice and even. It looks so much better without the guide lines: Here is the nice neat underside of this stitch:
This is stitch #43 and is in the linked stitches category of 100 Stitches.

Summer pillow wip

2011-05-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

I am putting together all the elements for a summer-y pillow.I already have the front panel embroidered:Here is a close up of the color combination of white, yellow, purple and green:I embroidered the front panel on this nice big piece of yellow fabric. The fabric measures 21-1/2" x 40" - so it should be more than big enough to make a pillow - but at the rate this fabric frays...
I think I want to add some trim
If I do add trim, I have narrowed my choice to these three candidates - the wide ribbon in the picture above is just too wide:
This first one is beautiful, I love the little loop edging on both sides of this ribbon but I don't really know how to incorporate it into a pillow: This second candidate is a nice size and is streamlined with no frills:
The third one, this pom-pom trim is actually my favorite, but I think it may be too big and busy. I think it will depend on the finished dimensions of the pillow.
I am also going to embroider the back panel of the pillow with one of these border patterns:
A lot of decisions to make! I will post on my progress - any suggestions are appreciated!

100 Stitches - Singalese chain stitch

2011-04-26T08:01:00.000-07:00

The singalese chain stitch is the latest stitch I have learned from 100 Stitches . It is a beautiful stitch, but a bit confusing at first glance - so much going on! It looks difficult doesn't it? After re-reading the instructions quite a few times, I found this to be a fairly easy stitch to do. I would recommend using guide lines! The stitch is worked from top to bottom and it can be hard to keep the spacing consistent. I drew two parallel guide lines. I drew them at 3/8" apart: This stitch requires three separate pieces of floss! One piece of "working" floss, and two other pieces of floss that will be used as "laid threads". 100 Stitches suggests that the laid threads and the working floss be in contrasting colors.I used blue (dmc pearl cotton #798) for the laid threads and pink (dmc pearl cotton color variations #4810) for the working thead. My first step was to bring the two laid threads up through the fabric - first the left side:then the right side:and let them lay there:Next, I took the working thread:and came up through the fabric, between the guide lines, alongside the left guide line:Pull all the way through - notice the working thread is pulled through and is now over the left laid thread:The working thread now goes from left to right under both the laid threads, not catching any fabric, just sliding under the laid threads over to the right guide line:and then into the fabric at the right guide line, and at a bit of a diagonal slant. The needle comes out of the fabric at the left guide line. Notice the needle is going over the top of the laid thread and the working thread: it is a little easier to see here:pull all the way through - but don't pull too tightly, you need some slack for the next steps:then the needle goes back under the laid threads - left to right with out picking up any fabric:and over to the right guideline:Back into the fabric above the working thread on the right guide line:and making the same slanting stitch to come out on the left guide line:pull all the way through:and then the needle goes back left to right under the laid threads:pull through and insert the needle above the working thread, alongside the right guide line:and make a slanting stitch coming out at the left guideline:pull through over the left guideline and then the needle goes under the guide lines left to right:and on and on until this:100 Stitches suggests that the laid thread can be pulled taut and then taken back down through the fabric to finish:Here is what the underside looks like:There is a lot to keep track of when doing this stitch! I found that it takes a little bit of pulling and adjusting of all the threads to make them lay flat and even. This is stitch #49 and is in the linked stitches section of 100 Stitches.

Pink floss for daisies...

2011-04-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

I love this combination of pink for these daisies:and of course, the bright green for the stems and grass:I stitched this and now I am going to stitch the matching image - with the daisies facing the opposite direction. This image is fairly small. In this picture, it is in my 4" hoop, but it also fits nicely in my 3" hoop!The floss colors I used are some of my favorites: dmc #602 - dark pink, dmc #3733 - pale pink and dmc #602 - bright green.

100 Stitches - Closed feather stitch

2011-04-14T09:02:00.001-07:00

This intricate looking stitch is the closed feather stitch:It is the latest stitch I have learned on my 100 Stitches project.To demonstrate my method, I am using pearl cotton floss, quilter's weight cotton fabric, and a #24 chenille needle:100 Stitches shows this stitch being worked vertically from top to bottom so that is what I did. I quickly figured out that this is one of those stitches that benefits from having guidelines! I drew mine a generous 1/4" apart:The first step is to start on the left hand guideline. Come up through the fabric at a small distance below the beginning of the guideline:and pull the floss all the way through:The next step is to go into the fabric at the start of the right hand guideline.Go into the fabric and come back out. Notice how the needle looks in relation to the working thread - it is going to go over the working threadand as you pull your floss through, it is going to naturally form a loop:Keep pulling...and the first stitch is done: Next, the needle goes back to the left guideline, and directly below where the floss very first emerged, goes back into the fabric:take a stitch, again notice the needle position in relation to the working thread - it is over the working thread: pull all the way through: and head back over to the right hand guideline, same as before go into the fabric directly below where the floss emerged: and take a stitch making sure to remember the needle is going to go over the working thread: and pull all the way through: over to the right hand guideline again - just keep going back and forth: until have finished the row of stitching: I washed out the blue guidelines: I think this is such a beautiful stitch, from all angles: even the underside! I enjoyed learning to do this stitch! It is #30 and is in the Looped Stitches section of 100 Stitches

Daisy Embroidery Pattern Packet

2011-04-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

This daisy is one of the images in my new daisy embroidery pattern packet: This particular daisy didn't take me very long to stitch. I think I have really improved my lazy daisy stitch (remember this?) and am much faster at making them:I love the spring time look of this:I also like this blue fabric with this pale yellow fabric and am planning on transferring some of the daisy patterns onto the yellow fabric too:Another pattern in the packet is this whimsical heart shape filled with daisies and french knots:I am stitching these in really bright floss colors: I like these colors: and color combinations:Here is what the pattern packet looks like:

2011-04-04T10:58:00.000-07:00

A quick progress report on the dog pattern that my grandma had. I had planned on scanning the pattern sheet but it is too big for my scanner...so I bought some tracing paper and I am going to trace the pattern pieces:So nice and transparent!Since this tracing paper is wide, 18", I can just tape it over the uncut pattern sheet and trace the individual pattern pieces:and then cut them out: I have labeled the individual pieces, 9 in total and now I will be able to work from these, rather than cutting up the original pattern sheet. The materials list for this project include 1/2 yard of 36" wide fabric, cotton batting for stuffing, six-strand embroidery floss, contrasting fabric for the tongue and nose, and two buttons for the eyes. Now I just need to select my fabric. The directions on the pattern sheet suggest using calico, cotton print, sateen, velvet, terry cloth, "a furry" ?!, or a plain cotton material. I would like to use fabric with a small print, maybe even a houndstooth check. I will keep posting my progress.

Rose border and rhubarb

2011-03-29T18:27:00.001-07:00

I stitched this beautiful rose border - sort of as a sample to see how it might look on a pillow case.I think it will work!On a non-embroidery note, I am posting a picture of one of my rhubarb plants. I have three of them and I transplanted them this year. I was worried they wouldn't survive the move - I am so happy to see they like their new home! This one is the biggest, the other two are coming along nicely!

100 Stitches - open fishbone stitch

2011-03-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

This starfish is stitched with the open fishbone stitch. Yes, you guessed it, the open fishbone stitch is the latest stitch on my 100 Stitches list. On this border, you may also recognize the running stitch and french knots:This is an extremely easy to learn stitch. It is a lot like the fishbone stitch but even a bit simpler! To demonstrate this stitch, I am using quilter's weight cotton and pearl cotton floss, dmc #798:100 Stitches suggests that this stitch may be used to fill any open shape. I drew a shape and added a dotted reference line down the middle:Start the stitch by coming up through the fabric on the left hand side of the dotted reference line:Now go back into the fabric at a slant from where your floss first emerged: Pull all the way through:Come back up through the fabric on the opposite side of your shape:and go back into the fabric on the right hand side of the guideline, and a bit below the point where your floss first emerged:Pull through to form the stitch:Then just like the very first step, come up through the fabric on the left hand side of the guide line:and then back into the fabric:forming another slanting stitch:back up through the fabric:pull all the way through and go back into the fabric on the right hand side of the guideline:and pull all the way through:continue in the same way:Until the shape is filled:This is an easy stitch and it gives a beautiful result:especially with my washable marking pen lines erased: Looks pretty good on the underside of the fabric too!
This stitch is stitch #12 and is listed in the flat stitches section of 100 Stitches.

Printable recipe cards

2011-03-21T14:10:00.001-07:00

This project has been keeping me very busy:Printable recipe cards! I have just finished a set of 28 cards:
in eight different colors. Half of the cards have a whimsical food related image: And half are plain:The colors range from pale blues and pinks: to sage green:to acid greens and yellows:and of course bright blue and red: When cut, these cards are 4" x 6". I printed mine on cardstock. They are easy to print and cut out:
And I know they will be fun to use! I just listed these in the big B Etsy shop!

100 Stitches - double back stitch

2011-03-10T10:43:00.000-08:00

Here is the very difficult to photograph but easy to do double back stitch! This is the top or right side of the fabric:and this is on the underside of the fabric! This beautiful stitch is #16 on the 100 Stitches list.According to 100 Stitches, this stitch is used for "shadow work" and is to be stitched on fine, transparent fabric. Here I am using a white organza: Basically, this stitch is two rows of back stitches on the top of the fabric. They are connected by the needle alternating diagonally from one row to the other on the underside of the fabric. 100 stitches points out that you could work this stitch on either the top of the fabric or the underside. I am working from right to left on the top side of the fabric. The first step is to come up through the fabric.Next, go back down through the fabric a little to the right of where your floss first emerged:Pull through and this makes a small stitch:Come up through the fabric below where your floss first emerged: Pull through, this will create a diagonal line of floss on the underside of the fabric. Go back down into the fabric a little to the right: This makes a small stitch. Come back up throught the fabric a little to the left of the very first stitch you made:This creates another diagonal line of floss under the fabric, forming an "x". Pull through and go back into the fabric right where your floss first emerged - sort of like a back stitch: Pull through and come back up through the fabric a little to the left of the first stitch on the bottom row: Go back into the fabric, next to the first stitch on the bottom row: Come back out of the fabric on the top row, to the left of the stitches:
and back in: and to the bottom row: and just continue: until you have a whole row of stitching.Easy and fun to do!This stitch is in the flat stitches section of 100 Stitches.

salad fixings

2011-03-07T13:44:00.001-08:00

I have just finished stitching up this picture of yummy salad fixings: There are carrots, radishes, greens, green onions and of course a big ripe tomato. I think this would be so perfect stitched on a fabric grocery bag:I love all these fresh spring colors! I especially like the colors at the bottom of the green onions: I mostly used pearl cotton floss for this stitching: This little group of salad fixings is part of my new embroidery pattern packet - Salad Fixings. Here is what the pattern packet looks like: 12 pages packed full of all things salad! I have really been in a spring mood despite the cold rainy weather we are having. Look what I spotted over the weekend:
Crocuses!

progress on my snowman quilt:

2011-03-01T14:51:00.000-08:00

Do you remember my snowman quilt project? Well, I have been busy working on it and I am almost finished with the quilt top:I finished stitching the last two snowmen - one in red: and one in mostly blue: My next step is embroidering on the small squares. I am using images from the Snow! embroidery pattern packetRight now I am adding all the beautiful emroidery stitching over the seams. Here I am using the open cretan stitch: I want to use many different stitches to embellish the seams. I love the way they look. This project has been so much fun and I am learning a lot about quilting. One thing I need to figure out is the order of sewing everything together. I actually sewed all the inside blocks together, sewed all the outside border pieces together (making sort of a frame) and then sewed the frame to the big inside piece. Is this the right process? I would appreciate any tips - here is my quilt plan so you can see the pattern I am using. I will keep posting my progress!

New (to me) fabric!

2011-02-20T17:20:00.001-08:00

I just received some beautiful vintage fabric. Some pinks and pale greens: Red and white striped and checkered:

Some bright blues:
Faded stripes:

And a nice amount of this 1970's big print:
I really love all the different styles and colors of these fabrics. I need to think of some interesting projects to use these on!

Happy Valentines Day!

2011-02-14T09:01:00.001-08:00

Wishing everyone a happy valentines day! These pretty pink hearts are outlined in the pekinese stitch. I think this stitch makes a lacy looking edge. It is reminding me of those old fashioned valentine chocolate gift boxes.

100 Stitches - open cretan stitch

2011-02-10T08:18:00.000-08:00

This beautiful stitch is the open cretan stitch:According to 100 Stitches, this is a useful stitch for borders: The open cretan stitch is the latest stitch on my 100 Stitches journey. I had a few false starts learning this stitch - here are my first attempts: Whoops! I had trouble with keeping the spacing consistent. This stitch makes an interesting little crossover every time the needle emerges, and you want to keep that crossover at the same height all along the stitching line. To do this, I think it is really helpful to mark out some guidelines. Four guidelines to be exact. I drew two parallel outside lines at 1/2" apart. Then I drew two parallel inside lines each spaced 1/8" from an outside line. The first step is to come up through the fabric on the top inside line:Pull all the way through and keep the floss to the right. Now put your needle into the bottom outside line and bring it out on the bottom inside line. Notice that the floss is under the needle tip:Now pull all the way through and to the right: Next, bring your needle into the top outside line and out on the top inside line: Pull all the way through and to the right:
Now you are just repeating the stitch again - put your needle in on the bottom outside line again and bring it out on the bottom inside line - with the floss staying under the needle: pull to the right and head for the top again:
Just keep doing this:until you have this! Here it is close up with all the guidelines removed. I really love the way this stitch looks and I have BIG plans for using it on my snowman quilt project!

I think the underside of the stitching makes an interesting pattern: This stitch is #36 and is listed in the looped stitches category of 100 Stitches.

Roses embroidery pattern packet

2011-02-07T20:07:00.000-08:00

I love roses. I can hardly wait until they are back in full bloom in my garden. They are beautiful in pink:yellow: and of course red! These gorgeous roses bloom year after year and are the inspiration for a new embroidery pattern packet. It is called "Roses". I have stitched up a rose topiary in pinks: and this single red rose:Here is what the 12 page pattern packet looks like:There are so many beautiful images to stitch! I'd better get busy!

2011-01-28T11:05:00.000-08:00

Isn't this a sweet little doggie?! I can't wait to try this pattern! He is from a pattern packet that my grandma had. I don't know how old this pattern is, but it is on one huge sheet of paper and the individual pattern pieces have not been cut. I think I will scan this and work from a copy so that I can keep the pattern sheet as is: In the same envelope, there is a pattern for a large cat - those pieces have all been cut out. I would love to make the cat too! She also had these embroidery pattern transfers - there is an Aunt Martha "pillow slips" transfer, a Walker's Old Mexico and a Walker's Initials for Monograms.

There is also this beautiful needle package - I just LOVE the graphics on this:

100 Stitches - Double knot stitch

2011-01-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

Look closely at the outline of this heart. This isn't pom pom trim, this is the double knot stitch! here is a nice close up view: and an even closer view:The double knot stitch is the latest stitch I have learned from 100 Stitches. I had to turn the instructions around to do this with my left hand, but with my demonstration you will be able to do this stitch left or right handed! This is a perfect stitch for an outline so to learn the stitch, you just need a drawn line to follow:I worked this stitch from left to right. First, come up through your fabric on the left edge of your stitching line. A little to the right, take a small stitch that is perpendicular to your stitching line: Pull the floss all the way through creating a stitch: Now bring your needle up under the stitch you created. Don't pierce the fabric, just slip the needle under the stitch: Pull the needle all the way through:Next, bring your needle back below the stitching line and make sure the working floss is coming around to the right of your needle like this:Now run your needle under the floss, again not piercing the fabric just going again under the stitch. Notice the needle tip - after it has passed under the stitch, make sure it goes over the working floss:Pull all the way through and to the right to complete the double knot:
That is all there is to this stitch. To continue, you set up your next stitch to the right of your first knot:Continue in the exact same way as the first stitch. I did the first couple of stitches really far apart so that my demonstration would be easy to see. However, I really like the look of the stitching line when the knots are closer together. I would space them more like this: Just continue forming the stitches in a line at your preferred spacing until you have a beautiful line of stitching: Perfect for outlining any shape! This stitch leaves a very nice and neat underside as well: The double knot stitch is #58 and is in the Knotted Stitches section of 100 Stitches.

Beautiful satin floss:

2011-01-13T12:56:00.000-08:00

Isn't this gorgeous floss?Not only is the pink color beautiful, but so is the texture. You can see the shine:This gorgeous pink floss is satin floss - DMC #S899. I am using this floss on this valentine key embroidery I really like the way it looks:
so much that I used it on all three keys! This floss is really silky and slippery and takes a little practice and patience to use. I think it is well worth the effort for the beautiful results.

100 Stitches - Checkered chain stitch

2011-01-04T14:11:00.000-08:00

Wonder how this chain stitch could alternate colors?!By using the checkered chain stitch - the latest stitch I have learned from 100 stitches. What a fun stitch this is to do! Fun and very easy. I love the way that it works outlining this Be Mine valentine heartTo stitch the checkered chain stitch, you will need two contrasting colored threads. For my demonstration, I used red and blue:
You only need one needle, which you thread with both floss threads. Knot them together at the other end:Come up through your fabric: Now take a stitch, just like you are setting up a regular chain stitch:
but now the special part of this stitch. Only one colored thread goes under the needle. The other color just lays on top:pull everything through just like a normal chain stitch:the threads just line themselves up and you have your first completed stitch:Now set up for the second stitch just like you would a regular chain stitch:Bring your needle through just like a regular chain stitch:But now...bring the other color under the needle and let the first color lay on the top. Here are two views: pull through to complete the second stitch:Now set up for the third stitch and this time the first color goes under the needle again and the second color lays on top:Pull all the way through: and you are on your way to doing the checkered chain stitch!Here is a picture of the underside of my fabric: this fun stitch looks nice on either side of the fabric!
The checkered chain stitch is #47 and is listed in the linked stitches section of 100 Stitches.

New project!

2011-01-01T16:39:00.001-08:00

Do you remember back a few posts when I was wondering about making a quilt with all the snowman images? Well...I have made up a quilt plan!I have sketched this simple diagram to show the size and layout. This sketch shows the five eight by eight inch squares that will each have a different embroidered snowman:I have two of the snowmen stitched up and ready to go and I have started on a third. I have transferred the patterns of the remaining two onto fabric so they are ready to stitch. The rest of the squares will be four by four inch. I am also going to stitch some of the embellishment patterns onto some of these random squares. The four by four squares will all be in these fabrics - the red and white polka dot, powder blue and red:
I hope this works out! I love the color scheme and I am excited to start the sewing squares together part of the quilt! When everyone is sewn together, I think I will add some decorative embroidery stitches too. I will keep the blog posted on my progress!

Under the tree...

2010-12-27T18:33:00.000-08:00

For Christmas this year, I was so pleased to receive these:
these:and my mom made me this:
This is a little stitch sampler book made from felt. Look at the beautiful stitching and little seed beads on the cover. I love the colors!
This book has blank felt pages. I am going to stitch my favorite stitches sampler style on these pages!

I made some embroidered Christmas presents...

2010-12-22T18:30:00.000-08:00

I have some Christmas presents to show that I have just finished embroidering. (Kathy & Mark and Karen do not read any further and definitely don't look at the pictures!!!) I just completed these three linen tea towels:This red towel is for my sister Karen who has a beautiful red kitchen. I used some of the flower patterns from the Tea embroidery pattern packet. I used the chain stitch for the border and flower center, french knots and back stitch for the petals:For my sister Kathy, I made this black towel with the green and lavender border. This pattern is one of the border patterns from the strawberries pattern packet. I love the way this looks - I know Kathy will too!
For my brother-in-law Mark I made this tea towel:
You might recognize the chevron stitch that I used to make a nice looking border:

Mark makes the absolute best espresso! He always makes me a latte :)
I made all of these towels from linen fabric. Karen and Mark's are 100% linen and Kathy's is a linen/cotton blend. It was a new experience for me to stitch on these because they were a much looser weave than I am used to! I had so much fun with these and now I can wrap them up!

finishing up some stitching...

2010-12-14T13:13:00.000-08:00

Remember this wip border I have been working on?I finally finished the stitching. It has been sitting in my hoop for weeks with everything stitched except one candy cane and some french knots! Now it's complete:Next up is this little gingerbread house:Lots of stitching left to do :)I'm not totally sold on the colors I've used so far. Mainly, I am not sure about having each window a different color:
I am stitching the roof with the interlaced band stitch from 100 Stitches! I want to use this stitch here because it looks like gingerbread frosting:
I wasn't sure it was going to work but now I love it and can't wait to finish it:
Speaking of finishing, I am done stitching the little crab... in his underwater scene: Now I just need to finish some last minute Christmas decorating!

100 stitches - overcast stitch

2010-12-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

Time for 100 stitches, but this time in 3-D! No special glasses required ;)See this rounded, puffy, 3-d looking stitch making up the center line of this blade of "sea grass"? This is the overcast stitch. 100 stitches also calls this Trailing: This stitch isn't as easy as it may look...here is how I did it. Basically, this stitch is made up of two different threads. A laid thread, which just lays on the pattern line, and a working thread which actually stitches the laid thread into place. Sort of like the couching stitch. The laid thread is going to be completely covered up by the working thread so it doesn't matter what color you use for the laid thread. I am using two different colors of the pearl cotton floss so it will be easier to follow my demonstration. I first drew a line to be the stitching line:I am going to have the white floss be the laid thread and the lavender floss be the working thread. Thread each color on its own needle: Bring the laid thread up through the fabric at the start of the stitching line. Smooth it down along the stitching line. 100 Stitches suggests holding it in place with your thumb, but it was too difficult for me to hold in place, stitch and take a picture! Now bring the working thread up right at the start of the stitching line: With the working thread, go back into the fabric on one side of the stitching line: and come back up through the fabric on the opposite side of the stitching line: Pull all the way through and go back into the fabric on the opposite side of the stitching line. The laid thread is being encased by these stitches: Come up through the fabric on the opposite side of the stitching line: Just keep stitching: and stitching: Until you are at the end of the stitching line. Bring the working thread through the fabric to the back and secure it. Now bring the laid thread back into the fabric and secure it to the underside: That will finish off the stitch. The result is a beautiful line of stitching!Here is a picture of the underside of the stitch. It looks neat and clean but sort of lumpy :( Like I said earlier, this stitch looks easy to do but I had a little bit of trouble keeping all my stitches a consistent tension. I am getting better at it with practice.This stitch was really fun to do and I love the three dimensional look it gives. 100 Stitches suggest that you use this stitch for delicate stems and outlines. I plan on using it a lot! This stitch is #18 and is in the flat stitches section of 100 Stitches.

working on...

2010-12-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

I am just getting started on this project featuring a crab, some coral and seagrasses:I am using chain stitch, back stitch and satin stitch for the crab. I am also using chain stitch for the waves and the sand line. You can just see the sand line next to the crab's leg. For the sand line, I used a color variations pearl cotton floss. It is dmc floss #4145. I just finished stitching up this little seashell:

I used more of the color variations floss: This is dmc #4180.