100 stitches - split stitch

This little flower is being outlined with the split stitch:

The split stitch is the featured stitch in my latest installment of the 100 stitches project. In the process pictures that follow, I am using six strands of dmc floss, color 907 and a #24 chenille needle. This is stitched on 100% cotton quilting weight fabric.

Here are the steps. First, come up through your fabric on your stitching line:

Push the needle back down through the fabric at your preferred stitch length:
Pull all the way through to form a simple stitch:

Come up through the stitch you just formed. Just split it right in the middle with your needle!

Pull the needle and thread all the way through:

Now go back down through the fabric - again, at your preferred stitch length:


Pull all the way through to form the next simple stitch:

And then, again, come up right in the middle of this stitch:

Just keep on stitching in this fashion:
and keep going:

Until you have a line of split stitches!
This is such a simple, easy to learn stitch! It is also a good stitch to use for quick outlines. According to 100 Stitches, the split stitch resembles a fine chain stitch and can even be used as a filling stitch. I think it is funny that this "split" stitch is #50 of 100 stitches!

This stitch is in the linked stitches section of 100 Stitches.

Shhh...nap time

I just finished stitching this sweet little sun: It is from the Shhh...baby's sleeping embroidery pattern packet and I love the way it turned out. I used the stem stitch for the clouds, the back stitch for the words and sun's face, and the chain stitch and french knots for the sun's rays.
While I was looking for trims to add to this project, I found this embroidered tape stored with some of my older sewing supplies:

I don't remember where this came from and unfortunately, it doesn't match my embroidery floss but it is really beautiful and I have just under three yards of it :) I was looking through my old supplies to find this strawberry fabric.

I love this fabric and the way it looks with this embroidery floss and pom pom trim. I have a project idea for this little combination!

This last picture is of some blossoms from my damson plum tree. I took this picture right after a rain shower. I wanted to capture those waterdrops - you can see the sky and trees in them!

100 stitches - pekinese stitch

Introducing the pekinese stitch: This next stitch from 100 Stitches is simple but dramatic looking! Here are the steps. Start with just the basic back stitch: Add a new row of a contrasting or even same colored floss:
Now bring your needle under the second stitch of your back stitch row - don't pick up any fabric, just slide the needle under the back stitch:
Then bring your needle under the first back stitch - again don't pick up any fabric.
Now pull the floss through:
and head for the third back stitch!
Come under the third back stitch without picking up any fabric and pull through, then back under the second back stitch. That's all there is to it! Just continue on through all the backstitches. Notice in this picture how big the loops are on the right hand side of the back stitching line:
According to 100 stitches, you can either leave them big like this or pull the whole thing tight. It just depends which look you prefer.

The pekinese stitch is #2 and is in the flat stitches category of 100 Stitches. I used six strands of each floss. The colors are dmc # 907 green and dmc #3837 purple. I stitched this on 100% cotton, quilting weight fabric with a #24 chenille needle :)

Shhh...Baby's Sleeping Embroidery Pattern Packet

This gorgeous organdy ribbon is for a new project I am working on. This ribbon is so light and ethereal and I love the color! Notice my gauzy, artsy picture - it hides the wrinkles in the ribbon on the top spool (i accidently caught the end of the ribbon with the vacuum cleaner hose when I was vacuuming my craft table. It sucked up quite a bit of ribbon before I was able to grab it!) I didn't really know which width I would need so I bought 7/8" and 1-1/2" . I will be using the ribbon to make a nursery doorknob hanger - to hang this little pillow:

It is going to say "Shhh...Baby's Sleeping" ! This is the title of my new embroidery pattern packet:

I just listed this in my etsy shop and I think it is a wonderful set of images for any baby boy's nursery! I am thinking that I may add some powder blue pom-poms to the bottom of the pillow as well. I will post some pictures as soon as I am finished.

beautiful floss

These two beautiful floss colors are just perfect for spring! The minty green is dmc 955 and the pink is dmc 3608.I am stitching up this little flower and you might notice I am using a variety of stitches. So far, I have used the stem stitch for the outside border, the back stitch for the stem and the chain stitch for the flower petals - I am not sure if this looks too heavy...may have to take that out depending on what it looks like when all the petals are done - and finally the very impressive ;) threaded back stitch for the inner border!

I love the way the threaded back stitch looks using the same color for both the back stitch and the threading floss. According to 100 stitches, the threading back and forth through the back stitch can be done like the way shown above, or with two separate threading floss threads like this.

These beautiful pink and green colors are reminding me of some beautiful pictures I've taken. First of this gorgeous embroidered trim tape I just bought at JoAnns:

I don't know what I am going to use it for, but I just love it! Second, of this incredibly beautiful camellia bloom: this camellia is such a reliable bloomer every winter. I planted it in my yard right next to a white blooming camellia. The white camellia is tucked a little further under the trees and because of the shade it is a little later to bloom. It is full of huge buds so as soon as they bloom, I will definitely post some pictures!

100 Stitches - scroll stitch

The scroll stitch is the latest stitch I have just learned. Such a beautiful stitch, 100 Stitches suggests using it for a border stitch and I agree - it would be gorgeous to use on a border...provided you have a lot of practice!

This disaster is my first attempt:


What's wrong? I'll explain at the end of this post. For now, here are the steps: first, come up through the fabric:

Next, make an easy loop to the right of where you came up, and insert the needle into the fabric inside the loop - if you look closely, you can see my faint pencil line indicating the stitching line. Notice (and remember) that the needle is going into the fabric perpendicular to the stitching line!

Make a small stitch and make sure the loop stays under your needle as you draw it through:

Now pull it all the way through and carefully guide (this is where the practice comes in) the thread to form this knot:

Now go through the fabric again at your preferred distance from the first stitch to form your next stitch. Just repeat the exact stitch:
And carefully pull the thread through:

Until you have a nice long line of stitches that would make a beautiful border!
I have concluded that in the disaster picture, I was following the steps from 100 Stitches and they instructed you to use a slanted stitch inside the loop - slanting to the left, not perpendicular to the stitching line. I did and I just couldn't form the knot evenly. Out of frustration, I did some internet research and at needlenthread.com found an extremely helpful tutorial for this stitch! Once I followed these instructions, I was able to make an even smooth line of scroll stitches!

I used six strands of dmc #907. This stitch is #32 and is in the looped stitches section of 100 Stitches.

Chenille needles and cupcake embroidery

Here is a picture of my new absolute favorite embroidery needles - these are dmc chenille needles. They are size 24. I love these needles for three reasons - first because of the nice sized eye - long and oval and very easy to thread. Second, because they are extemely sharp. Third, because they are short in length so they seem easier to manipulate. I bought these at Michaels.

I also have some cupcake embroidery wip pictures - this first one is so sweet ;) and I especially want to point out the leaves at the top of the cherry stems. I actually used the fish bone stitch! It is just the thing for leaves - I think they look so beautiful! I am really excited to be using stitches I have learned because of the 100 Stitches project!

This last picture is of a just finished stitching. In this picture you can also see my new plastic embroidery hoop! I love the color and I am really liking the way it firmly holds fabric. I still love my wood hoops but they don't seem to keep the fabric as taut as this new plastic hoop.