Tuesday, November 30, 2010

100 Stitches - Step Stitch

Time again for 100 Stitches! This gorgeous stitch is the step stitch: It looks pretty difficult to do doesn't it?! It actually turned out to be easier that I thought it would be. At least my version :)100 Stitches was a little short on some details. I had to just assume what was meant and go with that!The first step is to draw some guidelines. 100 Stitches suggested that you make two parallel lines, approximately 1/2" apart: Now, stitch the two lines with chain stitch. Make sure the stitches are exactly in line with each other.For the next steps, I chose a contrasting colored floss so that everything would be easy to see. Come up through the fabric through the second chain stitch on the left side:And back into the fabric through the second chain stitch on the right side. Work straight stitches across the two rows of chain stitch...
linking every second pair...of chain stitches:Making a nice ladder look:I am only stitching a few lines for my demonstration:
Three should be enough: Now come up through the fabric right below the left side of your first straight stitch:Make sure your floss stays on the left hand side of the needle and that your needle is pointing down. Go under the straight stitch and: whip around the straight stitch about four or five times, until you are at the center of the straight stitch. At this point, insert your needle 1/8" above the straight stitch and bring it back up right below the straight stitch forming a vertical stitch: Now making sure the needle is pointing up, and that your floss stays to the left side of the needle:
start whipping around the straight stitch:
about four or five times until you are at the right end of the straight stitch. 100 Stitches didn't specify how to finish this off so I just made an extra whip around and went back into the fabric and secured my floss:Move down to the next straight stitch and start again:When you reach the center, pass the needle under the middle vertical stitch you made on the straight stitch above you. Just pass your needle under it and pull down:Now start whipping around the straight stitch just like you did before - remembering that this is the second half of the straight stitch so your needle is pointing up:
Finish that and start on the next straight stitch:Just keep going until you have completed all of your straight stitches:I hope that I did this stitch correctly, I would appreciate any advice or critiques! I also included a picture of the back of my stitching:This stitch is #65 and is in the composite stitches section of 100 Stitches.

9 comments:

donna!ee said...

oh my, this stitch is amazin kim...as are you! thank you much for sharing easy, detailed how to's including the crystal clear photos ... ;)

Annie said...

Kim...you make this look so easy!...great stitch...i've not heard of it before!... will definitely use your directions or i will have it all twisted up into something unrecognizable!... hahaha...thanks for the clear photos and directions!...

Libby said...

Beautiful as always!! Your chain stitch is really pretty, so neat and straight!! Another great stitch!

Kim said...

Thank you ladies! This was a fun post to do - I have never heard of the step stitch before either. I looked in a different embroidery book and couldn't find it and I haven't been able to find any mention of it online either...

Farah Muzaffar said...

So true kim :)... when I saw the stitch I am also amazed that I never knew about it... and now you clear it :).. but how creative you are... really I mean it... it looks beautiful and I am sure in any scenic view it will be something best to show a ladder...
Kim can you please tell me what fabric you normally used for these all sample stitches.
http://craftaworld.blogspot.com/
Love
Farah

Kim said...

Thank you Farah! The fabric that I normally use is a 100% cotton, medium to tight weave, quilter's weight fabric. I buy it in the quilting section of the fabric store.

Anonymous said...

Love the way the bigger chain stitches go on top crossing the length of the stitched line ! Great stitching... thanks for sharing !!!

Gina said...

I just love the gingerbread house. I don't know if I want to live there or eat it! I love how you show the back of some of the stitching too. I never really paid much mind to it, and now I notice more often how embroidering something on the reverse side could be beneficial as an effect on the front side. :)

Kim said...

Hi Gina - Thank you! I am loving these gingerbread houses too! I always think the back is so interesting. Especially on some of the laced and interlaced stitches when not all the stitching goes through the fabric! They always look so clean and neat!