Thursday, March 24, 2011

100 Stitches - open fishbone stitch

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.

14 comments:

donna!ee said...

wow...how cool is that! so many many possibilities... thank you much for sharing... :)

Lisa said...

Hi Kim,
I'm so loving this series. I don't comment often, but I read every post. I just wanted to say that (as always) your stitching is gorgeous and your directions & photos are clear and consise and easy to understand. I love the star fish you've made with the Open Fish Bone stitch. Very cute! I love those bright colors.
Have a great day!
Lisa

Silvia LGD (Little Green Doll) said...

I love this stitch! the result is very nice :)

Farah said...

Oh what a beauty Kim, the star fish looks so beautifully cute my dear. you make my heart happy after seeing your project.... loveliest one ...
http://craftaworld.blogspot.com/
Love
Farah

thesplitstitch said...

very pretty!

Kim said...

Hi Donna!ee - Thanks - I know! I am thinking of so many places I want use this stitch!
Thank you Silvia! This stitch does give a nice result.
Thank you Lisa - I am so glad you are enjoying these 100 stitches posts. I am too!
Thank you Farah!
Hi Sara - Thanks!

Julia said...

Ohh thank you for sharing!!! I am so glad I found your blog!

dandelion said...

lovely stitch and a beautiful clear tutorial too

Kate x

Kim said...

Hi Julia - Thank you! This was a fun one to share!
Thank you Kate!

My 1st Bambina! said...

Beautiful... as I mentioned on your flickr, this stitch gives the star fish a realistic look, perhaps 2D/3D effect :-D !!!
Your tutorials are always easy to follow, specially the close up pictures, thanks!

Kim said...

Hi Monika! Thank you - I am loving the 3d effect too!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic!....what brand of washable pen do you use for your patterns,& how to wash off the pen?
(Mine never seems to wash off properly)

xh

Kim said...

Thanks Heidi - I use the Dritz brand wash out marking pen. It has a fine tip. I love it -it is so easy to use. I always rinse my marks out when I am done stitching. I have had mixed results with washing my marks out too - Check out my post on transferring patterns to fabric, in the comments section, Monika @ My 1st Bambina commented that she has had wash out marks return after she wiped them off and now she always completely submerges her fabric to wash out the marks. I had the same thing happen, so now I rinse the fabric thoroughly!

Anonymous said...

Thank you! I will check out the Dritz brand & your transfer post :-D