100 Stitches - Zig-Zag Hemstitch

Time for me to share another stitch I have learned from 100 Stitches.  This intricate looking stitch is the Zig-Zag Hemstitch.

I did this stitch with this beautiful green perle cotton floss.  This is DMC #988.

This stitch is from the Drawn Thread Embroidery category, so it requires a little set-up with the fabric.   The drawn thread stitches require you to pull either the horizontal threads or vertical the threads {depending on the stitch} from the designated stitching area and then work the stitch over the remaining threads.  It will result in a beautiful open look.  First, I basted around the area I was going to work the stitch on. From reading the instructions, I knew I would be removing the horizontal threads.  I also knew this stitch was going to require an even number of vertical threads so I counted twenty-four vertical threads across for the length.  The number of horizontal threads did not matter so I counted eight horizontal threads for the width top to bottom:

I carefully snipped each horizontal thread at either edge of the basting lines:

I used a needle to carefully pull the horizontal threads out: 

Once they were all out and only the vertical threads remained, I took out my green basting stitches:

This stitch is worked from right to left in the same method as the Hemstitch.  Start by coming up through the fabric on the right top edge:

Then slide the needle under an even number of the vertical threads.  I used four.  Pull all the way through: 

Bring your needle around and slip the needle behind the same group of threads but this time come up under and through the fabric above the stitching line:

Pull all the way through, you will see that first group of four threads has been pulled together:

That is all there is to this part, just continue across the open space doing the same two steps as above:  

When you get all the way across to the left edge, your threads will be neatly sectioned off into groups.  There were no instructions for ending this part so I just went back into the fabric at the left edge and secured my floss underneath.

The next part is also worked from right to left, this time coming up on the right edge just below the open area:

On this part of the stitch, slide the needle behind two of the threads from the first group and two of the threads from the second group:

Pull all the way through: 

Bring the needle back around and slide it behind the same threads but time come under and out through the fabric below the stitching line:

Pull all the way through and you can see the two sets of threads drawn together. 

Just continue in this same way across the bottom all the way to the left edge:

 Here is what the stitch looks like on the underside:

This beautiful stitch is really quite easy to do. This is stitch #77 and is found in the Drawn Thread Embroidery Section of 100 Stitches.

An Almost Finish And A New Wip

I finished all the embroidery on my La Cucina stitching.  I am really pleased with it!  Especially the colors:

I used a variety of stitches, the lettering is done in the Back Stitch:

The flower petals are Fishbone Stitch and the flower centers are the Jacobean Couching Stitch.  The yellow swirls are Satin Stitches and French Knots .  I will post again about how I am going to finish this little project now that the embroidery is done.

Now on to my newest wip - this olive branch border is also from La Cucina Italiana.  Isn't this fabric beautiful?  I can't wait to start stitching on it.

For my floss colors, I am thinking of this combination:  I may add some different greens to give a shading effect.  I love how much this fabric and these floss colors match these recipe cards too:

I think I will start stitching these olives first. 

I will be sure to post pictures of my progress!

Summer Floss Colors And Some Garden Pictures

Not so long ago I bought this little group of floss - these are such pretty colors.  From left to right the colors are DMC 321, 307, 956, 813 and 208.  These colors are perfect for summer stitching projects:

I have quite a few stitching and other projects in the works.  Some with summer colors, some not!

Speaking of summer, we are having a stretch of hot {for us} weather here in the pacific northwest -   It has been really nice for the garden.  

Shasta Daisies:   
                                                           

Onion:
                                                                 

Scarlet Runner Beans:

Tomatoes:

White Hydrangea:

So many beautiful colors!

100 Stitches - Diagonal Raised Band Stitch

I have learned another stitch on my list from 100 Stitches.  This is the Diagonal Raised Band Stitch.

This stitch is from the Drawn Fabric Embroidery Stitches category.  Stitches from that category require the ability to count the threads in the fabric so I used a medium weave linen fabric.  As you can see, it is so easy to count the individual threads!  For my floss, I used DMC Color Variations perle cotton.  This is #4180: 

The stitch is a series of straight stitches worked from right to left and back again.  It results in a diagonal line of stitching.  The first step is to come up through the fabric at the bottom right side of the stitching line:

Count up four threads above and two threads to the left of where the needle emerged and go back into the fabric:

Pull all the way through to make the first straight stitch.  Next, come back up through the fabric two threads down and two threads to the left of where the needle went back into the fabric:

Pull all the way through.  Now count up four threads above where the needle just emerged, go back into the fabric and pull all the way through to make the next straight stitch:

Now count down two threads and two threads to the left and bring the needle up through the fabric to start the next straight stitch.

Just continue to do those steps until you have a diagonal line of straight stitches.  To start back down the line, come up through the fabric just like you were making the next straight stitch:

But now go back into the fabric four threads to the right - the needle goes right into the same hole made by the top of the straight stitch four threads to the right:

Pull all the way through to make a straight stitch.  Now bring the needle up through the fabric two threads down and to the left of where your needle just went into the fabric.  Notice the needle is emerging from the hole at the base of the straight stitch you just crossed:

Pull all the way through and count four threads to the right and go back into the fabric:

Just continue those steps all the way to the last straight stitch.  100 Stitches did not have any instructions for ending this line of stitching so I just went back into the fabric and secured the thread under the fabric.

Here is the finished stitch:

Here is a picture of the underside of the stitch.  You can see how I secured the floss:

Remember to pull the floss tightly to create the drawn fabric look of this stitch.  I think this is a really pretty stitch!

This stitch is #92 on the 100 Stitches list.