Texas Embroidery Design

I have a new embroidery design set in my shop. Texas!  

This set has so many of the iconic images of the Lone Star State.  

Here is the state shape I just finished stitching.  

I used the blue, white and red of the Texas state flag. 

After outlining the three colored sections in Back Stitch

I filled the large colored areas using long Straight Stitches vertically, diagonally and horizontally.   I filled the star with Back Stitch and I whipped the Back Stitches on all the lines where two color sections met:

I will be back with some mores stitched samples from this set!

Laced Blanket Stitch

Time for another 100 Stitches Plus post!   This interesting stitch is the Laced Blanket Stitch.

This stitch is made up of two rows of Blanket Stitch with a space between the rows.  A third thread is used to lace the two rows together, forming a pattern over the space between the rows.  I chose a contrasting color for my lacing thread.

The rows need to be the same length so I used a ruler and a water soluble marking pen to draw guidelines.  I drew two guidelines for each row.  For me, this will make forming equally sized Blanket Stitches easier as well:

For my thread, I used a beautiful gray colored perle cotton.  This will be for the Blanket Stitches.  I used a contrasting thread for the lacing - this pink color variations perle cotton thread:

The first step is to work the Blanket Stitch along the guidelines.  The Blanket Stitches should be formed so that the "spine" of the stitch faces the spine of the stitches in the second row.

Now for the lacing with the contrasting thread:

Come up through the fabric at either end of either row.  I started at the left edge of the top row:

Just lace the two rows together by sliding the needle under and then over each Blanket Stitch back and forth between the rows.  Notice the needle is not going into the fabric, just sliding across the surface:

at the end, just go back into the fabric:

and secure your thread underneath:

I found this stitch in the book Embroidery Stitches by Mary Webb.

Scandinavian Christmas Stitching - Part One

 

 Are you starting any Christmas embroidery projects? I am - I just finished this ornament from the Scandinavian Christmas pattern set.

I just love the red and white with silver accents!  All the sparkle comes from metallic floss and blending filament.  I used them everywhere!

This particular ornament is the first in a set of five that I am stitching for a set of napkins.  I stitched this on white kona cotton fabric.  

I have four more patterns to transfer and stitch so I am happy that I started so early!

Dachshund Embroidery Pattern

I have a new pattern available in my Etsy shop!  
This one is titled Dachshund .    

I have started a project using the main motif - this sweet dachshund with flowers and some text.  I am in the accent color selection phase right now:

I am outlining the dog in brown floss, using the Stem Stitch.  I used the darker shade of brown to add some nice shadowing to the ear.  

I stitched the nose and eyeball in Satin Stitch:

I will keep you updated on my progress on this project!

Gingerbread House Embroidery Part One

A few weeks ago, I shared a photo on Instagram of an embroidery project in progress.  

I want to make sure I blog about this project as well!
I am embroidering one of the gingerbread houses from my gingerbread embroidery pattern set.   

I am using this bright, candy inspired color palette: 

So far, I have outlined the house in Back Stitch 

and outlined the door and the roof edge in Whipped Back Stitch:

I am using Straight Stitches in alternating colors for the path way stones: 

This is what I have done so far...I will keep posting my progress on this project and update you on the floss color numbers I use as well.   

Plaid Filling Stitch

Isn't this the perfect Autumn colored plaid?  This intricate looking stitch is the Plaid Filling Stitch.  It is also known as the Tartan Stitch.

This is the latest stitch I have learned from my 100 Stitches Plus list.

Although this looks intricate, it is made up of simple Straight Stitches worked in a grid pattern with three layers.
To begin, I selected three different colors of perle cotton floss:

I used a ruler and a water soluble marking pen to draw a grid.  Mine has three horizontal lines and six vertical lines.

I decided to use the brown floss for the first layer, which makes up the outline of the grid.  

I started at the top of the first vertical line.  I came up through the fabric:

 pulled all the way through and went back into the fabric at the bottom of that first vertical line: 

 This formed the first Straight Stitch:

I worked Straight Stitches on the six vertical lines from left to right.  
Next, I came up through the fabric on the bottom horizontal line:

I made a long Straight Stitch on each of the three horizontal lines:

That forms the grid.  The next layers are worked over the grid and provide the plaid pattern effect. 

For the second layer, I used the dark yellow floss.  

This layer is worked only horizontally.  I started on the left edge of the first vertical Straight Stitch. Notice, this stitch will be below the top horizontal Straight Stitch, it will be worked inside the grid: 

 I made a horizontal Straight Stitch across the first two vertical Straight Stitches:

Then the next two and the final two.  Then I worked back from right to left:  

making horizontal Straight Stitches across the same sets of vertical Straight Stitches:

For the next row, I started again on the left edge of the first vertical Straight Stitch, but this time below the second horizontal Straight Stitch.  Also, to make a plaid pattern, this row needs to be offset from the rows above.  To do that, this first horizontal Straight Stitch is worked over only one of the vertical Straight Stitches:

Then over the next two 

and the next two and then over the single remaining vertical Straight Stitch.  
I worked back from right to left to form the next row the same way, going over the same sets of vertical Straight Stitches: 

That completes the second layer:

For the third layer, I am using the red floss.  

The third layer is worked the same way as the second layer only vertically. 
To continue the plaid effect, this layer also needs to be offset from the layer below.  To achieve that - I first came up through the fabric between the first two vertical Straight Stitches and above the top horizontal Straight Stitch:

I made a horizontal Straight Stitch by going back into the fabric below the middle brown horizontal Straight Stitch:

Then made a second Straight Stitch over the single bottom brown horizontal Straight Stitch

I continued these offset Straight Stitches all across the grid:

This is a look at the underside of the stitch:

I learned this stitch from the book Embroidery Stitches by Mary Webb.