100 Stitches - Couching

Couching is the latest stitch on my journey through 100 Stitches. Can you see it on this pretty flower? I love this stitch now that I think I know how to do it! Here is my version:
First, you need two different threads. One is the "laid thread" and one is the "stitching thread". The stitching thread holds the laid thread in place.
This is an excellent stitch for outlining curvy lines so I am transferring this flower that is full of curvy lines to use as my stitching example:
I am using two different colors, a light pink- dmc #957 for the laid thread and a darker pink- dmc#602 for the stitching thread. For the laid thread, I am using all six strands of floss and for the stitching thread I am only using three strands of floss. Notice, only the stitching thread has a needle: This first step is where I realized I didn't really understand how to start or end this stitch, but I am going to proceed with how I thought you did this and then explain what I have figured out at the end of my post. So the first step according to 100 Stitches is to lay the laid thread down on the line of your design: Taking the stitching thread, come up through the fabric on one side of your laid thread:
Now go back into the fabric on the other side of the laid thread: Pull all the way through to make a small stitch:
Now come up through the fabric at your preferred distance from the first stitch and go back into the fabric making another stitch:
Just continue stitching the laid thread in place along your curvy line by making these small stitches at evenly spaced intervals:
Keep outlining until you have oulined the whole shape.
Now to what I don't understand. I finished my flower outline and just snipped the laid thread ends - they were just raw ends held down by the stitches but I don't think that is correct - you don't want floss that isn't secure poking out, I know it would eventually work itself loose. I did a lot of internet research and no one really explains how to end the stitch. I think in the future, I will take the laid thread and knot one end and come up through the fabric and then lay it on my design line and stitch it in place. Then to finish, I will take the laid thread back down through the fabric and weave it through the floss on the underside of the fabric to secure it in place.
The instructions for this stitch must be one of the shortest in the whole 100 Stitches book! If anyone has any tips or suggestions about this stitch, I would welcome your input!

butterfly work-in-progress update

Finally all the stitching is done on my butterfly wip. To fix the mistake I made on his eye, I tried to use a small silver sequin. It didn't look right so I ended up using a french knot! It looks a little odd but not bad enough to start over :)

I love the "butterfly" lettering and it was very easy to do. I like the way the letters look outlined but I may try a fill stitch and see if I like the look better. I have cut the denim fabric into an 8" x 8" square piece ready to be a patch for my denim tote bag or a journal cover.

butterfly wip continues!

I have started stitching on the butterfly wip. I decided after trying out several colors that I really love this satiny white floss and bright red floss together.

There was an unfortunate incident when I was finishing the butterfly's eye. I didn't like the way the floss was looking - I had used too many strands - and I decided to take it out. Instead of patiently and carefully pulling the stitching out, I used scissors and of course - I snipped through the fabric - sooooo I don't exactly know how I will fix this...maybe a button?

The word butterfly is almost done and I love the way the white french knots look!

Now to choose the perfect trim!

Work In Progress

I am starting a new embroidery project on this very light-weight denim fabric. I am not sure what I am going to do with this - perhaps make a little pillow or use it as a patch on a tote bag. I think it would also look good framed or even as part of a journal book cover.
The patterns I am going to embroider are embellishment patterns from the "Butterfly" pattern packet. I am using the butterfly and the word butterfly. I used my copier to increase the size of the butterfly by 130%.

Here they both are ready to be traced onto my fabric using carbon transfer paper. In a previous post I detailed this process.

The transfer came through really well on this light colored fabric!Now I am ready to stitch! I think I will use these bright colors.

Butterfly Embroidery Pattern Packet

I have a new embroidery pattern packet available! This one is a darling butterfly flying to a group of flowers. The pattern packet has the main pattern in two sizes, a beautiful flower border in several sizes, some individual flowers and blooms, some smaller butterflies and the word butterfly in several sizes. Lots of extras for any project!

I stitched the main pattern onto some nice white cotton for the front of this little pillow. The back of the pillow is lavender felt.

I love the acid green pompom trim!

This is the first time i have used metallic floss - it is a real challenge to work with!