By using the checkered chain stitch - the latest stitch I have learned from 100 stitches. What a fun stitch this is to do!
Fun and very easy. I love the way that it works outlining this Be Mine valentine heart
To stitch the checkered chain stitch, you will need two contrasting colored threads. For my demonstration, I used red and blue:
You only need one needle, which you thread with both floss threads. Knot them together at the other end:
Come up through your fabric:
Now take a stitch, just like you are setting up a regular chain stitch:
but now the special part of this stitch. Only one colored thread goes under the needle. The other color just lays on top:
pull everything through just like a normal chain stitch:
the threads just line themselves up and you have your first completed stitch:
Now set up for the second stitch just like you would a regular chain stitch:
Bring your needle through just like a regular chain stitch:
But now...bring the other color under the needle and let the first color lay on the top. Here are two views:
pull through to complete the second stitch:
Now set up for the third stitch and this time the first color goes under the needle again and the second color lays on top:
Pull all the way through:
and you are on your way to doing the checkered chain stitch!
Here is a picture of the underside of my fabric: this fun stitch looks nice on either side of the fabric!
The checkered chain stitch is #47 and is listed in the linked stitches section of 100 Stitches.
I have sketched this simple diagram to show the size and layout. This sketch shows the five eight by eight inch squares that will each have a different embroidered snowman:
I have two of the snowmen stitched up and ready to go and I have started on a third. I have transferred the patterns of the remaining two onto fabric so they are ready to stitch. The rest of the squares will be four by four inch. I am also going to stitch some of the embellishment patterns onto some of these random squares. The four by four squares will all be in these fabrics - the red and white polka dot, powder blue and red:
I hope this works out! I love the color scheme and I am excited to start the sewing squares together part of the quilt! When everyone is sewn together, I think I will add some decorative embroidery stitches too. I will keep the blog posted on my progress!
these:
and my mom made me this:
This book has blank felt pages. I am going to stitch my favorite stitches sampler style on these pages! 
I just completed these three linen tea towels:
This red towel is for my sister Karen who has a beautiful red kitchen. I used some of the flower patterns from the 
For my sister Kathy, I made this black towel with the green and lavender border. This pattern is one of the border patterns from the 
For my brother-in-law Mark I made this tea towel:
You might recognize the 
Mark makes the absolute best espresso! He always makes me a latte :)
I made all of these towels from linen fabric. Karen and Mark's are 100% linen and Kathy's is a linen/cotton blend. It was a new experience for me to stitch on these because they were a much looser weave than I am used to! I had so much fun with these and now I can wrap them up!
I finally finished the stitching. It has been sitting in my hoop for weeks with everything stitched except one candy cane and some french knots! Now it's complete:
Next up is this little gingerbread house:
Lots of stitching left to do :)
I'm not totally sold on the colors I've used so far. Mainly, I am not sure about having each window a different color:
I am stitching the roof with the 
I wasn't sure it was going to work but now I love it and can't wait to finish it:
Speaking of finishing, I am done stitching the little crab...
See this rounded, puffy, 3-d looking stitch making up the center line of this blade of "sea grass"? This is the overcast stitch. 100 stitches also calls this Trailing:
Here is a picture of the underside of the stitch. It looks neat and clean but sort of lumpy :( Like I said earlier, this stitch looks easy to do but I had a little bit of trouble keeping all my stitches a consistent tension. I am getting better at it with practice.
This stitch was really fun to do and I love the three dimensional look it gives. 100 Stitches suggest that you use this stitch for delicate stems and outlines. I plan on using it a lot! This stitch is #18 and is in the flat stitches section of 100 Stitches.
I am using chain stitch, back stitch and satin stitch for the crab. I am also using chain stitch for the waves and the sand line. You can just see the sand line next to the crab's leg. For the sand line, I used a color variations pearl cotton floss. It is dmc floss #4145. I just finished stitching up this little seashell: 
This is dmc #4180.
Posts
