Saturday 7 July 2012

TAST2012 Week 27

Have you heard of, or seen, the Bonnet Stitch? A lot of my fellow TAST members seem to have, and judging from the excellent work they have made, they have taken to this stitch. I have enjoyed looking at all the circles and curves used in making sunflowers, fans, Mandalas and shisha mirror work among many other innovative ways to use the Bonnet stitch. Why don't you have a look at the links on Pintagle?

So what about me? Well, I was a newbie to this stitch and didn't manage to get my head around the Bonnet for some reason. Maybe I have had too many other bees in my Bonnet (!) to sit down and work out a nice design. Or should I put the blame on the drenching humidity of Tokyo's rainy season; the thread tangles, the fingers get slippery with moisture and I've spent more time protecting the embroidery from perspiration dripping from my brow than actually stitching.

Anyway, do you remember my TAST2012 Week 26 (The Palestrina stitch)? I embroidered a leaf based on the cap of a Swedish folk costume. The cap also has a long 'beak' of lace and looks something like this:


So what is the best way to use the Bonnet stitch if not for a bonnet, ha, ha? Here was my chance to make lace for that beak!

I used an ordinary Japanese cotton sewing thread #30. Luckily, lace is often a bit uneven and 'rough', so my poor stitch quality this week will disappear in the mesh!


It is easy to see that I didn't warm to the Bonnet Stitch as I have added a lot of other stitches.

19 comments:

J Honda said...

Beautiful Bonnet stitch on a bonnet, Queenie! just lovely :)

Pippas quilts said...

It looks very lace like. Lace is made up of different stitches, will try to finish mine today.

margaret said...

Oh Queenie, I love reading your blogs you have a wonderful way with words, thanks. I rather liked the bonnet stitch and I am sure I will use it in a more creative way than I did on my sample.Well done with your lace and using such a fine thread.
We are having lots of rain here but not as torrential as you get,thought yesterday a thunder bolt was going to hit the roof, boy was I frightened, dry at the moment but so misty cannot see the other side of the road

Chris(craft) and Dave(photos) Richards said...

I love it !!!
hugs
chris richards
xxxxxxxxxx

The Pied Pedlar said...

You are very patient to try all the different stitches.I love the lace cap.

viji said...

The lace made by you is very pretty.
viji

Annet said...

You made some lovely lace! I like the part that you switch to chain stitch at the narrow lines and back to bonnet stitch again. Great idea!

carorose said...

That looks so good. Oh I know the problems of heat and stitching. I used to give up in summer here but have invested in an air-conditioner for my sewing room. Now I can stitch all year around. I see that you are working on a traditional design. I have found this wonderful costume site where they are recreating old costumes, mainly from Norway, but you might be interested. http://folklorefashion.durantextiles.com/
Cheers
Carolyn

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you, Kippy!

Queeniepatch said...

Well, let's call it 'free lace' - there are too many holes and stitches not connected. If it were a real piece of lace it would fall apart, ha, ha! Good luck with your work.

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you for your kind words. It if fun to write when someone reads one's ramblings!
Weather/climate has a lot to answer for when it comes to textile; quilt wadding gets too fluffy, threads tangle, moulds and moth have a feast in the closet if one isn't there with drying powders and mothballs.

Queeniepatch said...

You are so kind and always full of encouragement. The best carrot one can get!

Queeniepatch said...

Actually I had to rack my brains (do I have two brains?) to remember how some of the TAST stitches are worked. I have reached that age, you know!

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you Viji, you are too kind.

Queeniepatch said...

I found I had to change to a much 'lower' stitch at the narrow areas and though the chain stitch looked most like the Bonnet stitch without the 'arms'. Thank you for your kind words.

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you Carolyn for the link. I have checked it out and drooled over the photographs. I sent you an email with more reflections.

Christine said...

What a nice use of the stitch!!!

Lyndsey said...

A really nice use of the stitch. Unfortunately I couldn't get my head round bonnet stitch but I will try again during the holidays when I will have more time

Unknown said...

wow..... this is wonderful embroidery! I love it!
thank you for commenting in my blog! :)