Saturday 29 June 2013

TAST #71 Bullion Buttonhole Stitch

This week there is a break from TAST, and I have been slow at working on last week's TAST stitch. #71 is called Bullion Buttonhole Stitch, and the name says it all. Two stitches combined, one troublesome and the other enjoyable. Bullions are time consuming and fiddly, even if you follow the rules, use a Milliner's needle and work slowly. Buttonhole stitches are so easy you could do them in your sleep. I have mixed feelings about mixing them!

Anyway, I worked my sampler:
You can see how uneven the first black stitches (on the left) are. The second row is worked in a 'strange' thread. It is beautifully variegated but extremely waxy. It was a gift, thrown in when I bought something else.

For my TAST project I once again pulled out odd bits from my stash of scraps and simply let the needle do the work. Not much to write home about, or even write a blog post about! Sorry for taking up your time!
Head over to Pintangle instead and see what others have created.

18 comments:

Claudia said...

I love to see what comes out if your needle does the work! :-)Great when the stitch turns into circles, sometimes could be trees!

carorose said...

This is a stitch I love, (if it turns out right) or hate, (if is doesn't). At school I knew it as 'grub stitch'. It is a useful stitch and your variations are great.

Anonymous said...

I have used bullion stitch many times but I have never seen it done with buttonholes, this is a good idea but like you say I imagine it would be time consuming to do lots of stitches.

Lins Artyblobs said...

I'm a bit behind with the stitching too, but I think I may have done this stitch before. You have done lots of stitches, must have taken an age. I like the ones done in the variegated thread.

Pamela said...

I agree with your take on mixing these two stitches, but have to say, you've done a nice job with it.

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you, Claudia, for always encouraging me. I think this stitch has a lot of potential, alas I did not have the initiative to 'make something of it'.

Queeniepatch said...

You are so right; this is a 'grub stitch'! With a better mindset and patience I am sure it could be an enjoyable stitch. The good thing about TAST is that, once you have learned it you can use it at a later date.

Queeniepatch said...

The first TAST stitches were basic and well known. We are now doing #71 and a lot of them are combination stitches or complex in another way. It is great to learn new tricks, but sometimes one just isn't in the mood for 'trouble'.

Queeniepatch said...

I read an interesting interview with Annet. http://andstitches.blogspot.jp/2013/06/interview-annet-take-stitch-tuesday.html?showComment=13724670742
She and many with her took part in previous TAST projects and says a number of stitches are being used again.
If you think about it, any stitch could be used in a combination with other stitches, Someone as creative as you would easily make a number of new combo or alternative stitches.

Queeniepatch said...

I am glad you see some good in what I think is sloppy work. I just wasn't up to putting any effort into it. However, once you have learned the basics you can always return to the stitch when the creative juices begin flowing again.

margaret said...

another good example of the stitch,I like the bullions, they make the most wonderful rose but have not done any for a while. Your second piece is so unusual, like the use of canvas Queenie you always come up with something worth seeing and commenting on,NO APOLOGIES for taking up our time, we choose to follow you and love what you do.

Queeniepatch said...

And I love to read your comments!
The Bullion stitch in itself is great for making roses and other flowers. This Buttonhole variety should be fun enough to work into other things. Since I finished my piece and blogged I have given it some thought. What about these for suggestions: fairy lights if you add a bulb in the form of a Detached Daisy Stitch, a necklace or bracelet with charms if you add a few stitches, worked in a circle it could become a cogwheel...

Crazypatch said...

J'aime aussi beaucoup ce point, bullion or bullion buttonhole. I like very much...

Annet said...

I like your freestyle stitches!

Queeniepatch said...

Thank you, but compared to your stunning Bullion Buttonhole Wheel it is nothing.

Queeniepatch said...

Freestyle is always OK when you don't know what to do! Since making this I thought about many things, like lights in a Christmas tree, catkins on a birch tree, spikes on a leather jacket...

tongfengdemao said...

I like the colorful thread in this stitch. I wonder why it was waxy. Did that affect the ease/difficulty of the stitch? Your patch makes me think of a chicken. Sweet!
~Faith
http://airynothing.net/Blogs/anblog (Google/blogspot is again making it impossible to enter my name or url, so I have to post using my mostly defunct blogger account.)

Queeniepatch said...

Hi Faith,
Don't ask me about Blogger! It has a mind of its own!
The colourful thread is beautiful and fun to look at but stiff and uncooperative to work with. The patch was just a tiny scrap of waste canvas...