Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 153: Alternating Chained Buttonhole Stitch

Here is a another beautiful, and easy, linear stitch suitable for plants. 

Alternating Chained Buttonhole Stitch is similar to the Zig-zag Petal Stitch, but is quicker and a smart way to make a stem and leaves/flower buds at the same time. The stem is also thinner than that of the Zig-zag Petal Stitch.

It was Deepa of 'This and that... my random thoughts' who taught me this stitch, here is a link to her blog with pictures. Do visit!

Stitch it like this:

Begin with making a loop.

Anchor the top of the loop,

come out inside the bottom of

the loop, at the stem.

Make a new loop in the other direction,

anchor, and continue.

You can of course change

the angle of the loops, and 

end the stem with a single leaf/bud.

Homework:

How about letting a creeper grow wild on these samplers?

Friday Homework for Lesson 152: Chain of Heart Stitch

I worked on these samplers.

 Teal Wool Tailoring Scribble Cloth

Variegated silk perle

and light purple metallic thread.

Aida Sampler

It was a bit hard to anchor the half hearts,

but the variegated thread adds a nice shading.

Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart

See how nice the chain of hearts are on a curve!

 

WIPW - Back On Track

 Now having put my back injury behind me, I am back on track with the Work In Progress Wednesday projects.

Crazy For Crazy

Two Indian stitches - Indian Edging Stitch (marked in red), and Chemanthy, simple version (green), and a set of arabesque lines worked in Running Stitch (purple). The latter is a base for something, Whipped, Laced, Interlaced, Looped, Knotted... I have not decided yet.

Tvistsöm Cushion

I have worked seven rows and now have 79. I will soon begin on the frame which will be in a contrast set of colours.

Log Cabin Challenge

I am steadily adding blocks to my collection for the quilt. Ten more were made this week so the total is now 295. 

I wonder how many more blocks I will want/need to make. My intention is to use up what fabric I have in my stash of teal/greenish blue/blueish green/turquoise/aqua/emerald...

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 152: Chain of Heart Stitch

 Thank you for all wishes of a speedy recovery - they worked a treat. I and my back are now back in action!

Today's stitch will make up a lovely chain, a Chain of Hearts. I followed the instructions of Natalie Stopka of designsponge.com.

Here are my photo instructions:

You need three lines, a needle and thread.

Come out on the middle line.

Insert the needle in the middle line

above where you first came out.

Exit a bit above on the line to the left.

Anchor the stitch. You now have half a heart.

Make the other half in the same way to the right.

Repeat

until you have a nice chain of hearts

Tip: Give the thread a bit of slack to make a soft shape.

Use narrower lines for a rounder look.

Homework: 

These three samplers are calling out for hearts.