Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 371: Cross and Twist Stitch

Today we will start a new set of five stitches. The first one is a close relative to a stitch we learned nine years ago, in 2017 - the #43 Moss Stitch. Click on the link to see the instructions for it.

What we are learning today is the #371 Cross and Twist Stitch. The name tells you it is a crossed stitch. Printed instructions can be found in Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches.

The first part of both stitches is done in the same way - an individual cross. The cross is then given a third arm, which is tied into a knot in the middle, and here is where they differ; see the difference in a picture at the bottom of the post. Finally, the needle is taken to the back.

It sounds more complicated in written form than in pictures, so let's have a look at these photos:

Pull tight.

Anchor.

The completed Cross and Twist Stitch.

You can shorten (or lengthen) the third arm.

Mary Thomas also suggests that you work the 

third leg in a contrasting thread/colour/weight.

Here you can compare the #34 Moss Stitch and #371 Cross and Twist Stitch

Homework:

Play around with the Cross and Twist Stitch on the various samplers.

Friday Revision Homework - Stitches 366 - 370

If one stitch is called Balloon Stitch and another Whipped Stem, it is easy to come up with a design idea for this Sunbonnet Sue stitch sampler - child's play. 

Sunbonnet Sue is about 10 or 11 years old and enjoys her new striped hula hoop and the quaint balloons. One is like a woven rose, while the two others are square-ish and could be taken for kites...

The Colcha Stitch made a very nice stretchy top that clings to Sue's skinny body. What happened to her puppy fat? 

The same stitch made beautiful hair and a ponytail. The rest of the hair was woven into a Spider's Web bun.

 I quite like the Single Wave Stitch for her skirt. The waves make the skirt swing.

Stem Stitch and Straight Stitch were used for the outlines, socks and shoes.

World Embroidery Day

 I hope you have remembered that July 30th is World Embroidery Day. Let's all take a few, or a LOT of, stitches today. 

For the background of World Embroidery Day and inspiration, why not have a look at Piecework Magazine's article.

I am celebrating by working on two projects, one is the Canvas Sampler, which is old and one I am lagging behind with. 

The other is new - a small kit of Japanese Sashiko. I was inspired by Pamela of Hokkaido Kudasai, who had bought her kits at the Seria 100 Yen shop. These kits are really good value for money and I will enjoy making a small cloth for the kitchen with my kit. When I first came to Japan, these small dish cloths or tea towels were found in every kitchen. 46 years later, kitchens now often have dishwashers and disposable microfibre cloths. Let's get some charming items back into the kitchen!

HAPPY STITCHING!

WIPW - Row 16 Secured

Work In Progress Wednesday. As I recovered strength, I managed to speed up my stitching progress.

Hexablooms

I have now stitched row 16 securely to the flimsy. Sorry, no photo.

Furthermore, I have made 18 new blocks for Row 17. SOON, I will have made all the Hexablooms I need for the tapestry - 459.

Sunday Stitch School Indigo Stitch Sampler

A #370 Colcha Stitch heart found its way into the ring of #367 Whipped Stem Stitch.

Isn't the surface beautifully rough?

Sunbonnet Sue

I was even able to complete the Sunbonnet Sue sampler! The full picture and details will be shown on Friday.