Friday Homework for Lesson 208: Star Filling Stitch

 Instant success! So easy, so impressive.

Aida Sampler

Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart

Mottled Wool Scribble Cloth

WIPW - One Side Completed

 Work In Progress Wednesday. Here is this week's report.

Velveteen Cushion

I have completed the front of the cushion. In total there are 28 plastic cups set in the border. They come in  three sizes and are all covered with grey fabric. The smallest, there are 16 of them, are over-stitched with crosses in metallic thread.  The two largest cups have a grid of metallic thread over them. The remaining 10 have metallic print in the fabric and there was no need to add any embroidery.

The back of the cushion still has some work before it is completed.

Sunday Stitch School Stitch Sampler

Two circles in very fine voile found their way next to the other circles. They are stitched with #71 Twisted Fly Stitch  (red) and #81 Reversed Fly Stitch (turquoise).

The smaller of the circles has an outlined edge of two Buttonhole stitch lines, one on top of the other. One line is green, for the other I used a variegated thread in blue and pink.

Sunday Stitch School: Lesson 208 - Star Filling Stitch

 I don't know why I haven't added this beautiful stitch before; I have used it on innumerable projects. 

You can vary it by using various threads or threads in two or three different colours, change the size of each cross or the length of each leg. It can be strict and tidy, or free and wonky.

We are talking about the Star Filling Stitch which is made up of a Cross Stitch, an Upright Cross Stitch (or St George Cross Stitch) and a smaller Cross Stitch that ties the other two crosses to the fabric.

I found it in several of my books, and on the internet, of course, e.g. Textile Research Centre, or Needle Crafter

Here are my photo instructions:

Homework:

Add here.

Friday Homework for Lesson 207: Plaited Edge Stitch

 This is a pleasant stitch to do and to look at. I also think it will keep any edge in check, and on kitchen  linen like tea towels might get sturdier after each wash.

Aida Sampler

Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart

Mottled Wool Scribble Cloth

WIPW - Circles en Masse

 This Work In Progress Wednesday report contains circles en masse.

Greeting Card

This greeting card has a circular window. Inside there is a tatted 'circle', with beads and a round button in the middle.

Velveteen Cushion

I made a number of fabric covered plastic cup buttons.

I took the previously made raspberry pink cups and added them to various parts of the cushion design.

This cushion is turning more and more uncomfortable.

Sunday Stitch School Stitch Sampler

I made three new circles and filled them with individual stitches. These stitches were used:

#197 German Blanket, #115 Chained Sheaf, #133 Sinhalese, #132 Dandelion, #198 Whipped Wheatear and #139 Sycamore.

So this is what the sampler looks like at this stage.

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 207: Plaited Edge Stitch

The Plaited Edge Stitch is a kind of Buttonhole stitch, that in looks can be mistaken for #66 Berwick Stitch. 

As the name implies it is useful for edging, either on a folded hemline or a raw edge. The closer together you place the stitches the less the fabric is at risk of fraying.

I have used the stitches as fancy embroidery stitches, not for hemming.

Instructions can be found in these two books: Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches and A-Z of Embroidery Stitches 2.

Here are the steps in my photo guide:

Take a straight (back) stitch and exit

to the left of where you started.

Insert the needle under the Straight Stitch

(without biting the fabric) and pull tight.

You now have a wrap that looks almost like

a knot. 

Continue in the same way by inserting the

needle diagonally.

Anchor the last stitch.

The stitches sit nicely, but are a bother to unpick, so pay attention to tension while you stitch.

On a folded hem they look like this:

Homework:

Add to these samplers.

Friday Homework for Lesson 206: Rapid Stitch

Yes, Rapid Stitch is a rapid stitch! Especially on the

Aida Sampler

Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart

Mottled Wool Sampler

Canvas Sampler

WIPW - Plastic Cups and a New Elephant

Hello!

Here is this week's Work In Progress Wednesday report.

Velveteen Cushion

I have started adding cupped round circles. 

You cut a circle of fabric, do a Running Stitch line along the edge, place a plastic cup inside and pull, then appliqué onto the velveteen.

This cushion will not be too comfortable to lean back against - good as it is meant as a decorative cushion only.

Sunday Stitch School Stitch Sampler

Circles are the theme on this project, too. I made two more circles with #8 Heavy Chain. Inside they are filled with #49 Colonial Knots and #56 Detached Twisted Chain Stitch.

Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart

New and old. The completed one has now got its titles in each box. 

Here is the new reference chart, awaiting the first stitch, #206 Rapid Stitch. There are 55 vacant spaces. 

Do you think I will be able to find 55 other stitches?

Yes, I think so! If I get stuck, I can always make new ones by adding beads to established stitches, ha, ha!

Here is the Sunday Stitch School Stitch collection so far, the #206 Rapid Stitch already found its place!

A New Elephant

I made another stuffed toy elephant. This time I used interfacing to stabilise the fabric, so it is a bit better than the previous one. I am still not satisfied with the trunk, though. Next time, if there ever is one, I will use another pattern.

At least it is a cuddly toy.