Sunday 10 November 2024

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 307: Rhodes Diamond Stitch

You already know that I love Rhodes Stitch. Did you also know that I love diamonds? So you can understand how happy I am to show you the Rhodes Diamond Stitch today!

Check out the instructions at Piecework Magazine.com (scroll down to Figure 4, for the Diamond version).

I made two graphs, one (red) is the same as in the instructions above, 



and the other (blue) is the frugal style where you can save some thread as it has little thread on the back.



Here are my photo tutorials for both stitches:
















On the back, you can easily see the difference in the amount of thread needed.


Homework: Sprinkle some diamonds here.






Friday 8 November 2024

Friday Homework for Lesson 306: Whipped Back Stitch

There is little to say about this stitch, just that it is easy and beautiful.

Maybe I should add that whipping the Back Stitch line is a good way to hide any unevenness in the length of the stitches.


Aida Sampler



Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart


It is hard to tell which line has Back Stitch in brown and whipping in light blue and which is the other way round.


Mottled Wool Scribble Cloth

If you whip with a hairy wool yarn you get a very fuzzy look.

Wednesday 6 November 2024

WIPW - Gloomy - like the weather

 This is a Work In Progress Wednesday report.


Hexablooms

It is cloudy, dull and grey today. By chance, most of the ten hexagon flowers I have stitched are in shades of gloomy grey, too.


I will have to select more cheerful colours for the next set of ten.
In total, I now have 160 Hexabloom flowers.


Sunday Stitch School Stitch Sampler

I have continued to fill in gaps in the sampler. This time on the right side of the wool fabric, where there is a cluster of circles.



I only had time for this circle of #198 Whipped Wheatear and #139 Sycamore Stitch. More next week, I hope.

Sunday 3 November 2024

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 306: Whipped Back Stitch

Welcome to another lesson.

Today, I am happy to add one more member of the Back Stitch Family to my collection - the Whipped Back Stitch.

The name tells you all - it's a line of Back Stitch that has been whipped!

Watch Mary Cobert's video from Needle 'n Thread, 


or have a look at my photo tutorial.









Homework: Add here.



Friday 1 November 2024

Friday Revision Homework - Stitches 301 - 305

It was fun to make this Sunbonnet Sue sampler. 

I know she is not shading her face from the sun with a bonnet, but as her face is hidden under the mask, she will certainly not get a suntan, so I'll pass her off as Sunbonnet Sue.



As I have tried to illustrate in other Sunbonnet Sue samplers, Sue is a lady who is trying to inspire others to keep fit and go on a healthy diet. 

That explains why she has prepared a pot of steaming pumpkin soup instead of a basket of treats to offer any visitors. I am sure most kids will shun her house for more than one reason and would rather visit someone less scary who will give out calorific sweets instead.

Trick or Soup! Booooo


Happy Halloween!

Wednesday 30 October 2024

WIPW - Back to the Sunday Stitch School Stitch Sampler

I haven't shown much work on the Sunday Stitch School Stitch Sampler recently. Therefore,  this week's Work In Progress Wednesday report will feature an update on that sampler and a briefing on the hexagon project. The Mandala is slumbering in her box.


Sunday Stitch School Stitch Sampler

I filled in the gap at the top of the sampler by adding stitches used previously. #163 Canvas Stem Stitch (pink), #143 Chopstick Stitch (red), #219 Two-Sided Italian Cross Stitch (green), #54 Tramming (one line each on Stem Stitch and Cross Stitch, in yellow) and #169 Kerman Stitch (four individual stitches in yellow).



Hexablooms

I raided my scrap box of reds and greens and threw in a few lighter colours, to make ten more flowers. 

The total count is now 150. Way over 300 blocks are needed for the quilt/wallhanging, so there is plenty more work to do. Luckily, I still have plenty more pieces of scrap fabric!



Sunday 27 October 2024

Sunday Stitch School - Revision: Stitches 301 - 305

Now that we have learned five new stitches, it is time for a revision and a Sunbonnet Sue summary.

Click on the name of the stitch to get to the instructions.


301 Wreath Stitch

A little X-massy wreath can be made with this stitch.



302 Triangular Bullion Stitch

Trust Madam Totsuka to create another use for the  Bullion Knot.



303 Tacked Herringbone Stitch

Here is a quick and simple way to dress up the basic Herringbone Stitch.






304 Single Knotted Cable Chain Stitch

This version of the well-known Oyster Stitch can be varied in looks.



305 Kalem Stitch

This is a quick and easy canvas stitch.



Homework:

Sunbonnet Sue is eager to show you how the stitches can be used.












Friday 25 October 2024

Friday Homework for Lesson 305: Kalem Stitch

 This is one of those wonderful stitches - SO easy to stitch and SO impressvie to look at.


Aida Sampler



Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart



Mottled Wool Scribble Cloth


Canvas Sampler



There is still plenty of room on the sampler, I will have to add more Canvas stitches to the Sunday Stitch School collection!






Wednesday 23 October 2024

WIPW - 9 3/6

It's been a hectic week since last Wednesday. For the Work In Progress Wednesday report, I have worked on the 


Mandala

where I completed the centre circle. Do you remember the railway braid I added last week? 


The outer 'rail' follows the edge of the circle, but the inner 'rail' is too large (as the circle is smaller a bit away from the edge).

So I pulled each section tight by stitching it down further in from the edge and adding a golden bead.


I also added little floral-shaped sequins and anchored them with a small blue bead.

The circle is now complete:


I need to add something more to the Mandala.... but what?


Hexablooms

I made another set of hexagon blocks. Nine are complete, but the last one has only three out of six petals, so this week's count is 9 3/6. I will finish it tomorrow.

Some of the remnants I used for these bocks are from my childhood. My mother was an accomplished amateur seamstress and made some very beautiful garments for me.

The orange and yellow is a small scrap of cotton left from when I made a casual summer coat in the early 70's.


Once the purple 3/6 petals are complete, the total count will be 140 flowers.