It was my plan to have the new Sunbonnet Sue illustration ready to show today.
The Split Stitch, which I used for the outline, took considerably longer than anticipated to complete.
I am sure I will have the picture completed by next Friday.
This also means that there is no new stitch on Sunday.
Here is another Work In Progress Wednesday report:
Hexablooms
I made the allocated set of 10 hexagon flowers. Totally I have 290 blocks now.
Sue! Sunbonnet Sue! Wake up! It is time for a review of the five most recent Sunday Stitch School's stitches. Sue, you have to tell us another story from your life! You know it is the homework!
First, let's have a look at the five stitches.
Click on the title to see the stitch instructions for each stitch.
Threaded Detached Chain Stitch - this was a stitch where I had the opportunity to use some of my tricky types of thread.
Here you can see a knobbly cotton thread, a line of synthetic (polyester?) with small hairy parts and a length of ribbon for embroidery.
Mottled Wool Scribble Cloth
Aida Sampler
Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart
It is time for another Work In Progress Wednesday report.
Hexablooms
Once again, I was lucky enough to find the time to make the planned ten hexagon flowerets.
My collection now holds 280.
Birthday Gift
I made a set of three double-sided hexagon flower coasters. The cardboard I do my English Paper Piecing over is still inside, which makes the coasters stiff and stable. On the downside is that they can not be washed...
Here is a stitch from the Chain Stitch family. Detached Chain, or Lazy Daisy as it is also called, is often used for flower buds or together with other stitches to make decorative Crazy Quilt seams.
The stitch we are learning today is based on these individual Chain stitches, but when they are threaded, they make a nice and structured linear stitch.
The threading can be done with a variety of 'difficult' threads like metallic, chenille, knobbly or very fibrous types.
I found the instructions in Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches and in Reader's Digest Complete Book of Embroidery.
Here is a photo tutorial:
The Split Stitch is easy, but you need to pay attention so you really split the stitch. It takes a bit more time than, for example, the Stem Stitch.
Aida Sampler
Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart
This is the Work In Progress Wednesday report for February 12.
Hexablooms
I completed ten more hexagon flowers and now have 270 in my collection.
Bookmark
The stitching on the second bookmark is now finished. Here is the reverse, as you can see the embroidery is done in Cross Stitch. Those with trained eyes can guess the pattern...
I will remove the support fabric and move it to the place where the third bookmark will be stitched.
Next month, Hina Matsuri or Doll Festival or Girls' Festival, will be held on March 3rd as usual. It is a festival when families celebrate their daughters by displaying Hina dolls depicting the Imperial couple in costumes from the Heian Era. The dolls are on show from about a month before up to the 3rd of March.
Read more about this festival and look at some photos here.
Instead of the dolls seen in the link, I have a mobile with hanging ornaments of stuffed dolls and crepe silk (chirimen) objects. This type of Hina decorations originate in Inatori, Yanagawa and Sakai cities.
By clicking on HINA in the tabs above, you can see and read more about my Hina doll mobile and the ornaments.
Every year, I make three new items. These are for 2025:
The Split Stitch is another basic stitch that I have overlooked. Mary Corbet at Needle 'n Thread has a video tutorial. She also has some articles comparing the Split Stitch and its sister Split Back Stitch. It is well worth looking at the video and reading the articles. Mary also tells us that the Split Stitch is very useful when we want to add lettering to our work as this stitch makes a tight and even line.
Click here to see the video and read the articles.
I have added my photo tutorial here:
Use a needle with a sharp tip.
Start with a neat Straight Stitch.
come up right in the middle of the stitch.
the stitch line.
the last stitch.
Homework:
Add here.
Today, I took part in the Hari-kuyo ceremony in Asakusa. This is a 400-year-old rite to honour your broken needles and the hard work they have done in the past year. The Shinto belief that objects have souls is merged with the Buddhist spirit of showing gratitude to things that have served you well.
In front of Awashimado Hall, on the grounds of the famous Asakusa Kannon Temple in Tokyo, slabs of firm tofu had been set up. Kimono makers, as well as seamstresses and quilters, stuck their broken needles into these cakes of tofu and offered a prayer of thanks.
This ceremony is held in Tokyo on the 8th of February every year. I have until now been unable to attend but it has been on my bucket list to at least once take part. This year I was fortunate to find the time.
