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.

Sunday Stitch School - Revision: Stitches 366 - 370

It was good to take a week off! The heat is hard to beat, but I am feeling much better now.

So, let's get on with our revision of the latest five stitches. Click on the title to get to the instructions.

366 Spider's Web Stitch

This is also known as Woven Wheel and is useful when you have bulky threads that can't easily go through the fabric, but slip smoothly over and under the spokes of a wheel.

367 Whipped Stem Stitch

The same goes for this stitch. For the basic Stem Stitch, you need to have a reasonably smooth thread. For the whipping part, where the thread only goes over and under the foundation stitch and does not pierce the fabric, you can use about any thread you like, however troublesome.

368 Balloon Stitch

Here is a Canvas stitch that can make a nice chessboard if only stitched in two colours, or you can play around with a number of shades for a more colourful look.

369 Single Wave Stitch

This is the single version of #355 Double Wave Stitch.

370 Colcha Stitch

was traditionally used to assemble blocks of wool fabric and then decorate it with embroidery motifs. The result would be a thick and warm bedcover or blanket. 

It is a self couching stitch without the strict rules for even placement, angle and length of the couching stitches of its relatives, the  #36 Rumanian Stitch,  #50 Bayeux Stitch and #82 Bokhara Couching Stitch.

Enjoy casual, stress-free stitching!

Homework: Make a picture where Sunbonnet Sue is making good use of the stitches.

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 368: Balloon Stitch

Doesnt't this sound festive, Balloon Stitch? It is a canvas stitch which I found at Serendipity Needleworks where you can find excellent instructions.

Below is a sequense of my photos:

Increase with one hole over and below.

After four stitches you come to the middle of the design. 

Here you make the stitch the same height.

And then you decrease the height again until you have

a square on point.

Repeat the pattern, then work an identical set 

above the first row.

Aren't they festive?

Like so many Canvas stitches, the Balloon Stitch eats thread. Can you see a slight difference in the tension of the two light blue stitches on the left? I have changed to Surface Balloon Stitch to save thread, which is easy to see on the reverse, have a look at the photo below.

For upholstery or a cushion that will be used and suffer wear and tear, I would recommend the proper coverage on both front and back, despite the amount of thread that is needed.

Homework: Add here