Friday Revision Homework - Stitches 31 - 35

Sorry to be one day late in presenting my homework. My excuse is that 'life got in the way' and just before midnight, I was simply too tired to do the blog post.

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Four of the five Sunday School Stitches used this time have Chinese or Japanese in their names.
That is why my Sunbonnet Sue is on a field trip to Asia, to Japan, to be exact.

Like so many tourists these days she has rented a kimono and is tottering along in her wooden 'geta' sandals, keeping the sun out with her waxed paper umbrella, or is it raining,  and swinging a bamboo basket bag.



First I made the sketch and planned where to use the various stitches.

Then I used a rubber molding mat and a blue fabric crayon to make a subtle pattern on the kimono.
The waxy crayon was easily set with a hot iron, and did not smear anything while I stitched the details.

This is how I used the stitches:

Sunday Stitch School - Revision: Stitches 31 - 35

Today we are having another revision lesson to sum up the last five stitches.

Click on the headline to see instructions and homework.

31 Braid Stitch

 After many trials and failures I really wanted to master this stitch. Not having got my head round the printed instructions in books, I turned to Mary Corbet's Stitch Video and, hey presto, I got the hang of the stitch in seconds! The power of the moving image, eh!

A hoop/frame and good tension of fabric and thread is essential, and stitching toward me, instead of right to left, made all the difference.

It's a lovely stitch and the birthday card I used it for was much admired by the recipient and the guests at the party.



32 Chinese Cross Stitch

This H-shaped stitch is fast and fun to work and gives a nice pattern both when worked individually or in a staggered row. Here is looks very modern, don't you think?



33 Chinese Knot Stitch 
Also known as The Forbidden Stitch it IS forbiddingly small when worked with a thin thread. It is, however, not forbiddingly difficult, as it is, in principle, just half a French Knot.




34 Japanese Stitch
Although it features in Nihon Shishu (Japanese silk embroidery) I think it looks best as a canvas stitch.



35 Outline Stitch
The key to success with this stitch is checking the twist of the thread.
Z-twists work well with Outline Stitch.
Use Stem Stitch for S-twisted thread.


Homework:
Sunbonnet Sue is on a Geography field trip to Asia!
Use these items:

Friday Homework for Lesson 34: Japanese Stitch

Late again, but I have worked hard!

Here is my homework for stitch #34 Japanese Stitch.

First as a canvas stitch

Which was easy to stitch and makes a nice filling.

The Japanese embroidery with flat silk floss on kimono silk was harder to work.

The stitch could just as well be ordinary Satin Stitch, I guess.

After having done the Japanese Stitch I added Stem Stitch - for the stems.

Then I added some Chinese Knot Stitches in purple and blue,
threw in a few silver lines made of Japanese Stitch,
and a sprinkle of Chinese Cross Stitches in gold.

This will eventually become a greeting card.

Nihon Shishu, Japanese embroidery, is more difficult than I thought. I will have to try again!

Friday Homework for Lesson 32: Chinese Cross Stitch

Oh, the Chinese Cross Stitch was a fun stitch to work!

On the linen I had a wee bit of trouble as the thread and fabric are of similar shades.

Real enjoyment was had on making this funky free form embroidery, though.

I placed French Knots and beads in some of the squares.

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 32: Chinese Cross Stitch

Today we are having a Geography lesson. We are visiting China to learn the Chinese Cross Stitch.

Unfortunately I have not found any information regarding its name, nor its origin, and the only book I have found it in is in Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches.

I wonder why, as it is an easy, fun and most attractive stitch with its pleasant geometric pattern. Any information you might have, I'd be happy to hear about.

Work it like this:

Now you have one individual stitch.

To make a nice row, come out in the lower leg of the right cross,

 and start all over again.

Then start over from the upper leg.

 It is quick work, and you will soon have a nice geometric pattern,

or make individual stitches in alternating lines.

It would be fun and easy to change the length and height of the 'arms' and 'legs', and create free form patterns.

Also the little squares created at the intersections could be filled with French Knots, Cross Stitch or beads.

On the Aida sampler I made individual stitches:

Homework:

1) Add a row of Chinese Cross Stitches:

2) Play with free form: