Sunday Stitch School - Revision: Stitches 6 - 10

The last six lessons of Sunday Stitch School have taught me these stitches: Four Sided, Gate, Heavy Chain, Interlaced Running and Japanese Darning.

Here is a summery of my impressions.

Four Sided Stitch
It is easy and rhythmical. Each square could be used to frame crosses, knots, beads or sequins. Apart from that it is obviously great for filling empty spaces.

 Gate Stitch
A descriptive name for this stitch which indeed looks like a gate. It makes a compact filling stitch but also gives you a proper gate in a fence.


Heavy Chain Stitch
Oh, this fun and easy to work stitch leaves a rich cordlike line and can be a good replacement when you want something more dominant than a stem stitch. It 'writes' well and is perfect for monogramming or handwriting.


Interlaced Running Stitch
My box of fancy threads asked to be opened and out came cries of 'Use ME' and 'I want to LACE those Running stitches'. It was so much fun playing around with them all. There is no end to how this stitch can be spaced, curved and laced.


Japanese Darning Stitch
Worked row upon row it makes a  neat filling stitch, while in two rows it forms a unique ornamental border. As far as I can see it has no connection to Japanese embroidery.



Revision Homework:
Use the five stitches on this modern design of Sunbonnet Sue.

Friday Homework for Lesson 7: Gate Stitch

Last weekend's Sunday Stitch School introduced the Gate Stitch. It turned out to be fun, quick and easy to make.

Here is my homework:

First I filled this block with Gate Stitches at different levels and without gaps. I think it looks quite nice.

Then I played around and made a small landscape stitch sketch where there is a Gate in the fence. Sorry it is not so easy to see, but it's there.

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 7: Gate Stitch

Happy New Year, and welcome to a new year of stitch explorations and stitch adventures.

Stitch no 7 is called Gate Stitch and is one of the many Canvas Stitches I have found in Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches.
I have not found a Swedish name, in French it is called Point de Porte. (Thank you Mattia).
Actually it is not an entirely new stitch to me; I worked a few of these gates on my piece Pile 'em On, last year.

In spite of looking advanced it is an easy stitch made up of straight lines, and it does certainly look like a gate!

First make four vertical stitches, then a cross and finally a horisontal stitch. On the next 'gate', the horisontal stitch is one level lower. The gates can also be placed without a gap and you then have a good filling stitch. In Mary Thomas's book the stitches are also placed at different levels making a nice pattern.

Here they are in a row with gaps on Aida.

Homework:

Fill one of these boxes with Gate Stitches (no gaps and at different levels).