Sunday Stitch School - Revision: Stitches 26 - 30

Since the start, in November last year, we have put 30 stitches under our belt here at Sunday Stitch School.
Let's review the last five ones.

Click on the headline to learn each stitch and read more about it.

26 Zig-zag Stitch
This is an easy stitch with interesting results.
Do check out the beautiful patterns that Annet has made.

27 Buttonholed Buttonhole Stitch
This is also an easy stitch and can be varied in many ways. Have a look at what Chitra made.

 28 Half Bullioned Chain Stitch
Bullion knots are not very liked, I have noticed. I must confess I am not a great fan of them either, but I think that when successfully made, they are very attractive. This version is fun.

29 Madam Totsuka's Loop Stitch
This turned out to be a new stitch to all except one reader. I found it easy to make and difficult to curb. That means it is perfect for wild life embroidery, flowers, plants, hair and fur!

30 Holbein Stitch
Although this is a very basic and simple stitch, it can be hard to make really even. As Rachel, who makes beautiful work, pointed out, it is these simple stitches that need to be practiced, as mistakes show up easily.

Now for some revision homework:
Make a seasonal Sunbonnet Sue and use mainly the five stitches above.

Friday Homework for Lesson 30: Holbein Stitch

Teacher:   Good evening. Time to show your homework.

Student:   OK, here it is.

This is on the Aida sampler,

and this is a square I filled in on the 'floppy canvas'.

Teacher: Hmm, you haven't been very adventurous, have you?
Student:  No, I'm sorry.
Teacher:  Well, next Sunday we will have a revision lesson.
                       You have a new chance to show what you can do.
Student:  OK, Miss.

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 30: Holbein Stitch

Welcome to another day in the library at Sunday Stitch School.

We need a linear stitch and after looking trough this pile

the Holbein Stitch was picked. It features in every one of the books. It is an important stitch for Assisi embroidery and Blackwork.

Other English names are Double Running Stitch (tells you how it is worked!), Line Stitch, Two-sided Line Stitch, Two-sided Stroke Stitch, Square Stitch, Romanian Stitch and Chiara Stitch.
In Swedish it is called Holbeinsöm. In French there are two names: Point de Holbein or Double Point Avant.

Work it like this:

 Make a line of even Running stitches

 Work the empty spaces on the return journey. If two different colours are used, you get a more striking effekt and it won't be confused with Back Stitch.

It looks good when it is used to make pattern like this.

Here is some more interesting reading and great pictures..

Homework:

1) Make a row on the Aida sampler

2) Fill in a square on this 'canvas'.