Revision Homework - Stitches 321 - 325

 Here, Sunbonnet Sue is at work. She is on a photo assignment at an art gallery.

Other stitches used are Stem Stitch and Split Stitch.

I don't know anyone who changes her hairstyle and hair colour as often as Sue does!

Sunday Stitch School - Revision: Stitches 321 - 325

 Let's review the latest stitches.

321 Cornucopia Chain Stitch

It's a charming and easy stitch.

322 Open Linked Chain Stitch

It looks more complicated than it is.

323 Maltese Cross Stitch

This IS complicated, but once you get used to it, at least it gets EASIER.

324 Raised Spider Chain Stitch

You can choose how much padding you want underneath the spider's web. For a really high dome, use wadding instead of a build-up of thread.

325 Long and Short Stitch

This elegant type of embroidery requires a bit of practice. I am glad I finally added it to the collection of stitches, as it is one of the basic stitches.

Homework:

Let's Sunbonnet Sue illustrate the five stitches.

Friday Homework for Lesson 325: Long and Short Stitch

 The Long and Short Stitch has a long history and is perfect for 'painting' with needle and thread. It is often seen on embroidery on kimonos and on Chinese silk embroidery. It is beautiful to look at but difficult to get a neat and even result. Trish Burr is an expert.

Aida Sampler

Aida fabric is not suitable for this kind of stitching, but I ignored the holes and inserted the needle wherever I wanted.

Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart

I used stranded floss in two brown and two blue shades instead of the usual one brown and one light blue perle cotton. It is easier to get a better filling and blending of the threads when a thinner thread is being used.

Mottled Wool Scribble Cloth

For this sampler, I used tapestry wool.

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 325: Long and Short Stitch

It is time to fill in a gap in my collection of stitches. Here is one of the basic and most important stitches that I have not yet added. The Long and Short Stitch. 

In my opinion, the best instructions can be found at RSN's Stitch Bank. You can also see photos in A-Z of Embroidery Stitches volume 1.

I have added my own photo tutorial here:

Draw the outline.

Secure the thread with a waste knot and a few 

short stitches.

Cut off the waste knot.

Now, use Split Stitch along the outline.

Draw in the lines to guide the angle of the 

Long and Short stitches

Come out from inside the shape.

Then insert the needle just outside the Split Stitch line.

Repeat but take a shorter stitch on either side.

Continue to alternate long and shot stitches until you have 

filled in the area you wanted. 

Change to a different shade of thread.

Work in the opposite direction. Start in the outer areas,

between the long and short stitches. Insert the needle

in the centre void.

Add another shade, if you want more gradation.

Continue as before.

I finished off with an orange thread.

Homework: Try to add here. It will be difficult, if not

impossible to work on the Aida fabric.