Sunday Stitch School - Revision: Stitches 11 - 15

Before we move on to a new stitch, let's revise the five most recent stitches, Knotted Satin, Lace, Mountmellick, Norwich and Open Chain Stitch.

Here is a summery. Click on the headline to learn the stitch and read more.

Knotted Satin Stitch
It didn't take long to learn this stitch, but it was a struggle to get it right. These Satin Stitches need to be crowded, and the shorter the leg, the nicer they behave.

Lace Stitch
This row of triangular stitches was a pleasure to work, meditative and easy, and gave a very pleasing result. I like both the pulled-tight version that opens holes in the fabric 

and the version where the thread stands out.



Mountmellick Stitch
The main stitch in the Irish Mountmellick embroidery style is a favorite from the past and was nice to use once again, here in colour and on thin red fabric.

Norwich Stitch
This is a Canvas stitch and I learned the hard way that such stitches really should be worked on CANVAS and not on any limp fabric. I also learned that if you mark plain fabric and choose your thread well you can get stunning result.

Open Chain Stitch
This version of Chain stitch was easy and enjoyable to play with, and I am very grateful to CrazyQstitcher for suggesting tying the rungs of the ladder together into bunches.

Homework:

Put SSS stitches 11 - 15 to good use on yet another Sunbonnet Sue design.

Now do you remember the name of this stitch? What kind of design of Sunbonnet Sue is it, do you think?

Friday Homework for Lesson 15: Open Chain Stitch

Oh, it's Friday and time to hand in the homework assignment for Lesson 15, which is the Open Chain Stitch.

For this stitch my conclusion is that you have to check the tension so the stitches sit nicely. Open Chain Stitch can also be used in a more folksy, rough form, as seen here:

I made three parallell lines of yellow and formed a cross. Each side was then flanked with filling stitches in a blue space dyed perle until I had a round shape. This I circled the edges of with metallic cord which I couched down with Open Chain stitch.

I can't say I like the design but it was fun to make.

The other day I got a suggestion from CrazyQstitcher. She had found a neat version of Open Chain Stitch in A Handbook for Lettering for Stithers by Elsie Svennas.

Each three rungs of the 'ladder' of the Open Chain Stitch are bundled together, similar to the way you create a Sheaf Stitch.

With a piece of white card inside I made both these samples of Open Chain Stitch into small greeting cards. This is how I mount my cards.

I will add a small brooch in the centre of this one.

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 15: Open Chain Stitch

It's Sunday and time to stitch!

Sunday Stitch School this week presents an easy and enjoyable stitch - the Open Chain Stitch. Anyone who is familiar with the Chain Stitch, will soon adjust its width and have an Open Chain Stitch.

Other names for the stitch are:
Square Chain Stitch
Roman Chain Stitch
Ladder Stitch
Small Writing Stitch (if narrow)
Big Writing Stitch (if wide)
and
Bred Kedjesöm is the Swedish term
Annet tells me in Dutch it has two names:
Vierkante or
Brede Kettingsteek
Mattia has supplied this list of names in French
point de chaînette échelle
point de chaînette carré
point noeudé dans la Broderie Bretonne

Work it like this:

 

 On my Aida sampler:


Homework:
Couch down the metallic cord with Open Chain Stitch, and
use it as a filling stitch for something on this piece of red fabric.