Sunday Stitch School - Revision: Stitches 331 - 335

Let's have have a second look at the five most recent stitches, then use them to make a Sunbonnet Sue sampler.

Click on the title to see the stitch instructions.

331 Astrakhan Velvet Stitch

To make loops of even lengths for this stitch, use a pin.

332 Irregular Algerian Eyelet Star Stitch

With this stitch, you can make a sun, a star, a snowflake, an explosion...

333 Damask Darning Stitch

This is a beautiful Canvas stitch made up of two simple straight stitches, one vertical, the other horisontal. Yet it is hard to get it neat unless you use a grid for guidance.

334 Pachis Work Filling Stitch

Here is one of the great Indian stitches; again, only very simple parts are needed. Like the previous stitch, a grid is the key to success.

335 Hungarian Braided Chain Stitch

Some stitches come alive. This rich braided stitch can wiggle its way  across your foundation fabric,

Homework:

Queenie: Sunbonnet Sue, how on earth can I make a sampler out of these five stitches?

Sue: Trust me, you can. Just wait and see!

Friday Homework for Lesson 334: Pachis Work Filling

 With the help of a good grid, this filling stitch is fun and easy. Freehand is another thing; you can't avoid getting stitches that are a bit wonky.

Aida Sampler

Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart

Mottled Wool Scribble Cloth

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 334: Pachis Work Filling

NOTE!

Is it age? 

After publishing today's stitch and setting about adding it to my handwritten files, what do I find? I have already introduced this stitch!!! 

It is Sunday Stitch School stitch #253. It was on 4th June, 2023 and you can see that blogpost here.

After looking closely, the Pachis Work of 2023 is an individual stitch. Today's version is a filling (or linear) stitch and actually looks quite different, see below.

I will therefore keep today's stitch but add Filling to its name -  Pachis Work Filling.

Oh, I am sure this is a sign of old age! Is it time to quit?

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

On the blog of Deepa, I found Pachis Work. Like last week's stitch, it is a stitch that requires a grid. Deepa drew hers on plain weave. You could also use waste canvas and, of course,  a gridded fabric, like Aida.

It looks similar to #208 Star Filling Stitch, but it isn't. To start with, the latter is mostly seen as an individual stitch, scattered over a large area or used as flowers in a bouquet. Today's Pachis Work is somewhat of a linear stitch or it is used as a filling stitch to cover a void. 

The second difference is the length and width of the arms of the stitch. #208 Star Filling Stitch forms a square-like star, because it uses the four corners of a square, whereas #334 is rounder in shape. Thirdly, the cross in the middle is larger for the Star Filling Stitch than Pachis Work.

In Deepa's excellent tutorial, she creates a neat cross with five 'stars' in a row. The arms of the first star and that above (or below) 'hold hands', thereby creating a diamond. Pachis is the kind of stitch that has a touch of magic in it!

So on to my photo tutorial:

Basically, you make a tall and skinny vertical cross or an X.

and then add a horizontal one.

Now let's get stitching:

Move upwards

Then go downwards to make the crosses or Xs.

Add the horizontal crosses.

Tie down the threads with a stitch in the middle.

If you like, add the crosses on the sides to make a large plus.

Hey Presto! Can you see the four diamonds?

Homework: Add to the three usual samplers