When I first saw a stitch with the name Fairy Lights, I knew that Sunbonnet Sue would want to become a fairy, for a day at least.
So here she is lighting the magic light bulbs and stretching garlands across the garden.
It is time to work the last five stitches again and add them up on a Sunbonnet Sue sampler.
Click on the title to see the instructions.
This way of making the Chain Stitch might take a bit more time compared to the traditional 'in-the-hand' stitching and of course, the fabric needs to be stretched in a frame or hoop, but the stitches become even and neat.
Building on the previous stitch, just add laced loops on both sides of the chain and you get this beautiful braid-like stitch.
This is a magical stitch perfect for a scene of garlands of lights at a garden party. With metallic thread, you get a good glow.
Want some lace on the edge of a handkerchief? You don't have a crochet hook or a bobbin pillow with pins and bobbins? Fear not, you can embroider the lace!
290 Threaded Herringbone Stitch
I have found that there are two ways that the basic Herringbone Stitch can be embellished and called Threaded Herringbone Stitch. Here is the more unusual way.
The other, which is more often seen, has also got another name and I will eventually add it to the Sunday Stitch School collection, then under its alternative name. That's for another lesson, though.
Homework:
Think up a good way to let Sunbonnet Sue get entangled with all these five stitches.
This Threaded Herringbone Stitch is not the only stitch with this name!
In Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches, there is also a Threaded Herringbone Stitch, but where the contrasting thread is laced over and under the foundation stitches in a wavy line.
When I took part in TAST (Take A Stitch Tuesday) I learned #51 Raised Herringbone Band and #121 Twisted Lattice Band. It is that kind of threading used in Mary Thomas's version.
Apparently, Mary Thomas's Threaded Herringbone Stitch is also known as Barred Witch Stitch. One day in the future I will introduce this version here at Sunday Stitch School as it is an attractive, easy and useful stitch.
Now for today's homework:
Aida Sampler
How many variations on the Herringbone Stitch have we learned? I, anyway, have 13 under my belt!
TAST = Take A Stitch Tuesday the stitch tutorial and challenge by Sharon Boggon of Pintangle
#5 Herringbone
#120 Double Herringbone
#124 Closed Herringbone
#125 Beaded Herringbone
#143 Fancy Herringbone
Sunday Stitch School the collection and tutorial of hand embroidery stitches here on this blog
#77 Tied Herringbone
#112 Raised Herringbone
#140 Indian Herringbone
#166 Satin Herringbone
#184 Herringbone Ladder
#220 Backstitched Herringbone
#235 Barred Herringbone
#258 Half Herringbone
.........
and so today we will be learning #290 Threaded Herringbone Stitch which I found in Betty Barnden's The Embroidery Stitch Bible.
It is not a difficult stitch.
Start off with a section of Herringbone Stitch.
Add to these samplers:
