WIPW - Stars

December is just around the corner and I thought it was high time to stitch some stars. My Work In Progress Wednesday report, therefore, contains two star stitches on the 

Sunday Stitch School Stitch Sampler 

#136 Tied Windmill Stitch is one of them, here seen on the left in yellow and purple.

To the right, there is a sprinkling of #150 Celestial Eyelet Stitch in variegated pale blue and purple thread.

Mandala

Here I have been adding more straight lines. Last week I showed Palestrina Stitch in grey radiating outward from the appliquéd circle (on the right in the picture below).

This week I used #232 Romanian Macrame (Flower) Stitch (to the left) stretching out from the centre in a similar way.

The two stitches are so alike in looks!

I like how the Romanian Macrame (Flower) Stitch stands up on the fabric. You could almost think they were beads! Look at the shadow underneath.

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 234: Fancy Brick Stitch

 It is time for another Canvas stitch, and once again I have picked one from the collection at the Badasscrossstitch blog. The stitch is called Fancy Brick Stitch and is worked like this:

The green and blue stitches use four holes,

the red three holes.

Begin with the stitches at the top.

Make a column of three stitches using four holes.

Move to the right and make another column.

Continue until you have filled your area, 

or the 'block' you want to make.

Next use Running Stitch to make a

line of horizontal stitches (using four

holes) underneath the columns. 

Notice the placement.

Make a similar set on the return

journey.

It is now time for the vertical 

stitches. Use Upright Straight Stitch 

to make two stitches between the 

light green ones.

Observe that you have to 'dig' underneath

the longer green stitches.

Finally, make another set of columns

similar to the ones at the top.

Here is your block.

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

How about using only one colour?

Or two colours?

Homework:

Fill in a block on the Canvas sampler, 

as well as these three:

Friday Homework for Lesson 233: Romanian Macrame Petal Stitch

Well actually this is not a stitch in itself, but a combination. The edge of the petal is made up of #232 Romanian Macrame (Flower) Stitch, which we learned last week.  I like that part very much. Using that linear stitch on a curve is OK on plain weave fabric, but it looks horrid on Aida, as you will see below.

Stretching the warp stitches must be done with care or they will either sag or pull the fabric too tight. I was also reminded that to make nice weaving you need an even number of warp threads, 6, 8, 10, 12 etc and not 7 or 9!

However, you can weave in different ways, over and under the warp. Another way of 'weaving' is of course whipping each of the warp. Then you get a bulkier look.

Aida Sampler

See how pretty the straight line of Romanian Macrame (Flower) Stitch (top of picture) is compared to the curvy one used as the edge of the petal. Aida is NOT always an easy weave to work on!

Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart

I think it looks good in two colours.

Mottled Wool Scribble Cloth

It is difficult to mark an outline on this fabric so I used a paper template to stitch the shape of the petal.

WIPW - Tofsar

This week's Work In Progress Wednesday report contains two projects:

Mandala

I stitched two more lines of Palestrina Stitch radiating out from the centre. One more to go. Then I will make another four lines with a different stitch.

Sunday Stitch School Stitch Sampler

First I made 6 x #126 Sydd Tofs in wool. Then a five-petalled flower of #160 Portuguese Clover Stitch in salmon pink.