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.
Work In Progress Wednesday.
The Green Man
I have added more Colonial Knots to his face!
Hexablooms
This is how I cultivate my hexablooms:
I use scraps of cardboard cut into hexagons.
I punch a hole in each one (this is a great trick I learned from Linda of Lins Arty Blobs, the hole makes it easy to remove the cardboard when it is no longer needed).
I use small Clover clips instead of pins to hold the fabric stretched in place over the card.
I fold the left side over the right side at each corner.
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
