Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 337: Barred Witch Stitch

Today, we have a variation of the Herringbone Stitch. Logically, it would be called Threaded Herringbone Stitch. 

However, there are several versions of the Threaded Herringbone Stitch. 

We have already done two,  #290 that looks totally different 

and TAST #121 Twisted Lattice Band, where the threading is double.

I found Barred Witch Stitch in Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches.

Learn it here:

Homework: Add here.

Friday Homework for Lesson 336: Shadow Stitch

This stitch is easy, but stitching on sheer fabric is not!

As this stitch is not suitable for Aida, I skipped that sampler.

Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart

Reverse

Front

Red Kimono Silk Scribble Cloth

WIPW - Slow Progress

It's Wednesday, the middle of the week, and that means it is time to report on Work In Progress Wednesday.

Mandala

Another segment of the Mandala now has a garland along the outer edge.

Hexablooms

The total number of hexagon blocks on the flimsy is now: 112

Sunday Stitch School Indigo Stitch Sampler

#322 Open Chain (dull brown and light blue wool), #323 Maltese Cross  (pink and light green), and  #324 Raised Spider Daisy (yolk yellow and emerald green) are the three stitches that have been added to the indigo sampler.

I did not progress as much as I would have hoped.

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 336: Shadow Stitch

Let's start the new set of five stitches with a classic one - Shadow Stitch.

Mary Corbet of Needle 'n Thread has an interesting article with several pointers. It is well worth reading. There are no instructions, though. 

So either check out a book like Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches or the online instructions of Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials.

Actually, there are two ways to work this stitch - from the front or the reverse side of the fabric. The front will show you two lines of Back Stitch, and through the sheer fabric, you will see a shadow. You see, almost by magic, these stitches will, on the back, create a line of Closed Herringbone Stitch.

Now, if you work the reverse side with Closed Herringbone Stitch, the front will give you two lines of Back Stitch, and in between you will see a faint shadow of the Herringbones peeping through the sheer fabric.

Which stitch do you prefer, Back or Closed Herringbone? I like the latter far better than the former. My photo instructions will therefore be stitching the Closed Herringbone from the back of the work:

Start by selecting a sheer but strong fabric.

I used light blue nylon salvaged from a cheap ball gown.

Stretch the fabric tight in a hoop. Mark the design.

Place a waste knot far away (so you have a long tail

to fasten discreetly afterwards).

Work a line of Closed Herringbone Stitch

along the marked line.

Turn the work and do the upper line of the oval 

in the same way.

When you come to the end, turn the fabric to 

see the back-stitched line.

Fasten the working thread with a long stitch between 

the fabric and the Herringbone Stitches.

Cut off the thread as close to the stitched line as possible.

Remove the waste knot you started with and 

fasten the tail in the same way.

Here is the front side with the shadow in 

between the Back Stitch lines.

Here is the reverse side.

With practice, the stitches will be more even, I hope.

Homework:

Add to the samplers by using appliquéd sheer fabric.