Blogged here. This design is called 'Spring is Near' and is by Lenna Green.
Welcome to the second installment of Embroidery School! Are you ready to go crazy? I hope so because we're going to work through some incredibly beautiful stitches used along fabric seams in crazy quilts. If you haven't worked the lessons from the original Embroidery School series, you can still do this one. All the stitches are explained, the "old" ones and the "new" ones. Here are some links to other useful lessons: Transferring the design to fabric Knotting and not knotting your thread You're also welcome to go back and review all the lessons of the Embroidery School series. Just click the page tab above conveniently labeled "Embroidery School". Let's Get Crazy! This series comes with a free downloadable sampler pattern to work on (click on the link in the materials list). I have provided the pattern of a patchwork crazy quilt block with the stitching drawn on so you can just follow along and make what I made - like walking in the snow and stepping where I've stepped. But I have also provided the crazy quilt block pattern without stitching drawn on, so you can go wild and practice and create your own designs. Now don't get nervous. Many crazy quilt seam embellishments are a single stitch, such as feather stitch, but those complex ones can be daunting. Guess what? They are actually combinations of very simple stitches and we'll do some of that, too. Lesson One covers seams 1 and 2. Lesson Two covers seams 3 and 4. Lesson Three covers seam 5. Lesson Four covers seam 6. Lesson Five is a surprise! Materials needed: sampler pattern template cotton or linen fabric suitable for embroidery ( a homespun calico or muslin works well) - 10" square embroidery hoop - a 9" hoop will allow you to work the whole piece while a smaller hoop can be moved as you stitch cotton stranded embroidery floss (I used DMC) embroidery needle or sewing needle with an eye large enough to thread a 4 strand length of floss scissors a method for transferring the pattern Choose you favorite colors or use the same colors I used: Seam 1: long and short blanket stitch; DMC 936 Seam 2: chain stitch, straight stitch (running stitch); DMC 3821, 825 Seam 3: feather stitch, straight stitch, french knot; DMC221, 988, 3833 Seam 4: chevron stitch; DMC 154 Seam 5: cretan stitch, lazy daisy stitch; DMC 921, 154 Seam 6: herringbone stitch, straight stitch, lazy daisy stitch, french knot; 826, 472, 3835, 988, 825 Use your favorite method to transfer the pattern to the fabric. Place the whole thing in a 9" hoop or place the area you want to work on inside a smaller hoop. Work with a 4 strand length of embroidery floss for all stitches. Seam 1: Long and Short Blanket Stitch You might see this stitch called buttonhole stitch, but don't be confused as the two are basically the same stitch. This seam is decorated by a simple blanket stitch, but here, one prong is longer and one is shorter instead of them being all the same length. Because I thought the beginning had room for one more prong, I've added it here without drawing it, as you can see in the photo. Just follow in my footsteps! Thread the needle and bring the thread from the back to the front at the left end of the seam. Insert the needle as shown making sure to wrap the floss behind the tip of the needle. Pull the needle and thread through to make the first stitch. Insert the needle at the bottom of the long prong and bring it back up at the top, with the floss wrapped to the back of the needle. You can also stab stitch (bring the needle to the back, bring the needle to the front, etc.) one step at a time. Here I have taken the needle to the back of the fabric at the bottom of the next prong and am just bringing the needle to the front at the top of the prong. The thread is still wrapped to the back of the needle. Continue stitching along the lines until the end of the seam. Tie off the thread or weave it in the stitching at the back. Seam 2: Straight stitch and Chain stitch Bring the needle to the front of the fabric at the bottom of the little fans. Take the thread to the back at the top of the line on the left. Bring it back up in the same place or a thread away from where you started. Be careful not to split the first thread with the needle as it comes through. Make the second stitch over the next line and continue making the fans in this way. To make the chains, bring the needle and thread to the front at the start of the chain on the left. Pull the thresd through to the front. Insert the needle into the starting place and bring it back out at the other end of the individual chain. Wrap the thread around the back of the needle. Pull the thread through. Insert the needle right next to where the thread is coming through to the front. Set up the next stitch in the same way, bringing the needle point back out at the other end of the little chain and wrapping the thread behind the needle. Pull the thread through. Continue to the end of the seam. Here is the seam completed. Look what you've done! You've completed two seams of your faux crazy quilt block! Well done and see you in Lesson Two.
Here’s a visual guide to some of the most common hand-embroidery stitches found in quilts and other sewing projects. 35 Basic Hand Embroidery Stitches
If you been looking to try out hand quilting but don’t know where to start, this is for you! Check out these quilting tutorials for hand quilted…
I finished this piece long before I went away on my holiday. Just never got around to pressing and taking a photo. I loved stitching this fanciful bird from the clever mind and hand of Nancy Nicholson. I actually added extra embellishments just to make it feel more like mine. The kit was unique in that each of the stitches required was illustrated right on the upper and lower edges of the cloth. All her work is so beautiful; take a peek for yourself. Nancy Nicholson Site I love looking through second hand stores and it fits well with my idea of reusing and recycling. I've found this is something you either love doing or just don't. I even have ideas in mind for certain things I'd love to find. For instance, my winter dish set is the Friendly Village by Johnson Brothers. I've been lucky to pick up extra pieces at thrift stores and am always on the look out for more. I always rummage the craft sections looking through patterns, books and fabrics. This last visit someone had dropped off over 50 boxes of Lain Colbert tapestry wool. I have no use for it but I was sorely tempted to buy them. Top notch stuff in all the beautiful colours. But what could I do with it? Can you crochet with them? Any suggestions? I'll run right back and buy them. This is a cushion cover just like one I handled at Ikea last month. It was $2.99 but I know at the store it was $6.99 and it is striped on the other side. I saw this striped white and pink blouse and liked it right away. Banana Republic with the tags still attached saying $60. It is one of those non-wrinkle kind and will go well with a pair of white capris I have. I paid $12.98 for it. This vintage tablecloth doesn't have a mark on it and cost $1.99. I love the weather vane motifs and the pretty country scenes. This has jiggled a memory for me. It seems familiar and I think one of my grandmothers used to cover her washing machine with one similar. It is now on the table in my sewing room. I got a couple more things, but Hubby (my editor, LOL) says my posts are too long so I'll save those for another day.
I don't know if I've told you before, but I learned how to quilt while I lived in Japan in 2002. Japanese housewife culture, including their approach to quilting, has always fascenated me. I should have been an anthropologist and studied that more intensely, I know, but I got caught up in trying to communicate and became an ESL teacher instead. Anyway.. I discovered flickr in 2006 and the quilts I saw there lead me to start blogging about quilting. Tonight I want to share a handful of my favorite quilt photos from the Tokyo International Quilt festivals held each year in January. One year I'll make it there myself, but until then, I will live vicariously through Jennifer and Jan. Be*mused Tokyo Quilt Fest 2011 Set Be*mused Tokyo Quilt Fest 2010 Set Be*mused Tokyo Quilt Fest 2009 Set Movinghands Tokyo Quilt Fest 2008 Set Movinghands Tokyo Quilt Fest 2007 Set Movinghands Tokyo Quilt Fest 2006 Set (one of my all-time favorites is the 9th quilt in the set-- the blue one) All photos in this post were taken by Jan of Be*mused, used with permission. (*I hate to post quilt photos without information about the makers, but sadly most of these pics don't include any. Apparently the quilter info is only printed in Japanese at the show. If you have any information for any of these quilts, please comment and I will give them proper credit.)
It seems impossible that we’re just over halfway through January already, which means I have completed 18 blocks of my stitch journal. top right, January 2022 I worried that it might be a cho…
These simple words speak tons. A touch... a life... a change... a difference. You make a difference. You touch lives.
I am a fiber artist and a photographer. My fiber work includes using experimental materials, unique techniques, as well as traditional stitch in contemporary ways. I travel the world for photogra…
Jan and Gena sure know how to make lovely quilts and it was my pleasure to quilt for them both. Quilt Information: Pattern - Homegrown by Sue Spargo Measurements - 46" x 46" Batting - Wool - Purchased from me. Backing - Supplied by customer. Quilting - Custom Quilting. Threads - Glide. Quilt Information: Pattern - Unknown to me. Measurements - 37" x 43" Batting - Supplied by customer. Backing - Supplied by customer. Quilting - Custom Quilting. Threads - Glide. Quiltmekiwi Etsy Store quilt feature! I thought I might feature one of the cot quilts for sale on my Etsy store from time to time. This is a sweet 1930's panel cot quilt with a 'bubbly' e2e Quilting design.
Welcome to the second installment of Embroidery School! Are you ready to go crazy? I hope so because we're going to work through some inc...
The TAST FAQ explains what TAST (Take a stitch Tuesday) is, how to join, what materials and equipment you need join TAST the list of TAST stitches
We are onto our last block. Apologies for the slow down in the posts - but with the Covid restrictions being lifted here in Queensland, my...
Watch how flowers can come to life through threads in exquisite embroideries.
I've taken a lot of pictures of vintage Crazy Quilts, but not very many modern day interpretations. I was especially happy to see 2 contemporary CQ versions at the Arizona Quilters Guild show. All Creatures Large and Small by Gerlinde Hruzek won First Place in the "Other" category. This artist used so many mediums in the making of her quilt: Needlepoint, embroidery, applique, crochet and ribbon work to name a few. The far away picture just does not give justice to how wonderful this quilt really is. The close up shots give a much better visual. Look at the imagination and variety! Someday I would really like to make a Crazy Quilt. (Maybe it's because I'm a little crazy?) These pictures bring wonderful inspiration. I could have stared for hours to visually absorb all there was to see. It almost felt a little bit like an I-Spy quilt. Do you spy 3 cats? Or a fish? Imagination made and quilted by Sheila Groman Sheila wrote "Imagination is a fanciful Crazy Quilt created with applique, standard and silk embroidery, ribbon, lace, heirloom gloves, needlepoint, crewel, beads, cross-stitch, and tatting." Whew! Yes, I'd say Imagination is a perfect title.
Over one-third of quilters own an embroidery machine, and about one-third also do embroidery on quilt tops. That leads to a big question - How do you quilt them?
knick knacks & ric rac » Blog Archive » crazy quilt stitches
I've taken a lot of pictures of vintage Crazy Quilts, but not very many modern day interpretations. I was especially happy to see 2 contemporary CQ versions at the Arizona Quilters Guild show. All Creatures Large and Small by Gerlinde Hruzek won First Place in the "Other" category. This artist used so many mediums in the making of her quilt: Needlepoint, embroidery, applique, crochet and ribbon work to name a few. The far away picture just does not give justice to how wonderful this quilt really is. The close up shots give a much better visual. Look at the imagination and variety! Someday I would really like to make a Crazy Quilt. (Maybe it's because I'm a little crazy?) These pictures bring wonderful inspiration. I could have stared for hours to visually absorb all there was to see. It almost felt a little bit like an I-Spy quilt. Do you spy 3 cats? Or a fish? Imagination made and quilted by Sheila Groman Sheila wrote "Imagination is a fanciful Crazy Quilt created with applique, standard and silk embroidery, ribbon, lace, heirloom gloves, needlepoint, crewel, beads, cross-stitch, and tatting." Whew! Yes, I'd say Imagination is a perfect title.
Sashiko Folk Embroidery: A Japanese Art Sashiko is a form of Japanese folk embroidery using the basic running stitch to create a patterned background. The geometric patterns include straight or cur…