TAST 2010 - 26

Chained Cross Stitch

In over fifty years of doing cross stitch I never came across, or thought of, using a top chain stitch to add texture or accent.

Adding a chain as a top cross on this silhouette tree has added texture and depth, though it was a bit demanding on my eyes stitching on each square rather than over four as Sharon demonstrated.

I messed the background by using fabric crayons, not good on Aida fabric.

Too late I realized I should have used paint, but at that stage bad would have become worse!

The 'Sunset' pattern is from an old magazine, Cross Stitch Gallery 21, with background effectively done in cross stitch.

I intended doing the background in basic cross stitch, against which the tree would have looked good ......but my arm gave up.

I'm going to take a short break from stitching, if I can, to give the arthritis a chance to settle down ....... I hope!!!!!

Not so long ago ....

"From the old album" .....

....... for Carolyn's challenge, (Love Stitching Red)

Sorry I can't get a link - details on my Flickr site - link to that on side .....

TAST 2010 - 25

Vandyke Stitch

A mini stitch sampler, 6x10cm. which I have worked on over two days as the stitches are quite small and the threads mostly fine -

Stef Francis Fine Perle, Caron Wildflowers and crochet cotton No. 8.

The background is fine linen, Jet Ink printed with a photo of a collection of variegated fibres. I enjoy printing on fine linen but my printer doesn't always! It struggles and makes funny noises.

This is an easy stitch - but as usual I went wrong here and there.

Sunflowers & Haiku 28

"Sunflower season,

Paint, stitch, and take photographs,

'twill brighten dull days"

Our neighbour has a lovely tall sunflower and the local paper recently had photos of blooms growing to record heights - reminding me that I have a collection of a watercolour pencil painting done long ago, a photo of a field in France with the blooms fading, and several stitched pieces, which together have made a nice mosaic.

I added a Haiku as I'm way behind on my personal weekly "52 Haikus" challenge on Flickr - there should be about 32 by now!

Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry with three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables.

It is sometimes expanded or reduced in other versions but I prefer the original format.

Siennese Stitch Mini Sampler

Tast 2010 - 24

This is last week's stitch - I haven't been stitching, or using PC a lot recently as my arm is in a painful phase.

Hopefully it will be better again soon, I get frustrated!!!

The sampler is small, 6x6cm. on an Aida 14 count band in DMC Perle 5.

The pink and purple is variegated, green weaving is in a plain double thread.

This was quick and easy to do this afternoon, I enjoyed stitching it.

The weaving has added dimension and, I think, interest.

TAST 07 32 33 34 - Doodle

32 Crested Chain Stitch
33 Scroll Stitch
34 Portuguese Stem Stitch

As it was sunny and warm this morning I sat in the garden to complete this stitch sampler, with a few unintentional variations where I went wrong!
Although I was not keen on the stitches at first I enjoyed them as I got going - I often find this is so.
It's a mini piece, 7x10cm, on evenweave in DMC Perle 5 and 8.
The doodle developed as it went along and it's in a picnic frame for presentation.

"Just popping round the pond....."

TAST 2010 - 23 Waved Chain Stitch and variations.

Many thanks to Sue Webb for the background inspirational photo.

The link is on my Flickr Photostream - see side panel here.

The postcard is made from a Jet Ink print on canvas paper with top stitching.

The canvas is backed with a cotton fabric, flowers stitched with Stef Francis fine Perle and Caron Widflower threads.

Dried grasses are over stitched in Waved Chain, here and there with one strand DMC Floss, to give texture. (This doesn't show here!)

Busy Lizzies and TAST

The Impatiens have been more vibrant than ever this year so I took several photos recently.

Then I jet printed onto a canvas paper as background for a textile postcard and added my next three 2007 TAST stitches, using Perle threads.

29 Arrowhead Stitch,

30 Buttonhole Wheel Stitch,

31 Cast On Stitch,
and a few French Knots.

The canvas paper is substantial, layered on a cotton base, and does not need edge stitching.

I'll be printing more of the photos on the canvas to make into greetings cards - without additional stitching.