TAST2012 - Page 3

Thankfully, I've caught up on my TAST samples.  I don't want to get behind if at all possible, and of course, I only want these samples to be a simple teaching aid, nothing fancy, just the basics.  Well, what you see on Page 3 will reinforce that attitude because that is what you get, plain and simple...........LOL.

Week 9 saw us working couching, something I've done without really thinking about it.  It's always just been a means to an end, ie get the thick/bulky thread onto the background!!  Of course, it comes into it's own in Jacobean work, where all sorts of patterns are created by varying the laid threads.  Mine is VERY basic.

We then 'progressed' to running stitch, and another adventure with so many possible variations.  In my sample I worked a section using two shades of the one colour.  This particular 'pattern darning' is called damask darning.  We often take this very easy stitch for granted.

The whipped and woven wheels are always most exciting.  I really should have worked my sample in a hoop prior to cutting out the little piece.  I didn't do much with this, simply because time has not been kind to me lately.  I like whipping, and I adore weaving, and like to use both in my work.

The last stitch was something new to me, albeit a variation on twisted chain stitch.  It is called barred or alternating barred chain.  It's lovely to work, and I can see I'll be making use of it in the future.  These lines by themselves form quite a nice pattern, useful for borders, thorny stems, and such.  I even admired the way the thread looked at the back!!  If you would like to see how the stitch is executed, there are some examples here.  You will also be able to view some of the more creative ways the TAST2012 participants have used it.