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. 

TAST Journal Page 2

I'm very pleased to share page 2 of the stitch journal, not long organized and into the folder, phew!!  Remember, I'm not aiming to have the most creatively stitched samples in the 'class', just a simple and tidy way to have stitches ready for taking along to sewing days [you never know when someone wants to learn.........].

Week 5 had us working herringbone.  I used a Finca #16 perlé thread, and overstitched a little cross [in Glisten Gloss metallic] where the herringbone did the little cross-over thing.  I like this all-over effect, and think this would make excellent trim for cuffs on a blouse, or even a plain feature at the top of a bag.  

We then moved on to chevron, which is one stitch that I've done over and over again.  It's one of the basic stitches used in smocking.  Again I was looking for an overall effect, and again found this quite pleasing.  The thread is DMC stranded [3 strands, and 1 strand for the fillings].  I dyed this thread myself using two Dylon cold water colours.  It's a really lovely thread for 'garden' embroidery.

Moving along to week 7 - an old favourite, detached chain or lazy daisy.  The thread is #8 perlé Minnamurra, dragged out of the box after years and years in exile!!  The little centre 'flowers' were formed with the tying part of the stitch extended quite a deal.  I often use the 'fan' formation along a seam if I'm doing some crazy patchwork, with added straight stitches and beads. 

Finally, plain old continuous chain stitch, which I have to say isn't one I like all that much.  I can't give any valid reason for that.  These threads were some more that had languished in the bottom of a thread box for a number of years.  I purchased them from Ken Smith, Brisbane, and have used them from time to time for bobbin work in free machine embroidery.  I've worked rows of chain, and interlaced, just rows of chain, and some chain with double weaving/running, which actually makes a great high relief outline stitch, something I think I will use in the future. 

I hope this set of four stitches will pass for my TAST effort, and hopefully I'll do something exciting for the next page.........  I'm also preparing fabrics for some small premmie baby quilts - in between mowing, garden duties, and ferrying hubby from one paddock to the next as he's trying to plant fodder grasses.

Thank you for always offering such wonderful support.  I have passed on the good wishes to my sister.

Organization at last

It's taken me days and days to get my TAST2012 samples ready for public viewing........LOL.....  I posted about my folder here, so won't go into the details of the actual construction now.  For some time I've dallied trying to decide how to display the samples in a pleasing and useful way.  In the end, I've decided to go with strong card, A4 size, protected by re-useable sleeves.  I stitched my samples in such a way so they would fit four to a page.  I have the first four samples ready to share today - they have been glued in place.

Of course, I feel such a journal needs a title page, so here it is.  Yes, I know, nothing stitched and grand, just some lettering.  I do not want to become bogged down with this challenge.  If I were to use fabric pages, I would need to do a lot more sewing, possibly using two layers of fabric per page, and insert eyelets at the sides in order to attach said pages to the rings.

Hopefully the sample close-up will help viewers to see the stitching a little better.  I have decided to try each of them worked on evenweave, as I really have never done that with these type of stitches, ie I've always used them in a more free form manner.  I am quite pleased with the result.  Some of them seem to lend themselves well to being worked en masse, and form a very nice all over pattern, and the addition of a few other simple stitches has given them a lift.  I am actually seeing them in a totally different light.  I am not paying attention to colour co-ordination either, just choosing a thread at will each week, no rhyme or reason, just because - it's rather liberating to be honest.

If you are interested in the samples being worked by others, you can visit http://www.pintangle.com/journal/category/take-a-stitch-tuesday  and take yourself on a creative web hop.  There are some wonderful examples being worked, so creative, and inspiring.  I believe the TAST2012 challenge boasts in excess of 500 participants, so it has obviously caught the attention of many stitchers worldwide.  I can't believe tomorrow will be Week 7.  I won't be posting samples every week, only when I have a group of four ready to share, so please bear with me. 

TAST2012 Challenge

I'm delighted to be joining a large number of ladies [several of them my very close blogging/SF friends] to work through the TAST2012 challenge next year.  The logo above was created/stitched by one of the SF members, Annet, who kindly allowed other participants to use it.

You can see more about the challenge, and find links to many blogs which perhaps may be of interest to you.  This is the link:http://www.pintangle.com/community-challenges/2011/12/1/take-a-stitch-tuesday-2012-challenge-information-page.html  The challenge is run by Sharon Boggon, of http://www.pintangle.com/ and http://stitchinfingers.ning.com/ fame. 

I am not sure I will be able to work through each stitch, but I'll have a red hot go at it.  Over the last few years I have watched many ladies share their TAST work via various sites, and feel such a challenge will be of benefit to me at this time in my stitching life.

I hope I can share some of my efforts, and that readers will enjoy my progress, as well as take an interest in each and every other participant's work.