Translate this blog

 

Stitch Worksheets: 

There are free sample worksheets. Modules 5 and 6 have been published. Details can be found under the Stitch Worksheets tab 

Free weekly challenge TAST 2012:

I am running a free weekly challenge. Details are here

All posts relating to this challenge are in the one category Take a Stitch Tuesday

 

Thanks for the logo goes to Annet of Fat Quarter. Annet has kindly allowed the use of her image.

Next online class:

Studio Journals a Designers Workhorse has commenced. I will be announcing my next class soon.  If you are curious how online classes run you will find a description is on the Classes page

Newsletter

Sharon B's Stitching News is an announcement only newsletter used to let people know about challenges, community events, classes and really, really good stuff! It is used for announcements only not chat. 

Christmas Labels

Recent Comments


Visit stitchin fingers

Add to Technorati Favorites

Thursday
Feb232012

For the Love of Stitching Sampler Band 539

Thread:

The thread is hand dyed silk.

Fabric:

A cotton linen mix that is 22 count 

Date:

This section of the sampler was worked February 2009.

The For Love of Stitching Band Sampler is 15 cm (6 inches) wide. It consists of different strips of fabric which are are stitched together to form one long band sampler.

The needlework band sampler is currently 74 ft 8 inches or 896 inches (2275.84 centimetres) or 24.8 yards  (22.75 metres) long and I have more to add. I will stop when I get bored with playing with it! 

Click on the thumbnail image and you will see a larger version.

The back story:

This series documents part by part, a hand embroidered needlework band sampler, which is still growing as I still stitch it.

If you are interested in the how and why this needlework sampler came to be made have a look at the Introductory Post  to the series. Also I answered a few questions about fabric choice and width

Also blogging has influenced this sampler

Here is a list of previous sections: 

Sections 1 and 23 and 456 , 789101112 13

Sections 15-24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 2829 , 303132,  33, 3435 36 and 37

Each section of the sampler is joined to the previous section to form one long strip. In other words, one long band sampler!

If you want to know more about the process you will find information in how I Extended and backed the sampler.

 

Have you seen my stitchers worksheets?

The stitch worksheets are printable template pages which are designed by me to build into a hand embroiderer's resource file. The worksheets are part stitch dictionary, part inspiration, part storage format, part stimulus to explore new stitches, part organisation method and part lesson plan. 

The first 4 modules are free so you can see if you like them. Details on how they are used, what they contain, and cost of further modules are to be found here.

Wednesday
Feb222012

A Cape of Spider Silk 

The Victoria and Albert Museum is currently showcasing the world’s largest piece of cloth made from spider silk. That is right, spider web was harvested from golden orb spiders spun and woven into a brocaded shawl.

The website also features this short short film that reveals the  3 year process. Curious to learn more? There is  more information and a full transcript of the video on the V & A page

Simon Peers and Nicholas Godley discuss Golden Spider Silk from Victoria and Albert Museum

 

Tuesday
Feb212012

Take a Stitch Tuesday week 8 

I bet most experienced hand stitchers that have been following this series will have guessed the stitch for this week. I have structured this challenge so that the new hands can develop skills based of previous experience. After detached chain last week, it stands to reason Chain stitch is the next stitch on the list for this week. Follow the link for directions on how to work it.

For more experienced stitchers I am encouraging them to take the stitch and push it further. There are loads of varieties of chain stitch some of which I introduce later in the challenge (although not next week!) That the challenge is to take a stitch and see what can be done with it.  

For those who dont like the push it further aspect, take the second option and in a sample combine chain stitch with any previous TAST  2012 challenge stitch.  I am sure crazy quilters will like this,  as it demonstrates to the new hands how  embellished seams are built. 

You can find directions for chain stitch in my stitch dictionary. It is a stitch that is very useful for outlines as it creates a line, and for that reason is called a linear stitch.

  

Once again the challenge is:

For new hands to learn the stitch 

Or

If you are an experienced stitcher take the stitch and push it a little further in a creative manner or combine this stitch with one of the stitches already covered in TAST 2012. If you have worked a sample in a previous challenge feel free to post a link in comments as it will inspire people but if you have time do try another sample and do something different and new!

Try working it different threads, or on different fabrics. Play with scattering and layering.  You can add beads,  overlap the stitch, or use it to couch down another thread or ribbon.

No matter what you do with it explore the stitch.  

How to join in

Stitch a sample,  take a photograph of it, put in online in your blog, flickr site or on stitchin fingers page, swing by here and leave a comment with your full web address so people can visit and see your sample.  

When you leave a comment 

When you leave a comment leave it on this post. People will not find your comment if you dot them all over the blog and this means you will get less visitors for you! That is sad, after going to the effort of stitching a sample then photographing it and getting it online. 

How do you know what this post is? Click on the title and you will be taken to an individual page. You can favourite it or copy and paste the URL as a note to yourself so you can return to this page again.

Don’t forget to leave your full web address in the comment, including the http:// bit as this will then become a live link that people can follow. Leave it in the comment itself so people can just click on the link and they come to your site. 

Visit a few sites of people who have already left a comment. See what they have done. I am sure everyone will enjoy following the links left in the comments. If you have time, let other people know that you have seen their work on their site.

Where is the comments link?

Look under the title you will see comments. Click there to be taken to a comment box.

Any special rules?
There are no rules but I do have a request, please link back here. 

Interesting work will be featured

On Pintangle I will feature samples that participants have stitched as part of the challenge. These feature spots draw attention to particularly creative and interesting work. This will mean some people’s work will be re-published here. Obviously  I will  credit them and link to their website.  I am going to assume that when you leave your link here if you dont say anything, I have your permission to feature your work. If you do not want your work to be featured in the highlights series please state this in the comment you leave.

Other groups and networks

You can also share your explorations with other members on the social network site of your choice. There is a Facebook TAST 2012 page,   stitchin fingers group and the flickr TAST site. All these sub groups are set up at request of members. 

Although I do watch these groups my main focus is here and if you want to contact me do so here as with so much activity I might miss you on the other sites. 

Guidelines to the challenge are to be found here and all posts relating to TAST are in the Take a Stitch Tuesday category

In my side bar I have a feature where you can have PinTangle delivered daily to your email inbox. If you find this a more convenient way to track what is going on please sign up. 

Week 1: Fly Stitch

Week 2: Buttonhole Stitch

Week 3: Feather Stitch

Week 4: Cretan Stitch

Week 5: Herringbone Stitch

Week 6: Chevron Stitch

Week 7: Detached Chain Stitch

Monday
Feb202012

TAST Week 7 Highlights

People certainly enjoyed working detached chain stitch this week.

Once again I can only encourage people to browse the links people have left as you are missing out if you make some time in your week to make a cuppa, and take in some inspiring eye candy. 

First up in htis week's highlights, I would like to point out that over on Threads and Patches, Marjolein has written a tutorial on how to secure a trapped bead using detached chain stitch

 

Another tutorial is available over on Let’s learn Embroidery demonstratng  using detached chain stitch to attach a shisha mirror 

 

On Arts Crafts and More Veena used detached chain stitch to circle shisha mirrors

Over on Stitching with a Shimmy, Romilly has provided a free pattern which uses detached chain stitches 

I smiled when I saw the little wet duck on this sample from Airy Nothing 

Over on Carrement Crazy there is a lovely example of detached chain used on a shabby chic or primitive crazy quilt piece. I am not sure what to call this developing crazy quilting  style but I really like it!

I really enjoyed the freeform sample from Anneliese which looks a little like a palm tree! 

Another enjoyable piece is found over on playful stitching. I particularly liked the owls.

I loved the colour scheme Chris Richards used in her latest mandela over on Ella’s Craft Creations.  

Over on Bland garner, trasor och trådar there is a series of experiments with this stitch

This brightly coloured poppy field by Patricia Gellon attracted my eye too

Finally this freeform sampler has been growing under the hands of Yarn Goddess over on Sooner or later. 

TAST budlets (other groups and networks)

You can also share your explorations with other members on the social network site of your choice. There is a Facebook TAST 2012 page,   stitchin fingers group and the flickr TAST site. All these sub groups are set up at request of members. 

Although I do watch these groups my main focus is here and if you want to contact me do so here as with so much activity I might miss you on the other sites. 

Guidelines to the challenge are to be found here and all posts relating to TAST are in the Take a Stitch Tuesday category

In my side bar I have a feature where you can have PinTangle delivered daily to your email inbox. If you find this a more convenient way to track what is going on please sign up. 

Week 1: Fly Stitch

Week 2: Buttonhole Stitch

Week 3: Feather Stitch

Week 4: Cretan Stitch

Week 5: Herringbone Stitch

Week 6: Chevron Stitch

Week 7: Detached Chain Stitch

Sunday
Feb192012

Interview on Zede's Sewing Blog

Over on Zede's Sewing Blog I have been interviewed if you are curious about such questions as how long I have been stitching and what my most important sewing tool I use, you might want to pop over and read it.

Of more interest I am sure is the numerous tips, tricks and tutorials to be found here. If you are a sewer you will enjoy this blog so make a cuppa, take a break and browse