Take a stitch Tuesday Challenge week 3
Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 10:15AM | Sharon B | 6 Comments | in Challenges, Hand Embroidery, Needlework, Take a Stitch Tuesday 
I know I am running late this morning so this post is dash hurried but here I am and the stitch of the week for the Take a Stitch Tuesday Challenge is detached chain stitch. This is an easy stitch, which is often taught to children. Worked in a circle to form a flower motif it is often known as lazy daisy stitch.
As with last week, I settled down with thread and fabric, thinking I would suggest people explore the chain stitch family of stitches and found that I became totally absorbed with just one of the family members – detached chain. The sample above is worked in perle 8 thread with this the tie stitch pointed inwards and a buttonhole ring worked in the centre
People are free to explore all the chain stitch varieties but what I am finding with this challenge is that by focusing on just one stitch for the week I am discovering more about it. Instead of working a few obvious examples the challenge is making me think up something different or explore something I have not done much.
For instance this sample is detached chain worked over sequin waste. Once again it is worked with the tie stitch pointed inwards this time I wove a metallic thread under the spokes and stitched a bead in the middle.
This next sample the elongated tie stitches point outwards. The stitches are worked in wool over sequin waste.
As you can see just by arranging the spacing and size of each of the chain stitches there is a lot you can do with this versatile stitch.
This stitch has many arrangements, particularly once you include beads or something like sequin waste that I am sure people will find that its satisfying trying to discover just how many you can think up.
If you want to give a little extra zest to daisy flowers worked in detached chain stitch you can do with them is to pad them with felt.
This raises the flower off the surface just a little.
This means they are slightly more textural and therefore noticeable.
This sample was worked in hand dyed perle 8 cotton thread on 32 count linen
To pad this stitch simply cut out a small disk of felt and stitch it to the fabric.
When choosing the felt select a colour that will not clash too harshly if little bits peek through the stitching.
When stitching the felt in place use a sewing thread that is the same colour as the felt.
I have a different colour in the sample so that you can see what I have done.
Once the felt is stitched in place simply work around the ring with detached chain stitches.
Fill the centre of the disk with French knots or beads.
This is an example of padded detached chain worked in wool. The first row worked was the outer row and then the middle row stitched in the centre.
The leaves were worked in Oyster stitch which of course is a variety of detached chain
In many ways this challenge is a ‘taster’ for my online class. So if you are enjoying this challenge you might be interested in taking one of my online classes Develop a Personal Library of Stitches which starts February 20, 2007.
The other class that is open for bookings is Encrusted Crazy Quilting which starts February 9, 2007.
Both classes have a design emphasis and material in the class is not published online. Both links lead to details about these classes.
Reader Comments (6)
Fantastic and yummy variations here, Sharon!
I love your experimentation using the sequin waste for structure and its also cool how it peeks in and out of the first example.
I couldn't wait to find out what stitch you chose for us this week Sharon. I will enjoy this one too.
I just wanted to say I have never seen such an inventive use of sequin waste, and I just bought a roll last week, so I will definitely be a bit of a copy cat.
Those are beautiful samples, thank you for sharing them. I have a mad love affair with threads, LOL
Just curious where does one buy sequin wast.
Sunshine - sequin waste can be purchased from craft shops - my local needlework shop stocks it and my local bead shop does too - you can buy it by the half meter - it is not expensive - or that is the case here in Australia. I have found more unusual shaped holes in sequin waste discovred at craft fairs etc - it comes in all sorts of colours and with different holes -