Take a Stitch Tuesday Challenge week 20
Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 7:18AM | Sharon B | 29 Comments | in Challenges, Hand Embroidery, Needlework, Take a Stitch Tuesday 
I can’t quite believe we are 20 weeks into this challenge. It does not feel that long but it is. I hope everyone is still enjoying it as much as I am.
This week the challenge is an embroidery stitch know as Butterfly chain stitch.
At first glance it looks quite set in its ways but if you vary the length of the foundation stitches and the way you chain it, the stitch becomes interesting.
You can work it row upon row to form a pattern or as a single line to define a shape.
Shapes such as these squares can be repeated to form patterns
You can change the angle of the chain to produce secondary patterns
This sample the foundation stitches are stepped and the angle of the chained stitches are changed to produce a very different variation on what it considered a some what old fashioned stitch
If you are enjoying this challenge you may be interested in my latest classes which are offered on Joggles.com. Sumptuous surfaces is a 6 week online course which will start July 11th. (Details about the class are on the joggles site so follow the link for more information.)
As usual with this challenge when you have stitched a sample swing by and leave a comment (preferably on this post) so people can check out your site. Don’t forget to leave your URL. To avoid spam you must be registered to leave a comment and all comments are moderated. This means when I have read them I approve them and they are published.
Don’t forget that Debra Spincic generously runs a web ring for the TAST challenge which is found here and for those who have a Flickr account there is the Take a stitch Tuesday flickr group
That’s the stitch this week …as usual experiment, explore and Enjoy!
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (29)
Hey, I think I've seen this as also called the "Sheaf Stitch", Sharon? It's lovely, and I can't wait to try it out!
Hey, Sharon, I thought I've seen this a/k/a the "Sheaf Stitch"? I'm looking forward to trying it...it's lovely!
My computer died on the first comment try; if this is a repeat, delete it!
Hi Sharon,
Sure I do enjoy the TAST challenge. Haven't miss one week so far :-)
And will enroll in your july course. Just waiting for next pay check to do so :-)
hugs
Sheaf stitch is different in the sense that the stitces are not grasped together with a crossed chain stitch - so they are different - but simmilar if that makes sense-
Sharon:
Will you be visiting the US to teach?
I know there were a lot of people interested.
If you have recently written about this, forgive me. I read your site most days, but may have missed your update on this idea.
Peggy
My week 19 & 20 are up on my blog. Really liked both these stitches and I know I will continue to use them. Thanks Sharon!
Hi quiltpoet- yes I am coming to the US to teach in 2008 - I am being sponsored by CQOnline - on the Workshops and classes offered page if you go half way down there are details on it and who to contact about it
the URL is
http://inaminuteago.com/blog/index.php/workshops-and-classes-offered/
Love those bead goodies!!!!!
I have posted some samples and other goodies to my blog. I remembered to post that 2 color ric rac rose too.
www.crazyquiltsusan.vox.com
Hi, Sharon. I've enjoyed doing the stitches each week. I finally have them all on a Flickr site. Here it is: www.flickr.com/photos/vallor/
Thanks for the incentive to learn new stitches.
Valerie L
My Butterfly stitches are blogged and I've added some to my quilt blocks.
Thank you Sharon
Maureen
This is so much fun, thank you Sharon!
http://corinaj.wordpress.com
Catching up ... I've done three weeks on one sample ... woven wheels, whipped wheels, basque stitc and butterfly stitch (single).
http://vivian-institches.blogspot.com/
Here is my basque stitch and my butterfly stitch. I liked the butterfly stitch with the chain worked underneath the bundles which I worked with the varigated thread. They are at http://flickr.com/photos/helenad/ and also in the pool.
Here is my basque stitch and my butterfly stitch. I liked the butterfly stitch with the chain worked underneath the bundles which I worked with the varigated thread. They are at http://flickr.com/photos/helenad/ and also in the pool.
I can't believe I am still keeping up and doing at least some of each of these stitches within a day or 5 of when they get posted.
But - more like my usual form - I am WAAAAAY behind with actually taking photos, putting them online, and blogging about them! LOL
I have just been having a blogging catch up this week, and have taken a heap of photos of my stitching and have put them on the computer and fixed them up (a crop here, a bit lighter/darker there ... just so they look/work a bit better on my blog)
... and I have dug out the half written post about cross stitch and barred chain that I had saved as a draft and posted it, and also put up another post with more barred chain and the experiments with up and down buttonhole and that 3 legged variation.
Those 2 posts are at http://aykayem.blogspot.com/2007/03/crossing-one-or-2-more-off-my-list.html and http://aykayem.blogspot.com/2007/05/humming-few-bars-while-you-wait.html
I also wrote and saved half a post about couching, that I plan to add the photo to and post sometime in the next day or 2 ... then all I have to do is write about the other 8 stitches and I will be caught up ... LOL
(except that if I don't do that before Tuesday, it will be 9 stitches rather than 8 ... and I am sure I will get behind again soon - I am sure to get busy with other things again shortly ... like working out what to enter in the quilt show this year, and making enough of it to take a photo to go with the entry forms - that are due in about 4 weeks time! ... nothing like doing that sort of stuff at the last minute - that seems to be when I finally have all the good ideas - lol)
btw ... the butterflies are fun ... hopefully I will find time in the next day or 3 to stich a few more ideas I have for those ...
Hi Sharon,
My Chain stitch sampler is ready.
Regards,
Deepa
oops...forgot to give the link the first time
Here it is
My chain stitch sampler
http://deepashome.blogspot.com/
hi
had lots of fun with this one although it doesn't come through in the sample.
sample at http:amovablefeast.blogspot.com
neki desu
My butterflies are on my Flickr site. Might have to do a second sampler on this one, as I still have ideas I'm curious about.
www.flickr.com/photos/stitchintime
My butterfly chain stitch sampler is ready at www.readingandstitchinginil.com
Jenny
I have done a very wobbly line of butterfly chain on my blog http://backvalleyseasons.blogspot.com
I have been doing a fun primitive applique and finally late as usual got onto this just as the fellows came in from fishing, I am on Eyre peninsular at Coffin Bay. Lovely spot but the weather is not good except for sewing! We do have a fire.
I have just uploaded my Butterfly chain stitch at
www.stitchingwithschnauzerandsiamese.blogspot.com/
I have just uploaded my Butterfly chain stitch at
www.stitchingwithschnauzerandsiamese.blogspot.com/
Hi, I've blogged my butterfly chain stitch here - http://randomapplique.blogspot.com/2007/05/take-stitch-tuesday-butterfly-chain.html and put a couple of photos in our Flickr group. I liked this stitch!
Hi Sharon, I was a bit slow off the mark with my butterfly chain but I have just got it done in time. http://loopylace.com/anniescrazyworld/?p=463 I like what I ended up with and plan on doing similar on the current block for mum's quilt.
I tried something different, putting multiple rows of chain across long foundation stitching - but I also did some more traditional testing as well.
http://lifeneedleworkandeverything.blogspot.com/2007/05/tast-20-butterfly-chain.html
Margaret
Hi Sharon, my very late butterfly chain is up on the blog and the Flickr group.
http://smockery.blogspot.com/2007/06/getting-back-on-track.html
Hi Sharon - here's my sample http://faffingabout.blogspot.com/2007/06/tast-butterfly-chain-stitch.html - better late than never. I don't really like what I've done with it but never mind!
Soooooooo behind due a family wedding but managed to post the last four stitches, basque, butterfly chain, crossed buttonhole and wheatear on to my blog http://littleworksofart.blogspot.com/ and flickr accounts http://www.flickr.com/photos/margaret_steeden/
Satin to follow!!!!!!!!!!
X Mgt