Take a stitch Tuesday Challenge week 19
Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 8:04AM | Sharon B | 21 Comments | in Challenges, Hand Embroidery, Needlework, Take a Stitch Tuesday 
Every week I am totally amazed at the imagination, creative experimentation and the work that people put into this challenge.
By far the best part is watching the samples go online bit by bit as people publish their pieces. It really becomes a thrill. I come home from work on Monday night to a flurry of activity as people make the 'deadline'. I think last week everyone enjoyed the whipped and woven wheels as they are fun.
If you are enjoying this challenge you may want to check out my latest class Sumptuous surfaces offered on Joggles.com. This class 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.)
This week the challenge is an embroidery stitch called Basque stitch.
As the name suggests, this stitch is found on old embroideries from the Basque area of northern Spain you also find it used on embroidery from Portugal and southern France.
Once you get the hang of it this stitch falls into a rhythm and its very relaxing to work.
The first sample is worked flipping the stitches from side to side. As you can see it makes an ideal floral motif or part motif.
I used DMC perle 5 thread.
This is a stitch that is absolutely marvellous on a curve. This sample was worked on a piece of cotton batik and I just picked out the curve of the printed pattern.
This sample on linen has three basque stitches hanging off a stem stitch to form a little flower. It is stitched in a thread the same weight as DMC perle 8
This is an example of working it in a line. You can create patterns by extending the loops. When worked in rows you can crate some interesting arrangements. You can also whip or thread the base of the stitch to create more effects still!
This last example is where I used it in crazy quilting. It is really good at emphasising a line in a motif.
This last sample is worked in a circle. When worked like this it takes on the form of a flower whichis ideal in floral motifs. it is very effective if you work in a heavy thread and fill the middle with beads!
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 Take a Stitch Tuesday Challenge stitch this week …as usual experiment, explore and Enjoy!
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Reader Comments (21)
Hi Sharon, Sorry to bother you but I was wondering if you could help with the use of chenille thread, I see you have used it successfully in your first eight inch block with oyster stitch. There is a question on the flickr site from fibredabbler there re this as well. Do you need a special needle, is it a special chenille thread. I love the texture of chenille but have only ever couched it. Thanks Annette
This looks like fun.
In response to a tag by Gunnel I have tagged you as a way of thanking you for the pleasure your blog gives me. As I am sure this has happened to you many times before please do not feel obliged to respond.
Hi Sharon - a bit late but I have loaded my woven wheels - cheers
Dale
I got back on my blog. yeah!!!! I have posted the last couple weeks of samples. And another finished cell phone pouch.
www.crazyquiltsusan.vox.com
Sharon, I'm WAY behind on my TAST but will join in again soon. In the meantime I've posted some running stitch (pattern darning) samples on my blog, and a bit of explanation about what's been happening in my life lately. Swing by a take a peek at www.missmuffettwo.blogspot.com
Hooroo, Christine.
Sorry I keep forgetting to post here!! Basque stitch now on Flick and htt:/alteringthoughts.blogspot.com/
This week my inspiration was our new fish tank.
http://lifeneedleworkandeverything.blogspot.com/2007/05/tast-19-basque-stitch.html
Funny thing this week. I ran across a librarian's blog where the writer was asked how she did so much. It reminded me of you.
Margaret
I have finished the Basque Stitch and have uploaded it to my blog.
Thanks again Sharon for this interesting lesson.
Maureen
Hi Sharon,
I did an example of last week's stitch, the Woven Wheel (actually I tried the Woven Fan) on my current CQ project. I blogged it today (Friday) along with several charted fan borders in case anyone is interested in trying this stitch using Waste Canvas.
Hi Sharon,
I posted a few samples on the Basque stitch at:
http://quietermoments.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">quietermoments.wordpress.com
I have finished my Basque stitch and posted to the Flickr site Rene
Thank you Sharon for your samples, you gave me an idea for this week challenge.
http://corinaj.wordpress.com
Hi Sharon --Both the Woven Wheels sample and the Basque Stitch one are now on my Blog.
I don't know how I got behind but I am caught up now so onwards and upwards from here.
Doreen
http://doreeng.blogspot.com/
My Basque Stitch piece is in my blog. Since I just joined the ring, I am not going to try and catch up.
Jenny
http://readingandstitchinginil.blogspot.com/
Late as usual but I had fun doing the Basque stitch, kept wondering what the actual Basque embroidered stuff looked like but no time to explore the net at the moment. off fishing at the end of the week so will be absent until about the 1st of June.
on my blog
http://backvalleyseasons.blogspot.com
I made a couple atcs with this week and last week's stitch.
http://www.artbybethrobinson.com/journal/2007/5/13/a-couple-tast-atcs.html
Hi Sharon, I've done a combined Wheel and Basque stitch sample this week, blogged it here - http://randomapplique.blogspot.com/2007/05/take-stitch-tuesday-wheel-basque.html and posted a photo on the Flickr group.
hi ya'll
i forgot to leave a message here!
my basque stitch is up at http://amovablefeast.blogspot.com
neki desu
Catching up!
I have posted my Basque stitch piece on my blog and flickr sites.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/luci_f/
http://luciscreativeadventures.blogspot.com/
Hi Sharon, I'm gradually catching up and here's my sample for Basque stitch which was fun to do. http://faffingabout.blogspot.com/2007/05/tast-basque-stitch.html
I'm slowly but surely catching up!
http://fionacupcake.blogspot.com/search/label/basque