Take a Stitch Tuesday Challenge week 25
Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 7:10AM | Sharon B | 18 Comments | in Challenges, Hand Embroidery, Needlework, Take a Stitch Tuesday 
Gosh! We are nearly half way through the year with this challenge and there are plenty of people still stitching! It's great fun checking out who has done what and I really enjoy following the comment left each week.
Without further I will announce that this weeks Take a Stitch Tuesday Challenge is Long and Short stitch.
Since I do not have it in my stitch dictionary I have included instructions here. This is a wonderful timeless stitch which can be interpreted in a contemporary manner as above, or in a traditional way as below. It is often used in 'thread painting' as it is wonderful to shade from one tone to another.
There are two “types” of long and short stitch that of the regular straight stitches and Long and short stitch worked on a curve.
It is best to master the first type before moving on the second. These samples are worked on even weave fabric in the thread that is fractionally too thin so that you can see how the stitch is worked. Normally a thicker thread would be used to ‘fill out’ the stitch
To start you work a row of alternating long and short stitches
The second row and all rows after that are stitches of the same length.
The last row is worked in half stitches to fill the area evenly.
Working long and Short stitch on a curve or radiating outwards.
To work long and short on a curve or in a radiating manner first work 3 or 4 radiating long stitches.
Between these long stitches tuck smaller shorter stitches as illustrated.
To do this place the point of the needle between the stitches, not back in the same hole as the previous row of stitches. This ‘tucking’ between stitches will mean you can you work long and short on a curve or radiating outwards.
I have illustrated where to place the needle in the image below.
Continue radiating the stitches outwards tucking the stitches in on each row.
As you can see this tucking in method produces a smooth surface.
As I have just said this stitch can be used to fill areas very effectively and shaded to produce some painterly effects. This unicorn was stitched in single strand DMC cotton.
This is a contemporary sample which was shaded using long and short stitch at the top right hand area and chain stitch is mid way. It is interesting to compare the two as both can be used to shade areas and it is wonderful to work with hand space dyed threads.
If you are enjoying this challenge you may be interested in my latest online class offered on Joggles.com. Sumptuous surfaces is a 6 week online course which will start July 11th. (Follow the link for more information.)
There is a Take a stitch Tuesday flickr group which you can browse
Enjoy this weeks challenge!
Reader Comments (18)
Long and Short stitch....AAAARRRGH!
http://crazyqstitcher.wordpress.com/
Hi Sharon, I am out here stitching your TAST stitches. I am not submitting any pictures, but have all the stitches listed in one of your books and am putting them on round robin crazy quilts. Just so you are aware there are some of us who are silent but just as enthusiastic.
Another note. Will you have more of your notebooks with different designs??
Doni
Thank you so much Sharon for encourage us all to stitch every week and learn some new, now and than. I have all the stitches posted on my blog and my Flickr. site every week.
http://malinaplass.blogspot.com/
Ati.
Hi, I would love to follow a class again. But in the summer I am too busy with guests. I hope you will offer it again during our winter.
Persistence has made some difference to my stitch. I have blogged this weeks efforts. Please note the word Effort. LOL
Thanks Sharon for the push.
http://crazyqstitcher.wordpress.com/
I have blogged a new and and an old sample of long and short. It is interesting that even when TAST is a stitch I regularly use, I learn something new. Thank you.
Margaret
http://lifeneedleworkandeverything.blogspot.com/2007/06/tast-25-lond-and-short-stitch.html
happy Summer Sunday to all.
my long and short stitch sample is up at http://amovablefeasts.blogspot.com
cheers
neki desu
A small sample of long and short stitch is up on flicker at
http://flickr.com/photos/helenad/614054142/ and in the pool.
Sharon, I've been busy playing catch-up so I've added weeks 18-25 (minus week 20) on my blog. Looking forward to doing more with these stitches and your new class starting in July. You may find my samples here: http//normasneedles.blogspot.com
I have just posted my long and short stitch. I have an enormous amount of difficulty with this stitch and dont seem to get my stitches either straight or close enough but it is on my blog.
http://backvalleyseasons.blogspot.com
Hi Sharon I have just posted my Long and Short stitch --gee we are half way though the year already and I must say I have enjoyed the challenge so much.
Doreen
http://doreeng.blogspot.com/
I've been catching up as well, my stitches for 23-25 weeks can be seen here: http://heegeldab.blogspot.com/2007/06/tast-weeks-23-25.html
I have enjoyed seeing the old and new examples of the TAST stitches that others are posting. I too posted old and new samples of long and short stitch in my blog today -- www.readingandstitchinginil.com -- Jenny
Delayed by a week..but here it is..phew..
http://deepashome.blogspot.com/
Regards
Deepa
long and short stitch sample
http://fionacupcake.blogspot.com/2007/07/long-and-short-stitch.html
I'm starting to catch up.
Long and short stitch is on my blog and at my Flickr site:
http://luciscreativeadventures.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/luci_f/
Hi Sharon, I've finally completed my long and short stitch and am glad I persevered! Here's the link http://faffingabout.blogspot.com/2007/08/tast-long-short-stitch.html
So sorry you're sick, Sharon. Hope you recover quickly. I'm sending you healing rays with all my best wishes.