Take a stitch Tuesday Challenge week 23
Tuesday, June 5, 2007 at 8:46AM | Sharon B | 23 Comments | in Challenges, Hand Embroidery, Needlework, Take a Stitch Tuesday 
Last week I asked if people wanted to have a holiday week but the majority did not want to have catch up time so we have another stitch this week for the Take a Stitch Tuesday Challenge.
Just a reminder that if you are enjoying this series by either reading along and browsing the sites or stitching along 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.)
Wheatear stitch is a great stitch to explore and interpret in all sorts ways. It consists of two straight stitches worked on the diagonal with a chain looped through the base.
For this weeks samples I have used 1 ply of Caron Watercolour thread on Aida.
You can do all sorts of things to wheatear stitch. It can be stacked row upon row and worked to create a pattern.
In this sample I have simply worked rows in both directions and lined up so they slightly overlap but you can easily step the rows, lace, thread and use the rows the couch down thread. Some very interesting effects can be built up this way.
Wheatear can also be worked in a square. In this sample I have worked 4 squares building up a pattern. You could easily add beads to the patterning as well.
The next four samples are variations on adding extra straight stitches. All of them can be worked in singles like this or worked in rows in a square in line or on a curve. Beads could easily be added and the stitch could be used to couch down stitches. The possibilities are really limitless!
The last sample contains wheatear stitched worked on a curve that has been worked around a bead. Once you work Wheatear on a curve its nature becomes very organic and it looks like wild grasses or wheat. Hence the name.
Also on the sample is a variety in which I have substituted oyster stitch for the chain loop. It makes for a very interesting variety.
This last sample the stitch has been used on a Crazy Quilting Block. I used a silk thread and added extra straight stitches in a metallic thread then topped it off with a bead.
When you have stitched a sample swing by and leave a comment on this post so people can check out your site. To avoid spam you must be registered and all comments are moderated. This means they are not approved immediately but when I have read they are published.
Other news is that Debra Spincic wrote to me through the week to tell me that she is no longer taking sign ups for the TAST webring as spam has overloaded her but there is a Take a stitch Tuesday flickr group which you can browse
Reader Comments (23)
Your landscape-y wheatear with the beads and oyster stitch is truly stunning, Sharon!
hallo sharon,
ti ho scritto in passato e ti ho inviato foto di un lavoro che avevo fatto grazie ai suggerimenti del tuo TAST.
ti ringrazio ancora per i punti che regolarmente continui a suggerire e grazie a tutte coloro che partecipano.
parlo poco inglese, spero possiate tradurre ciò che dico.
tra le altre cose ho preso l'idea per partecipare al BJP di robin.
a presto
Sharon, I'm with Allison, that landscape is wonderful. You've somehow made the whole scene so vivid for me. Of course, being me I have to add that I'm fascinated by the grid in the third photo, too.
this is an sos call for you ladies.
i've tried following the directions in Sharon's stitch dictionary and i don't get it. Could someone please help me out?
Is it ok to do the chain and then the 2tails? is that considered cheating:)?
suggestions?
you can write me at kangies at yahoo dot com so as not to inundate Sharon's blog
thks
neki desu
Niki - I think you are already doing the stitch right - you can make the two straight stitches then thread through the chain or turn it around and do a chain and make two tails - it still works out - hope this helps
Hi Sharon
I have just finished challenge 22, and as you said it really is fun to play around. Have just posted the work on my blog.....I thoroughly enjoyed it.... off to play with 23 now.
Many thanks
Maggie
stitchingwithschnauzerandsiamese.blogspot.com
I just did a few samples of wheatear this week because I was busy with some samples for an historic needlework project.
http://lifeneedleworkandeverything.blogspot.com/2007/06/tast-23-wheatear-and-plimoth-jacket.html
Hi Sharon, my latest set of stitches are posted to my blog. A nice easy stitch to use. Your own work is gorgeous.
http://crazyqstitcher.wordpress.com/
Hi Sharon,
Just popping in to say that I've posted some work on the wheatears at http://quietermoments.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">quietermoments.wordpress.com
Hi Sharon,
I've posted my wheatear samples on flickr and at www.crazyquiltsusan.vow.com
I love the possibilities I found with this one.
I loved doing this stitch, sometimes it looked like a millepede but I did it as a field of wheat and really spent time on it, thanks Sharon for this on going delight.
Oh its on my blog
http://backvalleyseasons.blogspot.com
Love that sample with the oyster stitch and the beads!
Hi Sharon,
my wheatear sample is on the blog and on the Flickr group. I should have been able to do a lot more with this stitch, but I wanted to catch up.
http://smockery.blogspot.com/2007/06/tast-week-23-wheatear-stitch.html
I finally finished my wheatear sample and posted it to my blog: www.readingandstitchinginil.com -- please stop by and take a look. Now I need to think about french knots.
My wheateared wildflowers are up
http://mindblogglings.blogspot.com/
Sharon what are those wonderful seeds (well they look like seeds or something natural) on your sample???
nancilyn - they are seeds - I found an old sting at a swap meet market for about 50c and pulled it apart.
I have just posted my wheatear sample on the group site http://flickr.com/groups/56846286@N00/ and at
http://flickr.com/photos/helenad/544061144/
It took me a while to get going because I was torn between naturalistic and abstract ideas and then I got given some small dyed pieces of silk on monday last as a gift. One piece seemed to echo the colour of some space dyed threads which I already had and I have stayed torn between the naturalistic and the abstract.
I also took a while to post because I wasn't sure if I should back the silk in some way. I wondered if other people have advice on sewing on light weight silk.
This was another stitch I knew about but had not tried out.
Better late than never...
My tiny sampler is here...
http://deepashome.blogspot.com/
Sharon, could u pls add the instructions for crested chain stitch in ur dictionary???
Thanks
Deepa
Deepa - I will try and get it done - this week is a bit hectic but I will post something in the blog when done
Late as usual, but done:
http://thepingallery.wordpress.com/2007/06/18/tast-23-and-some-more/
I think this will be one of my favourite stitches :)
Hi Sharon, here's my wheatear stitch. Slowly catching up! http://faffingabout.blogspot.com/2007/06/tast-wheatear-stitch.html
Hi Sharon, finally finished my catch-up and you will find my Wheat Ear sample here:
http://normasneedlez.blogspot.com
playing catchup again!
http://fionacupcake.blogspot.com/2007/07/wheatear-sample.html