Stitch Explorer 2009 January
Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 8:55AMMany readers have been waiting for Stitch Explorer 2009 to start so without any teasing or fuss I will get on with it.
During the TAST challenge many people were surprised at what could happen when you take an embroidery stitch and push it. Once free of the injunction “you must do it this way” a stitch could become the starting point for all sorts of interesting mark making in thread and inspire new ways of working.
The same holds true of embroidery styles. You can take a style and push it in other directions.
The first style I am going to suggest is chicken scratch. This is an ideal first challenge as the basic stitches are simple so that those who are new to embroidery are still able to participate yet you can do so much with it. It is also quick to do so lost of experimentation can take place.
Chicken scratch it seems to be enjoying a revival among those that like vintage and retro craft techniques. This style of embroidery is actually a combination of cross stitches and a simple lacing technique. A foundation layer of stitches is laid down then other threads are laced in. It was often worked on gingham but I have also seen it worked on Binca fabric. Usually this style of embroidery worked in soft thick embroidery cotton like Anchor’s thick cotton.
If you are not sure what I am talking about there are step by step photos on Janet McCaffrey’s blog Primrose Design and another set of detailed instructions with clear photos exist here too. These are some more basic instructions found online.
Chicken scratch is known by a number of names Depression lace, Depression embroidery, gingham lace, gingham embroidery, Chinese Pinwheel, Tic Tac Toe Embroidery, Colonial Lace, Mountain Lace, Snowflake Embroidery Norwegian Embroidery,Hoover Star, Hoovers lace or Amish embroidery. It is also know incorrectly as Teneriffe lace. This is wrong here is an example of Teneriffe lace. On the Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving, Textiles, Lace, and Related Subjects site if you scroll on this page to ephemera under Lace there are some booklets and images in pdf file format about Teneriffe lace.
Suggestion 1 Change the foundation fabric
Many people like the charm of gingham check and usually chicken scratch is worked on this simple fabric but under this challenge there is no reason why you have to. One way to push this style is to work it on a different foundation fabric.
Chicken Scratch embroidery is normally done on check fabric but Elizabeth of Quieter Moments has been adapting this style and applying the technique on a foundation of spotted fabric. An excellent tutorial on adapting to round chicken scratch is to be found on her blog. It is an excellent example of adapting a traditional technique to a new context. In fact, track through Elizabeth's category on chicken scratch and you can see what I mean by pushing a style to create something else.
Linda B worked some Chicken Scratch on denim with 10 count waste canvas and this is what it turned out like
Suggestion 2 Change the stitches
As you can see the stitches suggested are area double cross stitch and a straight stitch. There is no reason why these have to be this combination as you could substitute one or both of these stitches with any stitch which allows you to lace a thread between them.
Note this example uses simple cross stitch
On this apron you can see simple cross stitch is used with needle weaving has been incorporated.
Suggestion 3 Change the lacing thread
Normally the lacing thread is the same as the thread you create the cross stitches in. Under this challenge there is no reason why you could not change this thread.
Suggestion 4 Change the lacing pattern
In Australia, you can often find different lacing patterns are this is where it does become interesting.
Have look at this example
Suggestion 5 Change the pattern
You can change the layout of the foundation stitches to form a different foundation pattern
Suggestion 6 Add another colour
Often another colour can add real drama such as this sample
Suggestion 7 Combine it with another technique
Chicken scratch can be also incorporated into crazy quilt tale a look at chicken scratch in Linda B’s crazy quilting
Thanks to Linda B of Chloes Place for adding so many examples to her flicker set
Other Tutorials and patterns online:
Kerri of Kerri made has written a tutorial for a book mark that uses a slightly different lacing technique.
If you like the vintage look About.com has some free chicken scratch patterns
There is also this free pattern for an angel motif worked in chicken scratch
How to participate in the stitch explorer challenge
Stitch some samples that push this style
Blog it or put images somewhere online where people can see them
Come back to this post and leave a comment with your web address in it so that people can visit and see what you have done.
The full guidelines for the challenge are here
Have fun!
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Reader Comments (61)
Hi Sharon, Your choice is very serindipitous for me, as I had stashed away directions for Chicken Scratch embroidery last fall to do "sometime." Well, thanks to you the sometime is now! I'm not sure about pushing the envelope though before I know what I'm doing...... But thanks for YOUR push!
Hi Sharon
I love Chicken scratch in fact I did a small piece for my TAST sample when we did cross stitch--but I didn't think about different fabrics etc.
I'm off to get started.
Doreen
http://doreeng.blogspot.com
Oh ! thank you, Sharon, for this stitch and this examples. I go to think it.
Monique
frances: broderie Suisse
español colombia venezuela mexico: bordado español, punto diablo (smirna)
This is fascinating - as I am really missing the TIF Challenge in this new year, I came to take a look, and am now wishing I had joined! Of course my mind is already adapting this stitch to needlepoint canvas. Hmmmmm. Lots of possibilities here.
Hi Judy
There is no reason why you can not still join in and yes the stitch can be adapted to canvas very easily particularly when you think of the different types of cross stitches that are used on canvas work.
G'day Sharon,
This is cool, I did this techeque a few years back, and you can see on my site a picture of a cushion I made for my hubby's mum. I will try and do some chicken scratch shortly, but we are possibly shifting, so will try and do some inbetween packing and cleaning. Thanks for doing this challenge, it's great to go over a techneque that I haven't done for a while.
Arlene
http://arlenescrafts.ning.com/
I'm in! I really enjoyed the information and links that you provided, Sharon. I'm located in Northampton Massachusetts, USA and have taken most of your online courses through Joggles.
I've completed one version of the first challenge; it appears here:
http://www.sojournerdesign.blogspot.com
Great fun!
Diane
I had a go at chicken scratch in December, so it was nice surprise to find that it is the featured technique for January. I'm having fun with it again and I've blogged about it at http://dianesdecoratingdiary.blogspot.com
Diane Matheson
Diane,
I looked at your sample and it is great I would never have thought of that idea. Think I am going to learn a lot doing this challenge.I am hoping to start on mine tonight.
Joy.......
i think i'm going to enjoy this one!
thanks Sharon
neki desu
I have been putting off chicken scratch for quite sometime,Now you have given the right motivation.
I would like to join your 2009 Challenge. I was really surprised to see that you have Chicken Scratch as your month's challenge....I just started some on 14th night. Being a beginner I might not have the variety or skill of the experts but the enthusiasm is no less.
regards
Leena
Diane inspired me to start with chicken scratch a few weeks ago. I blogged about it here. This callenge is my motivation to do more chicken scratch.
Here's my attempt http://downthewell.blogspot.com/2009/01/band-sampler-2.html
Sharon, many thanks for this post full of your samples and many links for study. I appreciate your kind mention about some of my previous work. You are teaching me more; so now I will try new things. I have posted some of it along with some photos of Anne Gailhbaud's work. If I have made the link correctly, it is here.
I've put up my first few samples. I think I have a few more in me to do yet also.
Hi Sharon,
Here's my first foray into Chicken Scratch.
http://smockery.blogspot.com/2009/01/stitch-explorer-chicken-scratch.html
It was nice to just sit and stitch! I like the monthly format too - just enough to make sure I 'keep my hand in' yet plenty of time to really get stuck in if I get enthusiastic about something!
Hi Sharon,
I am from France, where chicken scratch is called Broderie Suisse (swiss embroidery). I really enjoyed experimenting this technic. Thanks a lot.
You will find my attempts and some french links (tutorials & examples) here :
http://elena33.canalblog.com/archives/stitch_explorer/index.html
Hi Emily you forgot to tell people your blog is
http://blog.theflossbox.com
so I have added it here so people can visit it
my first foray into chickenscratch is part of my post for this week. Still have some exploring to do. Great seeing all the examples.
BackwoodsCreations
I have posted my first pictures on my flickr site...feel free to criticize, I actually like hearing other's opinions!
www.flickr.com/photos/wintersstitches/
Hi
I have just finished my sample of experimenting with chicken scratch and have put it on my flickr site. flickr.com/photos/appliquegirl The last example I did was done with thought to a crazypatch seam. I really enjoyed doing it and could have gone on.
Thanks Sharon for the opportunity of doing this it is great for the mind and me just now as I have had a lot of trauma in my life and this gives me something positive to do and think about.
My sample of chicken scratch is now finished. I have enjoyed looking at all the other photos. They are all so different.
I'm posting my sample for this month.
I posted my first samples here:
http://fat-quarter.blogspot.com/2009/01/chicken-scratch-1.html
Hello Sharon,
Here is my chicken scratch for the first week
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34119510@N04/3219819623/
- and thank you again to be so ifascinating
Christiana
I have done a little sample, it is only traditional chicken scratch, I have to practice that before I go fancy.
http://tenar72.wordpress.com/2009/01/24/stitch-explorer-1-chicken-scratch/.
Chicken scratch is new for me, I have never done it before. But I do remember projects in (Dutch) magazines of the 80's, especially in the Ariadne. I have to look it up. My first attempts are stitched on gingham with squares of only 0,2 cm. I will continue to experiment.
By the way in Dutch chicken scratch is called "ruit veranderen".
http://borduurblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Stitch%20Explorer
my first attempt is complete and posted: kalicokate.blogspot.com/, my drafting paper is out for something more extra-ordinary. thanks for something new to do.
I have completed a Chicken Scratch heart and have a picture here.
www/flickr.com/photos/stitchintime Lots of fun to do!
Thank you so much for this challenge. I had so much fun with Chicken scratch! Here's a link to my blog post.
http://lunasbaublebilities.blogspot.com/2009/01/january-stitch-explorer.html#links
Virginia
My first attempt is done - this was lots of fun. :)
http://samplerstory.blogspot.com/2009/01/january-stitch-explorer-2009-chicken.html
Sharon, during the last years you have initiated so many wonderful challenges which I did not take. This year I decided to be part of the wonderful community of stitchers. Thank you for all the great work you do.
Finished my experiments of chicken scratch: http://samplerstory.blogspot.com/2009/01/january-stitch-explorer-2009-chicken_28.html, thanks so much for running the challenge.
I hope it is ok to post this. I purposely didn't sign up for the challenge because I tend to get sidetracked and quit. But I actually did finish a sampler of chicken scratch. It is on my flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vallor/
Thanks, Sharon, for doing these challenges. It is good to learn new things that one might have never tried to do on one's own.
I have made a sample on tartan and posted pictures on http://jinny-quodlibet.blogspot.com/2009/01/stitch-explorer-january-chicken-scratch.html
I have posted my piece for the Chicken Scratch challenge. Have a look here http://greasyminginc.blogspot.com.
Sharon I participate in your Stitch explorer. I am very new to it and hope te learn .
I liked the chicken Scratch and have made my first titches.
You can find it here
http://steekjes.blogspot.com/
Decided to join in this months explorer and my attempts so far are recorded here http://happyjacqui.wordpress.com/. Really enjoying do this, so will no doubt continue with this until 15th Feb when the new challenge is announced
Had to try one more! You can view it here:
http://sojournerdesign.blogspot.com/
Diane
I did some Chicken Scratch samples today. You can see them on my blog http://barbs-spiritsong.blogspot.com
Barb
This is my first time doing chicken scratch -- I'd never even heard of it before!-- and I wasn't sure I'd like it. But I had fun doing my first exploration with it and am now starting on a second. You can see what I've done so far at http://justenoughtime.wordpress.com/2009/02/01/chicken-scratch/
My daughter has been bitten by the Stitch Explorer bug! She worked up two pretty samples of Chicken Scratch last week, including a revolutionary variation. Very cool! I posted them on my blog for you all to see - they are in this link:
http://lunasbaublebilities.blogspot.com/2009/02/recent-work.html#links
It seems I cannot stop chicken scratch! I'm working on my second 12 inch square. You can see it all here.
I really like Annet's pink and green chicken scratch. I've done another and posted it on my blog today. I don't like it as well as the first one, but this is about exploring, so I'm just letting it happen. You can see it at http://justenoughtime.wordpress.com
Hi Annet, I just love all your squares of chicken scratch some neat ideas.
Joy......
Annet's examples are prolific and striking! So glad I had the opportunity to see her work. Thank you Sharon B.
Diane
Hi Sharon
I have finished my sample of Chicken Scratch.
I used the piece that I had includeed in my Tast sample and then worked the same pattern again to show the difference.
All the details are on my blog.
Regards Doreen
http://doreeng.blogspot.com/
my first ideas on chicken scratch are at my blog...
http://fionacupcake.blogspot.com/2009/01/stitch-explorer-2009-chicken-scratch.html