TAST 2010 Week 8 Fancy Hem Stitch

I first discovered this stitch in a Batsford book called Embroidery Stitches by Anne Butler. It is a simple quick stitch which I think people will enjoy. Crazy quilters I am sure will see immediately how useful it can be but embroiderers too I am sure will enjoy it as a filling stitch. 

The foundation rows are basically large stem stitches which are loosely worked and then laced.This is a stitch where you can change threads to create a great effect. It looks great in a thread with a firm twist or a fine braid or even a ribbon. Beads also can be added for extra zest.

 

Fancy Hem Stitch  also works up quickly so you can work it row upon row to create patterns and fills. 

How to work Fancy Hem Stitch 

Work the foundation stitches in a loose manner because when they are laced they pull tight. If tension is a problem use an embroidery hoop

The first row is worked from left to right 

 

Bring your needle from the back of the fabric. 

Make a long stitch, point the needle into the fabric, and bring it out a little along the line to make a small back stitch as illustrated

 

Take the needle through to create the first stitch.

Pull the thread through the fabric.

Make the second long stitch forward, along the line.

Keep the thread to the same side of the needle with each stitch while you repeat this back and forth movement along the line.

At the end of the line take your needle through the fabric.

Turn your work 

Work the second line of stitches. You should have two lines of loose stitches.  

Work from left to right. Bring the thread through the fabric in the middle of the two lines of stitching  as illustrated 

Note At this stage you are not taking the thread through the fabric. Wrap the two stitches together with 3 wraps of the loops as illustrated. 

Take your thread to the back and bring the needle up through the fabric at the next loop, in between the two lines of stitching  as illustrated.

Repeat this wrapping process until you have reached the end of the line.  

 

This is how the Fancy hem stitch looks when done

How to join in. 

Work an example of the stitch. Experiment a bit, photograph it, and put it on your flickr site or write about it on your blog. Please remember to link back to here so others can find the challenge too

Come here to this post and leave a comment to tell everyone where your site is. (Click on the title and it will take you to this post on an individual page if you bookmark it you can find it again) 

Visit a few sites of people who have already left a comment. See what they have done. I am sure everyone will enjoy following the links left in the comments. If you have time, let other people know that you have seen their work on their site.

Other groups and networks

You can also share your explorations with other members on  stitchin fingers group and the flickr TAST site 

All posts relating to this challenge are in the Take a Stitch Tuesday category and the guidelines and list of participants is here.

Anyway enjoy the stitch this week and see you back here soon! 

On another note check out my side bar as my online classes have been announced. 

Comments

[Sailaja]

Beautiful but simple. Thank you Sharon.

http://summersofindia.blogspot.com/

[Rhonda]

OMG......your work is wonderful and easy to follow. Thanks!

[anaslua2010]

See my stitches on

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchinwoman/4520913376/

Going on a journey for 3 weeks - goodness by plane through the volcano ashes , hopefully not from Europe to USA - I hurried up to make these three lines of stitches.

[viji]

Very interesting stitch. I had given a trial. Have a look in the flicker TAST site and my blogVijis craft

[Carolyn Foley]

Not a difficult stitch this week and relatively quick to stitch. I have posted this weeks sample to the Flickr group and to my blog.

[Sandy Jandik]

I've posted two samples of the Fancy Hem Stitch on my blog http://focus-on-fiber.blogspot.com

[Annet]

I’m having a lot of fun with all the stitches. This new one is very useful for crazy blocks. My first experiments with the fancy hem stitch are on my blog:
http://fat-quarter.blogspot.com/2010/04/fancy-hem-stitch.html
Yesterday I finished a crazy block with the first 4 TAST-stitches on it. I wrote about it here:
http://fat-quarter.blogspot.com/2010/04/tast-1-4.html

[shirley bligh]

Hi Sharon, Thank your for once more providing us with an interesting and new (to Me) stitch. Although I did not explore it any further than I have, I can see it has many uses. I have put my sample on my blog at

http://www.shirleystwistedthreads.blogspot.com/

[Raphaela]

Here is my Fancy Hem Stitch: http://textileexplorations.blogspot.com/2010/04/tast2-fancy-hem-stitch.html

[brigitte68]

not a very difficult stitch this week, but a nice one........
I posted it on Flickr

[Thendral]

Thanks Sharon. The stitches are very interesting. I love to take TAST-2010 challenge. I have posted the sample on my blog.
http://thendralscraft.blogspot.com/2010/04/fancy-hem-stitch.html

[Maureen Bond]

I have posted my samples of Fancy Hem stitch to the Pool, my blog and Flickr.

Flickr is where the details are.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/crazyqstitcher/

[Ruth Palsson]

My sample of fancy hem stitch is now on Flickr.

[Nancilyn]

Fancy Hem Stitch blogged & flickr'ed
http://mindblogglings.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html#5444535857702516292
http://www.flickr.com/photos/playswithfibers/

[The French Frog]

I've loved working with this stitch. Thank you.

http://thefrenchfrogtouch.blogspot.com/2010/04/tast-week-8-devoir-de-broderie-n-8.html

[Sue McB]

An effective stitch - photos on Flickr and my Blog. Sue McB

[Miriam Klaassen]

My piece is finished just in time for the next stitch and posted in the Flickr group.

[Linda Calverley]

I've had a catch up week of all the stitches and decided to keep them in an altered book. I did do them week by week on aida fabric with faults and all, but have redone them for the book. I've put the first 4 weeks stitches on my blog today.
http://linsartyblobs.blogspot.com/2010/04/take-stitch-tuesday-challenge-catch-up.html

Thanks for the challenge Sharon

[kay susan]

Hi Sharon, hello all

I've put my meagre sample on the blog and the flickr group. Loved the stitch, lots of possibilities, but didn't impress myself with my execution of it - execution is exactly the right word!

[Doreen G]

Yikes Sharon I forgot about week 8 and the Fancy Hem Stitch but I have done it now-but a made a boo boo and didn't see the bit that said "turn"when I had finished the first row--I started at the same place as the first row.
So I have FHS Doreen style.
Now onto week 9 before week 10 is here.
Regards Doreen
http://doreeng.blogspot.com/

[lakshmi sadala]

Sharon here is my trial ..
http://sadalas.blogspot.com/2010/05/tast2-week8-fancy-hem-stitch.html

[neki rivera]

wooo, finally posted my trial week 8.i really, really liked this one although i didn't do much w. it.
please check it at http://amovablefeast.blogspot.com

[vivian]

Working at 'catch up; I've posted my Rope Stitch and Fancy Hemming Stitch:
http://vivian-institches.blogspot.com/2010/05/tast-7-rope-stitch-8-fancy-hem-stitch.html

[chitra gangadharan]

I liked doing this stitch. My sampler is on Flickr and blog-http://jizee6687.wordpress.com/2010/06/26/tast-2010-8-fancy-hem-stitch/