TAST 2010 Week 17 Sword Stitch

I have come to the conclusion that offering people a catch week spurs every one, on to keeping up! This reverse psychology is very strange indeed but if it works that’s fine. OK so no catch up week needed. 

As you can see this weeks stitch is very easy so for those who do need a little extra time you have an easy option for those who do not need a catch week you have an interesting challenge and that is to push this stitch further than the obvious. 

Sword stitch is a simple stitch which is usually classified as an isolated stitch. Its simplicity means you can take it in different directions. Obviously you can work it as an isolated stitch but arranging it in patterns or lines can take the stitch off in anther design direction entirely. You can flip them and worked them back to back or double and layer them. 

You can work it in a circle to create ‘flower’ or marine life type shapes and motifs or work the cross with a bead threaded in the last part of the stitch.  Its very simplicity enables much and you are only limited by your imagination. 

How to work Sword Stitch

Bring your thread from the back of the fabric and insert your needle at A and bring your needle out at B.

Pull your needle through to make a diagonal stitch

Keep your thread loose. 

Slide your needle under the loop and take it through. You do not take your needle through the fabric 

Insert your needle at C and take your needle through the fabric to complete the stitch

As you can see it is simple but has lots of possibilities!

I  found this in Marion Nichols Encyclopedia of Embroidery Stitches

I hope you enjoy this weeks stitch! 

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) 

Also now if you leave your full address ie include the http:// bit in your address it will become a link automatically. 

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! 

The 2010 TAST Stitches so far... 

Week 1 Diamond Stitch

Week 2 Knotted Loop stitch 

Week 3 Beaded Hedebo Edge 

Week 4 Portuguese Border Stitch 

Week 5 Knotted buttonhole stitch 

Week 6 Buttonhole Eyelet Flower

Week 7 Rope Stitch 

Week 8 Fancy Hem Stitch 

Week 9 Raised herringbone band

Week 10 Cloud Filling 

Week 11 Bullion Buttonhole 

Week 12 Sorbello

Week 13 Raised Cup Stitch  

Week 14 Buttonholed herringbone 

Week 15 Ladder Stitch 

Week 16 Italian knotted border stitch

Comments

[Julia]

Stitching along at a snail's pace, I've finally posted my Fly Stitches from TAST 1 Week 8:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20564595@N06/4723048985/

-julia

[Sandy Jandik]

I created texture by overlapping the sword stitch. It's shown on my blog http://focus-on-fiber.blogspot.com

[Linda Calverley]

I have put french knots between the sword stitches.

http://linsartyblobs.blogspot.com/2010/06/tast-mixed-media-sketch.html

[neki rivera]

i'm early!!! now let's not get used to it :)
please check my sword stitch at http://amovablefeast.blogspot.com

[Penny]

I tried to turn my sword stitch into a dandelion seed head, not terribly successfully I am afraid. Penny

[Lakshmi Sadala]

Sharon,
here is my trial of sword stitch..
http://sadalas.blogspot.com/2010/06/tast2-week17-sword-stitch.html

lakshmi

[SUMMER]

I am catching up slowly but surely..having a blast with all these stitches...I thought I might be too set in my ways to learn something new but I am learning. Thanks Sharon.

http://summersstitching.blogspot.com/

[brigitte68]

I am early too!!! you can see my trial on Flickr taste site!

[Raphaela]

Here is my sword stitch: http://textileexplorations.blogspot.com/2010/06/tast2-sword-stitch.html

[Doreen G]

Hi Sharon I have done my Sword Stitch sample and it is on my blog but I wouldn't waste your time checking it out because it isn't one of my best.
Go pull some weeds out of the garden instead at least it will give you a small amount of pleasure.
Regards Doreen
http://doreeng.blogspot.com/

[Cindy B]

My sword stitch sampler is posted on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/38196082@N05/4740436541/in/pool-56846286@N00.

[Carolyn Foley]

Here is my experiments with Sword stitch. I think I like it best as a filler stitch.http://carorose.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/06/tast-2010---week-17---sword-stitch.html

[Lakshmi Sadala]

Thank you very much Sharon..it is so nice to hear from you..you made my day too...really while stitching the sword stitch I remember all the good time I spend learning with mom..if there were no repair work at home I could have made some more better patterns..

thanks a lott..

Regards
Lakshmi

[libbyquilter]

had a difficult time being inspired by this one but i gave it my best shot.
www.simpletosublimepapernapkinpoetry.blogspot.com

:-)
libbyQ

[Liz Ozselcuk]

I had a much better time with this simple stitch than I anticipated:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37200176@N07/

[shirley bligh]

My sword Stitch and Wave stitch are on my blog at: http://shirleystwistedthreads.blogspot.com
Had some fun with both of these.

[umasrinivasan]

I have posted the trials of Sword stitch in my blog and Flickr group.
http://umacheenu.blogspot.com

[chitra gangadharan]

I enjoyed trying this stitch, and I have posted it on my blog-http://jizee6687.wordpress.com/2010/08/12/tast-2010-17-sword-stitch/
My fickr page-http://www.flickr.com/photos/22818176@N07/4885902546/
Thank you,
Chitra

[Annet]

This was a difficult stitch to vary. I wrote about it here:
http://fat-quarter.blogspot.com/2010/08/sword-stitch.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28957501@N04/4937673005/

[Angela Grasse]

Hi
I incorporated the sword stitch into my bead journal project for November. I really like this stitch and will definitely be using it again. You can see it on my blog here
http://princessbubblescreates.blogspot