TAST 2010 Week 19 Up and Down Feather Stitch

Hi all I hope people enjoyed last weeks stitch.

I am still busy finishing the final edits of my GIMP for textile designers. The class is starting this week, July 7th USA time, to be precise. I am nearly done now as I am just proofing weeks 5 and 6.

The writing part is always the hard work and teaching part is always the fun for me. I am looking forward to it. I think I am going to get a bit of an extra kick out this course as I am sure many students will surprised as to just how much can be done with GIMP.  For those that are interested the class is 6 weeks long and a description of the class is provided if you follow the link above.  

Anyway on to this weeks stitch which is why you are reading this …

I think this is a stitch that most embroiderers and crazy quilters will particularly enjoy as it makes marvellous twiggy bits in floral sprays or an interesting seam embellishment.

A feathery line of twin stitches is created. Each stitch of the pair is separate step. The bar at the base of each pair of stitches adds extra texture to the line. 

Up and down feathered buttonhole is worked in a similar manner to  feather stitch but is a version of up and down buttonhole. It looks complex but is an amazingly versatile stitch. Since it is a variation of buttonhole stitch easily worked on many types of fabrics and is just as effective when worked along a straight line or following a curve. 

Before working this stitch be familiar with feather stitch, buttonhole and up and down buttonhole stitch.  

When working this stitch it is useful to imagine 3 parallel lines.

How to work Up and Down Feather stitch  

Bring the needle out at the top of the line to be worked. 

Insert the needle to the right and bring it out of the fabric in the middle and below these two points.

Loop the thread under the needle and take the needle through the fabric.

This first V shape creates the first part of the tied pairs of stitches. 

For the second stitch of the pair,  take the needle through the fabric, point the needle in the opposite direction.

In other words point the needle outwards and upwards as illustrated.

Wrap the working  thread under the needle at the top. 

Pull the needle through the fabric.

As you do this hold down the loop that forms with the left thumb to prevent it slipping.

This loop forms the bar at the base of both stitches.

This forms the first pair of tied stitches. 

Insert the needle a little to the right and almost on the same level as Illustrated.

Make a small stitch in a downward motion  that is angled so that the needle point appears on the centre line.

Keeping the thread under the needle point, pull the thread through the fabric to make a V shape which is the first part of next pair of stitches. 

Once again turn the needle in the opposite direction and wrap the thread under the needle.

Pull the needle through the fabric.

As you do this hold down the loop that forms with the left thumb to prevent it slipping.

Next insert the needle a little to the left on the same level. Work these movements alternatively down the line.

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.

The 2010 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

Week 17 Sword Stitch 

Week 18 Wave Stitch 

Comments

[Pam Kellogg]

Hi Sharon, thought you might be interested in the new peacock tutorial that I posted on my blog. It's the one with the eyelash yarn tail.

Love your stitch diagrams!!! Hope all is well with you.

Pam

[Judy Harper]

I love this stich, and have already used it a while back (I found it on your "buttonhole" list) to make seaweed on my coral reef needlepoint ornaments. It's showing on my blog under the label "Coral Reefs"

[Judy Harper]

OOOPS! I meant "feather stitch." I'll post a picture of what I did with it on my blog, Possibilities, etc.

[shirley bligh]

Have just posted my effort with this on my blog at http//shirleystwistedthreads.blogspot.com

Thanks you sharon for the up and down feather stitch it came in handy to just finish off a couple of areas of my reef pic, which is now on my blog as well.

[Sandy Jandik]

I've posted the stitch on my blog. http://focus-on-fiber.blogspot.com It's another one I'll explore more.

[Doreen G]

Hi Sharon I have posted pics of my week 18 Wave Stitch and week 19 Up and Down Feather stitch on my blog.
I was so engrossed in my journal workshop that I forgot again--naught naughty me.
Regards Doreen
http://doreeng.blogspot.com/

[Annet]

I finished my sampler for this stitch. I had a lot of fun with it! It’s on my blog:
http://fat-quarter.blogspot.com/2010/07/up-and-down-feather-stitch.html
and Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28957501@N04/4774830608/

[viji]

The stitch is very interesting. I had given a trial and posted at flicker group site.
Can also view in my blog
http://viji-crafts.blogspot.com/
viji

[Nancilyn Kroushl]

Waves, Swords & Feathers are posted together here
http://mindblogglings.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html#9061685801948495156
and on our Flickr site.

[THERESE]

Hello,

I am to fall in admiration in front of your work, I will like to do your courtepoint but, I do not have acces to the block 5 the page is idle! if you can rectiver the link I will be delighted some thank you a lot for lesons of superb embroidery and magnifique

Thérèse
I am French

[Sharon B]

Therese thanks you for letting me know about the link - it should work for you now . Happy stitching!

[Sue McB]

I have caught up with all the stitches..I was several weeks behind! They are on my blog. Not very happy with my examples 15-18, but do like this one, and think it has heaps of potential.

[neki rivera]

hi all,
just posted my up and down fly stitch.
visit it at http://amovablefeast.blogspot.com

[libbyquilter]

am coming in late again but found it charming to work with and am looking forward to trying many possibilities that could be seen within this one~!~
i've posted my attempts on my blog: wwwsimpletosublimepapernapkinpoetry.blogspot.com .

:-)
libbyQ

[Raphaela]

My Up and Down Feather Stitch: http://textileexplorations.blogspot.com/2010/07/tast2-up-and-down-feather-stitch.html

[brigitte68]

I'll post the 2 last stitches at flicker group site...2 other beautifull stitches to embroider embellished with pearls
thanks alot for sharing ,Sharon!

[Penny]

Whoops, did it yesterday and on my blog but I forgot to say it was done here, sorry Sharon, busy week. Penny

[Lakshmi Sadala]

Sharon here is my trial of up and down feather stitch. I liked the stitch..
http://sadalas.blogspot.com/2010/07/tast19-week19-up-n-down-feather-stitch.html

[anaslua2010]

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

Hello Sharon, this is a beautiful stitch..... I created a jungle. Also to be seen on the photos of Stitchin Fingers

[Thendral]

My sample of up and down stitch is here.
http://thendralscraft.blogspot.com/2010/07/up-and-down-feather-stitch.html

[umasrinivasan]

This stitch is interesting and i had tried different variations and uploaded it in the Flickr site,uma

[chitra gangadharan]

The trials of this stitch are on my blog-
--http://jizee6687.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/tast-2010-19-up-and-down-feather-stitch/
i have posted them on filckr too.