Tuesday, March 22, 2016

TAST 2016 Stitches 30 - 34

TAST 30: Long Tail Chain Stitch

When I saw the examples Sharon B. shared of the long tail chain stitch, I knew I would use it to add snowflakes to the Winter/Christmas wall quilt I have been slowly working on. I used size 12 white DMC pearl cotton.


After seeing the way my friend, Christine, used this stitch, I knew I had to make a snowflake using a sequin and the long tail chain stitches. (You may see Christine's long tail chain stitch examples here at Patchwork Allsorts.)

TAST 31: Fancy Bobbin Edging


Rather than using the blanket stitch I typically use to create this beaded seam on under the sea blocks, I tried fancy bobbin edging with a variegated size 5 DMC floss on Sandy's block in the round robin we just completed.

I look forward to trying this stitch out in a couple of different ways in the near future!

TAST 32: Raised Cross Stitch Flower


I have seen some beautiful examples of the raised cross stitch flower, so I look forward to trying it again with different fibers. I am afraid my flowers turned out a bit square. (Though when I mentioned this, one of my son's friends pointed out that it is hip to be square!) This was worked with size 8 Anchor variegated pink pearl cotton.


I used one of the templates from Sharon B.'s Crazy Quilt Templates Set 2 to make the "X" to work these flowers.

TAST 33: Pekinese Stitch


For my first attempt with the pekinese stitch (which I have also seen spelled pekingese), I used size 8 green pearl cotton and some flower sequins secured with Mill Hill petite glass seed beads on Sandy's under the sea block. I used one of Sharon B.'s template to trace the vine.


Earlier today, I used another one of Sharon B.'s template to trace a vine onto a black and pink block I will be using to make my first messenger bag. 

I back stitched along the vine with black Anchor size 8 pearl cotton.

Next, I laced pink Anchor size 8 pearl cotton through the back stitches. I am adding a few extra pictures with this stitch because my first few tries, I pulled the thread too tight or it twisted up part way through the lacing process. I found it helpful to leave the bottom of the lace a little loose before bringing the needle back down through.


I did the same thing when I pulled the thread back down and then I gently pulled the thread until the loop was the size I wanted it to be. (I also found it easier to rotate my work as I looped through the top and the bottom.)


Although I was excited to see the contrast between the black back stitch and the pink laces, once it was completed, I was not sure it created the effect I had hoped for. I tried whipping the back stitch with more pink floss, but my loops are so small, I felt it almost covered them up. So, I removed the whipped stitches and opted to leave it as it was.  This is a stitch I found relaxing and enjoyable.

TAST 34: Oyster Stitch

I chose to use the oyster stitch to create pink leaves along my pink and black vine. I LOVE the texture of this stitch and do plan to use it again in the future. It took me a couple of attempts to get the stitch right. Once I figured out my oops (trying to loop under the wrong section of thread), I really enjoyed it.

Although my flowers are on the square side and the black is a strong contrast to the pink vine, I found I really liked the floral vine these three TAST stitches created.

I fell a bit behind with my TAST stitches, but am happy to say I am now all caught up! I look forward to seeing which stitch Sharon will share next week. 

TAST stands for Take a Stitch Tuesday. It is a personal stitching challenge offered by Sharon B. on Facebook and on her blog, pintangle.com. You may read more about it hereIf you follow the TAST Facebook group, you know there are some incredibly inspiring examples of these stitches being shared. Anyone may join at any time during the challenge. Thank you, Sharon, for offering TAST!

Thank you for stopping by!
Renee

Please note: I am not affiliated with Sharon B.'s templates. I did receive a set to review and was encouraged to share my honest opinion. I must say, I love using them and find them incredibly handy!


10 comments:

Brigitte said...

Great new stitches. I particularly love what you were doing with the pink and black threads.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

You are getting good use with those templates!! I love that you are sharing the designs you are creating with them. You say you are a bit behind...I say you are stitching up a storm!! Hope you are enjoying having those kids around. You'll probably need to take a breath when they leave!!
Happy Easter
xx, Carol

Christine B said...

All your stitches look fabulous Renee! I especially love the pekinese/oyster stitch combination in pink and black.... looks so beautiful! Thank you for mentioning me.... the sequin behind the stitches in the snowflake really do add a touch of sparkle which I really love! Enjoy the rest of your week! Christine x

Katie said...

Love all your beautiful new stitches. Great job!

Tiffstitch said...

lovely work on all!

FlashinScissors said...

Your square flowers look great Renee, and would have thought that was how they were meant to be had you not said otherwise! It is good of you to tell us the threads you are using, it really helps for those of us who are not quite so experienced in embroidery, but would like to recreate something similar. I love your other new stitches too!
Barbara xx

Queeniepatch said...

You love snowflakes, yes? So the long tail chain stitch must be a favourite stitch!
Your square raised cross stitch flower has that Art Deco feel about it!
You have made good use of 'Sharon's' templates.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for some great ideas and beautiful inspiration. I love your pink and black vine, and I think the squared flowers add a lot of interest. It's a very pretty embellishment. I enjoyed seeing it on the under the sea block, as well. I particularly liked your chain stitching through the sequin, too. Altogether, a lovely gathering of stitch examples. I find I understand the how more with your photos than with Sharon's. Although I've done TAST twice, I don't think my pekinese stitch ever looked so nice, and maybe it was because I was getting it too tight.

Sheryl said...

Beautiful work, stitches and colours. Love the raised cross stitch flower.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Personally I like your 'hip to be square' flower! However, if you want to make it appear more round, could you perhaps add a lazy daisy stitch at each of the corners and then another at the half-way point on each side? Just a thought!