TAST 07/21/2014

Zowie! Has it really been over a month since my last TAST post?!  I caught up on three stitches to share with you this week. Click on any photo for a larger view.  I had a lot of fun creating these seams!

TAST 118: Beaded Buttonhole Stitch

TAST 118: Beaded Buttonhole Stitch

I used a single strand of size 8 DMC #498 Perle Cotton and a size 28 tapestry needle so the seed beads would fit over the needle.  (A size 26 tapestry needle is easier to thread, but I could not find mine.)  I alternated between short and long stitches along the seam.  I also alternated red, white and blue seed beads. After completing the seam, I threaded a needle with three strands of cotton floss - 1 red, 1 white, and 1 blue.  I used this color combination to add three detached chain stitches to the top of each of the longer stitches.

TAST 120: Double Herringbone

TAST 120: Double Herringbone

Here I used a single strand of size 8 white DMC Perle Cotton for the first row of herringbone.  Then I used a single strand of size 8 #498 DMC Perle Cotton for the second row.

TAST 121: Twisted Lattice Band

TAST 121: Twisted Lattice Band

For the foundation Herringbone stitches, I used a single strand of size 8 DMC Perle Cotton. Next, I laced 6 strands of DMC #498 cotton floss along the foundation stitches.  After completing the Twisted Lattice Band, I REALLY, REALLY wanted to add beads.  The location of the seam for this project made that impractical. So, I added groups of three detached chain stitches along the top and bottom of the seam, alternating between 2 strands of red, white, and blue cotton flosses.  I liked the way that simple touch dressed up the seam.

(Did you notice the red, white and blue theme?  I will share this project later this week!)

To keep my stitches even, I used waste canvas to create each of the seams above. (I am not affiliated with this product.  I added the link to show what I used.  However, if you do purchase a product from Amazon.com through my website, I do receive a small credit.)  I am not sure why I am having tension issues when using perle cotton on waste canvas, but I am.  When I remove the waste canvas, I find my thread is too loose.  I am able to tighten it, but knotting it in the back again to keep it tight is difficult.  So, with these seams, I used long enough strands of perle cotton to complete the entire seam.  And I did not tie the threads off until after I removed the waste canvas and carefully tightened the stitches. If anyone else has had this issue, I would love to hear how you solved it in a comment below.  I am using a hoop and keeping the threads as tight as I can with each stitch...



For any new visitors, welcome!  TAST is "Take a Stitch Tuesday".  Sharon Boggon of Pin Tangle is incredibly generous with her time and uses TAST as an opportunity to teach and encourage others to learn new embroidery stitches.  Readers of her blog that are participating with TAST are able to go at their own pace and share their work by leaving a comment and a link to their blog or Flickr page.  To see this week's TAST post and what others have been up to this past week, CLICK HERE.


Thank you for stopping by!