CQJP 2017 January Seam 1 Part 1 - TAST Stitch 61

TAST Stitch 61: Raised Chain Stitch Version 1

I am not sure why, but looking at this particular stitch, I had a hard time envisioning it on one of my blocks.  Perhaps because I am drawn toward smaller stitches and smaller beads?  I am glad that I gave it a go - it was a fun one to work!

If you read the tutorial I shared Saturday explaining how I pieced this block, you know I made an oops and one seam needed to be secured with embroidery. I decided this stitch would do a beautiful job of attaching the top fabric to the foundation. (There is a link to the tutorial at the end of this post.)

Disclaimer: For your convenience, links are provided to some supplies I use. Of those links, please know if you visit Amazon through my blog and make a purchase, I do receive a small credit.

For a better view, clicking on a photo will enlarge the image.

To make this stitch even, I planned to use waste canvas. So, my first step was to baste the loose seam. The fabric would be hidden beneath the waste canvas, and I did not want it to move and leave a gap.

This is 14-count waste canvas cut slightly larger than the area to be embroidered.

For smaller areas, I just pin the waste canvas in place - making sure it is lined up with the seam before stitching.

I used size 8 Anchor watermelon variegated 1201 pearl cotton floss.

I began my ladder stitches just barely catching the darker pink fabric above and counted down for holes.

Next, I removed the waste canvas. (Hmm... I tried not to pucker the fabric. Something to work on in the future.)


Note: I wanted this seam to extend a little bit past my seam line so it would not end abruptly on the finished block.

After the first few stitches, I fell into a rhythm and was able to stop referring to Sharon's great tutorial.
It was fun to watch it grow.

One row.

Two rows.

Three rows.

(I am not sure if you can tell, but with this row, I managed to secure the small thread that was peeking out to the right.)

And the 4th row completed the seam embellishment. 

I plan to add more to the seam above this band of raised chain stitches. First, the seam above must be embellished.

TAST stands for Take a Stitch Tuesday, a personal stitching challenge offered by Sharon B. at pintangle.com. There is a Facebook TAST group. The creativity members share with these stitches frequently blows me away. You may learn more about TAST here. It is a challenge anyone may join at any time. I believe Sharon recommends you begin with stitches 1-10, as they are foundation stitches for several of the other stitches taught through the challenge.

I worked this stitch on my Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) 2017 January block. CQJP 2017 is a challenge to embellish a crazy quilt block each month. By the end of the year you will have 12 blocks to make a crazy quilt with. Registration for this year is now closed, but you may follow the work participants create here.



Related posts:
January CQJP 2017 - Piecing Tutorial: Oops, Now What?! 
   -You may read it on the blog or pin it on Pinterest.

Thank you for stopping by!
Renee