TAST Week 14

Week 14: Buttonhole Wheel
During Week 14 of TAST, the Buttonhole Wheel was shared as Stitch 13 in this post at Pintangle.com. (There has been one break week.)

I used one of Sharon B.'s Stitcher's Templates and marked the foundation side of my crazy quilt block to help keep my buttonhole wheels evenly spaced.

My stitches were worked with a single strand of DMC #605 size 8 perle cotton. As you can see, I still need practice keeping these stitches even...

Black seed beads completed the seam.

TAST stands for Take a Stitch Tuesday. It is a personal challenge offered by Sharon B. at Pintangle.com to learn or work a new stitch each week.

Please note: I am not affiliated with Sharon B.'s templates. I did receive a set for an honest review, and I truly love working with them. My full review of the templates was published in the Summer 2016 Crazy Quilt Quarterly Magazine. (I am not affiliated with the magazine either.)

TAST Week 13

Week 13: Sheaf Stitch
During Week 13 of TAST, Sheaf Stitch was introduced. There has been 1 break week, so this is Stitch 12 for this round of TAST. It was introduced on March 27th in this post, and the instructions for the stitch may be found here.

I worked the stitch with size 8 variegated pink perle cotton. After completing this seam, I added a French Knot between each of the Sheaf Stitches.

TAST stands for Take a Stitch Tuesday. This is a personal challenge shared by Sharon B. of Pintangle.com to learn a new embroidery stitch each week. In 2018, 28 stitches have been shared; so, I am a little bit behind, but this is a no pressure challenge. You may learn more about TAST here and find a Facebook Group with others participating with TAST here.

Thank you for visiting!
Renee

TAST Week 12

Week 12: Chevron Stitch
Week 11 was a break week, so the 11th stitch of this round of TAST is the Chevron Stitch. It was introduced on March 20th in this post and the directions for this stitch may be found here.

I followed this edge on one of Sharon B.'s templates to keep my stitches relatively even.*

I used size 8 pink perle cotton for the Chevron Stitches. I used this stitch to couch down a black velvet ribbon on the messenger bag I am working on. After the seam was stitched, I created flowers along the ribbon with clusters of pink and blue seed beads. (I like to individually secure each bead by passing the thread through it 3 times and then knotting the thread 3 times on the back. This holds each bead securely in place, and if one bead falls off in the use of the bag, the others will not all fall off.)

TAST stands for Take a Stitch Tuesday. This is a personal stitching challenge offered by Sharon B. of Pintangle.com. You may learn more about TAST here.

This week, stitch 25 was announced, so I will be playing catch up!

* I am not affiliated with Pintangle or with Sharon B.'s crazy quilt templates. However, I did receive my templates free of charge, in exchange for an honest review. I truly love using mine!

TAST Weeks 9-11

Week 9: Couching Stitch

Couching is one of my favorite methods for creating spider webs.

I couched 5 spokes of size 5 white perle cotton down with a single strand of white embroidery floss. 

Then I wrapped a strand of the pearl cotton around each of the spokes to create the web.

Since this project will become a bag I plan to use, I also tacked each "wrap" around each spoke with a small couching stitch. to hold the web in place. 

Week 10: Cretan Stitch

I have seen such beautiful crazy quilt seams created with the Cretan Stitch. This seam was inspired by the work of my friend, Christine, of Patchwork Allsorts. (The inspirational seam may be seen here - it is the 6th photo.) 

The cretan stitch was embroidered with pink size 12 perle cotton. Pairs of detached chain stitches with green size 8 perle cotton created leaves.

Beads created flowers, completing the seam. The seam is different from Christine's, but her work gave me the idea.


Week 11 was a break from TAST, allowing participants to catch up, if needed.

Thank you for visiting!
Renee

TAST stands for Take a Stitch Tuesday. It is a personal challenge to learn a new embroidery stitch each week. The challenge is hosted by Sharon B. of Pintangle. This year the Beyond TAST challenge is available to those that have completed TAST in the past. You may learn more about TAST and Beyond TAST here. There is a Facebook Group here. (The work shared is incredibly inspirational.)

TAST Stitches I have yet to share here:
Week 12 - Stitch 11: Chevron Stitch
Week 13 - Stitch 12: Sheaf Stitch

Beyond TAST Challenges:
Season 1: Running Stitch
Season 2: Isolated Stitches
Season 3: Couching and Laid Work

TAST Weeks 7-8

Week 7: Feather Stitch

The feather stitch was added to my messenger bag with a green strand of size 8 perle cotton.

To dress it up, size 8 variegated pink perle cotton fly stitches were topped with French knots, creating flowers.

Next, detached chain stitches were added with the same shade of green to make leaves. 

Week 8: Stem Stitch

This heart was embroidered using the stem stitch.

First, I outlined the shape from one of Sharon B.'s crazy quilt templates. (These were given to me for an honest review and I just love using them.)

Thank you for visiting!
Renee

TAST stands for Take a Stitch Tuesday. It is a personal challenge hosted by Sharon B. of Pintangle to learn a new embroidery stitch each week. You may learn more about it here and find the Facebook TAST group here.

TAST Weeks 3-4

Week 3: Fly Stitch

For Week 3 of TAST, I added a fly stitched seam to the crazy quilted messenger bag I am making.

(Click on any photo for a larger view.)

Mill Hill Magnifica #10026 Old Rose Beads were added above each fly stitch to create small flowers. 

Week 4: Detached Chain Stitch

Detached Chain Stitch is also known as a Lazy Daisy Stitch. It is incredibly versatile and may be the one I use most often. 

Clusters of 5 detached chain stitches with colonial knots in the centers create simple flowers.

A third seam was added to my messenger bag using straight stitches (flower stems), pairs of detached chain stitches (leaves), and sets of fly stitches (heart flowers.)

Here is a photo of this seam in progress. The hearts are made with two fly stitches (like the pink one here) that meet in the center.

Thank you so much for stopping by!
Renee

TAST stands for Take a Stitch Tuesday. It is a personal challenge to learn a new embroidery stitch each week. The challenge is offered by Sharon B. of Pintangle.com. Anyone may join in at any time. This link will take you to the TAST FAQs. Find the TAST Facebook Group here.

TAST 2018 Weeks 1-2

Week 1: Running Stitch

The first stitch introduced through the new round of Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST) was the running stitch.

I worked the stitch as a flight path for a butterfly on the crazy quilted messenger bag I am making.

And, I used it to couch down a ribbon.

Week 2: Buttonhole Stitch

I woke up at 4:30 this morning and could not get back to sleep, so I checked my emails and learned the buttonhole stitch was introduced for TAST. Then, I picked up a quilt block to finish securing the applique and pondered how I should use the stitch this week. I think it took me 5 minutes to realize I was sewing the applique onto the block with the buttonhole stitch. (I blame it on not finishing my first cup of coffee!) 

I frequently use this stitch to create flower stems.

Today, I added this seam to my messenger bag. It includes a buttonhole stitch with detached chain stitched leaves and French knot flowers.

I also enjoy using the stitch to create fences in landscape crazy quilt blocks. Straight stitches make boards connecting the fence posts.


Thank you for visiting!
-Renee

TAST stands for Take a Stitch Tuesday. It is a personal challenge offered by Sharon Boggon at Pintangle.com to learn a new stitch each week. Learn more here.

This year there is also Beyond TAST for those that have completed TAST in the past or those familiar with the basic embroidery stitches. Those participating in Beyond TAST are encouraged to explore the stitches in more depth. Some of the work already shared on the TAST Facebook group has been incredible.

TAST Stitch 49

Portuguese Border Stitch

I am still catching up with stitches from the last round of Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST). The Portuguese Border Stitch was #49 in that round of TAST. 

Threads used:

Foundation stitches: Size 8 DMC pink #605 perle cotton. 

Whipped stitches: Size 5 DMC variegated pink #48 perle cotton.

I added the stitch to the strap pieced for the crazy quilted messenger bag that I listed fourth on my APQ UFO Challenge. It is the December 2017 project.

You may read more about the APQ Challenge here. Details about the 2018 challenge will be shared on the Facebook group on December 12th.

Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST) is a challenge offered by Sharon B. of Pintangle.com to learn a new stitch each week.

The next round of TAST will begin in January with a regular round for beginners and a Beyond TAST Challenge for those that have completed it in the past.

Day 5 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge. More details and other participating blogs may be found here. 

Thanks for visiting!

-Renee

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 here. If 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!