TAST 2024 Week 10: Crossed Buttonhole Stitch

TAST 2024 Crossed Buttonhole Stitched Trees

 

For Week 10 of Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST) 2024 at Pintangle(dot)com, the Crossed Buttonhole Stitch was introduced. 

Crossed Buttonhole Stitched Tree

My favorite way to use this stitch is creating trees. In 2015, Anneliesedi worked the stitch into several tree samples and shared them with the TAST Facebook group. I loved them so much that I had try it out.

Crossed Buttonhole Stitched Trees

I cut even lengths of a green and a white size 8 pearl cotton and threaded both onto my needle to work these stitches in a way that created snowy trees. I used a darker shade of green for the tree on the left. The stitches were worked from the bottom of the trees to the top.

The Beyond TAST stitch for Week 10 was the Detached Buttonhole Stitch. I hope to work it into my next Crazy Quilt Journal Project block.

Thanks for stopping by!

Renee

TAST 2024 Week 9: Buttonhole Wheel Stitch

 

Beaded Buttonhole Half Wheel Stitch

The Buttonhole Wheel Stitch was introduced for Week 9 of Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST) at Pintangle(dot)com. 

Buttonhole Half Wheels

I chose to work half buttonhole wheels onto a seam of my Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) 2024 February block. The stitches were created with size 8 white pearl cotton. 

My stitches have improved over time, but I am still working on consistent sizes, even though I traced them curves out on the back of the block prior to stitching.

Beaded Buttonhole Half Wheels

After working the stitches, I added clear beads to the center of each half wheel.

I originally worked the buttonhole wheel stitch in 2015 to create the letter "o", as seen above and in this post.

In 2018, I worked the buttonhole half wheel stitch onto a crazy quilt seam, as seen above and in this post. 

The Beyond TAST stitch was the Buttonhole Wheel Cup. Although I have not worked that stitch yet in 2024, I shared a photo of the one I stitched in 2017 using size 5 DMC pearl cotton in color #4040. This photo was originally shared in this post. I loved the texture.

Thank you for visiting!

Renee

TAST 2024 Weeks 5 and 8: Buttonhole and Detached Chain Stitch

 

Buttonhole Stitch, Detached Chain Stitch, and Seed Beads

The Take A Stitch Tuesday (TAST) stitches I work with may be increasingly out of order, as I try to work them into my Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) 2024 blocks.

The TAST Week 8 stitch shared at Pintangle(dot)com was the Buttonhole Stitch. (The lighting was not very good when I took this photo, so the colors are off.) 

Using a strand of Impressions by Caron thread (a blend of silk and wool) in color 0000, I worked the buttonhole stitch along a seam. My stitches were intentionally unevenly spaced and frequently slightly angled.

The Beyond TAST Stitch for Week 8 was the Closed Buttonhole Stitch. I have not worked this stitch for 2024, but I have used it in the past with Detached Chain Stitches and French Knots to create an angel seam, as seen in the photo above. There is more information in this post.

The stitch introduced for TAST 2024 Week 5 was the Detached Chain Stitch, which is sometimes called a Lazy Daisy Stitch. I worked this with the Buttonhole Stitch to create one of my favorite crazy quilt seam embellishment. I added pairs of Detached Chain Stitches to each side of my Buttonhole Stitches to create leaves.

Here is a closer view.

To complete this seam, I used a single strand of DMC #225 embroidery floss to add Mill Hill Petite Glass Seed Beads #42027. The full combination of stitches and beads created a seam of little flowers.

The TAST 2024 Week 5 Beyond TAST stitch was the Long Tail Chain Stitch (plain, beaded or whipped), which I plan to work into a future CQJP 2024 block to make snowflakes, similar to these that I created in 2016. You may read more about those in this post.

Thank you for stopping by!

Renee

TAST 2024 Week 4: Chain Stitch

 

Week 4 of Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST) 2024 at Pintangle(dot)com was the chain stitch. So, I created two more chain stitched snowmen using size 8 white pearl cotton. 

I also used glow-in-the-dark Kreinik to chain stitch a moon. 

These were added to my February Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2024 block.

There were 2 Beyond TAST stitches introduced, but I was unable to think of a way to work them onto this block. The stitches were the Raised Chain Stitch Version 1 and Raised Chain Stitch Version 2. If I work these into another project this year, I will share photos at that time.

I will be honest, I was much happier with my snowman on the January CQJP block than I am with the two on this block, but that is okay. 

Do you have a favorite way to use the chain stitch?

Thanks for stopping by!

Renee

TAST 2024 Week 3: Stem Stitch

 

Week 3 of Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST) 2024 at Pintangle(dot)com introduced the Stem Stitch and the Portuguese Stem Stitch for Beyond TAST.

First, I used a stencil from Sharon Boggon's Stitchers Stencils Set 1 to trace a line to follow along a seam.

Size 8 white perle cotton thread was used for the stem stitch.

Next, I added flower sequins that were held in place with Mill Hill Petite Glass Seed Beads. However, I will use regular seed beads in the future. Some of the sequins can pop over these tiny beads.

A strand of Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid #4 Pearl thread was used to add tiny leaves to the flowers with detached chain stitches.

The Portuguese stem stitch was worked with size 8 white perle cotton to create little snow drifts under the snowman and the tree on my Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) 2024 January block.

Have you worked the stem stitch or Portuguese stem stitch? Do you have a favorite way you prefer to use these stitches?

Thanks for stopping by!

Renee

Note:

1.) Click on a photo to see a larger image.

2.) You may learn more about TAST here.

3.) You may learn more about CQJP 2024 here.

TAST 2024 Week 2: Back Stitch

 

Pintangle TAST 2024 Back Stitch

Week 2 of Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST) 2024 introduced the Back Stitch and the Back Stitch Trellis. 

I worked both stitches into a tree stump on my January Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) 2024 block.

First, I sketched a tree stump and traced it onto a small piece of waste canvas.

The Back Stitch Trellis was worked first, to fill in the tree stump. (This proved to be more challenging with the shape of the stump than I anticipated.) Then the Back Stitch was used to outline the stump. All of this was created with a variegated brown size 5 perle cotton.

I removed the waste canvas.

Then, using two strands of a light brown DMC embroidery floss, I colored in the top of the tree stump with more Back Stitches.

Later, I will fill in more of the tree stump, most likely by adding beads.

Thank you for stopping by!

Renee

You may learn more about TAST here.

You may learn more about CQJP 2024 here.

TAST 2024 Week 1: Running Stitch

 

Pintangle TAST 2024 Running Stitch

Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST) 2024 began with the Running Stitch. The Beyond TAST stitch was a new one for me, the Ainu Running Stitch. 

You may find directions for both stitches in the Stitch Dictionary at Sharon Boggon's blog Pintangle.com or by clicking on the names of the stitches above.

Running Stitch

Running Stitch

I opted to use a button and the running stitch to create a moon motif on the first seam of my Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) 2024 January block. 

The button catches the light beautifully. It was attached with DMC silver metallic thread that blended in with the button. 

The running stitch was completed with glow-in-the-dark Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid size #8 (052F). My stitches are not even, but I think that adds a bit of whimsy to the moon.

I used circles from stencils designed for bullet journaling to help guide the circles around the moon. My bullet journal ruler was used to make marks to help make my next stitches a bit more even.

Ainu Running Stitch

I clearly need more practice with this stitch, but it worked well to create a seam between the snowy ground and the dark night sky on my CQJP January block. 

The base running stitch was made with Finca size 12 thread. The next step was completed with size 8 Anchor white perle cotton.

If you have not already, I do hope you will join TAST 2024!

To see other ways I have used this stitch, click on Running Stitch in the labels listed on the lower right side of the blog.

You may learn more about CQJP 2024 here.

Thank you for stopping by! 

Renee

Happy New Year! & 2023 in Review

 

My blog has been neglected since I began graduate school in January of 2022. Even so, I decided to share a Year in Review post to reflect on past goals and create a few goals for 2024.

My five goals for 2022 were:

1. Continue working out and make healthier food choices. - This goal was not met. I did a LOT of sitting, reading books about teaching strategies, and working on my laptop.
2. Succeed at school. - I met this goal! Graduation was earlier this month and I now have a Master of Arts in Teaching with an ESOL endorsement. (ESOL = English Speakers of Other Languages.) 
3. Spend more time with family and friends. - This goal was not met. Homework and working kept me busy.
4. Make visible progress on Twilight Duel and Fractal White Tiger. - This goal was not met. 
5. Complete one crazy quilt project. - This goal was not met. 

My goals for 2024:

1. Spend more time with family and friends.
2. Get back into running.
3. Complete Christmas Ornament Snow Much in Love.
4. Make a crazy quilted Christmas stocking.
5. Complete the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2024, incorporating stitches from TAST.

The top 5 blog posts viewed in 2023:

1. 2013 Winter Challenge Results Posted at Evening Star Designs!
2. Twilight Duel: SAL Update 30
3. Eerie Nights Blog Hop Day 5
4. Grow Your Blog
5. Peek a Who? Blog Hop

The top 5 blog posts viewed since 2012: 

1. Peek a Who? Blog Hop
2. 2013 Winter Challenge Results Posted at Evening Star Designs!
3. Crazy Quilt ATC Tutorial Part 1 - Piecing
4. Under the Sea Block Step 4: Seahorse Motif
5. Eerie Nights Blog Hop Day 5

 

2024 Crazy Quilting and Hand Embroidery Opportunities

 

Snowman made with TAST Stitches in 2022

Do you want to learn hand embroidery in 2024?

If your answer is yes, I strongly encourage you to check out Sharon Boggon's Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST) challenges for 2024. 

This is a no pressure challenge with weekly stitches introduced that beginners can learn. There are Beyond TAST stitches shared with intermediate embroiderers in mind. And there is a TAST Design Challenge, if you are looking for something more advanced. 

The snowman in the photo above was created using the stitches introduced in the first two weeks of 2022. 

If you are interested, I encourage you to check out the TAST FAQ page at Pin Tangle. 

Crazy quilt snowman scene embroidered in 2013

Do you want to make a crazy quilt in 2024?

If your answer is yes, I encourage you to check out the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2024 (CQJP 2024).

 
This is a challenge to create one crazy quilt block a month (8-inches or larger) in 2024. The blocks may be pieced now, but stitching begins on January 1st.

The goal of CQJP is to share the art and techniques of crazy quilting. It is the organizers' hope that participants will submit their completed crazy quilts into their local display and contest venues - or possibly even national and international venues.

If you are interested, please read the 2024 Challenge Rules, Questions & Answers, and Use of Photos prior to the How To Register page.

My 2024 Goals

I have signed up to participate in CQJP 2024 this year. My goal is to make 3 small crazy quilted wall hangings featuring 4 blocks with snowman themes. The blocks will incorporate as many 2024 TAST stitches as possible. I also plan to fully complete one or two wall hangings to enter in the county or state fair this summer.

The first 4 blocks are being pieced today. 

For inspiration, I looked through some of the snowmen I have created in the past. 

You may click on a photo for a larger image. The captions link to the original blog posts.

Hand painted snowman created in 2013

Polymer clay snowman created in 2017

Beaded snowman scene created in 2017

I am wishing you a very crafty 2024!

Renee

TAST 2022: Weeks 1 & 2

 

Sharon Boggon of Pintangle(dot)com is offering a new round of Take A Stitch Tuesday (TAST) this year. Every week, Sharon shares instructions for two new embroidery stitches. TAST offers basic stitches and Beyond TAST teaches a more advanced stitch.

Although I may not have time to complete every stitch this year, I decided to begin working on a fabric book with samples from the 2022 TAST and Beyond TAST stitches. (Click on any photo for a larger view.)

TAST Week 1: Chain Stitch

Chain stitches worked with white DMC size 5 pearl cotton created a snowman. Straight stitches with 2 strands of orange DMC embroidery floss added a nose. A single strand of black DMC embroidery floss was couched down to create a smile. And black size 10/0 beads created buttons and eyes.

Beyond TAST Week 1: Linked & Beaded Linked Chain Stitch

A sample of the linked chain stitch was worked with 2 strands of DMC Coloris #4514 variegated embroidery floss. 

The beaded linked chain stitch was worked with the same floss and clear size 10/0 beads.

Ice-crusted snow was added to the snowman scene with the beaded linked chain stitch using a strand of white DMC size 12 pearl cotton and clear size 10/0 beads.

TAST Week 2: Fly Stitch

A single fly stitch was worked with 2 stands of Breezy Artiste variegated satin floss #769331. 

A fly stitched leaf was worked with a strand of green Anchor size 8 pearl cotton.

A single snowflake was created with a strand of DMC silver metallic thread.

Snowflakes were also added to the snowman scene using 2 strands of white DMC metallic floss. Clear Mill Hill Petite Glass Seed Beads added a little sparkle.

Beyond TAST Week 2: Italian Border Stitch

A sample of the Italian border stitch was worked with 2 strands of the Breezy Artiste variegated satin floss #769331. Clear blue size 10/0 beads were added where the two rows of the border stitch met in the center. 

If you are interested in learning hand embroidery, I strongly encourage you to check out TAST. You may find the TAST FAQs here or Sharon's Stitch Dictionary here.

If you are participating with TAST 2022, I would love to know!

Thank you for stopping by.

Renee

TAST 2021: Chain, Fly and Detached Chain Stitch

 

TAST is Take a Stitch Tuesday. It is a challenge offered by Sharon Boggon at Pintangle.com to learn a new stitch each week. There is no pressure and you can go at your own pace.

Week 1: Chain Stitch

I used Sharon Boggon's Stitching Templates to create this crazy quilt motif and used the chain stitch to create flower stems.

Week 7: Detached Chain Stitch

Flowers were created with sets of 5 detached chain stitches.

Week 2: Fly Stitch

Leaves were created with fly stitches.

Pink rhinestone beads were added to complete these flowers.

I also used the fly stitch to embellish a crazy quilt seam. Each fly stitch created a flower stem with leaves and pink glass seed beads created tiny flower buds.

Thank you for stopping by. I am wishing you all a fantastic week!

-Renee