Malware warning

I'm getting a malware warning when I try to go to my blog. Supposedly it's coming from the website I downloaded the background from. I've notified them and tried to remove the background but can't figure out how to do it. Even trying to do a new template from blogger doesn't work. I'll keep working on it, any ideas?

Susan: V-Stitch Seam

I go back and forth on how I feel about this seam. I loved it when it was the base seam (the central purple Vs - both sizes - and green triangles) and I wish I'd take a picture of it at that point, to refer to another time. Then I added the sequins and beads, and I didn't like it. It seemed to subtract something instead of adding, but I'm not a big fan of bling, and those sequins seem very bling to me.

After I added the purple lazy daisy stitches and the two pistil stitches in green on each little purple V, I liked it much better. I know most people would put 3, to keep it odd, but I liked 2, to keep it V. =)

Now if I'm not careful, I'm going to be behind after tomorrow!

Cy - more V Stitch Explorations

I have been exploring the use of 'V's in combination with other stitches as seam treatments for my current CQJP blocks and for future projects.

Take one row of individual, evenly spaced, V's

Make three more rows inverting the V's as required, and add a running stitch along the two outer edges to create a 'BAND' with a semi-sawtooth edge. 

More embroidery could be added within the band, and beads would look great here too.

This next one in three colours is plain V's but could be enhanced with wrapping or whipping stitches. The V's are overlapping at the top by just one thread hole on the canvas. Another variation would be to overlap more at the tops of the V's.

This stitch process used three needles at the same time a bit like plaiting.

Next I stitched this row of Double Tick V's.

And added buttonhole stitch in various lengths to it.

Reminds me of beach huts at Bournemouth.

As an experiment on my May block CQ I added this row of white 'eyelash' fibre to the row of tiny bullions.

Couched down in a plain V formation.

Haha! Looks like I have a 'thing' about beach huts at the moment.

Here is another seam treatment on my May CQ block. 

I have two rows of V's with their horizontal points touching to make squares, and the running stitch straight lines added to the negative spaces make the outside V's an integral part of the design. 

I love negative spaces.

Connie - May Block Reveal

Here is my 5th CQJP block.  I am finally happy with it except I have to switch one of the photos out.  That is explained on my blog if you are curious.

And here are some close-ups.

I never would have guessed when I started messing with the butterfly, which originally looked exactly like the ecru lace one below, that it would end up looking like this.  As you may recall I had woven amber threads through the lace etc.  I was going to just outline it in chain and do a touch of satin/straight stitches in strategic areas, leaving the lace pattern in areas.  I didn't care for that either and in order to not bore you any more, I ended up with this little winged creature.

The gentleman in the photo below actually built the home that will be featured on the next block and this key is the original key to that home.  

I have more about this block and a few more images on my blog.  I couldn't remember wasn't sure when we were supposed to post our reveals and was afraid we would all be trying at the same time on the 31st, so I guess I'm a bit early?  Sorry if I messed up the schedule again...  I hope you 'aqua' people still like it (fingers crossed).  The purple one is still my favorite ;-P

Suz-V's!

As we're showing our stitch explorations for V's, here are mine:

This is my thread roll-up I've been embellishing, and although I've shown this pic before, I hadn't mentioned the V's I'd used on one of the seam treatments.

Looking at this now, I see lots of places that look like V's.........

Here's a close-up of my V seam.
a fly stitch base, inverted v's in the pink/red variegated thread, and french knots
simple, but adds some dimension, I think

The embellished needlecase I'm making as a gift

I showed a few seam peeks on my Saturday reveal, but there's one seam covered with lots of V's

a base line of  white stem stitch creates a line of joined v's, a meandering stem stitch in green, and wrapped with a darker  neon green thread look like rounded V's, then layers of V's in purple(2), pink/red(2) and a dark green  follow each other and overlap along the seam

a better close-up
I like the movement this suggests

(See the green woven picots interspersed with pink/red x's in the above pic?  The x's look like V's joined at the point, don't they?   Hmmm, wish I'd known we were going to be doing V's when I stitched this---I'd have had more V's and fewer X's)

Sure hope to see your V explorations!
Thanks.
Hugs from Suz

Mary-Frances: Who wants a do-over on May!

May is crazy crazy for me - my kids are 10 and 11 and I'll tell you, the school packs more into their last month than they do in a year I think! ha ha!

Anyway, I've been just trying to keep up with work and that and basically not doing a very good job of any of it.

However, I started this crewel project (which I’m really really excited about)

and I finished this project (binding in front of the TV is one of the easiest, most relaxing things I know how to do!).

So, here’s to June being when I get caught up on TAST and get a bit more organized for summer stitching (I LOVE taking the kids to the pool and stitching while I hang out in the sun!).

I'll probably post quite a bit over this week while I try to  catch up to all of you (gorgeous stitching by the way gals - I HAVE been following along! :) )

TAST: Week 22: Knotted Cretan Stitch

The TAST Stitch for the Week of May 28 is the Knotted Cretan Stitch.

For more information and examples, check here on Sharon B's blog.
The Stitch dictionary link is here.

Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials shows an example here.

Photo courtesy of Pin Tangle

Deborah: Catching up: Week 21 - Butterfly Chain Stitch

Finally I have something to show.

The straight stitches look much redder than they actually are - they are actually more of a coral and the green thread is variegated.

This line of stitching did not turn out as planned so I"ll probably pull it out but I kept going because it took me so long to get anything done the past week.

As for the bullion knot, I'm still working on that one. I have to admit it's got me a bit flummoxed. 

I've got updates on the CQJP at my blog.

Carolynn update

Still working along on my Family piece! I'm making progress toward the due date: June 12!

Here is the whole project so far:

Some new details:  the center motif is started, and in the lower right, you can see a piece of crochet work I've added, held down by ribbon and with a ribbon and French knot flower in the middle:

I've used the wheatear stitch as a motif:

And added another button motif:

When I finish the border motifs, I'll attach batting and a back, and then sew on beads and buttons in various places as a way to do the "quilting."  I'll stitch in the ditch with clear thread around each block at the border, and hope that will be enough to keep the piece from sagging.  So I'm seeing the end in sight!

Stitch Explorations-V-Seam Treatments

This week let's take what we learned in last week's lesson and turn it into some developed seam treatments.

We are still focusing on stitches that have a V structure.  Examples could be the arrowhead stitch, herringbone, chevron, cretan, cross stitch, fans, letters, feathers and some blanket stitch formations.  You are not limited to the arrowhead for your V formation.

This week push yourself to use at least one of the 7 arrangement ideas + additional stitches = dynamic seam treatment:

1. Continuous, unbroken (think sawtooth or a pinked edge along a seam)
2. Linked, interlinked (think bottom feet overlapping)
3. Detached, interrupted (think separate stitches any distance apart, such as ^ ^ ^ ^ or v v v v v)
4. Detached, inverted (think separate stitches with one stitch inverted, various distance apart, such as ^v ^v)
5. Offset layering (think same stitch with the 2nd run offset, stitches on top of each other)
6. Detached, stacked or nested (think stitches that look like this <<<<)
7. Detached, mirror image (think <>)

My suggestion is to use your own ideas.  You could spend alot of time roaming the Net or searching books looking for ideas but in that same timeframe, you could come up with a few of your own treatments.  By coming up with your own treatments, you begin to develop your own Seam Treatment Stash.  Then when you need a combination of stitches for something, you can mentally pull the ideas from your stash.  You might even start a sketchbook or photo collection of your own successful ideas.

Focus on stitches you know.  Use stitches from the previous TAST lessons. Practice stitches that give you problems in a new arrangement.  Ask yourself "What if?" I combine this stitch in this way?

Post your results the end of the week-beginning Wed (so those with late reveals can post first).
Use your practice cloth or another project for your seam treatments-your choice.

Personal note:
I think, finally, this is the key for me!  I have been searching for a way to make my treatments bolder.  Combined with thicker threads, I found that the multi-layers is what I want in strategic areas.  One of my frustrations with the earlier Christmas wallhanging is that the seam treatments faded away.  Now I think I can look at them more critically and see why.  The treatments need a structural group of stitches along with a second layer and then embellishment stitches.  Or, the single stitches need to be very dramatic (in tone, weight, texture).  Anyway, it's nice to see the light-even if it is still dim!

These are seam treatments I worked this week on my TX Mockingbird panel. 

The arrowhead stacked with the negative space filled with chain stitch & detached chain + pistil stitch clusters.  This is a very easy seam treatment but I was floored at the boldness!  Yep, bring it on!

This seam treatment grew from the couched rick rack.  Rick rack is a zig zag (arrowhead) so using that structure as a base lead me to more zig zags.  It was a case of what is present and what can you do?

Those linked mirror image tied herringbone stitches are couching down a ribbon, serving as the structure for bullion knot stitches and adding interest. Again, this is another easy seam treatment with alot of power.

See what you can do and post your results.  Hopefully, you'll have an AHA! Moment this week too!

Cy - reveal - TAST Butterfly Chain - and.....

Here is my TAST Butterfly Chain

Strange that I used the yellow and orange colours too. 

I was going for a rustic look while using this stitch. 

And then I used it on ribbon.

And........

A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do....

My 'other' project for this week is - a Cross Stitch Biscornu pin cushion. Just because I want one (and I have been secretly envious of Angela's Biscornu since she showed us a pic of her workdesk).

I adapted and added to a basic one-colour chart for this cross stitch piece and made it 'mine'.

I wanted a jewel-like colour scheme to brighten the coffee table next to where I sit and stitch.

I have stitched some of my CQ too, but have not taken photos yet so you will have to wait for next weeks reveal for the finished photos.

So that's me for this week.

Happy Stitching

Angela: Butterfly Chain Stitch

Here we are with my embroidery journal page for this past week.  Butterfly chain stitch is pretty easy and looks great too.  Lots of decorative uses for this stitch.  It should technically have had a black background but I didn't have any dark material so I just went with what I had, more aida cloth.

The subject is Pac-man, the game was released on May 22 in 1980.  I think pretty much everyone has played this game.

This photo at an angle shows the butterfly chain the best.  If I had had that dark or black background they would have shown up so much better.  White on white gets rather lost.  I did try a color but it just didn't look right.  I used cotton floss on everything but the butterfly chain which is rayon, 2 strand for the bars and 1 strand for the chain.

Carol: TAST - Butterfly Chain Stitch

Having finally sorted which way to wrap my thread I was good to go and found this a quick and easy stitch.   Tiny rectangles of silk were attached to my base fabric and linked with butterfly stitches and a bead then added to the silk.  Perle 8, size 10 bead.

 

Susan: TAST 21 and PINK!

Yes, pink, my least favorite color, but there seems to have been a lot required for these blocks. It is not growing on me. If there's a CQJP2013, I will pick something that needs NO pink! Or orange, either.

The beads in the corner came in a package someone sent, and I intended to pass them along in a package to someone else, knowing I'd never use them. However, here they still sat, and it seemed a good place for them, pulling pink over to this green side of the block. This isn't individual beads, but one of those chain-of-beads things.

The dragonflies were inspired by one of Kathy Shaw's recent seams on a RR block. The butterfly chain is from an example on PinTangle. I really liked it, and probably will use that again somewhere. There is more I'm adding to that treatment, in PINK, but I didn't get to it yet. I had to think it up first.

I have one larger area left for this week (probably some V-stitching in there!), and some smaller stuff to finish, too, before the block is ready, but I think I like it.

NancyD Butterfly Chain

All I have had time for this week is one row of trying out this stitch.

I very clearly only have one thread stretching between the "groups of vertical stitches". Other's I have seen appear as if there is a "chain" between the vertical stitches but perhaps it appears that way depending on the number of strands of floss or thickness of some threads.  

But it is a good stitch and I can see, if time allowed, the variations that are possible.

Deborah: Lagging behind

Well I am seriously behind. Not that I haven't been stitching, I just have no idea where May went to.

I plan on getting caught up this weekend, since it's a long one.

I've been trying to do some garment sewing since my work clothes are looking pretty sad. I don't know about the rest of you but after I get home from work and do what needs to be done I'm pretty much wasted. Sometimes I get in an hour of machine sewing before I feel like I have to stop before I do something really screwy. Then I settle down to hand stitch, get about one seam done and my head is bobbing onto my chest. Such are the quirks of old age!

Just wanted to check in to let you know I'm still alive and making furious attempts to cram 48 hours into 24.

Suz- CQJP, TAST, and WIPs

I've been working on my May CQJP, and there have been a few changes:

Mr. Snowman changed his scarf to a red one, and, look!  He now has twiggy arms. That makes it easier to hold the tinsel he's putting on the Christmas tree.


Can you see the little copper decorations he's already hung on the tree? There are sparkles, too.

Tast stitch for this week decorates my CQ block..... it was fun to do.....

Looks as though Mr. S. has decorated the hall for a party. .....icicle lights strung along the wall......and snowflakes  hung here and there......


I waonder what else he's planning to do..........

 A little bit of tatting on the second needlebook I'm making as a gift

here's a peek at some more seam treatments.........



I'll post the finished needlebook later this week: it has V's!

My needlebook is all embellished and it was fun playing with different seam treatments and layering them in search of something unique
the middle one is herringbone, but it could be V's too for a little different look

I've completed the seam treatments on my thread roll-up although I may add some beads later......

there's some stitching going on on the pale orange patch.......next time I hope to be finished two motifs and a spider web....


Sounds like a lot of stitching coming up.......

We have our concert series this week: 1 dress rehearsal, and three performances, so I might not be around very much. Have a great weekend!

Hope you have some fun stitching, too!

Judy~Butterfly Chain Stitch and Other Bugs, TAST

This stitch landed on the yoke of Sue's dress. It's probably easier to do with thicker thread? After last week's post, I had fun trying a couple of ideas from my A-Z of Bullions book. Can you find them? Finally got around to stitching Sue's backrest as well as the leaves. The latter was a rather feeble attempt at the raised  fishbone stitch. At this point, I'm hoping that the next stitch will be useful for the tulips.....time will tell! Today is our grandson's third birthday. In case you'd like to see what he's getting from us, check my blog. If you also look on the sidebar, there's a choir link to a video of our presentation of Gjielo's Sunrise Mass; it's a wonderful piece of music.

Debra: TAST- Butterfly Chain Stitch

Very easy and very fun stitch!  It is going directly into my Stitch Stash as a Go To Stitch.