Early this week Andrea left a comment to ask me what stitches I am using to build up the texture in my bag for the bags of fun challenge . I have been trying to get to this all week as I thought I would explain and provide links to each stitch. This was well meant but I have not yet got to it! So here goes.
I have been couching highly textured threads down and sprinkled about the piece is random fly stitches and simple straight stiches. I am working in heavy cottons and wools.
Mainly I have been using highly textured stitches such as French knots, colonial knots, Bullion knots, Drizzle stitch, cast on stitch, double cast on stitch, basque knots, oyster stitch, Whipped spider’s wheels and buttonhole bars. These are worked against flat stiches such as buttonhole wheels .
The trick is to contrast textured stiches with flat stitches. This is possibly best seen in some samplers I have worked in the past. This sampler uses the scrunchy stitching as I call it against pulled thread work. It also works well as a monotone technique. Another sampler I have worked using this type of principle includes this seahorse and crab.
This is a way of working that I have developed and experimented with for years as the contrasts you can set up seem to continually fascinate me. Here is a doodle cloth which is an experiment and here is another experimental piece. I often add beads and this time I am adding buttons.
I had not tried working this way on denim so I decided to work my bag that way. I hope this explains a little of what I am doing and points you to some enjoyable eye candy.
The texture of the stitching is just so amazing. There is so much to look at. I can’t wait to see the finished product.
thank you for the close-up — amazing work!