Take a Stitch Tuesday 2023 Week 3 Basic TAST
This week I am suggesting people learn and experiment with Stem Stitch.
Stem Stitch is a basic quick and easy linear stitch, which I personally think is one of the most useful stitches there are. You can use this stitch to outline just about anything, and it is great for lettering as it will hold a curve well. If you find it looks a bit baggy, or loose make smaller stitches as you move around the curve.
The above sample is actually quite small – as each stitch is just a bit bigger than a seed bead. You can see how the stitches define a tight curve without getting too messy. It’s a stitch that beginners will find useful and yet it is not a huge challenge to learn. As always, follow the link to a step-by-step tutorial for stem stitch and eye candy, and have fun!
Take a Stitch Tuesday 2023 Week 3 Beyond TAST
The stitch this week for the Beyond TAST challenge is Portuguese Stem stitch. This is a textured linear stitch that is best worked in a thread with a firm twist. It needs a bit of body to sit proud against the foundation fabric.
Portuguese Stem stitch is an interesting stitch that follows a curve well. I think experienced stitchers will enjoy it. I am looking forward to seeing what people do. As usual, you can find a tutorial for stitch Portuguese Stem Stitch in myStitch Dictionary.
Where to share your Take a Stitch Tuesday 2023 Week 3 samples
If you are new to hand embroidery the challenge is to learn the stitch and share what you have learned. If you are an experienced embroiderer, enjoy Beyond TAST and give your work a modern twist. And of course, share it online so beginners can see what can be done with a little imagination.
If you are doing the design challenge you have a month to work a design and stitch it up.
So the idea is to stitch a sample, photograph it, share it in the Take a Stitch Tuesday facebook group or use the hashtags are #TASTembroidery and #PintangleTAST on Instagram.
If you need more information the challenge guidelines are on the TAST FAQ page.
Bead Soup in wonderful colour ways!
Our bead soups are carefully selected with embroiderers in mind.
Sharon chose these beads especially for embroiderers, for their suitability to stitch onto fabric — so they’re not designed for jewellery makers. Many of you will have seen Sharon’s encrusted embroideries — now you can try it too with these new bead soup packets, each sorted into colour ways to enhance your designs.
These bead soups are great to add texture and contrast to your embroideries, inspiring your creativity.
The mixes include natural materials such as shell, mother of pearl, gemstone chips, semi-precious stones, quartz, agate, wood and glass.
I also include resin and acrylic beads where they have interesting shapes or features that suit encrusted and contemporary embroidery. Some packs include silicone jump rings as you can do so much with them. You can find all these and more at the Pintangle shop
I’d love to hear a bit about stitch length in an upcoming post. I always struggle with this, and feel that my stitches are too small. Not much is ever said about stitch length in any of the tutorials I’ve ever seen.
Lisa Jo the reason stitch length is not covered in tutorials is that stitch length is really up to you -Embroidery is a creative pass time so its one of those areas where it becomes part of your style. People worry too much about the ‘rules’ of embroidery. If you want to make a stitch larger do so! It’s really a case of personal choice.