Take a Stitch Tuesday 2023 Week 34 and September Design Challenge

Take a Stitch Tuesday 2023 Week 34, I am proposing an interesting version of buttonhole called Up and Down buttonhole. This version of buttonhole creates a line of paired buttonhole stitches that are tied at the base. It creates a different look from regular buttonhole. And you can use this stitch in many places where you would normally just use buttonhole. Using Up and Down buttonhole stitch in place of regular buttonhole creates a different look to your work. Use it to add a touch of individuality!

Take a Stitch Tuesday 2023 Week 34 Beyond TAST

For beyond TAST, try this version of Interlaced Up and Down Buttonhole.  It consists of two rows of Up and Down buttonhole worked back-to-back in an interlaced manner. It forms a really attractive band —ideal to use on a border or a seam decoration on a crazy quilt. Check out the tutorial!

Take a Stitch Tuesday 2023 Design Challenge September

Using a colour wheel is loved by some and hated by others. Those that get frustrated with using a colour wheel are usually trying to match their colours exactly to a colour wheel. This is not how to use them. Use a colour wheel as a tool. The idea is to apply the theory to your fabric, not your fabric to the theory!

Most fabrics are not in pure colours such as pure red or blue or yellow. Technically the term is they are not a pure hue. Hue is a term used for colour. So when people ask what colour is that, they are asking what is the hue. Instead of being a pure hue such as the colours we see on a colour wheel, often the fabrics we have are different tints, tones and shades of a colour or hue.

Complimentary colour scheme

Complementary colours sit directly opposite each other on the colour wheel. When you use complimentary in a pure hue colours they create a strong dramatic contrast. Red and green are complimentary colours. In the sample (above) I used to illustrate Up and Down Buttonhole you can see an example of complimentary colours. Note I also used a tan/goldish colour as well, Technically, I should say the embroidery on this is in complimentary colours but the background is more properly a Split complimentary colour scheme. More on that in another post. My point is that I bent the rule.

When using complimentary colours I usually use tints and shades of colours I have to hand. So this is also complimentary colours of pink (ie a tint of red) and pale green.

Blue and orange are also complimentary colours to each other.

Here is an example translated to fabric. My point is, that you need to apply these colour theories with fabric in hand and adapt and change them accordingly. Use the colour wheel as a tool but always bend any rule if need be. The idea is to make a design work, not slavishly follow a theory.

Therefore the design challenge for September is to use a colour wheel and work out a small piece using complimentary colours.

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 looking for past TAST stitch challenges the archives are in the Take a Stitch Tuesday category

Where to Share

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 #TASTembroidery and #PintangleTAST on Instagram.

If you need more information the challenge guidelines are on the TAST FAQ page.

I hope you enjoy Take a Stitch Tuesday 2023 Week 34

The next Design challenge will be published on October 3rd

Previous TAST design challenges are found here 

• The Design Challenge for January is on week 1
• The Design Challenge for February is on week 6
• The Design Challenge for March is on week 10
• The Design Challenge for April is on week 14
• The Design challenge for May is on week 17
• The Design Challenge for June on week 22
• The Design Challenge for July on week 25
• The Design Challenge for August is on week 29

Happy stitching!