Welcome to Take a Stitch Tuesday, Week 25! The Stitch for TAST week 25, is to experiment with Sheaf Stitch. You often see Sheaf Stitch used as a light, filling stitch, with single stitches spaced evenly over an area. But people often underestimate it, as it is far more interesting than just an area filler.
You can arrange clusters of stitches to create patterns. I think it will surprise you. Try sketching out a few ideas on paper. And you will quickly realise that you are only limited by your imagination. Oh yes, and of course, time to try out the ideas! If you use interesting threads and beads, the possibilities expand still further. Follow the link for a tutorial and eye candy on Sheaf Stitch. Have fun with it, explore it a bit, and surprise yourself!
Take a Stitch Tuesday Week 25 Beyond TAST
Butterfly chain is a stitch that is a much under-used decorative composite stitch. Once you start playing with it, you will see how versatile and fun it can be to do. Don’t forget to check out the tutorial on how to work Butterfly chain stitch for instructions on how to do it. You will also find some ideas on how you might adapt and use it.
Take a Stitch Tuesday Week 25 Design Challenge July
Over the next few months, the design challenge will mainly be related to exploring colour. When it comes to using colour we all can learn something by putting some time aside and exploring possibilities simply for the sake of learning. I am sure you will enjoy it as a little experimentation with colour can certainly stimulate the creative juices. While experimenting, a little colour theory will help you understand why some combinations of colour work and why other combinations don’t.
The first challenge is to create a project with a monochromatic colour scheme. By monochromatic I do not mean simply a colour scheme of ecru, bone, cream etc remember that a monochromatic colour scheme uses different tonal values of a single colour. So it can be a project that is all blue or all green or whatever you choose.
Using Monochrome in Embroidery
To create a monochrome project you still need to vary tints, tones and shades. when applied to textiles if you think of combining those tints, tones and shades with textural contrasts you will create a visually interesting piece. Your embroidery thread is already a textural contrast against the fabric so my tip is to combine threads that are matt, shiny, thick, thin, etc. Introduce tonal variation when you choose your threads, but also think in terms of using ribbons, laces or a bit of fabric collage to add interest and as contrast in tonal value.
I have another few examples of monochrome – or nearly monochrome embroidery that in the past, I have written about here on Pintangle. The first is my Summer Seaside an Encrusted Embroidery wall panel, which you can read about here.
The other is my Gecko panel which I featured in a how-to article on encrusted embroidery. If you are interested in this style, check out my article on Encrusted Embroidery here
Over the next few challenges, I think you will enjoy the Colorspire colour schemer which has a very flexible colour picker that allows you to easily shift tint, tone and shade.
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 on your 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.
The next design challenge will be announced on August the 1st. I hope you enjoy the stitches this week and your design challenge. I am looking forward to seeing what people do!
Previous TAST design challenges are found here
- The Design Challenge for January is on week 1
Happy Stitching!
Thread Twisties!
Experimenting with different threads can be expensive. You would normally have to buy a whole skein of each type of thread. My thread twisties are a combination of different threads to use in creative hand embroidery. These enable you to try out stitching with something other than stranded cotton. For the price of just a few skeins, you can experiment with a bundle of threads of luscious colours and many different textures.
These are creative embroiders threads. With them, I hope to encourage you to experiment. Each Twistie is a thread bundle containing silk, cotton, rayon and wool. Threads range from extra fine (the same thickness as 1 strand of embroidery floss) to chunky couchable textured yarns. All threads have a soft and manageable drape. Twisting them around a needle makes experimental hand embroidery an interesting journey rather than a battle. Many are hand dyed by me. All are threads I use. You may find a similar thread twist but no two are identical.
You will find my thread twisties in the Pintangle shop here.
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