I always encourage embroiderers to experiment with different threads and this week’s stitch is an ideal example of why. For Take a Stitch Tuesday Week 37, the stitch is Raised Cross Stitch Flower. You will benefit if you explore this stitch a little, by using different types of thread. If you have threads or even fine knitting yarns that you look at and wonder how you will use them, try them out on this stitch!
So, go digging in your stash and haul out threads you might like to experiment with. For example, those that are a bit bulky or a bit cord or braid-like — have fun! You can use threads such as silk ribbon, chainette, fine metallic braids, and many novelty threads come to life when you use Raised Cross Stitch Flower. By the way, if you are looking for thread variety, check out my Thread Twisties in the Pintangle shop. In the Raised Cross Stitch Flower tutorial I share some examples of this stitch worked in different threads. Take a look, as I hope it will give you a few ideas.
Take a Stitch Tuesday Week 37 Beyond TAST
Woven Trellis Stitch stitch looks fussy and complicated at first, but it is actually so much fun to stitch. You can very easily make great flowers from this stitch or give it a contemporary twist by not working it square. Woven Trellis Stitch, scattered and worked irregularly over the surface, with uneven arms, will give you an interesting texture.
Take a Stitch Tuesday Design Challenge October
This month is a continuation of the challenge for last month. I am suggesting that people look to the colour wheel and explore a project with a split complementary colour scheme.
What is a split complementary colour scheme? It is similar to a complimentary colour scheme but uses the two or three colours that sit adjacent to the base colour. Some people find a split complementary scheme easier to handle. It has the same strong visual contrast yet is not as domineering as a true complementary scheme.
If you like playing with online colour tools I have a list of them here.
Here in this piece of crazy quilting, the blue-purple shades are the split complementary of the gold.
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.
I hope you enjoy the colour design challenge and Take a Stitch Tuesday Week 37
The next Design challenge will be published on November 7th
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.
