Tuesday Stitchers

Barbara's TAST Weeks 8 & 9 and February CQJP

2012-03-04T11:32:00.000-06:00

The February CQJP block is done. I added more fly stitches to mimic feathers on the blue jay, and along the base of the tree as leaves for some blue French knot flowers.

I used chain stitch to create a vine for the tree trunk, and gave it some red berries.

The March block has an image of flying geese at the center. I couched a wooded bead with Coral Zig Zag stitch right above it.

With some tiny beads, this became a fancy beetle.

I've picked some morning glories and some doves for the patches opposite the beetle. Onward, onward.

Carol - couching - February cq block completed

2012-03-04T11:00:00.000-06:00

Couching now finishes the block for February. However, to obtain an advance on my Travel Journal I had to submit the first two chapters to my publisher who recommended a serious re-writing job! So the story begins in January.
"My great grandmother was such an interesting world traveller. She enjoyed nothing more than seeing the world from the deck of a ship where the wind blew through her hair and her scarf trailed behind her. She told me of many adventures and when I was of a travelling age, I decided to see the world too. This is my travel journal of those adventures"
This wording now appears on the facing page for January with "Great Grandmother's Voyage in 1901" over the image on the cq block.
Everything should now be as plain as mud and apologies if I'm boring you, but thought I should explain wording for February.

Bottom left shows couching over a piece of dyed scrim. Throughout the block I have used perle thread 5, 8 and 12 and DMC for the detached chain stitching in the centre.

Facing page with added stitching - colonial knots and pistil stitch from Stitch 12.

Where will Sarah's travels take her during March?

Deborah: TAST Week 9: Couching

2012-03-04T10:00:00.000-06:00

Hey, I made the deadline this week.

I did some couching on my CQ Block 2:

I used regular embroidery floss to couch some No. 5 perle cotton which really did not show up as much as I thought it would. I plan to dress up a little more with beads...eventually. :-)

You can also see some of the details I've added on the photo tothe left. I love the way that turned out but it was time consuming. Check my blog for more pictures.

Here I've used the herringbone stitch in pink no. 5 perle over 1/8 ribbon

More herringbone using embroidery floss over 3/8" ribbon. This is a new AAQI quilt hopefully for March. Not my usual colors but I love them - a nice change from the CQ.

I did more work on the cq block this weekend. I am happy with the direction it's taking.

Angela: TAST Couching Stitch

2012-03-04T08:00:00.000-06:00

Here's this week's stitching journal page with the featured stitch of the week: Couching. I really could not get my head around using this stitch creatively. All my compatriots here have put me to shame.

Couching is fairly easy, you lay down a thread or some other type thing and stitch it into place much like the Lilliputians held down Gulliver. I did have issues with the lines staying straight but that may be more to do with me using 6 strand embroidery thread rather than something more substantial. Perhaps I should have used ribbon or even a yarn. Not my favorite page but it will do.

So on February 28, 1784 John Wesley chartered the Methodist Church and this is their symbol, a cross with the red flame of the Holy Spirit. To read more of why I chose this symbol please visit my blog.

NancyD-Wk #9 Couching

2012-03-03T16:07:00.002-06:00

Just as we were leaving on our trip I am crawling up in the attic to find the suitcases and I find my box of old "Counted Cross Stitch Stuff" collecting dust!! Inside I find a large piece of soft evenweave fabric I was going to cross stitch a baby quilt for my granddaughter.... who is now 13! Another dream project that never materialized. And what did I get up in the attic for!!

I'm not sure what this fabric is called, it's not linen and not Aida and is probably 5' X 7' with a stitched block pattern, BUT it would be great for my weekly TAST stitching. It is white, soft, pliable and even weave! So I'm going to use if for my basic stitching for TAST to learn the stitches and if I have time put some of the stitch on my new cream/brown blocks. On vacation I might just get the stitches on this fabric but later hope to also apply the new TAST stitch on my cream/brown blocks!

Next week.... lots of golf, sunshine and stitching in the evenings. Got to take in as much Vitamin D sunshine to stock up for April, May, June at home!

Oh and I loved the WWIT one of you posted! Along with the UFO's (unfinshed objects) WWIT (what was I thinking) is so appropriate!!!

So with all that said, here are my couching examples.

Suz- CQJP & TAST & WIP

2012-03-03T14:00:00.003-06:00

I combined TAST with my CQJP this week and couched in several areas of my block.

You can see more on my blog post here.
I started another 'pebble' and here's my progress to date.

Lots more encrusting to do!
I'd love to read your comments and suggestions! Thank you.
Hugs from Suz

Judy~Couching on SBS

2012-03-03T13:00:00.006-06:00

At first, I was a little befuddled as to how to use couching on my March block. (Didn't even really know how to practice because I'd done couching before...) What to do with plain ol' DMC embroidery thread? Then I decided to use a full strand of floss and couch it over the lines of her butterfly net. The thread wasn't overly cooperative, but it looks OK. I had fun with her hat though: used broad chain on the ribbon and was surprised that it kind of resembles the buttonhole stitch on the hat. After I got tired of that, I switched to chain stitch at the top. Do you think the brim needs something more? Wonder what stitch is coming next?

Jen Claire: Couching

2012-03-03T11:00:00.003-06:00

I looked through some of the brightly colored cords I've made in the past with the intention of using them for couching, but I got side-tracked. Instead, a scrap of an old tee shirt used for cleaning up when eco dyeing caught my eye, and I couched some spirals onto it.

Two layers give it more support, and I may sew it on to another tee shirt. Or...it may go into the WWIT (What Was I Thinking) pile.

An enjoyable experiment that I'll explore further, the spirals are tee shirt "ropes," and the appliqued leaves are intentionally wrinkled. I'm exploring some of Natalie Chanin's technique, but this is definitely not her more elegant style. There are more pics and info over at Bayou Quilts.

Next, I'll be experimenting with the Alabama Chanin reverse applique technique.

What else? This week I've continued working on two more encrusted pieces that Suz inspired. They will most likely end up as cuffs or brooches. I've worked on a doll. I've cleaned and re-organized the studio.

Next week, I plan to try Cy's tutorial.

Connie - TAST, Couching

2012-03-03T09:00:00.002-06:00

This was fun! I've never 'couched' in embroidery before, but I'm going to start.

Notice I added a tree? A little more (not much, but a little) on my blog.

Debra--TAST & CQJP for March

2012-03-03T08:47:00.000-06:00

I felt like this was a good embroidery week. I was able to get my March block started. I added the ribbons and did a little embroidery. I wanted to go further but reminded myself I needed to pace through the monthly TAST stitches first.

I am following a Sewing Theme using the color wheel + black + white. Each month is the next color on the wheel. March's pure Orange worried me that it might look too halloween so I was careful to pick trims and motifs that did not suggest halloween.

This month's block is called "Cut". Imagine why?!

I decided to use a big bag of needlepoint wool yarn hanks (a thrifted item, of course!) for the couching. I normally do a fair amount of couching so this week wasn't much of a challenge for me.

I couched the ribbon down with Chevron, Herringbone and then added Detached Chain.

The Christmas wallhanging is not at the stage where I wanted to add any couching so I left it for this week. Hopefully, a new stitch will work.
I finished my Cardinal Crazy Quilt Pillow and posted it on my blog here.

Onward to next week!

Beautiful work Susan and Tahlia

2012-03-01T20:37:00.000-06:00

I love the stitching you posted, in a nick of time in February and they are so different.
Tahlia, those medallions are so interesting and Susan, yours looks so soft and feminine
Are these stitching for the CQ journal page? I'm not sure of the other groups you two are in and I'm not familiar with the acronym.

NancyD

Deborah: February CQ Block

2012-03-01T19:15:00.002-06:00

February CQJP block - not finished but well on its way

More details at my my blog.

Susan: CQJP February Final

2012-03-01T13:30:00.000-06:00

More explanation on my CQ Blog. Like Tahlia, I cut it close, finishing last night about 10:30.

On to March!

Tahlia: CQJP Feb

2012-03-01T01:57:00.002-06:00

Okay, so I'm cutting it really close to the wire here for February's CQJP, but I've run out of time, and I'm reasonably satisfied. Of course, if time were no boundary, I could keep working on each of these wedges indefinitely! ..but time is a boundary, so I'm calling it good:

The size and shape of this "block" sure makes photographing a challenge!

Here's a pic of January and February with the BJP medallions set onto the wedges for the photograph:

TAST: Week 9-February 27- Couching

2012-02-28T08:06:00.000-06:00

The TAST Stitch for the Week of February 27 is the Couching Stitch.
For more information and examples, check here on Sharon B's blog.

Photo from Pin Tangle

Deborah: TAST Week Eight- Chain Stitch

2012-02-27T19:54:00.000-06:00

Chain Stitch variations

Chain Stitch

Don't know where that red & blue came from.

Judy-Finis!

2012-02-27T10:01:00.000-06:00

She is done, grounded, I hope, and wearing brown, not black shoes. One of these days I may get more adventurous in that category; her shoes look like Crocs to me. On to March! How can that be? (Sorry she's so wrinkly but I'm afraid ironing will set the blue which my sis assures me will wash out. Sure hope so.)

NancyD - Wk #8 Detached Chain

2012-02-27T01:48:00.000-06:00

Ladies this is all I have for this past week.
Since I just joined and I'm packing to be gone five week it's a little hectic around here.
These are pictures of detached chain I have previously completed on the only two blocks I have ever done. Snowflakes, leaves on the tree branches and flowers.
I apologize that the one picture is a little blurry.
Next week, sunshine and stitching!! Hmm it might be a little shaky stitching with that Margarita in my hand!!
Have a great week everyone!

I hope to practice the chain stitch more and the new TAST stitch in the car as we travel for a couple of days.
Then I will have new stuff for our next post.

Connie - Ribbon Flower Tutorial Link

2012-02-26T19:29:00.006-06:00

As Cy mentioned on a comment, I have a tutorial for a five petal ribbon flower over on my blog if any of you are interested.

Here is the link:

http://ceoriginals.blogspot.com/2012/02/ribbon-flower-tutorial.html

Carol - TAST Week 8 -Chain Stitch

2012-02-26T17:00:00.000-06:00

I don't do primary colours!! At least that was my story before becoming a member of Stitch 12 when Debra suggested we use the colour wheel with red as January. How could I possibly do red, so to soften the blow I decided upon a triadic color scheme, February being orange-red with green and blue. I am using in my blocks mainly batiks and hand dyed fabrics (supplied by a member of my sewing group who says I am her best customer!).

I loved the centre fabric which contained all my February colours, but what to do with it. I really love following the patterns of fabrics and as I couldn't think of anything else that is what I have done.

February for Stitch 12 included french knots and January was straight stitches so I combined the two, you will see I got a bit carried away.

Facing page. My heroine (who as yet has no name) has a friend from across the pond and they are destined to meet!

Susan: CQJP and TAST

2012-02-26T14:31:00.001-06:00

My February block is not quite finished. There is one more major area to stitch, and a couple that I will do after blocks are together. I also still have the beading to go. 3 more days!

Here are some new parts this week. I already had an undulating chain stitch, so I experimented with another idea from Carole Samples' book, p. 129. Getting those circles round and the chains in the outer part even were a little too challenging!

I also added this seam, inspired by a seam in Carole's book, p. 132. This one is Fly Stitch with straight stitch and French knots.

The whole block together, and you can see the chain stitch wavy seam with buttonhole, and the detached chain stitches on the chevron seam.

I uploaded so you can click on my pictures and be able to enlarge them.

Tahlia: TAST wk 8, CQJP Feb

2012-02-26T13:07:00.010-06:00

**SO** far behind schedule! I am counting on today, tomorrow, and Tuesday to catch up a bit and make some real progress with my CQJP wedge for February.

TAST wk 8: chain stitch : twisted chain with varying angles, open chain, magic chain (with two colors threaded in one needle), chain stitch to create shapes

I think I picked an unfortunate postcard for this particular stitch, as the stitch itself is subtle enough that it was tricky to find ways to keep the stitch from just disappearing against the energetic prints! ... also, this postcard would benefit from a variety of stitches instead of just one stitch. I think I will use this realization as a guideline for my future TAST studies, and try to keep prints to a minimum when I am trying to explore the possibilities of a single stitch, and use an excess of prints only when I am giving myself full permission to embellish heavily with whatever stitch seems appropriate in the moment!

CQJP block looks completely unimpressive at the moment!! My time has been sucked up by performance rehearsals. Last night was the performance for which we were putting in extra time, and it went really well! Everyone stayed upright, and glitches were minimal! :) ... but the result is that I don't have much thread on my CQJP block yet!

What I did get finished, though, is this lovely little embroidered interpretation of the valentine bouquet that my husband got for me this year! This pic shows how I turn the embroidered patch into a free-standing applique with finished edges that is easy to slip-stitch in place on my quilt block. I am REALLY liking this technique for appliques and expect that I will use it very often in the future!

So my CQJP so far looks like this. The rose applique is just basted on for now in the space I think that it might occupy, although the embroidery on the block might change the placement of the applique, once I get that done.
There is also a little growth to my January block from the last time I posted about it. Not a whole lot of change, but a little here and there.
I do hope I can catch up again!!!
At least I can say that I am not yet getting tired of this project, and I am very glad for that! Long-term energy investment in a single project is not something that I excel at!

I would like to say that I managed to find time to create a February BJP, but I didn't. This is the BJP that I made in January that I then misplaced, so I had to make a second BJP for January! ack. ... so this is my spare BJP which will fill in for whichever month doesn't get an official one of its own. ... hopefully that won't turn out to be February, because I have some nice heart-shaped beads that I would like to use for February's mandala! .. but it's nice to have a back-up plan!
So, for now this is my progress, meager as it is, at least it's still forward momentum. . I hope to be able to put up an update in the next couple of days to show that I actually did get something accomplished in February! the month's not over yet, and I need every single minute that I can get!

Hugs all!

The picture of the bouquet from which I sketched my embroidery.

Barbara's Stitching Hiatus

2012-02-26T10:51:00.000-06:00

No stitching for me this week. I spent yesterday deep cleaning, decluttering, and rearranging my living room for the new furniture that's coming in a few days. Our old stuff is going to my kids, so the new furniture better work out, or we'll be sitting on the floor for awhile.

Happy stitching to all. I'll catch up to you next weekend.

Mary-Frances: TAST Chain stitch and my workplace

2012-02-26T10:02:00.001-06:00

This is my TAST (take a stitch Tuesday) stitch for this week, the motif is from Carol Samples book, “Treasury of Crazy Quilt Stitches” and I’m really pleased with it:
I used basic cotton thread – variegated for the chains in the circles.
I’m open for suggestions on how to embellish that dyed lace butterfly (you can see quite a bit of it here). It seems to me like it needs beads or ribbon or something. Thoughts?

And here's my workspace - LOVE my stitching chair:

Here's my sewing area - somewhat neglected as I really love hand-stitching the best.

This is my storage - those wardrobes are full of fabric and that bookcase is stuffed full of UFO's - crazy eh?

Angela: TAST Chain Stitch

2012-02-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

The stitch for this week's TAST was chain stitch. A fairly easy stitch and one that is very useful for outlining and making stems among other things. I went very simple this week with a simple outlined shape. Something we are all familiar with, the PEACE symbol. I used a purple pearl cotton this time and a mossy green for the back-stitched words. Easy peasy this week, the peace symbol took one evening and the words one more evening. The biggest thing about chain stitch is to keep your tension even and you can see I had a slight issue with that that I didn't see till I was nearly done with it. I decided to leave it in to remind myself about that issue.

Tuesday's date of February 21 had several historical happenings I considered and I chose 1958, the date the peace symbol, as we know it now, was originally designed by Gerald Holtom for the British Nuclear Disarmament. I guess us American kind of took it over for use as an anti-war symbol. Having been born in 1958 I remember a lot about the Vietnam War and the Cold War. I also remember having a peace symbol necklace waaaay back in the late 1960's, so this seemed pretty appropriate for my journal.

NancyD - Oops!

2012-02-25T23:59:00.001-06:00

Oh dear I think I got my days mixed up.

Am I suppose to post my stitches for the week on Saturday or Sunday? I see you all have posted on Saturday? We get the new stitch on Tuesday, right?

I'm packing stuff and sorting beads to go with me on our trip so I can embellish my blocks, beads all over my desk and in my keyboard Oh dear and I spent the entire day in the garden!

My body hurts, my shoulders ache! I'm getting to old for heavy gardening in the cold!

We are leaving for the sunshine very soon for a month!!

Oh just in case you think I may be obsessed with gardening the next five months it's because I'm in a big garden tour the end of June!! Lots of people. What was I thinking!!!

I hopefully will post my chain stitches tomorrow.

Ta ta...

Cy - CQJP WIP & Spider Wheel Tut

2012-02-25T16:00:00.000-06:00

Shame on me - I've hardly done any work on my CQJP , and absolutely nothing on TAST this week. I can see Debra getting ready to thwack me with her long pointy stick. But in my defense, I have started stitching on the floral cushion for my mum and I have put a tutorial up on my blog for the Spider Wheel that a lot of you were asking about on my February CQJP block.

If you would like to visit my blog for the tutorial on this Spider Wheel variation:

You can find it here.

____________________________________________________________

CQJP - February WIP

I have added beads to two seams.

Oh boy! I've got a lot to catch up with next week.

Thats all for now folks.

Short and sweet.

Suz- TAST & WIP

2012-02-25T14:00:00.003-06:00

Hi everyone!
Here's my TAST for week 8. You can read more about it here.

My encrusted pebble is finished!
You can read more about it here

a different angle

Since we're showing our work spaces, I sometimes sit in the window seat to stitch

usually, though, I stitch in my comfy chair with my feet up on the stool

My 'studio' is in transition as I move all my supplies to the sunroom, and re-organize it all, so brace yourselves, as last week it looked like this:

This table and space has to be multi-functional and will be used for machine sewing, painting, and planning my projects.

I am organizing all my stash and supplies into decorative boxes so that they can be available, but look neat and organized for when the house is on the market.

Once I can make my way through to the chair and love-seat, I'll probably do more stitching there, especially in the warmer weather when all the windows are open and I can enjoy the summer breezes off the lake without the bugs.

Too, in the nice pre-and post-bug weather, I often sit out on the side deck to stitch, but all the furniture is packed away for the winter, and there's now 3 or more feet of snow out there.....so no pretty pics......

Just a note:

I am having computer problems. My ISP is changing its Operating System, and when each customer is changed over, the bandwidth decreases, and this affects the responding and operating of my computer. So, I may disappear for a few weeks, or I may only have some capabilities. So, if I'm no longer posting, or leaving comments, it's because I have temporarily lost that function. So, it's not me.....it's the ISP!!
I'll miss you!

Judy~Almost Caught Up~Chain Stitch and Friends

2012-02-25T13:00:00.006-06:00

Just now realized that this is the last Saturday in February and that SBS should be done. EEK!!She isn't.....maybe before next Thursday she will be? We were gone for 10 lovely days to Florida, but no stitching happened until we got back home. Fortunately, the stitches I missed weren't too difficult. In fact, I combined my practice of the detached chain and chain stitches to one session as you can see. (tried a zigzag chain and a broad chain as well) Then I did the chevron stitch and a variation called the raised chevron.

It was a bit of a challenge to use the chevron stitch on Sue's outfit. I read that chain stitch made a good outline and tried that and had fun experimenting with the detached chain as a filler.

Now I have to get crackin' and finish the rest of the block.....stay tuned.

Jen Claire: Chain Stitched

2012-02-25T11:11:00.000-06:00

Aaack! I'm behind in everything! Keeping up with blog reading, stitching, chores, reading....

Lately, I've been having trouble keeping up, but no trouble keeping busy.

I added chain and twisted chain stitches over the top of this prayer flag which was already stitched.

The twisted chain was fun, but that is about the extend of my exploration of this stitch.

Connie - TAST Week 8, already!

2012-02-25T09:00:00.001-06:00

It is gloomy and cloudy here, so I had some problems getting a good photo, but I think this will give you an idea and at least show I did my homework.

I used Navy and White...really! Of course I didn't want to disappoint anyone by not doing a tree, so I did two. The white one on the right is supposed to be one of those collapsible outdoor Christmas trees.

On the word Chain and the outer chain along the center band I used a white and a navy embroidery threads. I think it worked well for the chain but was a little unpredictable on the straight stitch.

I chain stitched the initial just as a reminder that this stitch works well for monograms and other designs.

I have begun my March CQJP block and I'm still trying to gather photos for the other blocks. That seems to be the hardest part.

Debra--TAST: Chain Stitch and CQJP

2012-02-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

I definitely like the chain stitch and liked trying this variation of the posted example. In reality the red shows up much better than it does in this picture. I mocked up the seam treatment with some small snowflake charms to give an idea of how it might look. I am nowhere ready to tackle any embellishments. Of all the seam treatments I've done so far, this one actually has a Christmas feeling to it. I believe I will add red beads to simulate berries too.

*********************************************************************************************

Here is my February block/page for my Sewing themed fabric Journal (CQJP). It is called "Design". I am working around the color wheel with the color + black + white. The color for February is Red Orange. This is an excellent yearly exercise for me--it is forcing me to edit and stay very close to a theme. So far I am just thrilled to be using some of my stash I have collected and saved for many years; both fabric and supplies.

My Sewing Journal was started in the Stitch 12 group so I have used both stitches from those February lessons and past/current TAST stitches on this month's block.

During February we worked on knotted stitches in the Stitch 12 group. I have quite a few french knots here and although I can't tell much of a difference, I also added a good amount of colonial knots too.

The dressforms are machine embroidered with a little heart button at the waist.

I am dipping into my scrapbooking letters for this journal. Last month I used "sew", this month "design" because of the dressforms.
I stitched the Coral Stitch through the middle of the ribbon. It was one of the knotted stitches we covered this month. It's a super stitch with the look of couching. It's very subtle here but I used variegated thread so it changes along its length.

Here is my Chain Stitch work for the month. I also used the Pistil Stitch on the fan looking motifs by the X beads. I like the Pistil too. Nice way to add texture without beading.

Some more of my charms selected to reinforce the theme. I was quite happy with the rickrack treatment. By filling the spaces with Detached Chain Stitches the obvious ripple was eliminated but it gave a nice edge for dangling charms. I love button clusters!

More button clusters and a laced running stitch--another set of stitches we covered in the Stitch 12 group. These laced and interlaced stitches are great seam treatments! Here I stitched the running stitches along the ribbon edge and used variegated thread over the top.

Some of the buttons used are from friends and quite a few are vintage '60s buttons. They came from an assortment my mother bought from Sears Roebuck when I was in grade school. I also used some of my heart buttons I have collected. It's great to have a meaningful place for all these items!

Please feel free to comment! Link to last month's Red "Sew" block.

NancyD - Now there are three

2012-02-25T00:52:00.000-06:00

I mentioned I was going to create several neutral colored blocks to work my TAST stitching this year, now that I'm in the "Tuesday Stitchers"! YEAH!! Maybe at some point I will catch up on the missed stitches in January and part of February but for now I'm moving forward with the last stitches of February (chain and detached chain).

I have now created three cream/beige/brown blocks. I posted a picture of one in my Introduction but now I have made two more. I stayed with the fans but made one smaller than the other two. Pictures posted.

And today I went to Shipwreck Beads. I had to have new beads and shiny/pretty things for my new blocks and the prices are very, very reasonable! Not sure you all have a Shipwreck Beads but it is a HUGE bead store and it is very Dangerous. I have also posted a picture of my new treasures!!

NancyD - Carole Samples Dream A Seam

2012-02-23T15:05:00.002-06:00

Debra mentioned that several of you are interested in the Carole Sample's Dream - A- Seam CQ templates.
After much waiting Carole e-mailed me and said mine were being packed and shipped in the next couple of days! YEAH!

Your best bet to receive the templates is to call or e-mail Carole and request she send you the order forms. She can send the forms via e-mail but the ordering itself is through the US post office, not an on line order process.

fancwerz@inebraska.com

402-455-6599

Shipping is not fast, but it will happen.

If you don't have Carole's book Treasury of Crazy Quilt Stitches it is well worth the purchase. You can find it on line through Amazon used, at a reasonable price. She addresses each stitch family and provides black and white line art drawings of the stitches and it's many variations This is not a book of "how to do" the stitches.

Later - Happy Stitching -Nancy

Introduction - NancyD

2012-02-23T14:50:00.000-06:00

Hi Ladies,

My husband and I moved to Gig Harbor, Washington four years ago I retired 8 years ago from one of the top two large international airplane manufacturers where I purchased computing software and negotiated software license agreements. A very "stay between the lines" type of job.

I have been sewing since I was 10, got into quilting when I retired, but I have always loved hand embroidery. So Crazy Quilting (CQ) was the next best step but it's tough for me sometime because there aren't any lines or directions of where to put all that wonderful stuff! Beads, silk ribbon and floss and "oh shiny" stuff, OH MY, but it's wonderful!!! My other interests are gardening, golf, biking, walking, reading and my little Shitzu dog Lizzie!

I'm trying to approach CQ the same way I do gardening.. Gardening I can design the beds taking into consideration color combinations, leaf size, plant size, sun, shade etc. and if it turns out that I didn't get the plant in the right place, well I can move it or toss it. CQ is the same way. I can sew on it, embroidery, apply beads add lovely ribbons and buttons and if it's not right I can rip it out. I love designing and planting in the garden but then there is maintenance which I don't do well!! CQ has no maintenance!! YEAH!! Eventually I would like to have my crazy quilting reflect my love of gardening, but for now I have two years of very limited CQ experience while I have 50+ years of gardening experience!!

I am so looking forward to talking to all of you via the blog, learning and sharing.

Below is my picture (with Lizzie) and a picture of a block I stated to use for our beginner TAST 2012 Stitches that Debra is closing. The last picture is Delphinuims I have added to the pictured block. My plan is to continue stitching on that block, plus some on my Christmas block (not pictured) and I am going to create a series of beige/brown blocks ( one pictured) that I will be using for Sharon's TAST through this group. I will most likely also have a practice piece.

My posting the month of March might be pretty basic as we are heading to warm sunshine for the month of March , hiking, golfing, biking and hopefully some stitching. As long as the camera cooperates I Should be able to post pictures. I actually considering starting a BLOG or my stitching but mainly to document my garden.

Introduction-Carol

2012-02-23T07:52:00.000-06:00

Well, Debra said to "jump in" so here goes, unsure of the height of the diving board and depth of the water, but will definitely get my feet wet!

In 2004 I retired from a full time carreer in the legal profession and continue to attend the office one day each week dealing with wills, probate and tax matters. I am married and live in the UK and very recently returned from a month's holiday in New Zealand so am playing catch-up as far as my sewing (and everything else) is concerned.

My membership of a patchwork and quilting group gives much enjoyment coupled with learning and fellowship. Last autumn I was part of Sharon's Encrusted Crazy Quilting course, which for me should have been preceded by my TAST experience!
I am very much looking forward to being a member of Tuesday Stitchers

My TAST project is a Travel Journal and this is my January block (unfinished). During the month we worked on straight stitches and there are many examples of how differently these may be presented.

The picture shows January's facing page and is used to show additional monthly stitches and the pocket holds my sample stitches and also travel postcards which have been written up with details of each weekly stitch.

Introduction--Carolynn S.

2012-02-22T14:48:00.000-06:00

I'm a retired English teacher (30+ years), married, 4 children (one deceased), living in Des Moines, WA, a suburb of Seattle. I've sewn since I was a little girl: doll clothes, my own clothes, kids' clothes, the works. I began quilting after I retired, in 2004, so I'm relatively inexperienced at that. Nancy D and I are in a quilting-sewing group together, The Twisted Nuts (don't ask!), and we have been crazy quilting together for the last couple of years. We have been in Stitch Twelve with Debra, and she suggested joining this group as that one is closing. I'm looking forward to the discipline of this group to help me focus on learning new stitches and using them in creative ways.

Deborah: TAST, Week 7, Detached Chain

2012-02-20T20:38:00.000-06:00

These are all pretty simple applications of the laisy daisy, which I use constantly to enhance other stitches. It's a very handy stitch.

Here's my AAQI piece . More about this on my blog

I've had this button for years. I drew the circle to give me some perspective on the placement of the flowers.

Okay so this is it, where the magic happens. Semi-organized chaos. :-)

TAST-Week 8- February 20: Chain Stitch

2012-02-20T19:36:00.000-06:00

The TAST Stitch for the Week of February 20 is the Chain Stitch.
For more information and examples, check here on Sharon B's blog.

Photo Courtesy of Pin Tangle

Deborah: TAST and CQJP

2012-02-20T05:26:00.000-06:00

Oh boy, so far behind! I have been using the detached chain, aka Lazy Daisy, in both my cqjp pieces, and on the AAQI February quilt. This weekend I was struggling to get my February piece done for the AAQI and if anything could go wrong with it, it did. I was using silk dupioni and that stuff ravels so badly - I had to replace the binding a couple of times, and there were other mishaps. But it's done on time, I just didn't get much else done. The end of the month always sneaks up on me - I think I have plenty of time but it just evaporates, or something comes up, or I go into a trance, or something. I will post pictures tonight, they are uploaded just not edited. And now, I'm off to work.

Cy - CQJP Feb WIP - TAST week 7

2012-02-19T18:57:00.001-06:00

(I missed my alloted time again so slotting in here).

Long post warning, lol.

CQJP - February - WIP

Updates on the February block and a few close-up pics of some stitch embellishments so far on this block.

The needle-weaving seam, that was extremely "slow going" last week, has now been completed thanks mostly to my darling "Dooman" hubby who made new legs for my Posilock frame stand so that I could pop the embroidery hoop in it and work with both hands on the stitching. Phew!!!. It is great to be working without having to hold the hoop in one hand now. That Posilock stand has not been able to stand up on it's own for about 10 years, and I really missed it.

Last weekend Dooman was meant to be building a shed to house his new farm equipment. It started raining quite heavily and I wandered out to the barn (where he was hiding) and presented him with the Posilock stand and told him what the legs should look like. Less than half an hour later he gave it back to me complete with new legs, oh yeah, and the biggest smile on his face.

Lots of brownie points for Dooman.

Needle-weaving

The double row of Cretan stitch.

The Crocheted Lace piece.

Lots more embellishing to do on this block yet.

and the following TAST close-up pics are worked on this block too.

TAST week 7 - Detached Chain Stitch

Detached chain in lilac thread stitched closely side-by-side, and the pale green silk ribbon is detached chain as well.

Isn't this a great detached chain stitch "wheel" in variegated thread.

The centre is a woven spider wheel, and there will eventually be something else in the middle, but I haven't decided if it will be a bead, French knots, or something else.

My Workspace

As we Tuesday Stitchers are sharing pics of our workspaces, here are a couple of pics of where I do my stitching.

In this first pic next to the open French doors is my arm chair with Posilock stand holding my CQJP. Threads, beads, ORTs jar & snippers on the table at my side. Thread tray, lap tray and beads box on my footstool. Overhead angle-light for dark days. And outside on the deck is another space where I stitch. The outside dining table gets used for cutting fabric too.

Here's a better look at the view from my arm chair

And yet another place where I read and stitch is the gazebo. Love the shade here (so do the chickens), and the book on my chair is The Quilter's Legacy (5th book in the Jennifer Chiaverini's series).

And I just thought you might like to see this awesome scene that we woke up to on Saturday morning.

Have you ever seen a Cloud Rainbow before?

It was just "hanging" there over the orchard for ages.

My Other Project Updates

No update for February BJP as I haven't even started it yet. It is all "In-My-Head" for now.

I have made the fabric choices for Counties Quilters - February BOM due at next meeting in March.

I have fused the Kiwifruit applique block for Prostate Cancer Charity Quilt fundraiser. The block is now ready for blanket stitch and embellishing.

Block Lotto for this month is the easy Granny's Flower Garden, and fabric is being auditioned as I speak. The only stipulation for this is that the background fabric must be cream.

And the 2012 Freeform Crochet Challenge work is well under way, but I'm not allowed to post any pictures until the challenge book is published with all the entries in. This keeps it a wonderful surprise so that everyone can see all the challenge pieces at the same moment, and not get influenced (or intimidated) by anyone else's work.

So it has been another busy, busy week.

Next week has the potential to explode on me as I have so much to get done.

I want to make a brightly coloured, highly textured cushion for my mum, who has very poor eyesight (hence the bright colours and textures). She is almost totally deaf now too, and to top it off, she has recently had another fall and broken a couple of ribs.

As a very active person in the past, she is now suffering a bit. She loved her garden and spent all her spare time there when she wasn't working, stitching, or crocheting. So that is why I want to send her a flower cushion. To help bring a bit of that love back into her life, and to remind her that I love her even though I am half way around the world from her.

Susan: CQJP Update

2012-02-19T16:47:00.001-06:00

It was a busy week, so a piece where I started out way ahead, I now feel behind! I did work on one corner, the stepped seam I started last week. I didn't do a sampler for the detached lazy daisy chain. (There - all combined neatly!)

Sorry, more clouds rolled in, so it's a flash pic again.

There will be beading on the seam, and some in between rows of running stitches. I better finish the stitching early this week, because I think all the beading is going to take forever!

Tahlia: TAST wk 6, 7; etc

2012-02-19T14:00:00.000-06:00

I seem to have recovered from my sluggish progress last week! I added stitching to my Chevron sampler (TAST wk 6), and got a nice bit of work done on my Detached Chain sampler (TAST wk 7).

Week 6 TAST: Chevron

Week 7 TAST: Detached Chain

I've decided to start using a lot of metallic threads on my TAST samplers so that I can (hopefully) make friends with the darn stuff! .. or if not friends, at least tolerated acquaintances. I like the shine that it adds to a piece, but I really dislike the tendency it has to shred and to tangle and to abrade the fabric. Stitching with it for TAST is helping me to understand it a little better- but some of the stitches are definitely easier than others!

I didn't get much work done on my CQJP or BJP yet this month, but there is still time (I hope!) to get it done before the end of the month.

If you are interested, you can check my blog for glimpses of some of the other work I've accomplished this week.
another-hobby.blogspot

Barbara's Week 7: Detached Chain

2012-02-19T12:20:00.000-06:00

My little block is filling up pretty quickly.

This week I used the detached chain stitch (aka Lazy Daisy) to make silk ribbon leaves for my tree. I had originally filled it in with perle cotton leaves, but they didn't show up against the busy background, so I pulled out the heavy artillery. I didn't take out the original stitches, but just sewed right over them, and that worked out fine.

Like I have done with other accent motifs, I traced this little owl from an old embroidery book onto some tear-away stabilizer and stitched through it.

The bird in the central panel got a few accent stitches, and I added a gold spider web. My spider blends a bit too much into its leaf, so I'll add some outline in a contrasting color. My double herringbone stitches got some green buttons, and I added more herringbone stitches and French knots next to the butterfly.

The middle of the block got some dark green buttonhole stitch and some red lazy daisy blooms.

I'm planning to embellish the two short seams to the right of the tree, and to add some foliage to the left side of the tree. Then I think this block's done. Onward to the next block!

Mary-Frances: TAST Week 7, more detached chain

2012-02-19T10:08:00.001-06:00

I already did the Week 7 stitch – detached chain – by accident. However, I found this little flower piece of felt and decided to take it further.

My inspiration was this book “The Stitches of Creative Embroidery” – I have NO idea where I found it, but it has the most wonderful stitch combinations in it – an example – and where I got my ideas:

Aren’t those fantastic? I wanted to keep stitching after seeing those! Maybe I’ll use a few more ideas in the next area! I think most of those would be amazing with beads, wouldn’t they?

I have some other projects I'm working on and am starting to blog about books I'm reading, so if you're curious about any of that, pop over to my blog.

Angela: Detached Chain Stitch

2012-02-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

This was a very enjoyable stitching week for me with the detached chain stitch. It's always been the lazy daisy stitch to me so that's what I titled it on my journal page above.

This past Tuesday having been Valentine's Day, I simply chose a heart shape. I had also wanted to work with variegated thread as several others have been working with it and it is so very pretty. I think it has turned out quite nice.

And since several others in our group have shown their work space I took a photo of mine.

Yeah, this is it, 2 x 3½ feet of desk that is mostly taken up by extraneous stuff. I didn't clean up so you see it as it usually looks. I work on my projects here while something from Netflix plays on the pc. I usually eat here too as it's just me.

Suz- CQJP & TAST & WIP

2012-02-18T14:48:00.000-06:00

Sorry this is a bit late....technical difficulties
Debra suggested I post a pic of my two completed blocks, side by side:

I haven't decided how they'll be pieced once all the blocks are finished, but I think there's some harmony here. What do you think?

Here's my TAST for week 7:

I did some experimenting with this stitch using single threads as well as three threads, and like the look of the multi-thread bits.

Layering the stitches created the look of a many-petalled flower, like a lupin or lavender.

This is my beginning for a small challenge over at stichin' fingers: we're creating "Encrusted Calico", which look like rocky surfaces encrusted with growth.

Using muslin for the base, I added some buttons, and plastic beads and rings. I'll add a second layer of muslin and entrap the bits between the layers, and sewing them down.

Here's my progress so far. What do you think?

I appreciate your thoughts and comments. I love feedback.
Thanks. Hugs from Suz

Judy ~ Checking In and Very Behind

2012-02-18T13:00:00.001-06:00

In case you've wondered, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth! We've been out of town for 10 days, trying to find a little sunshine. We are slowly getting caught up around here, but I'm way behind in my stitching and commenting, that's for sure. Look for my "catch-up" post next week. Till then, happy stitching!

Jen Claire: Detached Chain

2012-02-18T11:00:00.011-06:00

This week, I used the lazy daisy or detached chain on the prayer flag Trust. More eco dyed (from rust, rosemary, and spinach) fabric scraps from the scrap basket and flower prints that didn't turn out too well.

I enjoyed working on this one, sometimes following the patterns on the cloth, sometimes not.

Connie - TAST, BJP, CQJP and Workspace

2012-02-18T09:00:00.012-06:00

Warning, (and apology) for the long posting you are about to experience...

Week 7 of TAST: I had to downsize my tags slightly to save on fabric, but I think I like the new size better although there isn't a huge difference.

My workspace: This is where I can be found in the early morning hours before the sun comes up. It is so peaceful then. I'm also there after work most days.

This is where I do my stitching. Everything is within arm's reach. To the left of the rocking chair is a closet with my stash; directly in front of me is my ironing board with supplies piled on and under it; between it and my computer is the sewing machine (also piled with stuff). Below is my 'lap tray' for my WIP (Block 3 for January).

BJP: February. See my blog for more info. Select the BJP tab at the top to see the page with both January's and February's projects.

CQJP: Block Two: the October stone is pink tourmaline. The flowers closest to the photos are embroidered. The small four-petal flowers are from a vintage ladies hat. The large pink flower is from a silk flower and a pink button is now in the center to attach it.

The key will be attached later.

Subtle sparkle from beads mixed in with the pink French knot flowers.

Tatted butterflies from Suz added on block one. Thank you Suz. They add such a nice texture!

Debra--TAST: Detached Chain Stitch

2012-02-18T05:17:00.000-06:00

I got alot done in the studio this week but it wasn't on my Christmas wallhanging. I finished the minimum which is to stitch the 2 borders using the weekly TAST stitch.I now have all the green squares (5 out of 9) with the borders stitched. The completed detached chain had a fringed look to it when stitched that I really like. I stitched both borders in Perle Cotton & changed the scale of the stitches. Nothing dramatic but we'll see how the borders change when the 2nd layer of stitches appear.

Original Link is here.

Connie - Inspirational Photos

2012-02-17T08:27:00.003-06:00

Any of you in the International Crazy Quilt group on Yahoo may have seen this already, but I thought I would share this site with those of you who haven't seen it. This is an amazing and unusual antique CQ! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crazyquiltinginternational/photos/album/618439286/pic/list?mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&dir=asc

Mary-Frances: TAST week 6 & 7

2012-02-14T07:27:00.004-06:00

I have started to post this stitch 3 times and what's funny is I keep stitching on my seam and having to update it! ha ha! I had the actual stitch done a while ago and kept adding and updating - I meant to post in between and I just didn't get around to it.First, the funny thing is I have NEVER done a chevron stitch - in all my stitching, it's just never come up! So, very fun! I got to play with a new stitch. It started in the simple incarnation to the right - I made it sort of large because I did want to add around it.But I kept adding and adding and here's what I ended up with:

What's funny is that Week 7 is the lazy daisy (detached chain, but it will ALWAYS be the lazy daisy to me) and here are a TON of lazy daisy stitches....the chain and the flower petals above! Tada! I'll probably do another entry for Week 7, but aren't I efficient getting them both done! :)

If you want to see the "big" version - you can check it out on my flickr.

TAST- Week 7-February 13: Detached Chain Stitch

2012-02-13T19:11:00.000-06:00

The TAST Stitch for the Week of February 13 is the Detached Chain Stitch.
For more information and examples, check here on Sharon B's blog.

Members:

Photo from Pin Tangle

Deborah: TAST Week 6 - Chevron

2012-02-12T16:03:00.002-06:00

Chevron

Susan--Chevron Sampler and CQJP update

2012-02-12T15:00:00.017-06:00

I really enjoyed playing around with the size of the Chevron stitch. Here's the sampler. I love the triple overlapped one and need to find the right place for it. The tall and short will show up somewhere, too.

Here's the latest work on the CQJP. I need bazillions of beads, but I'm going to hold off on those until the end. There's more stitching to do on the stairstep seam, too, but this is as far as I got on Saturday night.

Tahlia: TAST wk 6 Chevron, etc

2012-02-12T14:00:00.000-06:00

Life really got in the way this week! I am in two dance performances this weekend and had many extra rehearsal hours that bit into stitching time, plus we had unexpected house guests on Friday night, so the extra hours on Wednesday and Thursday (my normal stitching days) were used up shifting my piles around, vacuuming, etc to make room for visitors. :P
Want to see what I did accomplish this week? It's not much!

Yep, ONE LINE of chevron stitch! How's that for a sense of accomplishment! ARGH!!!!! Ah well, next week I will have some catching up to do!

Barbara's Week 6: Chevron Stitch

2012-02-12T13:46:00.002-06:00

It's been very inspirational to work the TAST and the Crazy Quilt Journal Projects alongside my sister stitchers on the Tuesday Stitchers blog. This week I ~~shameless stole~~ was inspired by Jane's post from last week about using wool felt to make a tree. I had some felted wool, and I applied Heat n Bond Lite to the back, took some rough measurements of the space I wanted to fill, and drew a tree in reverse of the image I wanted.

I had to trim the tree branches a bit to make it fit the space, but after I was satisfied with the placement, I ironed it down. Now there was no going back.

I've also been inspired by the way several of the Tuesday Stitchers have stacked their TAST stitches, and also the free form approach some have taken. I filled my tree with chevron stitch in a rustic way. I added some heart buttons that Debra sent me, which provide the pop of red I was looking for. I'll add more later after I add a bird to the long branch on the right.

Because others have posted their work tables, I'm posting mine here too. This is the mess I had to clear away in order to do my stitching today. At first I wondered how I would ever think up enough ideas to fill 12 blocks. Now I wonder how I'll ever fit it all in.

Angela: TAST ~ Chevron Stitch

2012-02-12T08:00:00.000-06:00

This week's stitch for TAST was Chevron. I found in a vintage embroidery booklet that this stitch is also known as the barred herringbone. The booklet was written by Marguerite Randell who was head of the Training School, Royal School of Needlework, in South Kensington, England.

I had to really think about how to incorporate the stitch in this week's design that I had already chosen. I opted to keep it really simple especially since I was not able to stitch for 2 evenings due to sinus headaches. I created the sky with graduated color, the center section is a mix of 2 colors.

The well known image from the Abbey Road album was my first choice as a design since February 7, 1964 was when The Beatles arrived in New York for the first time. The Beatles pretty much defined an era, especially of music during my early growing up years.

My stitching is not all that inventive this week but that's probably a good thing as I frogged out the first 3 tries on the sky before I got it right. The fabric is a cafe au lait colored even weave and the aqua colored threads really look pretty with it.

Cy - CQJP & TAST reveal

2012-02-11T16:00:00.000-06:00

TAST Week 5 - Herringbone Stitch

I managed to catch up with Week 5 TAST that I didn't get done last week.

Here is the unstitched hand dyed evenweave linen panel that is for February's stitches.

The working area is 9 inches square and will eventually be put in a journal book along with the other 'pages' of stitches. There could be any number of different stitches on each panel. It all depends on how much time I have for stitching and whether I experiment a lot or a little with the various stitches.

The Basic Herringbone stitch worked in stranded cotton floss.

Stacked Herringbone

Rows of Overlapping Herringbone

An experiment with curved edges

This next one was meant to be Long and Short Herringbone stitch, but I think I ruined it slightly by trying to do it on a curve. I probably should have at least drawn a guide line for the curve and spacing first, but I hardly ever plan ahead.

Now this next one is actually called Ladder Herringbone, but I think it is very like a 'laced' Cretan stitch.

I really should not have used three different colour threads in my needle at the same time as it is difficult to see the stitch. Sorry about that.

And here is a Closed Herringbone stitch.

Started off a wee bit uneven on the left for a couple of centimetres, but then once I got the hang of 'what-happens-where' things got neater.

And to experiment some more with the Closed Herringbone stitch .....

(I like the solid look of this stitch)

I wondered what effect a variegated thread would have with this stitch.

I rather like the result. Only problem was that it uses up a LOT of thread, but sometimes it is necessary to use quantity just to get the right look to a project.

I shall definitely be using this textured stitch in my CQJP.

So here is my Journal Page so far with all my TAST week 5 stitches.

____________________________________________________________________

TAST Week 6 - Chevron Stitch

A nicely productive week for me so far.

Didn't get too many Chevron stitch samples done, but I shall add some more to my journal page at a later date when I get some time to experiment some more.

Chevron Stitch

Double row of Chevron stitch in two heights

Raised Chevron Stitch

And all together on my journal page they look like this

____________________________________________________________________

CQJP February Block

Here is my "NAKED" block for February's Crazy Quilt Journal Project

(please excuse bits of loose thread I forgot to remove before taking photo)

And just a little bit of stitching completed so far this week.

I am so looking forward to more stitching on this block. I have some lovely beads eagerly waiting to be auditioned. And that butterfly in the middle patch is begging for embellishment.

I welcome your thoughts and suggestions on any of the above projects.

Happy Stitching

Suz-CQJP and TAST-week 6

2012-02-11T14:21:00.000-06:00

February CQJP

You can read a bit more about it here

I think it's finished!

http://suztats.blogspot.com/2012/02/tast-week-6.html

As always, your comments and ideas are appreciated.
Hugs from Suz

Jen Claire: Week 6, Chevron

2012-02-11T11:00:00.000-06:00

I'm enjoying playing with this stitch and have tried a few variations.

I cut out the practice I did on linen scraps and added them to a prayer flag.

I'm still working on it, but here it is in progress.

The patch is on an acorn dyed scrap of the same linen as the prayer flag. I wish I'd done more of it, but I just threw some linen scraps in the dye pot to see how they would do.

Thank you to all of you for your suggestions on last week's prayer flag! I used

them all and do like the result much better than the previous version.

It will never be my favorite, but it is a huge improvement, thanks to you.

Jane - CQJP - February Week 2

2012-02-11T10:00:00.008-06:00

I'm at the point of tying this all in together this morn... hope to move onto next block this afternoon. I did use the last 2 TAST stitches, herringbone upper left and a layered cretan below corner. I've used some varigated perle cotton for some leaf work and more metallic thread to lighten the matte areas.

This block/corner is the one to represent the sun so I'm going to add alittle red (hard color for me to use) and alittle more yellow beadwork. I also have to pull that vine out of the corner into the bird motif for some flowers that are going in.

I'm super content to be hanging out at my table today. I love working on a block at this stage, especially when there's no time constraint or pressure to finish. Thanks again for your ideas on the wool leaves.

Connie - TAST - Week 6

2012-02-11T09:00:00.002-06:00

Had fun with this weeks stitch using lavender and pink for my colors, as a follow-up of the tints of last weeks purple and red.

Debra--TAST: Chevron and WIP

2012-02-11T08:00:00.000-06:00

This week everything I embroidered had the Chevron Stitch on it! I would like to add more detail to the stitching on my Christmas wallhanging blocks but I think it would be better to wait until I have all 9 done with the basic weekly stitch first. I don't want to raise the bar too high on one black and then be stuck doing the same for the other blocks. I am reminding myself this is a wallhanging that will be on display 2 weeks at most.

I can see this stitching is not nearly as bold and dramatic as I want it to be--which leads me to think I will be doing some layering with other stitches.

I started working on the smaller of the 4 CQ pillows I have planned for the living room. I love the look of the herringbone combined with the chevron and lazy daisy. This makes a statement!

I could buttonhole stitch elements to cloth all day long. Maybe I should do that with a CQ one of these days! This bouquet was harvested from a thrifted linen dress. I am hoarding every single bouquet!

I like having tidbits from my life and from my friends in my work. The bottom trim has been in my stash close to 30 years. The trim across the top came from Angela recently. I have some button clusters planned for the bouquet and a small arch across the top. I am resisting stitching in the checks. I have to draw the line somewhere. My new question is: "Will doing XYZ significantly add to the value of the project?" Not surprisingly, the answer is sometimes a resounding No! Next week I'll show the finished pillow (25").

I'll be gone all day but will check in later in the day.

TAST: Week 6- February 6: Chevron Stitch

2012-02-06T15:09:00.002-06:00

The TAST Stitch for the Week of February 6 is the Chevron Stitch.
For more information and examples, check here on Sharon B's blog.

From our members:

Photo Courtesy of Pin Tangle

Barbara's Week 5 Herringbone Stitch

2012-02-05T23:00:00.000-06:00

Thank goodness for the Superbowl. It allowed me to sit down and get this bit of embroidery done while the rest of the family watched the game. I got one seam done with two layers of herringbone stitch.

I'd been looking for something to help get my stitches even, and this peel and stick tape that I found in the embroidery isle at Michael's worked really well.

I positioned it on one side to do the light blue stitching, and then I flipped the same piece to the other side to do the larger dark stitch. It was easy to use the centimeter measurements, which conveniently have no numbers.

I stitched a butterfly over some iron on stabilizer, a method I showed in an earlier post. I used satin stitch and chain stitch. The little bird at the bottom was transferred onto a piece of linen and then cross-stitched on. Maybe I'll add some beads to the herringbone stitch. It needs a bit of zip.

Susan--TAST and CQJP, Together As Always!

2012-02-05T21:58:00.000-06:00

It's another weekend, and I'm always late because I mostly stay off the computer on Sundays. Here's a quick post, though, with my herringbone sampler and the February CQJP. I love the way it's coming along, and it's even faster than last month's!

Jane-2/5/12 - What's on the Board

2012-02-05T19:43:00.002-06:00

A productive week once it got going...Although I'm not a TAST gal, I'm trying to do some stitches... CQJP for me though.

This is where this block is taking me... the locket says " This Is Your Life" and can accomodate 2 good size pics ( what will they be?) Now to make it fit with a back drop. I'm working copper metallic thread into this, hoping to shine this corner up. I always sew down the lace, edgings, ric rac and seam chachky before I go on to stitches... I try to save the beading for last, but that's difficult for me... cursing the occasional caught thread is minor. I think I tack things down too much too... I had to remove some parts today and had a bear of a time cutting through.

I don't know about you, but I always lose perspective with online pics, they always seem larger than life to me! I stuck my hand in so you could put some proportion to this. This ain't no big block.

The drawing for the tree for middle section... lots of pruning for some branches needed so it ll fit the center blocks below. I'm most likely going to use wool or felt for this center image. I'm smitten by Sue Spargos Blog and all the cool leaves that are shown there ... interested in that look, folk art/homey/OOAK to add to my ideas with this quilt. Help me out... shiny leaves or "wooly" leaves like I'm thinkin?

I'll be sewing these together to work on them... bonus block , 2 fer 1 when I get there.

The orange wedge that will sit below this block will be the one to get these "stamps" I showed in last post. I have these buttons to make and thought I'd try it... a decoupagish detail for the half square... we'll see. These half squares will be a challenge separating them visually while trying to make them meld together. I will probably add this half to Februarys block portion. I have to include construction and block blending as I want this done in 2012, not just another UFO.

I found a nice piece of wool for tree and hope to find something out of this sack for the leaves that I would love to make for inner border.

I'm a stab stitcher (and a knotter), I have never been anything else. I am ambidextrous and a lefty by heart that was forced to become a right hander in school. I have a terrible time working stitches in my head backwards but can't use the left handed version either as it jellies my brain. I have a strange way of doing things... I can see the stitch in my head but can only do it in a way that fits my hand, my thread and the way my wrist wants to jut out. Am I alone here with this condition? I know it takes me twice as long but this is how I do it. LOL My stitches turn to crap in no time at all when I try to force myself to a diagram.

I've been seeing some blocks around the web lately, awesome work but lacking pop, looks like the stitches are getting lost in the pattern and washing into the surrounding colors. The seams are there, but hours of work visually shot because thay blend in TOO MUCH. Am I nuts or do you spot it too?? It's made me look at my own work to see if I try to hide by not being bold enuff to stand out. Are you a seam popper or do you try to blend too much too?

PS. Great to see all the January blocks submitted to the CQJP2012 Blog from here.

Jen Claire: Week 5- Herringbone Stitch

2012-02-05T16:31:00.017-06:00

I practiced with the herringbone stitch and liked the way it looked in a variegated thread, and I tried a few variations that were kind of fun.

Then I used the herringbone stitch in this prayer flag, which I don't like at all. I was working on "Cultivate" and just decided to try to add the herringbone stitch on the spur of the moment. It was a mistake. At least the way I tried to incorporate it was a mistake. C'est la vie!

Tahlia: TAST wk 5 Herringbone

2012-02-05T14:28:00.004-06:00

I like this stitch a lot, and I use it often both decoratively and for garment (etc) construction purposes. It works great, for example, as a catch stitch for clipped and turned seam allowances on an applique shape:

It seems like I didn't get very much done this week! Argh! Nonetheless, I managed to play around a bit with Herringbone for the TAST challenge:

In keeping with the tradition I've set myself for this TAST challenge, I have worked on a postcard-sized patchwork ground, and have limited myself to variations of the stitch itself rather than explorations of how the stitch could be used in combination with other stitches. It's ever so frustrating sometimes to know how a couple of carefully placed french knots could make a wonderful combination and still to refrain from using them! .. but it is causing me to be a little more clever and explorative with the basic stitch instead. I can use stitch combinations on my CQ, after all!

Mary-Frances: TAST Week 5 - Herringbone

2012-02-05T09:52:00.001-06:00

I like how this one turned out – the flower idea came from all of my fabulous idea books. I’d love to do some stitching on the bottom, but I think I might embellish the lace part first (you can see it at the bottom of the picture) and see how it intersects this stitch before starting to add more to this line of stitching.

I'm in the middle of starting a few more projects (will have posts up about them in a few minutes on my blog) - one of which is an English Crewel project. I'm hoping that gives me more ways to use these stitches, so I might be going back and revisiting some of the ones we've done in order to "fill" my new project! :)

I'm just so excited that this is a way to keep working away at this project - I'm hopeful i can get through a couple of these this year!

Deborah: TAST Week 5 - Herringbone

2012-02-05T08:36:00.000-06:00

Well I'll tell you - I barely got anything done this week. I pulled out my hoop and reference books and did a few rows then promptly fell asleep. That happens when dogs wake you at 4 am. But, in the spirit of consistency and continuity, here is my herringbone stitch, such as it is:

I certainly intend to add more to this, but I'm determined to post every Sunday, even if it's two stitches!

Angela: TAST Herringbone Stitch

2012-02-05T08:00:00.000-06:00

Here's my journal page for the Herringbone stitch. I liked this stitch once I got my spacing figured. Very like cross stitch.

As you can see January 31, 1930 is when Scotch tape was invented by the 3M engineer Richard Drew. Where would we be without Scotch tape? I don't think I could count all the rolls I've probably used in my lifetime. And who doesn't love a little plaid?

Check out my blog for the whole story on how Scotch tape got its name.

Cy - CQJP January Block reveal

2012-02-04T16:00:00.000-06:00

CQJP January Block

Just a few days after the end of January and I have my block at a good finish point for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project.

So this is the 9 inch completed block so far.

And here are a couple of close-up pics

In that last pic you can see I've added a piece of crochet to a seam.

I have decided to create a piece of crochet lace (or maybe two or three pieces) for each of my blocks. Crochet is my 'other' passion, so it feels very natural to include my own crochet on the crazy blocks. Crochet pieces will be designed and made specifically for the cq block and staying within the colour scheme. That will make my blocks even more 'personal' to me.

I shall be adding a raised stitch butterfly to the centre fabric patch at some time in the future, but I want to have a few blocks at the completed stage so that I can stitch a few at a time for continuity throughout the 12 blocks.

I'm not sure yet what form they will take. I've still got that part on the project design board.

I'm happy to have the first block of my CQJP done now, and I look forward to getting February's block started. I'm really enjoying the challenge of working on these blocks.

My stitching 'theme' is not entirely traditional looking. I am trying to incorporate a more geometric look to the blocks as I don't want to go too 'flowery' with them (although a flower or two did pop up on this block, lol)

I love experimenting with pattern, line, shape and form.

That's all for now folks!!

Happy Stitching

EXTRA.....EXTRA........

Susan asked for a close-up pic of the seam with the scallops ..... so here it is

Suz- February CQJP and TAST

2012-02-04T14:25:00.000-06:00

My February block :

It began as a happy block

I added a tag from 1977 when I was an active member and part of the executive of the Alliston Tennis Club

A red mother-of-pearl button surrounded by bead weaving, and then by fancy picot tatting

in the circle of the tatting is an earring given me by my hubby. Gold, with a small diamond chip, it sits upon a silver sequin for extra sparkle. I don't know what happened to the other earring.....

For some reason, February's block was easy to work on, and the ideas flowed. Perhaps because it's Valentine's month, I went with a red and white theme. It's also the month my father was born.
Here's my progress so far:

You can see I added herrigbone stitch to my CQJP to couch down a red velvet ribbon.

My TAST for this week: Herringbone

Here's the link to my blog post
http://suztats.blogspot.com/2012/02/tast-week-5.html

Your thoughts, comments, and ideas are most welcome. I love to get feedback.
Hugs from Suz

Judy ~ Herringbone Stitch

2012-02-04T13:00:00.006-06:00

First, I practiced. (This was a much more comfortable stitch for me for some unknown reason, maybe because I've done lots of cross stitch.) After stitching the "normal" stitch, I tried it closed, tied and knotted. On the latter two I used a contrasting thread, but the contrast wasn't great enough to tell. My book says that if this stitch is done correctly, it will be in parallel lines on the back with the closed version resulting in a back stitch.

Normally, I don't show anyone the back of my work, but I just had to check it out to see whether what the book said worked. It did! What do you all do for knots? (There are some ends that need to be snipped, that's for sure!)

My second block shows SBS's other friend, a butterfly, and you may notice that Sue's facing in the opposite direction. I haven't yet decided what stitch I will use for the top of the hat, but Barbara's work inspired me with how to use the herringbone. (She used 2 colors, which looks very nice, but I'm happy with one.) Speaking of the butterfly, I used the suggested colors; next time I may just change them. Who's ever seen a red butterfly anyhow?

BTW, grass has sprouted on my first block! Check my blog soon to see.

Jen Claire: Oops!

2012-02-04T11:00:00.007-06:00

I'm taking just a moment in between complicated scenarios with my granddaughter involving story lines for toy animals, castle building, and puzzle working to admit that I will not be doing my reveal on time.

But gosh, what can you do when someone want you to play with them...as if you are the most important person in the world?

Later.

Connie - TAST, Herringbone Stitch

2012-02-04T09:00:00.002-06:00

Blah! That's how I'm feeling today...all week. It is dreary out and a cold front with lots of snow is moving in, so I can't get a very good photo. To top it off we went to have our taxes figured and to check on some health insurance costs. Blah! As you can see on my tag not a lot of energy has gone into the stitch this week, but I did it. I used it in different ways than I normally do and may pick it up at a later date and experiment even more in the remaining space. (I keep wondering how I will possibly fill a tag with the French knots!)

It started off alright. I was pleased with the square to the left of the stitch name until I noticed in the photo I had made a couple of glaring mistakes. No big deal since this is a play and learn process. I was quite pleased with the trees and they were actually fun to do. Is there a stitch you can't use to create a tree?
I chose red and purple for my colors because I find the combination quite pleasing especially in a print fabric. I was also hoping the bright colors would lift my rainy day spirit a bit. When I looked at it in my bundle however I immediately thought of 'Red Hat Society'! I was tempted to play that up, but in the end resisted the urge.

It was nice to use two such vibrant colors. When using a warm color (red) and a cool color (purple) together, the warm color visually looks closer and the cool color tends to recede.

Debra: TAST--Cretan & Herringbone

2012-02-04T06:36:00.001-06:00

Truthfully, the week flew by and with some non-sewing concerns to deal with, I didn't get as much done as I had hoped with my project.
On the flip side, I now have a clear direction & can stitch successfully through my Christmas wallhanging. I'll probably save more time to stitch with less teeth gnashing!

With the block arrangement decided, I sewed the inner gold trim border in place and assigned either red or green as the blocks' main color. That bit of planning will be helpful now that I've made the decisions.

I worked the cretan and the herringbone stitches as the outer band on 2 blocks. I took the spacing cue from the fabric. Both stitches are favorites and I use them regularly in my handwork. No experimenting from me--not my goal.

I was also able to begin organizing my Beautiful Garden wallhanging. Following some reevaluation of my stitching purpose and enjoyment, I decided that my crazy quilt needed to be more personal. I have some memories and life events I plan to slip onto the surface (mainly through key embroidery motifs) that will document my family's history. It will be a 2nd layer of interest.

I've been hesitant until now to commit to the idea of adding familial historical motifs to a specific crazy quilt but I think this one is a good candidate. I'm going to make sure that the motifs have significance other than being "pretty". Toward that end, instead of designing a wallhanging, I've decided to design a quilt. I'm going to let the patches and the colors speak to me block per block. I'm not going to worry about how each patch within the block relates but instead how the whole piece relates to the smaller patches.

I'll be making 20" blocks. It sounds large but the machine embroidery takes up a good amount of that space. I feel more confident moving forward now that I have my muslin blocks pinned to the design wall and parts of my previous piece pinned to those blocks. I hope by next week to have a few blocks totally pieced.
It took a little time to stop the mental energy on one idea and move toward a new idea. -- It's amazing how much effort goes into this kind of work!

Deborah - CQJP Block One is semi-finished.

2012-02-03T19:15:00.001-06:00

Block One - Emma
I'm sure I'm not completely done but I'm giving it a rest. There are things I would have done differently -- the top right hand corner needs something more, I think -- But, overall, I'm okay with this.

Tahlia: BJP January

2012-01-31T20:57:00.000-06:00

My BJP mandala for January!

Susan--Final Answer

2012-01-31T00:41:00.002-06:00

Yes, it's the final, final, all beaded answer to block number one in the CQJP2012. Pictures taken in the sunshine! At first, I was afraid the dark beads on either side are too much, but now that I look at the picture, I think it's okay. The beads across the top of the fairy are round frosted olive green alternated with gold twisted bugles. It came to me in a dream. =) I think you can click to enlarge. I used a lot of the TAST stitching for the month, but added in other things that are favorites of mine. So some seams were learning projects and some were comfort zones.

Front

TAST: Week 5- January 30: Herringbone Stitch

2012-01-30T15:41:00.000-06:00

The TAST Stitch for the Week of January 30 is the Herringbone Stitch.
For more information and examples, check here on Sharon B's blog.

From our Members:
Susan
Jen Clair
Tahlia
Deborah
Mary-Frances
Angela
Suz
Judy
Connie
Debra

Photo Courtesy of Sharon B's blog, Pin Tangle.

Debra--Can we talk?

2012-01-30T09:46:00.001-06:00

I feel like I want to chat about my project. I'm feeling a bit frustrated and haven't come up with a totally clear solution yet. Or at least one that I am buying into fully. Maybe if I share some ideas here, it will help me come to terms with an idea.

My Christmas wallhanging--

it has the inner section with the appliqued diamonds of the ornaments--love those.
The plan for those was to do a thick bold seam treatment around the square ---I think that is working out fine. I'm using gold trims I never would use normally so that's a stretch.

Maybe I should interject here that I am not interested in stitch variations. I just want to do crisp, bold, multi-layered, geometric, thick , substantial seam treatments--treatments that look like pieces of trim---that was my goal for this project.

I also wanted to use those spools of cross stitch ribbon that I have & develop the trim idea on those.
Bottomline here is that I want a very regular, orderly piece---I think my patchwork self fights with my CQ self on these projects sometimes.

So yesterday I laid out the ornament blocks with the CQ blocks and they look horrible together. The ornament blocks are very regular. The CQ blocks are not. There's no coaxing. I've learned to read Wes's reactions and even though he won't come right out and say it sometimes, he even indicated they didn't work together well.

I can still finish the ornament blocks as a nice wallhanging that could hang over the fireplace. Instead of the CQ border, I can use a plain border. I pulled some fabric and it all works well together. I passed it by Wes and he agreed.
I would still be doing embroidery but it's not a CQ. It's an embroidered appliqued wallhanging.
I'm cool with that--not exactly what I had in mind but it's OK.

BUT, I still have this vision in my brain of a Christmas CQ with all kinds of Christmasy stuff.
The catch is that there is a huge disconnection between the traditional Chistmas motifs and my life. Huge. No snow, no grandkids, no Norman Rockwell here. So why am I trying to make a traditional wallhanging with all those elements? Is it just therapy?

The second thing I realized when I finished the 1st block is that I don't want to do little tiny seam treatments with added beads. CQ can bring out the OCD in me very quickly and then I am saving little gold threads to tie into tiny ribbons to put on angel's hair. I don't want to go there. It's too fussy. I need a bigger picture.

In the past I purchased a bunch of Christmas designs when they went on special for $1 each on my favorite embroidery site--(they are so slick on that site--feed right into the mouths of both bargain hunters and "I'm gonna make that someday" stitchers!).
Yesterday I printed out a bunch of the designs and looked at them. The styles are all over the place!

Wes looked at the collection and his remark was to buy some more designs that would tie them all together so I had a wallhanging I wanted.
But, truthfully, machine embroidery is a serious amount of work. The preparation to get the design onto the fabric is lengthy (if you are composing anything). I don't want to do work that ends up in the UFO drawer because, ultimately, I still have to do something with it!

Still with me here? I know. Get a grip and move on, right?
I still have the 11 CQ blocks, all the doodads I bought and a bunch of designs that don't relate to my life.
I have a few ideas--

forget the CQ and go with the ornament wallhanging as my primary embroidery project (I still have the 12 CQ blocks from my beginner's class I am working on . . . .)
turn the CQ blocks into Alzheimer pieces with winter/Christmas themes (then I don't have to worry about the designs matching and I can play with all of them)
push forward and do the machine embroidery designwork (don't stress that this Christmas wallhanging might take the rest of my life to sew!)

It's not like I don't have projects in the queue. I do and several are quite big. I still have my Beautiful Garden piece that is waiting patiently for attention. It now has the "required" 12 blocks for the CQJP so I could work earnestly on it. And, since I now realize again that I don't like little fussy embellishments, it's probably good I did the warm-up block to remind me before embarking on the Beautiful Garden embroidery. (The silver lining . . .)

If you have the time for a comment, I'd like to hear it. Maybe something will push me in one direction or another one. I'm kind of sitting on the fence here. I don't want to waste the supplies I have accumulated and I do want them to become a project. I'm just a little stuck on which project to pursue. Hey, Sophie, talk about "paralysis through analysis"!

Mary-Frances: Feather and Cretan

2012-01-30T08:19:00.001-06:00

What a weekend! But I finally feel caught up. I was (because of the a fore blogged about kitty project) behind on my TAST projects, but luckily the Cretan happens to be a stitch I love (and probably do too often) and the feather is also one of my favorites!

So, without further ado - the Feather:Obviously my simple attempt, but I use this stitch everywhere and when I discovered crazy quilting it was the only stitch I did!Below is how I love the feather - it's fun, unpredictable and even though I did do some background marking (see the little chalk dots?) - I didn't really follow it!

Next on the agenda is the cretan - I love the cretan and I'll have to admit that I cheated because this project already had it on there.

My intention is to "take it further" sometime during this week and so some more interesting things with the cretan - either that or I'll show you how I've interlaced it and done other things - as I mentioned this is one of my favorite (ahem, probably overused) stitches!

Cy - Reveal TAST, CQJP & BJP

2012-01-29T20:00:00.000-06:00

(Sorry I missed my scheduled slot because of 'the boating' thing. So slotting in at the end of the weekend).

TAST Week 4 - Cretan Stitch

I enjoyed creating these variations of the stitch and will definitely 'play' some more with it.

From left to right the stitches are:

Cretan Stitch in lilac

Various stitch lengths and widths in navy blue

Knotted Cretan in light blue

(this one took a bit of coaxing to get it right, and even then I had trouble getting the knots to stay in place, but I persevered with it)

Raised Cretan in green

Open Double Raised Cretan in green

___________________________________________________________________

CQJP - January WIP

The 'naked block' is 9" square.

I have only got this one made so far.

And just a bit of stitching added here

The Crazy Quilt journal project is my most dominant and time consuming WIP.

I like the addition of the lilac and aubergine coloured threads, and I shall be keeping to threads in blues, teals, turquoise and purples. Along with black, white and greys.

The ribbon embroidery and bead embellishments will probably be in the same colours as well.

Lots more embroidery to add yet, and then the beads!!!

Busy, busy, busy (but very enjoyable).

_______________________________________________

BJP - Teardrop Pendant - January finished

Very pleased with how this pendant turned out, and looking forward to creating a different pendant for February.

_________________________________________

As always:

any, and all, suggestions, help, advice and critiques for my projects are most welcome and even encouraged.

Cheers

Connie - CQJP Block One Completed

2012-01-29T16:30:00.001-06:00

Block One is finished (unless I switch out the butterfly ;-] ).

I appreciate all the ideas and suggestions I received in response to my call for help. I feel it paid off and I am very happy with the results. It has been submitted and I have details on my blog if you are interested. I've started the 2nd block and so far - knock on wood - it is going smoothly.

Tahlia--TAST- wk 4, and CQJP-Jan progress

2012-01-29T14:48:00.002-06:00

I did not think about today being our last group reveal for the month! I was thinking that I had another three days of stitching before the month is over, and I feel like I still need it! Considering my late start, the stray cat, the snow, and the power outage, I got quite a lot accomplished and am feeling pretty well about my progress overall so far. I am not ahead of schedule by any means, but I guess I'm not too far behind schedule either.
My BJP has wandered, so I will need to add a supplemental post for that once I locate it again.
One disadvantage to my wedge-shaped blocks is that they are difficult to photograph. :P Small price to pay, though, as I am loving this project so far!

Those who have been checking in on my main blog (another-hobby) know that my life was disrupted by the intrusions of a stray cat. He was so very skinny that I couldn't put him back outside in the snow to freeze to death, so for now he is in my bathroom making himself comfortable. He cannot have range of the house yet because I have a pet rabbit, and his health is my higher priority- so the stray cat is in quarantine for now while he gets nursed back into better health and non-contagion.
I decided to commemorate the stray cat by adding an applique patch to this month's wedge:

I used a rubber stamp and a "Stazon" ink pad to put a cat image on a scrap of the sea-green silk that I used for piecing my wedges. Then I used a strand of silk reclaimed from an old sweater and newly dyed to the color I wanted to outline the image and add furry details. I used DMC floss for his eye color and DMC metallic (doubled over through the needle) to make his whiskers. Then I traced an oval around him and used buttonhole stitch (tailor's knotted variety) to turn the edges under to create a nice applique. I trimmed excess allowances after the buttonholing was complete, and blind-stitched the patch to my block using the same thread I'd used for the buttonholing. That took a surprising amount of time, but I am happy that I did it-- I think he turned out pretty cool, and I learned a lot in the process that I am sure to use again!

I used this month's TAST stitches to embellish the block further, but did not want to limit myself to just using one month's worth of TAST stitches because I felt that it would create a discord over the course of the project if each month only featured that month's TAST stitches, so you will also find bullions and chain and tatting and other stitches and techniques in the embellishment of this block.

(You'll probably need to click on the picture for a larger version in order to see any of the detail, and maybe even use the <"ctrl"> <+> command to zoom in.)

The bottom two patches of color are going to remain without embellishment for now-- the peacock's body is going to overlap them, so any stitching that I do there will mostly be covered up. I will wait until I am close to assembly to add final details in that area, when I am certain how much will be seen around the edges of the body.

That still leaves a lot of undeveloped space on this block-- I confess I was depending upon the final three days of the month do finish up the stitching-- I wasn't thinking about today being our final group reveal of the month! I will probably need to add a supplemental post on the last day of the month. Hopefully I will get the rest of the stitching done!-- I do not do much pre-planning to my stitchwork; it develops itself as I go, much like doodling, so I am not entirely sure what more will/ needs to be done on this block.

Feedback is welcome! suggestions and critiques are also welcome from all viewers. :)

The whole wedge looks like this:

I plan to add some more stitching to the purple rays at the top of the wedge, at the minimum. I will also be leaving space for the addition of my BJP mandala to be added just above the heart. I will probably wait until the end of the year before adding the mandalas for a couple of reasons: 1- the weight of the beads would be very cumbersome as I continue to stitch the wedges, and 2- I might decide to place the mandalas onto different blocks based on aesthetic reasons rather than keeping each month's mandala with that month's wedge.

Surprisingly, I did get my TAST homework for the week done as well!

The postcard size makes it very transportable, and the sampler mentality makes it easy for me to stitch upon under chaotic circumstances that would be unfavorable for my peacock.

Susan: CQJP Block 1 and Cretan Stitch

2012-01-29T14:23:00.000-06:00

First my practice for the Cretan Stitch. This is my least favorite foundation stitch. I think it's fair to say I hate it. LOL Here's one I did in 2008 on my sampler.

And here are the ones on this year's sampler piece. The second row of blue I just played with some embellishments. The last one - I don't know what that is. LOL

And here is my entire first block for CQJP2012. It still needs a little beading, but I can do that on Monday and Tuesday. The center is much more embellished than I usually do, and there will be more that goes on the outer edges when it's joined to other blocks. For now, it's finished.

You can see closeups of the seams on my blog at cq4fun.livejournal.com

Deborah: TAST Week 4 - Cretan Stitch

2012-01-29T11:38:00.001-06:00

Blogger is acting weird today!

Cretan Stitch:

Kind of gave up on stitching the leaf on even weave. I had better luck on my my CQ block.

Barbara's Tast Week 4: Cretan Stitch and CQJP Block 1

2012-01-29T11:06:00.000-06:00

I used this week's stitch, the cretan stitch, to make some grapes for the wheat. I used a piece of ribbon to help space the stitches, and I think that helped a lot. I hope it doesn't look odd that there are grapes missing around the wheat, but I didn't want to layer one motif over the other. The grapes are lazy daisy and French knots.

I'm pretty happy with the finished block. One down, eleven to go.

I added a bug for the birds to eat. The blue stitch to the left of the bug is called snail's trail.

The stitch immediately above the bird's head was the dry run for the snail's trail stitch. I got the loop going the wrong way, and this is how it came out. Because it otherwise looked okay, I left it. If this stitch doesn't have a name, I'm naming it Snail's Trial.

The combination of stitches that runs behind the humming bird is the one I'm considering replacing, so maybe you can give me some input. It's got a wrapped herringbone stitch as a base, and it's accented with yellow lazy daisy (that's the part of it I like) and some pink French knots. I've decided that my wrapped stitches look messy, and the spacing changes behind the hummingbird. I'm not going to tackle this now, but I'm going to think about taking this out and re-doing it in an edited form.

Not bad for a month's work. I'm really looking forward to starting February's block.

I may be late to the party, but I just figured out that I can just copy my original blog post (select all + copy) and paste it into a new post page here. Will wonder's never cease?

Angela: TAST Week 4 - Cretan Stitch

2012-01-29T08:00:00.002-06:00

This week's stitch for TAST was the cretan stitch. I am definitely not a fan of this stitch. It's very simple and yet I had such trouble with it. I kept getting the needle on the wrong side of the thread and kept getting my spacing wrong. I think I frogged out as much as I embroidered in. But it does make for a very nice fill-in stitch on aida cloth.

My subject for this past Tuesday was the Eskimo Pie. Christian K. Nelson of Iowa patented the Eskimo Pie on January 24, 1924.

I chose this bit of history because it brings back some wonderful memories. When I was about 4 or 5 I spent a lot of time during the summer at my maternal grandparents' house and Nana always had Eskimo Pies in the freezer. I could have one whenever I wanted, not much spoiled was I? I am an only child and adopted too so go figure.
Nana was the one that taught me to cross stitch when I was about 4.
Visit my blog if you care to hear some more about my trip down memory lane.

Sophie's Slow Start

2012-01-28T15:00:00.000-06:00

I know. I haven't yet posted ANY progress. And while I feel that I have actually made some, I would have to confess that it's all been inside my head. If you're thinking it could be a case of paralysis by analysis, you wouldn't be wrong.

The only tangible proof that I AM in this thing are the fabrics that are gathering on my worktable.

The block that I am hoping will have the feeling of a modern twist on a classic CQ has evolved (yes, entirely in my head) and I think I am ready to begin cutting and sewing and stitching. I'll be playing catchup–with all of your great work continuing to inspire me. This group is so talented.

It has been a while since I did this kind of stitching–there's a bit of fear about that, too. I was laughing at what a scaredy cat I can be when it comes to starting something new. Probably there needs to be a scaredy cat or two on my blocks to reflect my attitude at the start. Maybe something like this one–the first CQ block I ever attempted.

I look at this now and find it SO lacking–not entirely my fault since I was following someone else's rules for a birthday block exchange. But maybe I'm not such a scaredy cat after all, if I'm willing to share this sad little block with my skilled and oh-so-talented friends :-)

Suz- TAST and CQJP

2012-01-28T14:00:00.002-06:00

Week 4 of TAST is the Cretan Stitch. Here's my practice piece:

CQJP Progress:

With feedback from the Tuesday Stitchers, (thanks Ladies) I beefed up the seam treatments on my CQJP,

Lots of French knots

more bullions
I used 3 different coloured threads to repeat those in the snowflake material

( sorry it's blurry)

and a heavier thread for the feather stitch

I decided to leave the rest of the areas unadorned, for now. More can always be added later, and I wanted some open places for tatted snowflakes, too.

Now it's time to turn my attention to block #2!

Hope you're having a weekend filled with doing something you love.

Hugs from Suz

Judy~the Cretan stitch

2012-01-28T13:00:00.001-06:00

It took me a while to feel comfortable with this stitch for some reason. In fact, it wasn't until the second SBS shoe, and I ripped out the first one and did it over, that it "felt right".

I've been using the suggested colors for SBS, just in case you've been wondering. And now, my questions are: Is she done? Suggestions are welcome. Personally, I kind of like leaving some white space although I did wonder about adding some kind of motif on the watering can. According to the pattern, all of SBS's shoes are supposed to be black. What do you think? Does this make her shoes the focus? Don't know about you all, but I'm ready to move on to block number two!

Jen Claire: TAST, Cretan Stitch, January

2012-01-28T11:00:00.008-06:00

I struggled with the Cretan stitch. I used it on a couple of prayer flags and wasn't happy with the results (although, of course, I left them)-- before taking some time to practice and explore the stitch. It improved, but I still find myself failing to keep the thread under the needle and having to loop back.

I found I enjoyed making lines of Cretan stitch that varied in length and width, very irregular, and quixotically fun when using variegated thread.

In order to really master this stitch and some of the lovely variations other TAST members have created, I need more practice, but that's fine. I'm not a perfectionist (what an understatement when I leave most of my mistakes in whatever I'm working on), but I tend to persevere, even if I don't always correct my mistakes.

Here is one of the prayer flags I tried the Cretan stitch on before admitting that it wasn't working that well for me.

I added some tattered vintage crocheted lace at the bottom.

I've used the Cretan stitch to several other prayer flags in progress with varied and inconsistent success. :) But I'll keep working on this stitch.

Jane - CQJP - Block 2 for February

2012-01-28T10:00:00.009-06:00

I didn't get any stitching done on my next block... still playing with how I am going to lay it out and auditioning what I am going to use to make the block come to life. I had a piece of fabric with some colorful stamps on it that will be the right size/scale. Not sure which to use. I also need to leave room for those all important hand embroidered seams.

My biggest challenge is to draw the colors together from block to block, draw the eye around while at the same time letting each one stand on their own for color sake, if that makes any sense.

You can see what I'm up against to make this block fit into this corner. If you remember the original layout, the center of green is going to be my biggest focal point. In the back of my mind I am playing with the idea of incircling the whole inner green area with leaves. I will be playing around with how I am going to make them and what I will be using.... silk, wool, organza ??? I will also be on the hunt for something that I could possibly cut up that would work ??? Please feel free to share your ideas on the leaves and any other ideas you have about this next block!

K made me some larger plexiglass templates this week so I can start cutting up bigger chunks of fabric. I did manage a small amount of machine piecing but I want to do larger squares so I can move this fabric even faster LOL ... I really need help with time management and am trying to plan my days better. That will be another of my personal challenges for this month.

We've gained a whole hour of daylight since the first of January and by the end of February I'm sure I'll be having my nose in the garden catalogues getting flower ideas for both beds and CQ.

Connie: TAST - Cretan Stitch

2012-01-28T09:00:00.001-06:00

I know some do not care for this stitch, but it is one of my favorites. I especially like it in its raw form I think because it looks so vintage. I also like it because it can be combined in so many ways to give it a fresh look. I think I could have kept going on the band across the center. I started off with small blue rick rack. I experimented this week with the complimentary colors of blue and orange. I love how the two colors play off each other. Barbara's January block for CQJP 2012, the lower right patch to be exact, inspired this week's color choice. I posted a couple of close-ups of the tag on my blog at http://ceoriginals.blogspot.com

Debra: Christmas Block 1--CQJP

2012-01-28T08:00:00.000-06:00

I spent my embroidery energy this week focused on finishing the 1st crazy quilt block of my Christmas wallhanging.
I've actually added alot of handwork since last Saturday's posting. I've left the corners unattended until I connect all the blocks. Then, I will add motifs and embroidery that flows over the seams.

I may need a doily/snowflake to break up that long horizontal line leading to the big snowflake.

I embroidered the snowflakes on the ribbon. It's OK but probably not worth the effort. There's a very large sequin pressed star near the little cross stitch angel that is not showing up in the picture but looks very nice in reality.

The little ornaments designed for mini Christmas trees are perfect for CQ charms! This sweet little angel gives me a smile. The resin tree is from the thrift store.

I love how these french knots elevate this simple seam treatment to a trim treatment. Adding the sequins reminded me of those felt Christmas stockings. Actually, the sequins are from little packets that came from those kits.

One evening I embroidered a bunch of snowflakes. The big white snowflake has been driving me crazy (in a bad way) until I tried one of my glittery snowflakes over the top of it. Now I like the arrangement--sort of knocked the white back. It's not attached yet but when I measured, it fit very well within the circles and french knots.

I'm going to move forward to the next block. Two parts of this block still don't work for me. The bird in the corner is a little light. It may be the nature of the stitching on the red fabric so I may not use any more of this style of bird.
And, I don't like the right angle at the edge of the big snowflake. I had a meandering iridescent pearl garland going across there but Wes thought it was too much. I'll let this rest and when I add the other blocks, I'll make adjustments. I could probably still add some more beads too.

Feedback is welcome. Do you think I have done enough? Time to move to the 2nd block?