Finishing up TSTC week 49

These are the last few samples that I’ll be posting on the pistil stitch. There has been a learning curve for me with this stitch. And the last thing I’ve learned about it is the difference made by the way the thread is wrapped for the knot. I’ve taken advantage of that knowledge as I worked on some of these samples. I wish I’d understood that better when I began the week. But that, of course, is just the point of these samples.

Time, work and patience for some things. Inspiration, imagination and intuition for others. Speaking of inspiration, I’ve been inspired by some of those who have been in Sharon b’s classes and are joining in the TIFC. As I’ve been working down the list in her recent post, it has been a delight to find so many new-to-me blogs and the great work being done in so many fields of embroidery, quilting and surface design. I just can’t put in to words how encouraging this is to me. It’s exciting to see how many are joining in and to anticipate more who will probably be on board in the next few weeks.

On to the samples in today’s post. In most I was focusing on circles and curves. A couple of lines are thrown in at the end for good measure. There are two “off grid” samples and the rest, “on grid”.

More dealings with the pistil stitch

I almost forgot that I was still working on the pistil stitch. I had made so many trials on it that I was way ahead of my posts and have been concentrating on the Indian edging stitch. Here are some of the samples I did earlier in the week.

This started out as an “off grid” experiment and I was not too happy with it.

I tried taking it “on grid” and with some adjustments got something I was pleased with. The diamonds themselves are calling out to me for embellishment.

My apologies for some of these pictures. My setting seem to be off or something else is going wrong. I’ll have to look into that before I take any more photos.

As you can see I’ve been rather carried away by the idea that these pistil stitches have such a convenient place for threading.

I tried this idea out from a failed “off gird” sample.

And then tried threading it.

Many thanks to all of you who have expressed interest in Anne’s work and the Indian edging stitch in the past couple of weeks. It seems almost unbelievable the final weeks of SharonB’s 2007  TSTC are upon us and we are about to turn a corner. I hope everyone is gearing up for her 2008 TIFC. If you haven’t considered and committed to joining, in please do think about it. There is still time. If I reap even half of the learning I’ve gained from TSTC, I will be extremely thankful.  I’m getting excited to see what the new year will hold. Many thanks for organizing these challenges for us, Sharon!

Two tiny worlds and more

Today’s posting is really a crazy collection of this and that to do with the pistil stitch experiments I’ve been doing. I still have more pictures to edit. I’m so tired that I decided to break away from that task and post most of what is ready to go.

These are the two tiny worlds. The photographs make them much larger than actual size.

Below is an attempt a making rick rack. It turned out so badly that I decided I better try something using real rick rack. Two of those experiments follow.

A line

or two.

This is my crazy world–the photograph makes this sample much smaller than actual size. A good thing. I like something about the idea that I have in mind but the stitching didn’t match my expectations. I can’t decided if it’s worth pursuing.

Off grid with the pistil stitch

Today’s posts continues with “off grid” experiments with the pistil stitch. I still have only  two “on grid” experiments. But I have more “off grid” samples waiting behind today’s. I’m completely out of my school girl mood even when I can see some of the “off grid” work could benefit by the more formal trials. At the moment I blaming this on the fact this challenge is playing out, Christmas is coming soon and…

We’ll see what tomorrow holds. I better get to the samples at hand. These were really a lot of fun to do. I still need to perfect my knot. But I could hardly stitch fast enough to get all the ideas in felt before they melted away.

This for some reason is my favorite. The next one should have more potential if I will just be practical and patient enough to take it in that direction.

What I call my tiny world. It’s very small. This photo is larger than life.

TSTC Week 49: The pistil stitch

The stitch for SharonB’s TSTC week 49 is the pistil stitch. Sharon wrote an easy step by step for it in her introduction. She has some very interesting suggestions for stitching it, too. Because this stitch is a variation of the French knot this week’s posts will be mounting up in that category.

All my experiments for today’s post are “off grid”. For some reason it was very relaxing to just curl up on the couch and very quickly stitch what ever came to mind this afternoon. This evening I had an opportunity to do more stitching and despite starting out “on grid”, I all too soon moved back to “off grid” work. I could hardly make myself leave my stitching to post this. However, it’s getting late and my better judgement finally prevailed.

Blogs and ending of review

First

As many of you know from reading Sharon b’s chatter, Deepa of This and that…my random thoughts has been looking to help identify the variation that Sharon posted about earlier last week. She posted about her findings here. While not an exact match of the variation, this Ceylon stitch that she brings to our attention may help us classify the variation properly. I’m still hopeful that we may yet find some place where my variation has been documented and used by other needle workers either now or in the past. I’d like to say, “Thank you!” to Deepa, to Sharon and to others who have been giving so generously of their time to help with identifying the variation. I appreciate it so much.

Blogs

I hope any of you unfamiliar with Deepa’s blog will take time to see some of her work connected with Sharon b’s TSTC. I found much of interest as I first went through her blog myself perhaps in May. Just to highlight a couple of the many things I’ve enjoyed, here are links to her chain work and Cretan and feather stitch samplers.

Naturally, I’ve also been scouting the web a bit looking into what information there is about the Ceylon stitch. I came across some beautiful work with it done by Bobby of Robyne Melia is Bobby La. Bobby does have an number of blogs so the first one is in connection with her crazy quilt work and the other, I think, is her primary blog. Also Beth of Mixed Media Art by Beth Robinson, whose work I’ve loved since finding it through Sharon B’s PLofS class last fall, did some interesting Ceylon stitch samples. Beth’s samples are in connection with some other needlelace work. These are the links: Ceylon stitch and a variation called the ladder (last two samples in the last photograph) and another variation here (top right sample in first photograph). While at these blogs please do look around if you are not familiar with these ladies’ work. They both have lovely things.

Review

The last of my slivers and slices review of Sharon B’s TSTC stitches with French knots! Sadly, I’m concluding that my work with French knots this week has not resulted in any decided improvement in my execution of them. They are too useful to ignore, so I’m thankful for the practice time.

Week 21 crossed buttonhole stitch

Week 22 satin stitch

Week 23 wheatear stitch

I know the stitch is named wheatear but somehow I saw a cactus. No doubt, green thread would have been better.

In regard to the wheatear, my variation and the Ceylon stitch Karen of Karen South’s Crazy Quilting World has an interesting post showing where she used the herringbone stitch as part of a variation she did on a seam treatment. It’s exciting to see how via the net our ideas can spark each other on to further explorations in our stitching. Thanks for posting about this, Karen!

This post is long but rather short on my own work today. I decided to make a separate post on some more of the sample work I’ve been doing on the variation. Hopefully, that will be ready in the next few days. Right now, I’m looking forward to what Sharon B will have for us as the next TSTC stitch.

More slivers and slices

In my on going review of Sharon b’s TSTC stitches via the French knot stitch in week 24, I’m hitting weeks 16 through 20 today. I wish I was flying through my day so fast but I’m way off schedule. I waited until the last minute to do Father’s Day shopping (in the USA on Sunday). I think a lot of other folks did, too, if the line I was standing in was any basis for making a judgement about such things.

Still no positive identification on the variation. I’ve heard of a couple of possibilities. On one I’m trying to a little more research; this one does not look like it is shaping up to be match. On the other I’m waiting for a response to my inquiry for more information; it’s too early to make any evaluation about it. I’m keeping Sharon in the loop and will post as soon as we have any more news. I certainly appreciate all of those who have stopped by to look and pulled out books or checked other sources for information. If you’re looking and find something, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment. Thank you very much!

Week 16 Palestrina stitch

Week 17 running stitch

Week 18 woven and whipped wheels

Week 19 Basque stitch

Week 20 butterfly chain stitch

More French knots — exploring ideas with the new variation

A TSTC review weeks 13-15

I’m using the French knot stitch in week 24 of the TSTC as an opportunity to review the stitches we’ve worked on. Sometimes I think these TaST weeks in Sharon b’s challenge flew by quickly. Its hard to imagine that these weeks represent March 27 through April 16. If you’re not familiar with TaST, the flickr site for the group has over twelve hundred photos of the work stitchers involved in the challenge have done. And the page above on Sharon’s TSTC page above lists the current blogs involved where you may find even more work. Very inspiring!

Week 13 knotted Cretan stitch

Week 14 bonnet stitch

Week 15 oyster stitch

More French knots–this is the section in the posts for TSTC week 24 where I’ve been exploring a variation from last week and adding French knots to the samples for more practice there. Many thanks to Sharon b for checking on it and asking others to see if it can be identified. It looks like we may have a possible identification! Please see the comment from Helen and my response in the 6 and 7th comment of the post. If you’ve been looking too, thank you so much. I deeply appreciate your help with this. Please don’t hesitate to leave a comment if you have any information that would help document this stitch or variation–more informatin is always better. I’ll be updating with news as soon as it becomes available.

These samples are experiments with thinner thread somewhere between a Perle 12 and Perle 8. There were definitely some things not so easy to do with the thinner thread. I used three strands of floss for the French knots.

Continuing review

I’m loving my review of Sharon b’s TSTC stitches. I’ve learned so much and I don’t want to forget anything. Here are more slivers and slices!

Week 9 cross stitch

my apologies for the fuzzy picture

Week 10 barred and alternating barred chain stitch

Week 11 up and down buttonhole

Week 12 couching

More French knots — while I practice following curves with a variation I’m experimenting with.

Slivers and slices

This week I began following Sharon b’s suggestion to do French knots in conjunction with previous TSTC stitches. I’ve been taking it in the direction of a slivers and slices review of the TSTC stitches. Today is week 5-8. And sadly they are sporting some pretty poor French knots. I experimented with a number of threads in these samples. I found it was much easier for me to do French knots with something like a Perle 8 or thicker than with something thinner like a Perle 12 or 100/3. Will my practice ever make perfect when it comes to these stitches? No, I don’t think so, but I’ll reaccess the question when I’ve made it through TSTC week 24.

Week 5 Chevron stitch

Week 6 Algerian eye and eyelet stitches

Week 7 Feather stitch

Week 8 Fly stitch

More French knots–if you’re wondering what this section is, it is for experiments with my variation from last week. I like it more as I work with it. It seems clean, fast and has a lot of play in it. I’m learning more about it and had fun testing it on curves last night. Photos to follow. Please do let me know by a comment, if you know what this variation is. Thank you!

A word of thanks winging it’s way to Kay Susan for her blog flog.