Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Mornings and National Button Week, Day 7!!!

Mar19

In these posts I want to share some of my favorite pieces, which will include wall hangings, small works, pillows, purses, and just because pieces. This month they are going to be from my new book, Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New, by C&T Publishing. This is the last day of National Button week March 13-19, 2023, here are few of my favorite buttons, and buttons, and lots and lots of buttons.

Bees Buzz on a Saturday Afternoon

I created this four block wall hanging, combining a grouping of solid and printed fabrics with vintage printed panels, using a different piecing technique for each block. The blocks are layered with a variety of both new and old ribbons and trims which include vintage rickrack trims and a jacquard ribbon; grosgrain, satin, and picot edge satin ribbons; burlap ribbon and burlap loop trim. Once the base was stitched, I hand-quilted it with perle cotton #12.

I incorporated an assortment of buttons, charms, and other ephemera to tell the story. I found loads of buttons in all sizes and materials including vintage celluloid, plastics, ceramic, and wood. I also used a collection of bird and bee charms, and Scottie dog scatter pins.

Block 1: This block started with the 9-patch square that I made with left-over pieces from another project. I added in strips of solid and printed cotton fabrics. I used grosgrain ribbon and burlap trim, along with vintage rickrack trim in several sizes for the seam treatments. I ironed a vintage cotton tape measure to muslin backed with HeatnBond, to use for the birds nest boxes. The wooden garden fence was purchased at JoAnne Fabrics. Notice Buzz is spelled with one Z and a bee button, because in Scrabble there is only one Z.

Block 2: This block started with the floral screen print, which I purchased from Woof and Warp Fabrics (my first job), back in the late 1970’s. I strip- and patch-pieced the sections around the block. I used the cinnamon colored jacquard ribbon and woven ribbons to hide the raw edges while piecing the block. I also used grosgrain, and burlap ribbons along with vintage rickrack trim for the seam treatments. Other embellishments include vintage fly buttons in the center panel, and Scottie dog “scatter pins” along the bottom edge. The little cutie next to my signature “C” was made for me by my cousin Richard, when he was in high school in the 1960’s.

Block 3: In the center of this block I used a printed fabric advertising “Flower Baskets” and “Bee Keeping Supplies” that I found at a rummage sale back in the 1980’s. I patch-pieced the center panel with strips of fabric, and used the ribbons and trims as seam treatments. To balance with Block 2, I repeated the grouping of large crochet flowers and rosettes made from grosgrain ribbon. I placed the flowers on stems of looped trim, with leaves made from ultra suede.

Block 4: This block is strip-pieced, with a few of the strips pieced to create a larger strip, using up the remaining bits and pieces of fabric that I had. The blue strip on the bottom became a fence for the three “Cat Amigos” to sit on, to ponder those Bees Buzzing on a Saturday Afternoon.

Embroidery Stitches Used Throughout the Blocks

Blanket Stitch Up and Down
Couched Stitch
Straight Stitch
Lazy Daisy Stitch
Fly Stitch
Cross Stitch
Bell Flower Stitch
Spiderweb Corner Stitch
Button Spider

Little Stitched Extras

Rosette
Loop Leaf
Birds Nest

Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Mornings

Mar12

Cotton Candy and Cinnamon Hearts: This piece started with the silk ribbon embroidered heart in the center, which was stitched by my mom. I placed a ladybug pin next to her heart (the symbol of our daughter). I chose a collection of feed sack fabrics in red and white to crazy-piece around the embroidery to create a block. I strip pieced the the sections around the block with both new and old fabrics, some given to me by my friend Phred. I then collected jacquard, novelty, and printed ribbons and trims, and cotton laces to incorporate within and around the pieced sections. I included a few vintage eclectic if not eccentric items for embellishments, such as the plastic cigarette holders, which I used for vases; four plastic thimbles (from a variety of travel sewing kits); and four cigarette company advertisement buttons. Other embellishments include a vintage floral applique, a hand-blown glass vase shaped bead, vintage celluloid and mother of perle buttons, and vintage plastic butterfly charms. And of course, I needed to include all of the heart shaped buttons throughout the pieced sections and to trim the bound edges.

Embroidery Stitches Used

Hand Quilting: Running stitch
Border Row Stitches: Chain stitch, stem stitch, coral stitch, snail trail stitch, bead strand stitch, herringbone stitch, cretan stitch, cross stitch row, blanket stitch, blanket stitch double, chain stitch zigzag, chain stitch double, feather stitch, feather stitch single
Decorative Stitches: Lazy daisy stitch, fly stitch
Detail Stitches: French knot stitch, straight stitch, pistol stitch, single bead stitch
Ribbonwork Extras: Rosette, Fancy flowers

Here is a video that I shot at the C&T Publishing Studios, that focuses on the new book, and some of my favorite pieces.

Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Mornings

Mar5

Into the Garden: The base of this project started with a group of disparate fabrics, which included a collection of small strips of a few floral upholstery fabrics, two cuffs from a linen jacket, and a few squares of a printed polished cotton. I just started to randomly patch- and strip-piecing the base, fitting the pieces together, starting form small to large. Once the piecing was completed, I hand-quilted the base with perle cotton #12.

As I was contemplating my next move, I thought with all of the floral prints, this piece seemed to me to want to showcase a garden, with flowers, and birds, bugs, and more. I found some wonderful metal hangers, and some wooden clothespins, who doesn’t remember mom hanging the sheets out to dry in the warm summer sun?

I then rummaged around the button box, and found an eclectic mixture of old and new sew-through and shank buttons. I used the buttons as the centers for both the ribbonwork and embroidered flowers. A few were sewn as the body of the spiders and button bugs.

I found a great group of printed ribbons, burlap ribbon, printed rickrack trim, and vintage rickrack and loop trims. I used these as seam treatments, and for the ribbonwork flowers on the frame of the wooden hanger. I also found some rayon knitting ribbon and soutache braid for the stems of the flowers.

In the top left corner I stitched a sun, with rays shining down into the garden. Little stitched extras (which you can find in the book) include a birds nest, yo-yos, and penny circles. The little birds resting in the nest are made from spun cotton with beaks and wings made from dried mushrooms.

I filled the garden with buttons and charms of dragonflies, butterflies, and ladybugs. And of course spiders and their webs. I couched some old cotton twine for branches, on both the vertical edges, with a vine of couched silk ribbon to showcase the bright mixture of plastic, metal, and glass buttons.

I kept the embroidery fairly simple, so that the imagery could shine through. Included are: running stitch, chain stitch, stem stitch, couched stitch, lazy daisy stitch, fly stitch, French knot stitch, and straight stitch. You can find all of the embroidery stitches and the little stitched extras that I used in my book.

Here is a video that I shot at the C&T Publishing Studios, that focuses on the new book, and some of my favorite pieces.

Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Mornings and A Heart a Day: 26

Feb26

In these posts I want to share some of my favorite pieces, which will include wall hangings, small works, pillows, purses, and just because pieces. February is National Embroidery Month, and I would like to share the pieces from some of my books, enjoy!

Week 4 of National Embroidery Month

For the Love of Embroidery! I love to embroider, which is no secret to all of you that follow this blog, or have taken a class from me, or even purchased one of my books. Thank you for that by the way, and thank you for your trust in letting me teach you, and thank you for letting me share this passion with you.

Hand Embroidery Dictionary by Christen Brown, C&T Publishing

The Hand Embroidery Dictionary by Christen Brown, can be purchased from C&T Publishing, here is an index of the chapters and stitches.

This book was surely a labor of love to create, develop, and to write; and I had some amazing editors that helped me along the way to bring this vision to you.

To start with, there are over 500+ stitches listed in the book with images of the embroidered stitch and detailed how-to illustrations. I believe that there are almost 800 examples, if you count the illustrated variations of the stitches.

Certainly, this book should light the creative spark for any embroiderer, and did I mention there are both right- and left-hand directions!

There have been many embroiderer’s who have influenced my journey, one of them was Erica Wilson, her work was so diverse. I also researched many, many, many other books to find the variety of stitches that I wanted to include in this book. I even created a few new stitches that I thought would fit in with the my vision for the book.

When I teach a class on embroidery, I try to explain how the stitch is formed, and explain how stitches can be altered, to create a different stitch. In this book I grouped stitches by stitch families, starting with the individual stitch, that can then be used to create a continuous stitch. These are:

Straight Stitches
Outline Stitches
Knotted, Woven, and Whipped Stitches
Lazy Daisy Stitches
Chain Stitches
Barb Stitches (new stitch family)
Blanket and Buttonhole Stitches
Fly Stitches
Feather Stitches
Fleet Stitches (new stitch family)
Cretan Stitches
Cross Stitches
Herringbone Stitches
Capped Stitches (new stitch family)
Chevron Stitches
Embellishment Stitches

It is my goal as an author/artist/teacher to give you the reader/stitcher/student the confidence to learn and grow and become more familiar with the stitches. I feel a big part of one’s growth is to practice, I suggest working out the stitches for each stitch family, on a 6″ x 6″ (15.3cm) square of fabric. Once you have completed each square, you can stitch these into a Sampler Roll of Stitches as a reference guide and a keepsake.

You can see all of the books and products that I have created here. I wish you all the happiness and hope that you enjoy creating with this beautiful craft and art form.

Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Morning and A Heart a Day: 19

Feb19

Week 3 of National Embroidery Month

Beaded Embroidery Stitching, by C&T Publishing was the third book that I wrote on embroidery. I have always been inspired by the magic of beads, those shiny, tiny, treasures! I also do love buttons, sequins, and charms!

From seed beads to larger beads, all sizes are welcome in my workroom. I love to work with them in any type of creative project, whether it be stitching the beads into a piece of jewelry, or stitching them onto fabric.

In many instances beads can be worked into stitches that resemble traditional thread embroidery stitches.

The book includes 125 bead embroidered and bead woven stitches, each stitch categorized in the Visual Guide index by style, with a second alphabetical index to keep at your fingertips.

Lazy Daisy and Chain Stitches
Fly and Feather Stitches
Continuous Bead and Blanket Stitches
Cross, Herringbone, Serpentine, and Cretan Stitches
Flowers and Extra Stitches
Decorative and Detail Stitches
Button and Sequin Flowers
Beaded Edges
Even Peyote and Free-Form Peyote Stitches
Circular Peyote and Netted Stitches
Brick Stitch

This book includes 8 beadwork projects from brooches and bracelets to sewing caddies and wallhangings.

I have also included gallery pieces that I hope will inspire crafters of all skill levels, from embroiderers and sewists to crazy quilters, mixed media artists, and jewelry makers.

You can see all of the books and products that I have created here. I wish you all the happiness and hope that you enjoy creating with this beautiful craft and art form.

Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Morning and a Heart a Day: 12

Feb12

Week 2 of National Embroidery Month, 2023

The Embroidery Book was the second book on embroidery that I wrote for C&T Publishing. This book is jam packed with design and gallery examples that showcase how you can use color, design, and construction effectively.

The book includes 149 step-by-step embroidery stitches, motifs, and extras, that are worked in a variety of materials including perle cotton, cotton floss, silk ribbon, buttons, charms, sequins, and beads.

Included in the book, is color board with fabric, thread, and beads, with a section on Color Theory, suggestions on how you can choose your own color palette.

Let’s Get Colorful!

I have provided examples of the eight different color disciplines that I most often use in my work. The number reference in the name of the discipline refers to the number of fabric or component colors and threads that I use.

Embroider, Embellish, and Explore

There are a variety of examples of Embroidery as a Seam Treatment, and Embroidery as a Design Element. These examples show how embroidery stitches can be worked following a seam, following a shape, or an imaginary line, or to fill in entire areas of fabric.

*Embroidery as a Seam Treatment*
Straight Seam Embroidery

Embroidery Journal Project: Each of the embroidery sections shows a sampler that you can copy so that you can practice your stitches. The book also has directions so that you can make your own book of stitch samplers.

You can see all of the books and products that I have created here. I wish you all the happiness and hope that you enjoy creating with this beautiful craft and art form.

Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Morning and A Heart a Day: 5

Feb5

Week 1 of National Embroidery Month, 2023

Embroidered and Embellished Small Projects

The first book that I wrote on the subject was called Embroidered and Embellished, by C&T Publishing. I chose to categorize the stitches into groups, that I named Traditional Embroidery, Silk Ribbon Embroidery, Raised and Textured Embroidery, and Bead Embroidery.

Each of these groups includes 20 related stitches. I photographed the steps of the stitches for this book, like I did for my two ribbonwork books. My daughter pitched in and offered here lovely hands in a few of the how-to-directions.

I created a sampler and two projects for each of the four categories included in the book. The projects have detailed directions with diagrams of the assembly steps and stitches that I used.

Traditional Embroidery: the stitches in this chapter include: chain stitch, zigzag chain stitch, chain stitch vine, straight stitch, outline stitch, outline stitch vine, blanket stitch, short-long-short blanket stitch, buttonhole circle, heart, lazy daisy stitch, lazy knot tip, lazy daisy flowers, looped tendril, tulip, sunflower, button flowers, fly stitch, wisteria, wild ginger, French knot, French knot flowers, and couched stitch.

All of the stitches in the sampler and the directions were worked in Finca perle cotton # 8 and Finca Mouline cotton floss by Presencia.

Silk Ribbon Embroidery: the stitches in this chapter include: feather stitch, feather stitch vine, split ribbon stitch, pistil stitch, couched ribbon, padded straight stitch, ribbon stitch, peony, colonial knot, pointed ribbon stitch, wildflower, ribbon loop stitch, ribbon loop posy, vine flower, twisted ribbon rose, woven ribbon rose, woven ribbon rose variation, rosette, gathered bud, and pin rose.

All of the stitches in the sampler and the directions were worked with silk ribbon or buttonhole twist from YLI; Wildflowers thread from the Caron Collection; or Silk Mori floss from Kreinik.

Raised and Textured Embroidery: the stitches in this chapter include: open chain stitch, couched Japan thread, fly stitch leaf, feather fan, whip-stitch rose, whip-stitch rose variation 1, whip-stitch rose variation 2, spiderweb rose, petite twisted rose, bullion stitch, bullion posy, cast-on buttonhole stitch, buttonhole rose, cherry blossoms, tatted stitch, tatted posy, spiral tatted stitch, tatted rose, Chinese knot, and Christen’s shisha mirror.

All of the stitches in the sampler and the directions were worked in Finca perle cotton # 8 or Finca Mouline cotton floss by Presencia; buttonhole twist from YLI; Silk Mori floss or fine braid from Kreinik; or rayon floss from DMC.

Bead Embroidery: the stitches in this chapter include: continuous bead stitch, beaded vine, lazy daisy stitch, lazy daisy variation, lazy daisy loop, lazy daisy flowers, beaded stamen, sunflower, button rose, French rose, sequin rose, sequin rose variation, flat leaf, lazy daisy leaf, stacked bead center. picot tip, bead cascade, single bead, bead combinations, and charms.

All of the stitches in the sampler and the directions were worked in size 6°, 8°, 11°, or 15° size seed beads; or larger beads in a variety of sizes; or sequins.

If you would like to stitch each of these samplers, you can find the template here.

You can see all of the books and products that I have created here. I wish you all the happiness and hope that you enjoy creating with this beautiful craft and art form.

Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Morning

Jan29

In these posts I want to share some of my favorite pieces, which will include wall hangings, small works, pillows, purses, and just because pieces, enjoy!

Gentle Ladies Needle Keep

The needle keep and pincushion roll were created for my book, Hand Embroidery Stitching, by C&T Publishing. The crazy-pieced needle keep is comprised of both solid and cotton prints with grosgrain ribbon and rickrack trim. The embroidery stitches were worked in cotton floss, perle cotton #8 and #12, and glass seed beads. Additional embellishments include fun novelty shaped buttons. The pincushion and roll are made from felt, with a wooden spool as the base. Both are embellished with rickrack trim, seed beads, and novelty shaped buttons. Here is a handout for Free Pincushion Instructions.

Needle Keep: Embroidery Stitches Used

Border rows: feather stitch with chain-stitch edge, fern stitch modern, running stitch, chain stitch feathered, blanket stitch short-long, blanket stitch, chevron stitch, cross stitch row, blanket stitch locked zipper, stem stitch, herringbone stitch overlaid, blanket stitch crossed, petal stitch, backstitch, string of pearls stitch, fly stitch netted, fishnet stitch, blanket stitch angled, rickrack trim with straight stitch details
Decorative stitches: Fly stitch, lazy daisy tulip stitch, straight stitch, fly stitch with lazy daisy stitch, lazy daisy stitch
Detail stitches: French knot stitch, straight stitch
Vignette stitches: Spiderweb corner stitch, button spider, grouped French knot and straight stitches, stacked bead stitch, clustered buttons

Pincushion Roll: Embroidery Stitches Used

Border row: rickrack trim with bell flower stitch, seed bead details
Stem and flowers: chain stitch, lazy daisy stitch, buttons

Happy Stitching to You! Christen

PS: If you wish to see more of my work, check out the Gallery section.

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Morning

Jan22

In these posts I want to share some of my favorite pieces, which will include wall hangings, small works, pillows, purses, and just because pieces, enjoy!

Sweet Caroline

This little purse was created for my book, Beaded Embroidery Stitching, by C&T Publishing. The base was created using my Scrumptious Scraps technique, along with a piece of silk habotai fabric, that I pleated and then dyed. The embroidery was worked in vignettes, vines, and border row sections, with couched cord finishing details. I used glass seed beads in sizes 6°, 8°, 11°, and 15°, and three sizes of flower rondelles.

Embroidery Stitches Used

Vignette stitches: French rose stitch, chain stitch continuous loops, stacked bead stitch (large and medium rondelles)
Decorative stitches: flower with petite petals, lazy daisy stitch with loop, lazy daisy stitch
Detail stitches: hippie flower stitch, floret stitch, stacked bead stitch (small rondelles and stacked seed beads)
Border rows: Spine vine stitch, even peyote stitch row curved, continuous bead stitch curved

Happy Stitching to You! Christen

PS: If you wish to see more of my work, check out the Gallery section.

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Morning

Jan15

In these posts I want to share some of my favorite pieces, which will include wall hangings, small works, pillows, purses, and just because pieces, enjoy!

California Dreamin’

This piece was created for my book, The Embroidery Book, by C&T Publishing. The inspiration for the base were the two hand-dyed marbleized fabrics, and I used every last bit here! I cut them into strips, and pieced the remaining sections with bleached muslin fabric. I used left-over strips of a batik fabric for the binding and back. The center square, and the third row of muslin fabric is where the bulk of the embroidery stitches are worked, I love how only a bit of that fabric shows through the stitches. The stitches are worked in four skeins of perle cotton #5 and nine skeins of cotton floss, using solid and variegated colors. Vintage green glass beads were used for the accents.

Embroidery Stitches Used

Decorative stitches: Gwen’s rose stitch, Jill’s flower stitch, lazy daisy stitch flower, French knot flower, fly stitch side-by-side, buttonhole circle stitch, barnacle stitch, whip-stitch star
Detail stitches: French knot stitch, lazy daisy stitch, fly stitch
Border rows: chain stitch, French knot stitch

Happy Stitching to You! Christen

PS: If you wish to see more of my work, check out the Gallery section.

	Carolyn on Earth Week April 2024: Day…
	Earth Week April 202… on Scrumptious Scraps: class/tuto…
	Earth Week April 202… on Scrumptious Hearts: class/tuto…
	Earth Week April 202… on Scarves to Dye For: class…
	Earth Week April 202… on Lace in Bloom: class/tuto…

Christen's Creations

Creative Expressions from a fiber artist, beader, ribbon artist and embroiderer.

Archives

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Mornings and National Button Week, Day 7!!!

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Mornings

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Mornings

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Mornings and A Heart a Day: 26

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Morning and A Heart a Day: 19

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Morning and a Heart a Day: 12

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Morning and A Heart a Day: 5

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Morning

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Morning

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Morning