Day 24
Darling Motif Sampler by Christen Brown
This crazy-pieced block gave me the perfect opportunity to embroider the stencils from the Darling Motif Collection, by C&T Publishing. I loved being able to use the variety of stencils here, and the pieced sections were easy to work around. I suggest using basic stitches like the outline, stem, chain, backstitch, straight, lazy daisy, and French knot stitches when highlighting a shape or object.
Happy Stitching, ~Christen
The Hand Embroidery Dictionary/ Knotted, Woven and Whipped Stitches and Embellishment Stitches
Everything embroidery bundled into one helpful how-to guide! The book breaks down 500+ stitches from the basics for beginners to more complex designs for advanced stitchers.
There are 16 groups of stitches which include straight, outline, knotted, woven, and whipped, lazy daisy, chain, barb, blanket and buttonhole, fly, feather, fleet, cretan, cross, herringbone, capped, chevron, and embellishment stitches.
Knotted, woven and whipped stitches are all unique stitches, that add texture to your embroidery. The embellishment stitches use beads and buttons, and add a touch of whimsy to your projects.
Happy Stitching~ Christen
Day 18
Charmed Square by Christen Brown
This small square was pieced with a few leftover squares from a Moda Charm pace, the rest of the squares were used in Paris Flea Market. I added two complementary fabrics to complete the nine-patch design and borders. The border row stitches were worked in one color of perle cotton #8 to straddle each seam. The decorative and detail stitches were worked in five colors of cotton floss, and two colors of seed beads. The color and stitch changed depending on which side of the border row they were stitched. I used three colors of glass buttons and charms and added brass buttons as an accent color.
This piece can be found in The Embroidery Book by C&T Publishing.
Happy Stitching, ~Christen
The Hand Embroidery Dictionary/ Straight and Outline Stitches
Everything embroidery bundled into one helpful how-to guide! The book breaks down 500+ stitches from the basics for beginners to more complex designs for advanced stitchers.
There are 16 groups of stitches which include straight, outline, knotted, woven, and whipped, lazy daisy, chain, barb, blanket and buttonhole, fly, feather, fleet, cretan, cross, herringbone, capped, chevron, and embellishment stitches.
These two stitch groups are so versatile, and are used throughout the book in conjunction with many of the other individual and continuous stitches.
Happy Stitching~ Christen
Day 17
Variation on a Theme
These pieces and the project can be found in my book, Beaded Embroidery Stitching.
The two wall hangings are versions of the Bouquet of Flowers, project A Feminine Fancies. The base of the black piece is silk, with vintage lace used for the frame. Vintage mother-of-pearl buttons were used for the flower centers and the encrusted frame, with lots of beaded embroidery stitches. The base of the second piece is pieced with a blue chambray fabric and a whimsical bee print. The vase and the frame are made with vintage lace, with vintage and new buttons for the flower centers, and floral frame. Vintage and new beads and charms were used for decoration.
Happy Stitching, ~Christen
The Hand Embroidery Dictionary/ Cross and Herringbone Stitches
Everything embroidery bundled into one helpful how-to guide! The book breaks down 500+ stitches from the basics for beginners to more complex designs for advanced stitchers.
There are 16 groups of stitches which include straight, outline, knotted, woven, and whipped, lazy daisy, chain, barb, blanket and buttonhole, fly, feather, fleet, cretan, cross, herringbone, capped, chevron, and embellishment stitches.
Today we are going to cover cross and herringbone stitches.
Cross Stitches
These individual stitches can be used as a single stitch, combined to create a border row, or added to another stitch to create a larger component.
The basic stitch is formed by coming up at point A and going down at point B to create a straight line. The stitch is completed by coming up at point C and going down at point D, crossing over the previous stitch.
Herringbone Stitches
These continuous stitches can be used for a border row or to create a shape. After the stitch is formed, individual stitches can be added to the tips or around the base to create a larger design.
The basic stitch is formed by coming up at point A and then, in one motion, going down at point B and coming up at point C, forming a straight stitch. The stitch continues with point D, then back to point A. This stitch can also be worked in individual stab motions.
Artists and Samplers
I asked several friends to be involved in the Stitch Along Week posts. I selected 10 stitches and broke them into 5 groups. Each participant chose one group to work with, stitching a sampler or block in any colors or fibers that they wanted to work with.
Allison Aller, Artist, Author, Teacher
Allie Aller has been making quilts in many genres for 50 years, employing her college design education. She has published three books, won many national awards, taught on Craftsy, and appeared on The Quilt Show twice. Visit her blog to see the annual finishes she posts at the end of every calendar year.
You can find Allie here:
Blog: http://alliesinstitches.blogspot.com/. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allison.aller/. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alliealler/
Stitches used in my sampler, left to right
Allie’s Books, from C & T Publishing:
Christine Vinh, Artist, StitchesNQuilts
My journey with fiber has led me to explore new mediums, learn new techniques, and meet many kindred spirits. My goal is to share my love of color, texture and fiber with others, whether through selling my work or sharing stories.
As part of this project, not only did I explore the two possibilities of two stitches but I chose to try different threads. The cross stitch sampler uses a variety of threads & color ways in the Painter’s Thread collection. And the herringbone sampler was done using an 8 wt Eleganza Thread Pack by WonderFil using a sample of variegated threads.
You can find Chris here:
https://stitchesnquilts.com. https://www.facebook.com/StitchesnQuilts
Stitches used: cross stitch netted, cross stitch row overlaid, cross stitch row netted, thorn stitch, crosshatch, cross stitch doubled
Painter’s Threads used: Ribbon Floss, Gimpe, Perle Cotton # 5, 8 & 12, Braided metallic, Eye lash silk
Stitches used: herringbone stitch twisted / repeat, herringbone stitch w/ French knot, herringbone with cross stitch, herringbone double stitch, herringbone with straight stitch details, random filling with overlapping threads
Threads: 8 wt Eleganza Perle cotton from WonderFil
Christen Brown, Artist, Author, Teacher
This small strip-pieced sample can be found in the book. The embroidery stitches were worked in a variety of herringbone and cross stitches, with French knot and straight stitch details. I used perle cotton #8 for all of the embroidery and to stitch the novelty buttons in place.
Thank you to each of the participants of the Stitch Along Week! Everyone created a unique piece, that reflects their own style. I am so grateful to each and every one of these artists!
Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen
Day 16
Mystic Twilight by Christen Brown
I chose the pattern and colors of the strip-pieced batik background to simulate a worn wooden fence. I machine quilted each strip with a wood grain pattern. I chose the large clear glass buttons in a variety of sizes for the flower centers. The outline of the large-and medium-sized buttons were shadowed with thread and bead embroidery; the border row stitches that represent grass and vine were worked in perle cotton and then shadowed with the same stitch in cotton floss.
You can find this piece in my new The Embroidery Book by C&T Publishing.
Happy Stitching, ~Christen
The Hand Embroidery Dictionary/ Fleet and Cretan Stitches
Everything embroidery bundled into one helpful how-to guide! The book breaks down 500+ stitches from the basics for beginners to more complex designs for advanced stitchers.
There are 16 groups of stitches which include straight, outline, knotted, woven, and whipped, lazy daisy, chain, barb, blanket and buttonhole, fly, feather, fleet, cretan, cross, herringbone, capped, chevron, and embellishment stitches.
Today we are going to cover fleet and cretan stitches.
Fleet Stitches
These individual stitches can be used as a single stitch, combined to create a border row, or added to another stitch to create a larger component.
The basic stitch is formed by coming up at point A and then, in one motion, going down at point B and coming up at point C, which catches the loop formed by points A and B. The stitch would end with a point D.
Cretan Stitches
These continuous stitches can be used for a border row or to create a shape. After the stitch is formed, individual stitches can be added to the tips or around the base to create a larger design.
The basic stitch is formed by coming up at point A and then, in one motion, going down at point B and coming up at point C, which catches the loop formed by points A and B. Point C becomes point A for the following stitch. The stitch is work continuously and would end at point D.
Artists and Samplers
I asked several friends to be involved in the Stitch Along Week posts. I selected 10 stitches and broke them into 5 groups. Each participant chose one group to work with, stitching a sampler or block in any colors or fibers that they wanted to work with.
Patti Culea, Artist, Author, Teacher, patticuleadolls.com
Being raised on a farm in central Illinois where we had long, cold winters helped me learn many fiber art techniques. My great grandmothers were my teachers as my grandmothers and my mother were busy in the kitchen, or the barn, or the chicken coops.
My dad’s grandmother was born and raised in England and she was a master at embroidery, knitting, quilting. Grandma Davies taught me hand embroidery. I first started with dish towels embroidering Monday, Wash Day, Tuesday, Ironing, etc. I moved from those to pillowcases and eventually more detailed items – handkerchiefs and clothing. My other great grandmother – Grandma Dunnigan – was a wonderful bead artist and she taught me both loom and off loom beading, plus some bead embroidery.
Fast forward to the 1990’s where I first met Christen at a quilt shop in Poway, California. I took all of her classes on fabric collage and embroidery. Christen’s embroidery was bright, colorful, more innovative than what I had learned growing up. Being a cloth doll designer and teacher I use a lot of embroidery on my dolls. After learning the Fleet Stitch from Christen’s book I can’t wait to create a new doll using this stitch. Thank you Christen for introducing me to this fabulous stitch.
Lynn Woll, Artist, Founder and CEO Create Whimsy
I am a creator. I grew up with our mother always stitching, sewing, knitting, crocheting — or finding projects to keep her hands and her girls busy. Our father was a wood worker and engineer — always tinkering with something. Their influence has led me to a life of stitching, making and building my life in both tangible and intangible ways.
I used the fleet stitch, fleet stitch long arm, fleet stitch offset, snowflake stitch, cretan stitch 4-row, cretan stitch 3-row, and French knot stitches in my sampler.
Christen Brown, Artist, Author, Teacher
I used a variety of fleet and cretan stitches with French knot and straight stitch details. The stitches are worked in perle cotton #8, #12, and #70 tatting cotton. The threads were from Fiber on a Whim, Caron Collection, Presencia, Anchor, and DMC.
Thank you to each of the participants of the Stitch Along Week! Everyone created a unique piece, that reflects their own style. I am so grateful to each and every one of these artists!
Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen
Day 15
Question: How do you choose a name for your project? Sometimes I choose a name by an item in the project, in this case I chose the name from one of the embroidery threads.
African Sunset by Christen Brown
The blocks in this crazy-pieced quilt are all comprised of Hoffman batik fabrics, except for the darkest one, shown in four of the blocks, it is a batik from Bali. The embroidery was worked in Wildflower threads by the Caron Collection. Each of the threads have a unique name, one of them was called African Sunset, and the name stuck!
You can find this piece in my new book, Hand Embroidery Dictionary by C&T Publishing.
Happy Stitching, ~Christen
The Hand Embroidery Dictionary/ Fly and Feather Stitches
Everything embroidery bundled into one helpful how-to guide! The book breaks down 500+ stitches from the basics for beginners to more complex designs for advanced stitchers.
There are 16 groups of stitches which include straight, outline, knotted, woven, and whipped, lazy daisy, chain, barb, blanket and buttonhole, fly, feather, fleet, cretan, cross, herringbone, capped, chevron, and embellishment stitches.
Today we are going to cover fly and feather stitches.
Fly Stitches
These individual stitches can be used as a single stitch, combined to create a border row, or added to another stitch to create a larger component.
The basic stitch is formed by coming up at point A and then, in one motion, going down at point B and coming up at point C, which catches the loop formed by points A and B. The stitch would end with a point D.
Feather Stitches
These continuous stitches can be used for a border row or to create a shape. After the stitch is formed, individual stitches can be added to the tips or around the base to create a larger design.
The basic stitch is formed by coming up at point A and then, in one motion, going down at point B and coming up at point C, which catches the loop formed by points A and B. Point C becomes point A for the following stitch. The stitch is work continuously and would end at point D.
Artists and Samplers
I asked several friends to be involved in the Stitch Along Week posts. I selected 10 stitches and broke them into 5 groups. Each participant chose one group to work with, stitching a sampler or block in any colors or fibers that they wanted to work with.
Susy Boyer, Artist, Teacher
I began creating as a young child. My mother shared her love of embroidery, crocheting, sewing and knitting with me. She put a pre-printed dresser scarf in my hands with needle and floss. All I needed to get going was a Stem stitch, Lazy Daisy and a French Knot. I can spend hours looking at Crazy Quilts and feeling a kinship with the makers. I have a wonderful husband and family, which includes four fabulous grandchildren. Passing on the gift of creating and sharing what I love is a joy of mine.
I used Pearl cotton thread, silk thread, rayon thread with the sparkle in it and wool thread. The wool is the three red roses and the green fly stitch leaves. I also used the alphabet and dragonfly templates from the Embroidery Stencils, Darling Motif Collection.
Nancy Karst, Artist
My Grandma introduced me to embroidery when I was 9. I have been a devoted needlewoman since then. Though I have dabbled in many textile arts, quilting and embroidery are my favorites. I collect vintage textiles and sometimes incorporate them into my work.
Note: Since I am left-handed, I am thrilled that each the left-hand diagrams get equal space right next to the “righties”. I have tried new (to me) fly and feather variations and will continue to explore more. I also used two stencils from the Darling Motif Collection. The birdhouse used fly and feather stitches, that seemed appropriate. The spiderweb was fun, I know it will make an appearance in my future embroidery work.
Kathy Seaman Shaw, Artist, Author, Teacher
Kathy has six books about crazy quilting techniques available on Amazon. The most recent two, Stunning Stitches and Dazzling Diamonds are also available at C&T Publications. Marking templates to accompany her books are available at Creative Impressions.com. She loves teaching…especially to beginner quilters. Free online courses in various techniques used in crazy quilting are offered on her blog at shawkl.com with registration dates throughout the year.
Thank you to each of the participants of the Stitch Along Week! Everyone created a unique piece, that reflects their own style. I am so grateful to each and every one of these artists!
Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen
Christen's Creations 