TAST- Wheatear

This week the TAST stitch is Wheatear: a new-to-me stitch.
I began with some practice lines, and then decided to see what different shapes I could make with just this stitch.
Here you have my results:

an 8-point star

maybe the different threads will show the star stitches more clearly

a seam treatment that creates a cross-stitch when the wheatears run closely together in a line






a spaced out wheatear line in green, with another line upside down and between the first row of stitches

My sampler

the motif in the lower right is created with opposite stitches in the pink joined v to v, and two detached  green wheatears joined point-to-point in the center of the pink, with inverted green wheatears on each side of the first green ones.
Hope that's understandable.


Sorry my rows and motifs aren't quite straight.....I stitched this as DH drove the truck to and from his brother's home. We had a nice 2-day visit.

Hope you've been having fun stitching today.

Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

TAST- French Knot

I've been in a silly mood lately, and had a punny idea for TAST for this week. And it was looking really good, until I made an error in stitching the pattern. I didn't notice until I was finished.......and then I made it worse trying to fix it.......sigh.
And, groan, it probably wasn't worth all the time I put into it.........
Nevertheless, here it is in all it's mess:

Yes, that blob of  french knots was supposed to look like an actual knot.....



I'll have to pay more attention to stitching next time instead of watching Ringer, won't I?  That'll teach me!



I wonder what next week's stitch will be?

Hope you're having a good stitchy week.

Thanks for visiting.

Hugs from Suz

Do You Floss?

No, I don't mean your teeth. I mean your needle!

I popped into the second-hand shop to see if they had any more new-to-me embroidery or tatting books. Just below the book shelf, I spied these:


4 bags filled with embroidery floss!
each bag cost only $4!  oh, my!


I grabbed them, and a cute little heart pin for $.50

Once home, I dumped all four bags onto the counter

 I sorted them according to brand and #

here's some of the DMC floss

there's also a pink floss winder. I haven't used one before. Do they work?

more DMC floss, plus Anchor, J&P Coats, and a brand I'm not familiar with called National, in the bottom row


Some of the floss is old, and is priced at $.05!, a few at $.08! Imagine how long ago that was!?

But all the floss seems to be in good condition.

 The Anchor floss

The lime greens are J&P Coats, and the National brand is on the right.

Does anyone know anything about the National floss?

All in all, there were 264 full skeins in the 4 bags! Wow! There were a few partially used skeins, and a couple of mixed tangles, too. :-o

There were up to 6 skeins of some colours, so I'm wondering if the supplies were purchased for a particular project, or if an embroiderer was restocking favourite and missing colours.
This was a very lucky find, and I know I'll be using the floss for some time to come. I do wonder, though, about the person who donated all the wonderful floss.
I hope you find treasures today.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

Road Trip Tatting

We had to go to the city, and, DH drove. I tatted, and doodled this edging:

What? It's not an edging?


oh, yeah, I added too many ds's to the last round, and it ruffled


so, I gathered up the picots, adding 2ds between each one, and joined them into a ring

Ta da!

okay, it's a bit wonky right now....
I think if I damp-stretched it, it'll be fine........maybe ;-)

Hope you're having fun doing what you love.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

TAST- Stem Stitch

I started out with a thought in mind and stitched this for TAST:

I used stem stitch to outline all the boxes, and to fill in a few.

Then I added a branch with a few leaves to contrast with the rigid squares. (okay, almost squares -it's all free hand)

the leaves are detached chain stitch, and I also used a line of french knots in the lower right.


Stem stitch is one I tend to use often.


Hope you've been having fun stitching.

Thanks for visiting.

Hugs from Suz

TAST and Transfers and CQJP

I'd found a package at the second-hand shop filled with old pattern transfers and had a trip down memory lane opening them up to see all the different patterns: flowers, roses, ribbons and birds, monogram letters, kittens and puppies, assorted animals, butterflies and more. What a treasure! One of the mailing envelopes was stamped 1970, and postage then was only a nickel! I'm old enough to remember that!
Since TAST this week is the satin stitch, I decided to use one of the transfers:

It's spring, so I chose flowers and a butterfly.
I can remember these patterns embroidered on pillowcases when I was a young girl..........













After stitching, the design looks like this:

Making progress

The finished TAST. I used satin stitch on the flower, leaves, and the butterfly, and also used stem stitch, detached chain stitch, and french knots.

I enjoyed stitching this pattern.












CQJP

Thinking it might be nice to post my blocks so far, I took this pic:

  I'm considering going back to add stitching to some of the bare areas on the earlier blocks

My April block:
 The beautiful tat on the red velvet was created by my friend, Fox.  It almost disappears into the velvet, and I like that. Do you? Fox's tatting is very delicate looking, with tiny stitches, and I added a small red crystal to catch the eye.
It's a wonderful little heart motif, and repeats the hearts inside the green wreaths in the top fabric. And Christmas is all about love, isn't it?


Red rick-rack and a velvet ribbon are seam treatment starts. This block's main colour will be red, and I have heart beads and heart buttons to use!

French knots and a seam treatment over the red velvet ribbon...

'Fleur de lis ' detached chain stitches on the right and bullion stitches on the left......


chain stitch meandering on the red fabric......

I kept them all in red threads to add texture without making it seem too busy. There's more to add....



like flat red beads off the bullion stitch

I'm auditioning some flower trim, heat buttons, and tatted leaves.



Here's one red leaf tatted, but not yet stitched onto the block

I wanted to see how a white leaf would look. It sort of ties in with the white fabric above. What do you think?
Do I need to lighten it up with white leaves?

The red heart beads are being auditioned, too.










Hope everyone has a Blessed Easter.

I'll be indulging in chocolate. Will you?

I'm having company arriving shortly, and staying for the weekend, so I won't be around for a few days.......

Thanks for visiting.

Hugs from Suz

International Tatting Day

Today, April 1, is International Tatting Day!
To celebrate, I've tatted a sparkly, bead-studded butterfly for a little girl who recently broke her arm.

Do you think it has enough bling for a 5 year old?

I tatted a Lyn Morton pattern, 'Beaded Butterfly Brooch Pin' from her book "Tatting Jewellery".
I used a variegated Lizbeth thread, #129, size 40 with Kreinik polyester metallic thread in a #4 braid, 242HL. It's like a fuschia and purple blend. I've used Czech seed beads, size 6, in silver lined dark pink. It measures 2 1/4 " by 1 1/2", perfect for a brooch or a pendant.
Since the little girl's favourite colours are pink and purple, and since she also loves butterflies, I'm hoping she'll just adore what I've tatted.
Are you tatting today?

Yes, it's also April Fool's Day, and in true form, Mother Nature has left a layer of snow on the ground, and is threatening to pour with rain later. I hope you're having better weather.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz