31 days of embroidery {rope stitch}

Last year I participated in the Covered in Stitches contest over at Feeling Stitchy. I hemmed and hawed for days on what book cover to do and finally settled on a trio of embroideries based on Where the Wild Things Are. Alas I didn’t come close to winning, but it was a great way to stretch my stitching skills.

One of the stitches I learned during that process was the rope stitch. I used it to stitch one of the wild things hair and I love how it turned out.

The key thing to remember with this stitch is that it is a tiny one. The closer your stitches are together, the more of that “rope” effect you will get. When I started out practicing this stitch, my first attempt looked horrible because I was making too large of stitches.

Here’s another great example of what you can do with the rope stitch by AnneliesePe

So here goes! This is really a pretty easy stitch that just looks difficult. It’s basically a chain stitch, you just aren’t linking it from the inside. You are stitching on the outside “waist” of the stitch before.

Here’s a link to photo directions

and here is my video!

31 days of embroidery {french knot}

Oh, the french knot. Probably one of my favorite stitches. It lends itself to so many differing things!
A couple of the first things I ever embroidered were from these Aunt Martha embroidery transfers and the hair was all french knots. Love it!

 

They also make great eyes!

 

And a few days ago I came across this pinned on Pinterest…how cool is this!?

Source: 14countess.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

 

And sometimesIswirl is one of my favorite etsy shops and she makes these amazing french knot embroideries (and now in pendants too!)

Source: etsy.com via Oh on Pinterest

 

 

Enough examples, let’s get on with it!

Here is a link to photo directions on how to do the FRENCH KNOT

and here is my video! Enjoy!

31 days of embroidery {zig zag chain & twisted chain}

Sorry about yesterday’s oops. Things around here are a little nutty with the kiddos back in school and I have a 300 cape order to get working on! Crazy! That said, here is day 9 and day 10!

ZIG ZAG CHAIN stitch

This stitch reminds me of lightening. It was super easy to do and fun!

Here is a great example of the zig zag stitch by craftgirl78-xstitch used in this sweet heart sampler (it is the 3rd stitch in)

Here is a link to another photo explanation of how to do the zig zag chain

and here are my photo directions:

Step One:

Bring your needle up and then back down right next to your first hole.

Step Two:

Slide your needle through your fabric on a diagonal and then bring your thread under your needle making a loop.

Step Three:

Pull your thread through finishing the loop. Then bring your needle back through your fabric at an opposite diagonal, making sure to start your stitch inside the loop you just finished. Repeat, drawing your thread under your needle forming another loop.

Step Four:

Repeat!!

Finished Zig Zag Chain Stitch

TWISTED CHAIN STITCH

This stitch was also fun to do, easy to learn and would make a great mane for an embroidered horse!
Here is a lovely example of using the twisted chain! This is a super cute embroidery by carorose

Here is a link to video directions on how to do the twisted chain stitch

and here are my photo directions:

Step One:

Bring your needle up and then coming down diagonally to the left, push your needle through your fabric (like doing a sideways chain).

Step Two:

Make a loop with your thread under your needle and pull your thread all the way through forming the loop.

Step Three:

Repeat, bringing your needle through again, coming diagonally to the left. Wrap your thread under your needle forming another loop and pull your thread through.

Step Four:

Repeat!

Finished Twisted Chain Stitch

31 days of embroidery {heavy chain stitch}

The heavy chain stitch is a new stitch to me. I honestly tried this stitch at least 4 times following the directions in my embroidery book, but I’m still not sure I’m doing it right. I hesitate to show you my crazy video, but just know that it’s my version and could very well lead you astray!

Here is a great example by libbygirl of the heavy chain stitch being used as a decorative line in this sweet embroidered baby announcement.

Here’s another great example from needle n’thread. If you follow the link, there is also a great video showing you how to do this stitch.

HEAVY CHAIN STITCH

Here is a link to great photo directions

and here is my video (I tried it out by myself today. A little steadier, but still off due to the large hand)

31 days of embroidery {chain stitch}

I love, love the chain stitch. If you know how to do a lazy daisy, it’s kind of like just linking a bunch of those. It’s a great stitch for making “braids” in hair, like I did in this recent stitch along:

And honestly, It’s just a fun stitch to do.

Here’s an example of the chain stitch gone wild from the hand embroidery network! This is so awesome!

Want to learn how to do it yourself? Here’s the how-to!

 

CHAIN STITCH

First bring your needle up and then from the top make a stitch just underneath and then poke your needle through to the left.

 

Take your thread and wrap it under your needle (I always go from the top around…just make sure whichever way you start, you keep going that way!) then pull your thread tight. One hint is to hold the thread taunt with your left thumb (if you are right handed) and that will keep your loop from flipping up.

 

Insert your needle inside the loop you just made and again, poke it through the fabric going to the left. Wrap the thread under your needle again and pull it tight.

 

Here is an example of pulling the thread tight and making the loop.

 

And here is the finished chain. To finish off your chain, take your needle and poke it through “locking” that last loop.
Voila!

31 days of embroidery {chevron stitch}

So sorry for the delay in today’s post. Just one of those days that ran away and before I knew it we were putting the kiddos to bed! Whew.

Today I learned how to do a chevron stitch. I must say it was a bit intimidating upon first starting. But once I got the hang of it, it was pretty awesome!
Here is an example of a sampler done by Mary Corbet from needle n’thread. It just goes to show you how doing on simple stitch over and again can make the coolest wall art!

 

CHEVRON STITCH

My videographer has gone to bed, so tonight I am going to try my hand on offering a photo gallery of how to do the chevron stitch.

Step 1

Make a back stitch and then bring your needle up, just above that stitch in the middle of the line.

 

Step 2

Bring your needle up a little to the right; making a diagonal stitch.

 

Step 3

Make a stitch going towards the left, keeping that diagonal stitch in the middle of your line.

 

Step 4

Come just underneath and to the right of your diagonal stitch and bring your needle up and then make a diagonal stitch to the right.

 

Step 5

Make a stitch on the bottom line; keeping your diagonal stitch in the middle.

 

Step 6

Now you are back to the beginning again.

 

Here is the completed line. I did take a pencil before I started and drew two parallel lines for me to follow. The only other thing is working on the spacing in between too!

31 days of embroidery {back stitch}

Remember yesterday my little caveat? Everyone does some stitches exactly the same and others have their own style. The back stitch is definitly one of those. I’ve seen a handful of different ways to do it, and really it’s just who taught you, where you read it or just how you figured it out.

The back stitch is my go-to stitch. I pretty much use this as the base for all my embroidery work. It’s a simple stitch to master. The hardest thing is getting your lengths to be the same!

This entire embroidery is stitched with a back stitch. The difference is in the types of thread that I used. The black is a thicker cotton pearl and the white “love you” is an ecru 3 strand floss.

BACK STITCH

Here is a link to directions with photos.

Here’s my video: