Stitches on this part of the sampler are:

On this part of the sampler I was experimenting with laid stitches and the patterns. I used basic couching and over the couched threads there are stitches such as cross stitch. In between the bead trail I have scattered, French knots, bullion knots, detached chain stitch, straight stitch. The mix of beads contain seed beads, bugle beads, round and ring spacer beads, heishi and dome shaped bead caps.

Threads:

• Hand dyed #5 perle cotton
• Stranded cotton floss
• Hand dyed cotton chenille
• Hand dyed silk
• Caron watercolours  1 strand of #5 perle cotton
• A metallic thread called Arista produced by Anchor
• A metallic yarn called Excel
• Hand dyed wool

Fabric:

Patched hand dyed evenweave needlework fabrics. I used Procion dyes to dye the background

Date:

This section of the sampler was worked in late 2009.

Size:

The For Love of Stitching Band Sampler is 15 cm (6 inches) wide and consists of different strips of fabric which are stitched together to form one long strip. It currently measures 96 feet 5 inches (2,938.78 centimetres), or  32.138 yards which is 29.3878 meters. It is still growing…

Sampler FAQ
For the full back story on this piece visit the Sampler FAQ page.

All posts in the series are in the category  the Love of Stitching Band Sampler.

You will find all the other blocks in this series the Lace Quilt category

Join in Work in Progress Wednesdays and leave a comment

If you have made progress on a large project leave a comment with a link to your site. If you include the http bit of your web address in the comment it will become a link and folks can visit and see what you have done.

The idea behind Work in Progress Wednesdays (WIP Wednesdays) is to encourage people to complete large and/or languishing projects. So if you are in the process of working a large project, share your progress via a blog or public photo site like flickr.

The theory is, that if you regularly report publicly on a project you are more likely to pick it up and work it a little. Even if it means the project is out and ‘looking at you’ for most stitchers it means they will work it a little.

If you want to know more about Work in Progress Wednesdays visit the FAQ

All my Work in Progress Wednesday reports are under that category.

I first discovered this stitch in a Batsford book called Embroidery Stitches by Anne Butler.

The foundation rows are the same hand movement as large stem stitches which are loosely worked and then laced. Fancy hem stitch really comes into its own when you experiment and change threads. It looks great in a thread with a firm twist or a fine braid or even a ribbon. Beads also can be added for extra zest.

How to work Fancy Hem Stitch

Work the foundation stitches in a loose manner because when they are laced they pull tight. If keeping your tension even is a problem use an embroidery hoop.

The first row is worked from left to right. Bring your needle from the back of the fabric. Make a long stitch, point the needle into the fabric, and bring it out a little along the line to make a small back stitch as illustrated. Take the needle through to create the first stitch.

Pull the thread through the fabric. Make the second long stitch forward, along the line.

Keep the thread to the same side of the needle with each stitch while you repeat this back and forth movement along the line.

At the end of the line take your needle through the fabric. Turn your work.

Work the second line of stitches. You should have two lines of loose stitches.

Work from left to right. Bring the thread through the fabric in the middle of the two lines of stitching  as illustrated

From this stage on you are not taking the thread through the fabric when you are wrapping the stitches. Wrap the two stitches together with 3 wraps of the loops as illustrated.

Take your thread to the back and bring the needle up through the fabric at the next loop, in between the two lines of stitching  as illustrated.

Repeat this wrapping process until you have reached the end of the line.

How to join in

It is not complicated. All you need to do is stitch a sample of this stitch or ANY of the stitches listed on the TAST FAQ page.

Once you have worked a sample,  photograph it and put it online at your blog, flickr etc then swing back to the Last TAST post (you will find it under the category each week)   and leave a comment that includes  your web address. When you leave a comment include the http:// part of the address as then your address becomes a link and readers will be able easily visit and see your sample. Remember you can leave a comment about any stitch you have worked as long as it is listed on the TAST FAQ page.

Any special rules?

There are no rules but I do have a request, please link back here.

Further information

If you need further information on the challenge a list of stitches covered so far or directions on how to participate please visit the TAST FAQ page.

You can read back through TAST articles by browsing Challenges -  Take a Stitch Tuesday category

Other groups and networks

You can also share your explorations with other members on the social network site of your choice. There is a Facebook TAST 2012 page,   stitchin fingers group and the flickr TAST site. All these sub groups are set up at request of members

What is the story?
This regular series aims to illustrate and document the hand embroidered seams, embellishments and decorations on my crazy quilt I dropped the button box.

All articles are categorised in the projects under Crazy Quilt details which enables readers to browse back through the series.
Free Crazy quilt block patterns
In the process of documenting the seam decorations on this quilt, as I get to each block I am diagramming it out for readers as a free crazy quilt pattern. Links to these free pattern pages are listed on the CQ details FAQ page.

These images are not only a wonderful design source but they will be of interest to anyone who prints images on fabric, are interested in the book and paper arts or do mixed media collage pieces.

The site houses over 3,000 high-resolution free images which have been scanned from old out of copyright books. Images are tagged and described so it makes for interesting browsing. Take a look particularly at the decorative initials and borders as I am sure many stitchers will find these great inspiration and sources for designs.

Friday freebies is a regular series in which I highlight free resources online, free patterns and links that are of interest to fiber folks.  All posts in the series are in the  Friday Freebie category I hope you enjoy them.