February 5, 2012

Barbara's Week 5 Herringbone Stitch


Thank goodness for the Superbowl.  It allowed me to sit down and get this bit of embroidery done while the rest of the family watched the game.   I got one seam done with two layers of herringbone stitch.


I'd been looking for something to help get my stitches even, and this peel and stick tape that I found in the embroidery isle at Michael's worked really well.


I positioned it on one side to do the light blue stitching, and then I flipped the same piece to the other side to do the larger dark stitch.  It was easy to use the centimeter measurements, which conveniently have no numbers. 


I stitched a butterfly over some iron on stabilizer, a method I showed in an earlier post.  I used satin stitch and chain stitch.   The little bird at the bottom was transferred onto a piece of linen and then cross-stitched on.  Maybe I'll add some beads to the herringbone stitch.  It needs a bit of zip.

15 comments:

Recycled Cottage & Garden said...

This is looking so very pretty, I like all the birds. Bet Debra does too!

Susan said...

Thanks for the tip on the tape. I don't know if there's a Michael's around, but I'll check in Hobby Lobby, since I like equal distances, too. Your satin stitching is always so beautiful. I'm jealous! I like the bird added with the X stitches. Very nice beginning. Are the floss strands a different number on the blue herringbone seam? Do you like floss better than perle threads?

Cyra said...

Very nice work on the herringbone stitch Barbara. Love your sweet embroidered butterfly too.
That tape is a fabulous idea, thanks for the tip.
Your bird theme block is going to be gorgeous when finished.

Connie Eyberg Originals said...

This looks to be another wonderful block. Great images of the birds you are building your blocks around. Thanks for letting us know about the tape. I think I may have some in my stash? I like the double Herringbone in two tones.

Debra Dixon said...

I'm a big fan of tape too. I also use the fabric for clues. Your plaid has built-in spacing marked already so hopefully you can use it to your advantage.

Great start on this block!

Debra Dixon said...

Roger that!

jenclair said...

I bought some of this the other day when I bought some more floss at Michael's. Can't wait to use it. The shades of blue in the herringbone seam are very effective!

Suztats said...

Your herringbone seam treatment seems to match the shades of the bird, and the blue plaid. Nice. I do like your butterfly in complementary colours to the blues, and it picks up the flower colour, too.
I haven't heard of the sticky ruler tape, so thank you for sharing.
This block has a nice warm feeling about it and I like the layers of colour that relate to each other.

Barbara C said...

Hi Susan,
On the herringbone band I used six strands of the light blue, and 3 strands of the dark blue. You're right, I like pearl cotton the best. I love the neatness of the twist.

Susan said...

I agree. I find myself using less and less floss, except on redwork embroidery. Thank you.

sophie said...

I am headed to Michael's this afternoon. That peel-and-stick tape looks BRILLIANT.

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Your herringbone stitch is perfect and the shades of blue thread is beautiful. Hugs Judy

Jane said...

You have the greatest way of putting these colors together, putting the red here and there brings out the little bit of red in the plaid and you balanced it out with your thread that attatches the lower bird. You get the eye traveling around nicely. Beautiful work on your block this week, Barbara

Harvest Moon by Hand said...

The combination of blues combined with the precision of your stitching is inspiring!

Peacock said...

I was wondering how you got your stitches so evenly spaced!