Susan: June Reveal

A week late, but here it is. I didn't have time to take a picture of all the blocks together, but I will tonight, and then I'll add it at the bottom.

Sorry the right seam doesn't show up. It's a knotted cretan that I laced.

My friend called the top, bugle-beaded seam "chicken feet." At least it isn't flowers! LOL! In this picture, it does look a little like the exploding fireworks I was hoping to achieve.

Carolynn--Practice catch-up!

Saturday was Sew Day at Nancy's house. Our group spent the day stitching and chatting and looking at Nancy's beautiful, beautiful garden! She is one of the stops on the Gig Harbor Garden Tour next weekend, and her garden is truly an oasis!

The others spent the day on Jelly roll 1600 quilts, but I used it to catch up on all the TAST stitches I've avoided for the last month or so.

The results aren't pretty; I went from stitch to stitch, giving each a try.  Somehow I just couldn't get the hang of knotted cretan--look how many awkward tries! But at least I've tried each, and I've got a new block to start adding them to.

Barbara's May CQJP and Buttonhole Wheel

I caught up with the CQJP challenge and finished my May block.

On the blue patch I did the butterfly stitch from last month's TAST challenge.  I took out a bag of crewel embroidery thread, which I used here to tie the "butterflies."  I'll be using this more, it adds some nice texture.  I added minimal seam embellishments behind the vine, just to balance things out.

I figured out the knotted cretan stitch, shown above in coral, and embellished it with some French knots and lazy daisy stitch.  I found this birdcage in the jewelry section of a craft store, and hung it from the vine.  It's pinned in place temporarily, and I'll stitch it down when I piece the final project together.

Here's my semi-naked June CQJP block.  The cardinal print was a gift from Debra.

In stitching the buttonhole wheels, I stitched it once in a dark gold crewel thread, and then repeated the stitch over the completed wheel with a lighter gold thread.

The hand is also a jewelry component.  I'm going to figure out a way to camouflage the rings at either end of the piece.

...Some half wheels.

Not a bad start on this block.

Carol - TAST, Knotted Cretan

I have found Knotted Cretan my most difficult stitch to master thus far.  You will notice my fabric looks like a pincushion with all the "reverse" sewing, also its displayed portrait instead of landscape - not my finest hour!

This does not bode well for Sarah's June travels.  Understand she's feeling a little jaded with all her travelling and is hoping to have a lazy Mediterranean break.

Colours yellow green/red violet

Debra- TAST: Knotted Cretan Stitch

The Knotted Cretan is a tricky little bugger if you aren't fluid stitching Cretan. Cretan is not a "Go To" stitch for me so I had to take some time to think through the steps. Once I got it, I rather liked the knotted version more than the plain version. Here's my new yellow green block example along with some seams I stitched on my TX Mockingbird Panel.

Why I thought I needed to add those bullion stitches inside the cretan is beyond me. 

I've been using more of my alternative threads on the TX Mockingbird panel.  I certainly like the way this ribbon looks stitched with the knots.  Same for the crewel wool in the below picture.

A catch up week tends to slow my momentum. Hopefully this next week we will have an interesting stitch and be back on track.

Cy - TAST 22 & May CQJP block

Can I squeeze my reveal in here....had a busy 3-day weekend, so I wasn't around to post earlier.


TAST Week 22 Knotted Cretan Stitch

I didn't have much time to spend on this stitch this week as I've been in 'Digital Designing' mode and working in the orchard.

But that is a story for another blog post. I'll keep you in suspenders (haha) for now.

So here are two test samples for Knotted Cretan Stitch.

With the pink floss I was just playing with different stitch lengths, widths and stretches.

And with the green, well, it was meant to be a circle but I got distracted when one of the dogs decided it was time to throw an old shoe at me "oh come on mum, it must be playtime now".

CQJP May Block

I have got this block to a reasonable stopping point for now, and I'm calling it temporarily finished.

I need (at some point in the near future) to add something more to the left side because I can see that all the "weight" of embellishing is on the right, and the block is not balanced and not to my liking.....yet.

Detail pics......

Silver ribbon stitched to create a ruffle, and turquoise seed beads scattered around the folds.

Blanket Stitch half wheels in two strands of blue variegated DMC floss.

I've no idea what this is called, lol. How about "noughts and crosses".

A bit more added to my "V" exploratory seam. I like the effect of the turquoise/teal raised threads going from one 'knot' to the next. This stitch was one I made up. I think it may be something similar to the Scroll stitch, but this one is stitched differently.

Black cotton crochet scalloped edging lace, and a very short seam with detached chains, silver beads and blue French Knots.

Freeform Mandala with a shiny gold Shisha in the middle.

And my usual centre patch with a butterfly. Not one of my better butterflies I think. It looks more like a hawk-moth to me, probably because of the chunky bead body. 

I may 'frog' the green thread lines on the top as it just doesn't look 'right' to me.

So that's all for now sweet friends.

Back to work on the digital stuff for a day or two before I will allow myself time off to relax with needle and thread.

Deborah: Knotted Cretan

Actually its a semi-knotted cretan. I only knotted on one side. Duh. Well, I'll do another row & do it right.

I liked the cretan stitch, so this one was fun to do as well. Even if I left half of it out.

No reveal as yet. 

Angela~ Knotted Cretan~ Embroidery Journal

This stitch takes a bit of concentration to get it consistently right but it is an interesting look, perfect for crazy quilting, maybe not so good for making a frame, lol.  I used oatmeal colored aida cloth, brown and golden cotton thread for an antique look.  The golden thread is 3 strands of floss.

Since I have done so much sewing of clothes and other things, I chose Ebenezer Butterick and his patterns as my subject this week.  Ebenezer was born on May 29, 1826 and he was a tailor.  There were cardboard patterns available but it was a one size fits all and each person had to figure out all their own adjustments.  In 1863 his wife was cutting out a gown for their baby and made the comment that if patterns came in sizes it would be so much easier.  Voila!  Ebenezer created the first sized or graded patterns with several sizes printed like we see now.
The pattern pieces I stem stitched are very similar to the first garment I made in home ec in 7th grade, an A-line sleeveless dress.

Judy ~ May SBS ~ TAST, Knotted Cretan ~ Finis!

Somehow I just couldn't imagine using the knotted cretan on SGS's tulips, and thankfully the bird, my attempt at a painted bunting, was begging for something to carry, so, "voila!" The knotted cretan became a stem of daisy buds. The tulips are supposed to be those fancy red and white striped ones; my discovery was that the buttonhole stitch works around unusual shapes rather well. Whether it's the tulip-look, is your call. Happy June, everyone! How'd that happen so fast?

TAST: Week 22: Knotted Cretan Stitch

The TAST Stitch for the Week of May 28 is the Knotted Cretan Stitch.

For more information and examples, check here on Sharon B's blog.
The Stitch dictionary link is here.

Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials shows an example here.

Photo courtesy of Pin Tangle