TAST 3 & BEYOND TAST 3

 TAST 3 - Buttonhole stitch.

This stitch is also known as blanket stitch.  This is a very easy and simple stitch and follows a curve very well.  This stitch can be used for embroidering leaves.  Lots of possibilities to create several CQ seam treatments with this stitch.  The length of the vertical line of the stitch can be varied to achieve different looks of the stitch.  The slant of the vertical line also can be varied to achieve a different effect.  One of the leaves stitched here , is achieved by varying the slant of the vertical part of the stitch.

BEYOND TAST 3 - Reversed buttonhole bar -  Though this stitch was a new one, it was easy to work with.  Initially a row of foundation buttonhole stitches are made , and then the braid like structure gets created, by weaving buttonhole stitches, in the initial foundation stitches.   This stitch is suitable for creating borders. 

TAST 2 & Beyond TAST 2

TAST 2 is fly stitch.  I am much familiar with this stitch and have you used in some of my earlier  projects.  Fly stitch can be used for leaves.  I tried using fly stitch for petals of the flower.

Beyond TAST 2 is Italian border stitch.  This stitch is new to me.  It was fun to experiment with this stitch.

TAST 1 & BEYOND TAST 1

 TAST 1 challenge is the chain stitch.  Chain stitch  is one of my favourite stitches, which I have been regularly using for more than a decade.   It is simple and easy, follows the curves very well.  Chain stitch can be used even as a filling stitch.  There are many variations of chain stitch.   The stitch comes out beautifully in perle cotton thread .  

  BEYOND TAST 1

This linked chain stitch and Beaded linked chain stitch are  new stitches to me.  Both  were fun and easy to work with.  I tried creating a beaded necklace with red perl cotton thread.  :)- 

   

Take a stitch 2020 (TAST 2020)

 I decided to take part in the 2020 TAST challenges being hosted by  Sharon at pintangle.  In the previous TAST runs,   I was not following   TAST stitches regularly.  If some stitch fascinated me, then I would stitch, otherwise I just skipped them.  I did not organise the stitched samplers properly , as a result , these samplers were lost when we had to relocate.  

This year, I decided to take part in both TAST & BEYOND TAST stitch challenges and familiarise myself with the stitch beauties.  I aim to keep them organised in a handmade fabric book , which can serve as a ready reckoner for designing embroideries and seam treatments.  I am following this tutorial on Million Little stitches, to create the fabric books.

I have a good collection of Anchor stranded cotton floss in a variety of colors, very few DMC perl cotton 8 and perl cotton 5, good amount of plain fabric and few satin ribbons.   I can easily manage TAST with these  stash I already have.

I am excited with this learning of TAST this year.  Good luck to me.

     

Kutch work

When I was in school, I read about Mridula's Embroidery School in a monthly magazine.  I was fascinated towards embroidery reading that article.  Few years back, my wish was fulfiilled.  I got the correspondence course (which included a spiral bound book and 2 CDs) and the books remained untouched for a couple of years, waiting for their moment of shine. Some time back, I started watching the CDs and going through the book.  Slowly, got absorbed in this beautiful form of embroidery.

Kutch embroidery originated in the state of Gujarat in India.  There are two steps in each of the stitch.  First part is the framing stitches and the second part is the interlacing of these framing stitches.  The designs of Kutch work is entirely made using squares or diamonds.

To get started, I doodled the various kutch work motifs.  My doodle cloth pictures are below.

 

Then I progressed, to the simple designs.  

Then I moved on to the elaborate designs.    The dual paisley design is worked on a navy blue cotton fabric.

The below one is worked on a light blue silk fabric

The below huge (A3 size) paisley design is worked on a navy blue cotton fabric.   I am so happy with the overall outcome, the stitch choices and the choices of the thread colors for the various elements of the design.

The below small paisley design is worked on light pink satin fabric.

Overall, I enjoyed and even got addicted to this kutch work embroidery. It was very satisfying.

 I am very grateful for this youtube channel as well.  This channel's concept videos clarified many of my doubts and made my stitching time more enjoyable and easy.

Back to blogging.

 After a break of 6+ years I am back to blog about my adventures in embroidery.   In these 6 years, I have done lots of embroidery  including cross stitch, black work, kutch work , kamal kadai etc.  stay tuned.