TAST 42 & BEYOND TAST 42

 TAST 42 - HALF CHEVRON STITCH

As the name suggests, this stitch is a combination of half chevron stitch and half  Cretan Stitch.   This is an easy  stitch.

Rows of these stitches can be combined together to form various patterns.   

BEYOND TAST 42 - BEADED HEDEBO EDGE

This stitch creates a very beautiful scallops in between the beads.  This stitch was a bit difficult to learn initially.  The first row of my sampler  shows the initial struggle in my learning this beauty. 

This stitch looks quite good when using thicker threads.  The second row is worked with DMC Pearl Cotton 3 thread.  The third is worked with 6 strands anchor floss. 

                                        

TAST 41 & BEYOND TAST 41

 TAST 41 - Closed Herringbone Stitch / Double Back Stitch / Shadow Stitch

    As the name suggests, Closed Herringbone stitch is just a variation of Herringbone Stitch.  In the back side of the fabric, this stitch creates two back stitch lines.  Hence this is also called as Double Back Stitch.

    This stitch is predominantly used in traditional Indian shadow work named "Chikankari".  This is very popular in and around Lucknow.   In Chikankari, the closed herringbone stitch is worked on the wrong side of a thin , see through cotton transparent fabric, so in the right side of the fabric you would be seeing the double back stitch along with the shadow of the closed herringbone stitch in the backside.  

In the sampler below,  the first row is worked with the DMC perl cotton thread.

  The second row (blue waves) are worked with 3 strands of anchor embroidery floss.

   The  third row is worked in reverse manner where the closed herringbone is in the wrong side of fabric and the double back stitch is in the right side of the fabric.

  My earlier chikankari work with the double back stitch can be seen here

I do have a pretty chikankari salwar suit in pink color.  Double back stitch has been  worked in the black color thread in this suit.

                                                        

                                                      

BEYOND TAST 41 - Fancy Bobbin Edging

This stitch is derived from the buttonhole stitch.  The first step  is to work the buttonhole stitch followed by sliding the needle under the vertical line created by the buttonhole stitch. This creates a knot in the base of the stitch.

When I stitched with 2 or 3 strands anchor embroidery floss, it just looked exactly like the buttonhole stitch.  I could not make out the tiny knot created.  So, thicker threads are suitable for this stitch.   I dont think I would be using this stitch in my future projects.  I would be  using buttonhole stitch rather than this stitch. 

 

   

TAST 39 & BEYOND TAST 39

 TAST 39 - Fancy Herringbone Stitch

This stitch is new to me.  It was fun to explore this stitch.  Initially, a foundation of herringbone stitches are worked followed by working upright cross stitches at the crossings of each herringbone stitch.  Then lacing of each of these cross stitches is done. The lacing of these stitches reminds the way we write down number 8.  :)-.

In the first row, the foundation herringbone was worked with 2 strands of light green anchor floss .  This does not show up much after doing the lacing.

In the  third row, the lacing is done with 6 strands of anchor embroidery floss.

BEYOND TAST 39 - Triangular Feather Stitch

This one too, is a new stitch for me.  This belongs to the feather stitch family.   This stitch reminds me of the Turkman Stitch which was done a few weeks back in TAST 2020.   

                                              

TAST 38 & BEYOND TAST 38

 TAST 38  - Woven CROSS STITCH

This is a new stitch for me.  Its a simple, easy and fun to work stitch.   This stitch would look pretty when worked on an aida cloth.  This stitch creates the effect of stitching a small flower.  The foundation for this stitch is the regular cross stitch.

 BEYOND TAST 38 -  CHAINED CROSS STITCH

This is a new stitch to learn this week.  Its a very simple stitch - a combination of cross stitch and the chain 

stitch.  This stitch can be used to create decorative edgings.

                        

TAST 30 & BEYOND TAST 30

 TAST 30 - Lock Stitch

Lock Stitch is a very new stitch to me.  Feeling happy to add this to my known stitches skill set. Initially a row of vertical straight stitches are stitched .  Then the lacing of these straight stitches are done by alternating the lacing in the left and right directions.

There are few variations available with this stitch.  The lock stitch can be a single lock stitch or double lock stitch.  In the double lock stitch, the lacing is done twice once on the upper side of the straight stitches and again at the bottom of the straight stitches.  Beaded variation of this stitch is available with the name Beaded lock stitch.

I tried single lock stitch with black straight stitches and blue lacing.   Tried out the double lock stitch with white straight stitches followed by lacing of the stitches with the black thread.  Beaded lock stitch is done with white beads.  I tried creating a stepped pattern with beads by offsetting a stitch.

  

BEYOND TAST 38 - TURKMAN STITCH

This is one more new stitch to learn and practice.  A very easy , simple and is a quick stitch .  This stitch is derived from Chain stitch family.

                                                            

TAST 28 & BEYOND TAST 28

 TAST 28 - BRETON STITCH

Breton Stitch is derived from Herringbone stitch.  So, its pretty easy and such a straight forward stitch.  This follows a curve well and can be used as a decorative edging stitch or a filling stitch.

BEYOND TAST 28 - Diamond Stitch

As the name suggests, this stitch creates a diamond pattern.  But its a complex stitch involving a sequence of steps.  It was difficult for me in the beginning, then I referred Mary Corbet's video in youtube videos and got the hang of it.  The struggle is worth to see the end result of the diamond stitch though.

                                                       

TAST 23 & BEYOND TAST 23

 TAST 23 - Knotted Cable Chain

Knotted Cable Chain is just the same stitch as Oyster Stitch, but worked in a line, continuously, one after the other where as Oyster Stitch is worked as individual and separate units.  This stitch follows the curve well, as it is derived from chain stitch family.  This creates a textured stitch line on the surface of the fabric.

Beyond TAST 23 - Interlaced Cable Chain.

        One more fun and easy stitch .  A new stitch for me to learn and enjoy.  Two rows of cable chain stitches are stitched first and then it is beautifully interlaced, to create this composite textured stitch.  I tried creating this stitch on a slightly curved scallopy line as well.  This would make a great edging stitch .

                                                       

TAST 21 & BEYOND TAST 21

 TAST 21 - Raised Herringbone Band

    This is a new stitch for me .  Its such a beautiful and super easy stitch to learn .  On top of the layer of the satin stitches, herringbone stitches are worked out, which is then laced.  Thus , a beautiful effect of textured and raised embroidery stitch is created.  This would be a good edging stitch.

                                                        

BEYOND TAST 21- Buttonholed Herringbone

This is such a fun stitch to try out.  Initially a row of herringbone stitches are worked.  On these, a layer of buttonholed stitches are worked.  This gives a texture to the stitch.  This would also be suitable as an edging stitch

TAST 19 & BEYOND TAST 19

 TAST 19 - OYSTER STITCH

This is a new stitch to learn for me.  This is like a textured chain stitch that can follow the curve well.  This can be stitched as independent one (resembles  detached chain with a texture ) or consecutively in a line or following a curve.  This creates textured petals and leaves.  

                                                      

BEYOND TAST 19 - Beaded Oyster Stitch

This is the beaded version of the oyster stitch.  This stitch is best suited as an Edging stitch.    

                                                   

TAST 18 & BEYOND TAST 18

 TAST 18 - Arrow Stitch

A new stitch to me, but a very easy one.  This can be done vertically or horizontally.  This also can be stacked up one upon the other which would create beautiful patterns.  This stitch when combined with other stitches would make  a lovely crazy quilt seam treatment.

BEYOND TAST 18 - RAISED CHAIN

This stitch is a new one to me.   Though Sharon has listed out 2 versions of this stitch, I tried only the first version.  This is a textured  stitch.  The look and feel of this stitch is so pretty, it convinced me to try out the other version too.I will be doing this shortly.  

TAST 10 & BEYOND TAST 10

TAST 10 -CHEVRON STITCH

This stitch is a very simple and easy one.  The length of the stitch can be varied or the stitches can be stacked upon .  This stitch can be used as a border stitch and in CQ seam treatments.

 

BEYOND TAST 10 - Inverted Feather Stitch

This stitched is a new one to learn.   This can also be used to couch down thicker threads and ribbons.

TAST 9 & BEYOND TAST 9

 TAST 9 - COUCHING

Couching is a stitch technique where in the thread, yarn or ribbon laid on the surface of the fabric is fixed with  stitches. The stitches used for fixing can be patterned to be brick like ,grid like etc

                                              

In the first row, I tried to couch white knitting yarn with embroidery floss on a brick like pattern.  The second row depicts the couching of perl cotton thread.  The third and fourth rows are the couching of ric rac ribbons.

BEYOND TAST 9 - CHAINED BAR

This is a type of couching stitch.  Very long lines of thicker thread or ribbons are stitched down in the surface of the fabric.  This forms the foundation of the stitch. On top of this foundation, zig zag chain stitch  is worked.  I have tried working out the chained bar stitches with the foundation made out of satin ribbon (row 3 and row 5).  Others (row1,row 2,row 4), the foundation is made of thicker perl cotton thread.   

TAST 8 & BEYOND TAST 8

 TAST 8 -  Running Stitch

This is one of the beginner level stitches in embroidery.   Its a great, simple,easy, fun and very useful stitch.  Running stitch plays a significant role in the needlework history of various countries,regions and cultures.

 Kanta embroidery which originated in the West Bengal state of India, is mainly based on this Running Stitch  .  My sampler of running stitch has some motifs from kanta embroidery and sashiko of Japan.

BEYOND TAST 8 -  TWISTED LATTICE BAND

This stitch was a new one for me , yet it was great fun to learn this stitch.   First a row of double herringbone stitches are worked followed by lacing of the stitches.  I tried to create a stack of these stitches and it created a beautiful band / border.

                                                        

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.