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 40 & BEYOND TAST 40

 TAST 40 - ALGERIAN EYE STITCH

Algerian Eye Stitch is a super easy stitch , as it just involves straight stitches. This is worked in aida cloth.  The variation in the arrangement of algerian eye stitches creates different geometrical patterns. 

BEYOND TAST 40 - EASTERN STITCH

        

                        This stitch is new to me.  Its a very simple stitch.  This stitch is worked on aida cloth.  Various geometrical patterns can be created by varying the placement of each EASTERN stitch

                                                        

Bargello Embroidered Bookmark

 I started following  @berrin_sengoz on Instagram few months ago.   Though I don't understand a single word in Turkish language, I had fun doing this project.  It is always easy to follow her videos without the need to understand the language spoken.

I was delighted, when she announced a tutorial on bargello embroidery.  Bargello is one of my favorite embroidery, though I have never tried it before. 

I bought some woven canvas for doing this project.  As I don't have access to DMC Tapestry wool, I substituted it by using all 6 strands of anchor embroidery floss.

The anchor thread colors used in this are -  158,130,162,164 ,169.  I finished this embroidery as a bookmark..  Attached a delightful tassel too. :)-. 

                                           

  

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 37 & BEYOND TAST 37

 TAST 37 - WHIPPED WHEEL

 This stitch is also known as Ribbed spider wheel stitch.  This is one of my favourite stitches.  This starts with a foundation of fly stitch (fly stitch can also be replaced with straight stitches towards the centre of the circle).  In my sample, I tried working this stitch with stranded cotton, thicker perl cotton and thin perl cotton threads.  The purple wheel is worked with all the 6 strands of anchor stranded cotton.

BEYOND TAST 37 - WHIPPED SPOKE STITCH

This stitch is also called as woven filling stitch.  It was really fun and easy to experiment with this stitch. 

The first row is worked with thicker perl cotton thread for weaving .  In the second row, I tried this stitch with a little curved line which did not yield the desired results.  I guess , working the spokes a little closer would have helped.  The third row is done with all the 6 strands of varigated cotton embroidery floss and I have used French knots to fill the centre of the circle. 

                                                           

TAST 36 & BEYOND TAST 36

 TAST 36 - FEATHERED CHAIN STITCH

Feathered chain stitch is derived from Chain stitch and in appearance it can be compared to the zig zag chain stitch.  This is a variation of long tail Chain stitch.

In the first row, I worked the stitch with a single color.

In the second row of my sampler, initially I worked this stitch with yellow color, followed by working this stitch in red color, in between the spaces created by the yellow color stitches.

In the third row ,  I have packed the stitches with 4 different colors to give a dense appearance ,as if the bark of a tree entwined in the fall color leaves before shedding them.  I have used light green, dark green, red and golden colors here.

BEYOND TAST 36 - Long Tail Chain Stitch

This is derived from Chain Stitch . As the name suggests, this stitch is tied with a long tail of the chain stitch.  This can be used to create patterns, by varying the number ,length and direction of the stitches.