Thursday 14 April 2022

Cross Stitching

I've thought long and hard about my April contribution to the Postcard Project. K's kitten, peeping through the tulips in March was so clever. An enchanting expression, peeping through the tulips.

I decided on an Easter theme, with palm leaves and a cross, and a sunrise. But I do want this activity to stretch my stitching skills. Like Kirsten and her practising of satin stitch I decided to work on improving a stitch. And I chose Norwich Stitch. I only discovered this in February, and t seems important now I live in this fine county, that I should become proficient at it, and include it on the postcard.

The charts are complex, but this brilliant video made it all much clearer [Thank you Sara Homfray] I practiced one some scrap cloth. Then I had a dilemma. Did I really want to applique another piece of Aida,as I had done for the WDP logo in March? Could I perhaps use "Waste Canvas"?

This is clever stuff- you put it on top of your fabric, and stitch your design, through it, using the evenweave squares for accuracy. Then you moisten the cloth, the glue dissolves, and you pull out the canvas, thread by thread, using tweezers. I've had this packet for about 20 years* and never opened it! So first I tried it on the back of my shopping bag, next tot he sunflower experiments...

I concluded that it was ok, but two strands were not substantial enough. I mixed 4 strands from different shades of brown, to get a 'woody' effect. Then I stitched 5 squares to make a cross shape. The waffle-nature of the stitch gives it an interesting texture.

How satisfying to learn a new stitch and also a new stitching technique.

What is your favourite embroidery stitch? [I like feather stitch and backstitch best.]

Which do you find hardest, and struggle to produce neat results? [for me, satin stitch and stem stitch I think]

*the price label says £2.50 - the cost has more than doubled now, I think.


12 comments:

  1. Waste canvas! Wow, what an idea! I shall buy some at once. The Norwich stitch looks perfect for creating a cross shape.

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    1. You do need a good pair of tweezers to extract the threads when you've finished stitching

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  2. That stitch is gorgeous!! I am not very good at most stitches....need to learn blanket stitch. Can do running or cross but got in such a pickle trying to do a small bear cross stitch bear!

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    1. I've taught Rosie running, cross and backstitch. Blanket stitch is next. It is especially useful for sewing in patches and doing a neat edging.

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  3. I used wasted canvas more than 35 years ago here in the US. I still love to use it but began quilting, so don't cross stitch much anymore.

    Hugs!

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    1. Now I'm retired I hope to do some more quilting

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  4. Norwich stitch looks lovely...you did a great job! I almost exclusively use stem stitch, out of laziness, since I'm most familiar with it, but use lazy daisy, french knot, backstitch, and satin, too. I once practiced a whole bunch of different stitching on a crazy quilt pillow, but I've forgotten most of them. Loved the look of bullion stitch flowers, though. I have a hard time getting satin stitch to look nice, so it's my least favorite to work.

    Jen

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    1. This project has inspired me to develop my repertoire of Stitches. Maybe I should do some Crazy Quilting too

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  5. The Norwich stitch must be very satisfying to accomplish. I love to see complex stitches. I learned embroidery as a child but haven't done any in recent years. I was given a petit point kit once, and when I tried, it coincided with my deteriorating eyesight at the time and in the end I had to give up or go crazy!

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    1. Once I'd watched the video a couple of times, I understood the method and didn't need the complicated numeric instructions.

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  6. I really like that kitty cat peeping through the tulips! :) Your Norwich stitch seems quite intricate and you did a great job with the cross. I think the chain stitch is one of my favorite embroidery stitches. I seem to struggle a bit with the bullion stitch and my French knots never turn out the way I want them to, either!

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    1. Chain stitch is fun. In primary school we were taught "magic chain" where you have 2 different colour threads in your needle and use them alternately. I'd completely forgotten about that trick. Now I want to use it in the project. "Whipped" chainstitch is another bi-coloured technique.

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