August Stitch Explorer - Pattern Darning

This month's challenge was to explore pattern darning. I had a go using net backed with cotton to give a hexagonal grid to work on and changed the scale and direction. Have look at the flickr group here to see what other people have done.

Stitch explorer - A Bit More Needleweaving

A little sample for the May challenge, trying out weaving without withdrawing any threads.

Stitch Explorer - May

I have slipped behind with the stitch explorer challenge on Pintangle, but as June is going to be a catch up month, it should sort itself out. May's challenge is needleweaving so while I think about it, here is one I made earlier for the City and Guilds Part 1. It is made in three layers and is a picture of snakes in a tree.

Stitch Explorer - March

The challenge for March was to explore the style of Assisi work. This is usually seen in cross stitch, where the background is filled in around a shape outlined in back stitch. The actual motif is left unstitched. You can find details of the challenge and links for more information here. I decided to try long stitches around a cog shape using variegated quilting threads and a piece of hand dyed cotton for the background.

Stitch Explorer February, Trellis Stitch

The challenge for February's Stitch Explorer is trellis stitch, which can be made 3d. I haven't tried this one before, so here are a few first attempts. It stands up nicely but at the moment the tension is going funny when I decrease so it doesn't look very neat. Must keep trying!

Stitch Explorer January - Chicken scratch

Chicken scratch is traditionally worked on gingham, using combinations of cross stitch and winding. I made this needlecase and sample a couple of years ago after seeing an article in Stitch magazine.


For the stitch explorer challenge, I decided to try a different background and play with the scale. I chose a scrap piece of Black Watch tartan thinking I could use the different size checks. It was more difficult than I thought, especially the dark colours in poor January light, but gives a quite different effect.