Backstitch patterns 2.1

Now in my course we are moving on to focus on the versatility of backstitch. Sue Stone, the tutor, says she likes backstitch as it gives a raised line unlike running stitch. The challenge was to divide each square into smaller areas and make patterns with backstitch.

In the first square we were advised to make a simple design to get the feel for the backstitch. I marked out the 4x4 grid and backstitched that first in a stone embroidery floss (3 strands). Then I filled them in with circles in stone, grey and white floss for a neutral textural effect. It was surprisingly hard to sew neat circles!

Next I had sketched out this pattern in my book. I decided to stitch it all in black floss, again 3 strands. Although the design was clear in my book, it wasn't that clear on the fabric so I decided to emphasise it by colouring in the shapes I wanted to portray with orange Inktense pencil. The background furnishing fabric I am using took the colour surprisingly well and I didn't have to add any water to make an even wash.

For the third square I looked back at my City and Guilds pattern book again and tried sewing a less precise grid in 2 strands of grey floss on the diagonal. To fill in I mixed several colours of floss in the needle and backstitched some 'roses'. These weren't that effective even though I tried different ways of stitching them.

For the final square I found a geometric design on the internet and practiced marking it out in my notebook first. To make it work I had to mark the diagonals and centre lines even though none of these would be stitched. When it came to marking it on the fabric I used an air-ereasable pen to mark these. I used the full 6 strands of floss and chose lighter colours in the centre and darker at the edge to emphasise the design. It was hard to get the design precise so that the star in the centre looked even so I am very pleased with my efforts. I think this could be really interesting over a larger piece, although it would be very time consuming to make.

Layering stitches 1.4

I was looking forward to this challenge -using running stitch in different directions and different threads to create 6 different effects.

In the first square I tried horizontal and vertical stitches in a space dyed thread. The 3cm square wasn't really big enough to show off the colours in the thread.

In the next square I stitched the same thread in a rainbowshaped pattern and then overlayed it with straight lines radiating out from the bottom centre in aqua and pink dressmaking cotton in the same needle.

I used dressmaking cotton mixed in the needle again for the third square top right. This time it was 2 strands each of pink and black. I stitched even rows vertically and then stitched over them horizontally, catching them in groups of 3, with 2 strands of blue dressmaking cotton. I added the rows in between to add to the decorative effect.

For the next square bottom left, I again used a space dyed thread, stitching each direction on an angle to cross over in places. Again due to the small size of square I don't thi k the effect is very clear.

The final 2 squares combined thick and thin threads at different angles. The one bottom right is more successful as the combination of pink and blue in the same needle over the white gives an interesting colour effect.

I can see that a large area covered in different directions of layered running stitch would be very interesting and an exciting background perhaps. The scale of these samples just didn't bring that out. One to come back to.

New Directions for Running Stitch 1.3

This module the challenge was to make a cohesive design over a 9 square grid using 3 different colours of thread and only running stitch but in different directions.

I sketched out an idea and then began to stitch it. We were advised to leave a 5mm gap between each square to make the design clearer. Unfortunately my bottle and glass abstract design was not working for me. I didn't like the gaps between the squares - they seemed really artificial. I found that I was avoiding my needlework so I decided to give up on it.

I sketched out another grid of squares and worked up a new design based on another sketch in my notebook. This was based on a design I had previously used in my City and Guilds course and was more abstract. I chose cream, grey-purple and gold threads. The main challenge was in which direction to make the running stitches for the best effect. You can see that in the top left box, which was the first I stitched, that I made the horizontal part in slanting stitches but I wasn't happy with it. I realised that I could angle the gaps between the stitches to imply perspective and felt happier with the effect. Therefore I carried on this way for the remaining squares. I realised that if I rotated the colours so that the colour in the horizontal bar was repeated in the vertical on the row below it would add to the 3D effect.

Having struggled with this challenge at the start I was pleased with the end result on this second sample and enjoyed making it.

Mixing in the needle 1.2

The next stitch challenge in my new course is focussed on using 2 threads in the needle to create different effects. We are asked to keep to running stitch only but can again vary stitch length and spacing.

As last time we were asked to stitch in a 4 block grid. In the top left square I used black and white dress making polycotton. I used 3 strands of each colour in the needle. I like the broken effect. It would be effective where one of the colours was similar to the background.

In the square top right we were asked to choose complementary colours. I started by using 3 strands of each from stranded cotton but I found that the colours didn't mix as well as in the first square. When I had to rethread my needle I tried separating out all the strands and recombining before threading up. This gave a much better result. I also played with leaving the tails on the front at the start of each row. Usually this would feel too messy for my liking but I think the result is interesting.

The third square, bottom left, used a boucle type cotton in blue with fine pink silk to show 2 different weights. This was really hard to sew even though I swapped to my fattest sharp. Not an enjoyable bit of sewing!

Finally I added some shiny pink rayon to the ecru wool I used in my last sample. It probably looks a bit like toothpaste! It is not quite as effective as just the wool in my last challenge.

Running stitch variations 1.1

I've signed up for a new course - Exploring Texture and Pattern. It is an online course created by Sue Stone and sons. It is based around 15 stitch challenges, which appealed to me to provide some structure to get back into active practice.

This is my first sample. The challenge was to use only running stitch, varying stitch length, spacing and type of thread to make each square different.

In the top left I used stone stranded cotton and I think it would be interesting to print onto it as I imagine the print would be stronger on the stitches than the background so would break up nicely.

In top right I used a hairy thread and realised that I had to use a longer stitch length to show this quality in the thread.

Bottom left is a space dyed rayon. Bottom right is an ecru wool. I like this square the most and I can imagine using a short stitch like this to show light on water or spots of colour for flowers in a meadow.