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Year: 2018

Sometimes You Have No Idea What to Embroider, then Three Busses Come at Once

Or something like that.

In my last post about the Beyond TAST embroidery challenge, I mentioned that I was several challenges behind. The truth is, I had no idea what I wanted to do with any of them. Well, yesterday I came up with ideas for all three at once. Just like when I went to art school and I’d wait an hour for the bus and then three would drive past all at the same time. I really needed new glasses. (That’s a true story. I couldn’t see the bus route number until it was too late to signal for the bus 😛 )

The fabrics for my first two samplers are vintage handkerchiefs that I dyed navy blue and stitched to some background fabrics. They’re slightly wonky, but I’m not overly concerned about that. They’re very old and a bit out of shape anyway. Much like me, but without the “very” 😉

First up is the last one I thought of. A 1950’s inspired floral design for the laced and threaded stitches Beyond TAST challenge. I may use felt for the basic shape of each flower but I haven’t really decided yet.

Design for whipped and laced stitches embroidery sampler

Next up is the outline for the woven stitches challenge (I won’t be stitching the cloud).

I have a real fondness for wooden building blocks, and this sampler will feature some little block houses and a tree. I’m going to trace these onto the background fabrics using dressmaker’s carbon paper right before I start stitching. I think this one is going to be a great deal of fun to stitch.

Design for woven stitch embroidery sampler

The last sampler is a purchased design.

I’ve loved the Green Man design from Urban Threads since I first saw it a couple of years ago. I’ve worked an Urban Threads design in TAST before for my satin stitch sampler. If you buy the hand embroidery versions, they’re very inexpensive, and even though they’re not really designed for hand embroidery they are a lot of fun to stitch by hand.

I’m going to use this one for the “filling stitches” challenge, which is possibly insane.  Okay, probably. I have a vague idea about how I want to tackle it with colour and texture to create dimension, but I’ll probably change my mind thirteen times before I get to it!

Green man embroidery design

I think there are only one or two more Beyond TAST challenges left before it finishes at the end of the year but the Take a Stitch Tuesday stitch challenge is going to run again next year. Check out the TAST FAQ page over on Pintangle for more information, or have a look at all of my TAST and Beyond TAST samplers so far.

Sarah

A Combination Lace Knitting Stitch

Diamond and feather lace knitted swatchDiamond and feather lace knitted swatch

Today’s free knitting stitch pattern is a combination of two classic patterns, feather and fan stitch and diamond lace.

Published in The Knitted Lace Pattern Book in the 1870’s, the original version of this pattern had a few inconsistencies common with patterns from that era. I’ve balanced the pattern with feather and fan at both sides, matched the decreases on the diamonds, modernised the language and included a chart.

I hope the Diamond and Feather Knitting Pattern remains a favourite for another 150 years!

Sarah

A Classic Woven Pattern Re-Imagined for Knitting

Knit and purl herringbone swatch.

Today’s stitch didn’t have a name other than “no 29”, so I have dubbed it “herringbone stitch” after the classic herringbone broken twill weave.  I think this stitch has quite a masculine feel to it, making it a good stitch for men’s garments such as a sleeveless pullover, or a jazzy pair of calf high business socks.

This is another stitch pattern published around 1870, so once again I have updated the instructions and charted them. Stitch 29 from The Knitted Lace Pattern Book, Herringbone Stitch.

Sarah

A New Pattern for Baby

Baby's feather and fan vest

Today’s knitting pattern is an extra treat to break up all the stitch patterns I’ve been posting.

This cute feather and fan singlet, or vest, for babies comes from The Women’s Weekly Magazine, from 1944. As always, I’ve updated the language a bit to make the instructions clearer for today’s knitters.

Soft, Fleecy Vest for Babies.

Sarah

A Well Designed Stitch will be Popular Forever

Classic basket stitch pattern in knitting

The earliest publication of basket stitch that I have found is this one from 1870, although I’m sure it has been handed down via newspapers, samplers and tradition for a long time before that. It’s a favourite of mine for knitting baby blankets and afghans, worked in worsted weight yarns or Aussie 12 ply thickness.

I’ve taken the instructions from 1890, written them in modern terms and charted them for today’s knitters.

Enjoy, Basket Pattern (Basket Stitch)

Sarah