Friday 12 June 2015

Drizzle Stitch

Drizzle Stitch in a tight circle
This is a three dimensional stitch most often used in Brazilian embroidery. You can do the stitch as a single stitch or in groups, in lines, or in circles, and you can make each stitch as long or short as you like. It is particularly useful in creating underwater scenes.

It is important to use a needle with the shaft the same size as the eye, so the stitches will slide off it easily. So, depending on your thread size, use Milliners or straw needles. 
Photo a

Photo b
To make this stitch, knot your thread and bring your needle up on the right side in the desired location. (Photo a)

Put your needle back into the fabric close to the position where you came up. DO NOT put the needle all the way through the fabric, just pierce it with the end. Leave the needle partially in the fabric and pull  the thread out of the needle. (Photo b)

Photo c
Photo d
To wrap the thread, circle the needle and put the thread through the circle. As you will want to make each of these wraps the same way on the needle, remember whether you are going over the needle or under the needle with the thread to begin. This wrap is similar to casting on with a knitting needle, or doing a needle lace stitch. Pull the thread to tighten the wrap, but not too tightly around the needle, but not too loose either. (Photo c) 

Continue wrapping the needle, snugging up the wraps each time. Keep these wraps a consistent size. (Photo d)


Photo e
Photo f
When you have finished the number of wraps desired, re-thread your needle.  Hold the wraps down the fabric with your thumb and pull the needle through to the wrong side of the fabric.  The more you pull on the stitch, the more it will rise and twist.  You can also move the wraps around in a spiral, or make them stay straight. (Photos e & f)

Monday 1 June 2015

Double Chain Stitch







This stitch can be used with fine or heavy threads. It can be straight or curved, and the width can be varied as well.






Photo 1

To begin, mark two working lines on your fabric with a disappearing pen. I like to use the FriXion™ pen by Pilot. These come in several colours and disappear with heat. 

Work this stitch from top to bottom. Begin with a waste  knot.  

Photo 2
Bring your thread up. (Photo 1).  Keeping your thread below and to the right  of your needle, take your needle down half  a stitch length above starting position but on the right line and take your first stitch, bringing the needle up at half a stitch length below starting position, still on the right line. Pull the thread through creating an open chain stitch. (See photo 2)  Again. this stitch should be long enough to extend a half stitch below point.


  

Photo 3
The next chain stitch will be made from your initial starting point to a half stitch length below where you ended your first stitch, along the left  side line. Keep your thread under and to the left of the  needle. The chain stitch should extend a half stitch length below. (Photo 3)


  

  


Photo 4
Continue by starting your stitches inside the chain, keeping your thread below and to the right of the needle, coming up a half stitch length below the last stitch, but on the right side line. (Photo 4)


Work alternating open chain stitches along the two lines and finish with a small stitch over the last loop. Weave in threads.