TAST and More Stitching

Leave it to me to not follow directions! I looked at all the wonderful examples that Sharon had on her blog for the TAST challenge and then went to stitching. The truth is I have never stitched the Algerian Eye Stitch or Eyelet Stitch so I should have went back for reference. So I am going to call this a variation. (It needs to be called something else because it doesnt resemble the stitch Sharon challenged us with!) But anyhoo, I still like the result. Now back to the drawing board. =)



I love to use buttons in seam treatments.


I still need to dye that stark white flower... hopefully soon,

More Cretan Stitch- TAST

I really like this seam! To the left I stitched the wreath and ended up taking it out. I normally try to leave things in but I wasn't pleased.

Online and TAST

We have been offline so many times in the past ten days that I lost count. Talk about frustrating! Just when I was almost caught up with e mails etc, we lost service again.

I haven't done anything for the Cretan Stitch but have been doing stitches from past challenge weeks. This one was from the buttonhole. I really like this patch on my silk crazy.

TAST- detached chain stitch

I have really been enjoying Sharon's TAST. I challenged myself to use the chain stitch as the base stitch- normally it is intimidating and seems like nothing can really be done with it! But I was bound and determined to change that. Strange how we allow ourselves to continue thinking a certain way about something when we haven't even tried to explore more. I really like how this turned out!


Simple chain stitch with heart buttons

I still need to add the flowers to the right seam stitchery. I am not sure whether or not to use beads, embroidery or sequins. I haven't gotten far enough to pull out any 'hardware' yet.

More TAST Stitching- Debbie's block and basket blocks

I have quite a few favorite seam treatments and motifs that I love to stitch. This is one of them... Usually I double check to see if there are the same amount of feather stitches on the inside as there are on the outside and, would you believe. I didn't check on this one! I realized it as i was adding the 2 mm silk ribbon to the outside of the spokes. I had stitched about half of them, I didn't want to pull out the work, so I just left it, added an extra colonial knot and omitted a ribbon stitch to *try* and balance it out. Would you had noticed had I not said anything? (I am VERY curious!) This is from the basket blocks



This is another one of my favorite seam embroideries. I really love buttons and I love how these turn out. =) I used Carole Samples templates as a guide for the wavy line.


Taking Inspiration from the TAST, I added this herringbone combination. It is one of my favorite stitches. This is a bit blurry and if you look carefully you can see my water soluble pen where I marked for stitching. (not good- I need to take it off) I also added the five petal flowers above the swag made from 2mm ribbon. I have never tried 2mm ribbon before and I love it!




Close up view of basket block. I wanted to fill the basket up with some SRE flowers but the stitching area is so small and i didn't think it would look right. I added a lone sequin instead. More inspiration from Sharon's TAST challenge features the buttonhole stitch with flower sequins at the ends of every other stitch.

TAST and new blocks!

I know I know! As if I need to start something new!!! I know I don't! But ever since I bought some basket fabric a while back I have been wanting to make a small wallhanging with nine squares alternating CQ blocks and the baskets.

Using Sharon's TAST as inspiration, I started this seam with the blanket stitch in blue. I know it looks much more like the cretan stitch- but believe me when I say it IS the blanket stitch! I didn't like the way it was turning out- it looked crooked- but I pressed on nonetheless. After that I added the colonial knots and the straight stitch accents which kind of balanced it out. I now like it!


Auditioning appliques, tatting and whatnot...





I'll post a pic of the fabric and two blocks I have so far together soon...

Take A Stitch Tuesday

This is also some work on Debbie's ITG block using Sharon's challenge for the herringbone stitch. I AM a week late but better late then never! Today Sharon has begun the second weekly challenge which is the buttonhole stitch.

I laid down the basic herringbone, added straight stitch X's in a complimentary color and lastly the colonial knots.

I also received Debby's block in the mail and will post pics tomorrow. I haven't started working on it yet- it is a beauty.