Stitching

On Design TV Linda Kemshall has been doing Kantha Stitching which is kind of a big stitch quilting where you pull up the thread to make it pucker a little. It's an ethnic technique, but I don't remember where.

I started with a monoprint on a loose weave cotton and added irregular pieces of painted cheesecloth. I had also painted lace and decided to use these motifs. The thread is embroidery floss and Perle cotton that I dyed or painted. The stem and chain stitches seemed to be what the flowers and leaves needed. I kept saving the special thread and decided that the reason I made them was to use them, and when they are gone, I can do more.

Embroidery

The first year that Sharonb at http://www.pintangle.com/ did the Stitch a Week I didn't join but did work some of the stitches. I've finally made the samples into an accordian fold book. Each page is a different stitch. The background is wool which I love to work on. It is easy to stitch through while being heavy enough to support the stitches. I'm also freer than when working on counted thread fabric.

This side is Cretan Stitch, Pekeinese Stitch, Feather Stitch, and Algerian Eye Stitch.

Here is Fly Stitch, Chevron Stitch, Herringbone, and Buttonhole. The pages are connected using Knotted Cretan as an insertion Stitch. The ends of the thread have paper beads on them that someone sent me. When I saw them in my stash, I knew they were perfect-just wish I could remember who sent them.

Embroidery

A friend gave each of us a fat quarter of fabric with the ladies on it in green, blue, and purple. I made crazy quilt from all of them. The green ones I did a little embroidery on and then gave one to each quilt group member to see what they would make. Some made pillows, a purse, and a book cover.The red ones I turned into little totes and sold at the gallery that carried my things.

Most of these are now finished, but I have no idea what I will do with them. I don't put beads on them until I know. Any ideas?I always have a crazy quilt project in the works, as I like to stitch, and that is a perfect excuse. I also have a tote packed with all the supplies for any time I need to suddenly go somewhere. I'm not a nurse but seem to have become the family care giver.