Buttonhole Stitch

Thanks for visiting!  I know it has been awhile.....again.  I have been posting infrequently at best.  During the last three weeks I've finished the Olivia Ostrich instruction book (shown in my most recent post).  Now I am in the middle of the Funky Rose instructions which will be a pilot class in March.  One of the features of this design is a large buttonhole stitch rose stitched with River Silks 7mm ribbon. 

In the process of writing the instructions I have been creating stitch diagrams and graphs and have been reviewing all that I have previously created using buttonhole stitches.  And there it was.......my very first "In Stitches" column in the May 2007 issue of Needle Pointers magazine. The sample I stitched for it has lots of examples of various used for buttonhole so I thought it might be fun to show them again here.   And here are the basic stitch diagrams for reference.  I hope you get some ideas you're able to use in your projects.  Buttonhole stitches add lots of texture as you can see. 

Have a great week!

Olivia Ostrich

Time really flies by between Thanksgiving and Christmas....or at least it does for me.  About halfway between I always if everything will get done, but it always does.  Our family Christmas was very nice and I hope yours was the same! 

During the last few weeks I have been designing and stitching the column I write for the May 2010 through March 2011 issues of the ANG Needle Pointers Magazine.  I'm happy to say all six of them are just about  completed.  I continued the theme I started last year as stitchers have told me they enjoy seeing the "tile patterns".  So I hope you'll look for them. 

Now on to the next project.  Before I get started stitching on another proposal, I must write the instruction book for Olivia Ostrich.  I designed and stitched this piece back in 2001 but set it aside.  But a few months ago the members were told to bring something we had stitched some time ago.  I thought this would be a good project to bring as my designs have changed somewhat since that time.   Several of the guild members liked it, Olivia is kind of silly and fun, and now we are having it as a one-day workshop in early February.  There's that "time" thing again....so much to do, so little time. 

The project was originally stitched on 24 count Congress, but it should translate easily to 18 count, so I'm offering it in both sizes.   The stitching was done with limited threads:  stranded silk, Kreinik #4 braid, metallic cord, and Arctic Rays and the finished size, including the border is 3-3/4" X 9" on 24 count. Depending on the response, Olivia might be available as a future kit.

I will be back sooner next time, and hopefully with some progress photos of the next new design. 

Happy New Years to everyone!

A stitched leaf.....

Well, the first leaf....the Ginkgo....is finally done! The technique used is what I think of as "rustic".  I love the look created with carefully blended silk threads, but do not feel it fits well with the type of textured pieces I tend to design.  I am trying to capture the essence......the colors, texture and movement....of each leaf with a limited number of well-placed stitches.

I used stranded silk thread for this leaf, except for the stem, but I varied the number of strands, with more strands being used for the two oranges. (The background is meant to peek through in places!)

Still to come is some type of openwork stitch for the background around the leaf, but I haven't decided on the stitch yet.  It will definitely be stitched to blend in with the background. 

Now I must set this design aside for a few months while I work on some other designs.  But,  I want to comment on another piece from the past....The Plump Pear!  I have had several inquiries about it recently, and have to admit 've been stalled with it.  But I've had a few suggestions which I plan to incorporate (thank you!) and plan to get back to it.  It isn't abandoned, just resting!

Well, I'm off now to do some online Christmas shopping! Happy Weekend!