Stitching - how i do it.........

Stitchery – how I do it........

I have had questions/emails from girls re stitching and in the Stitch-a-long blog there are all levels of ability. 

I have also taught 2 people who have visited to stitch in the last few weeks which is when I decided I "did" have skills to share....

By putting this post up I am certainly not saying the way I do it is right or perfect but it is what works for me.

So here goes........if you think I missed something ask or leave a comment on this post.

I only do my stitcheries onto cotton fabrics. I mainly do back stitch, running stitch, chain stitch and french knots. I never use a hoop. That is a choice you can make some others use them all the time.

Backing

I used to use a thin pellon. Now I have changed to weaveline. Both are iron on and I like the look of both as a finished item but the fluffy bits on pellon catch on every dry bit of skin on my fingers in winter and I hate that. Using a backing gives more stability to the fabric while you are stitching and if you are doing a short cross over on the back to another spot on the stitchery you can’t see the thread from the front.

You can iron the weaveline onto the back of the fabric before tracing the stitchery but if using pellon you have to trace first otherwise you can’t see to trace the stitchery.

###make sure you don’t have any loose threads or hair in between the layers before you iron them together.### 

This is what I am currently tracing stitcheries with a Clover washable marker. I have used several brands of blue washable pens. You can use a pigma pen (permanent) but I get a bit hap hazard and you have to make sure your stitches cover the lines up.

I have had some of the blue not rinse out completely once or twice but a bit better wash and a little soap works wonders.

if you don't own a light box use a window but whatever you use make sure you put a few pins in to hold the pattern and fabric together.............

the mess on the side of my lounge..........I do need to make one of those thingys to lay over my lounge arm to protect it..........

now for the threads..........I use DMC stranded threads and it is 6 stranded............I pull out one thread and double it up and thread my needle........make sure the loop is at the long end............

I don't have knots on the back of my stitcheries.............bring the needle up from the bottom and go back thru and then loop your needle thru on the back of your fabric - see below...........then pull firm....this anchors the thread.........

the important thing when stitching is to make sure the needle goes down where the previous stitch came up - see below i did a bad one on purpose...........if you accidently leave a thread or 2 of fabric between your stitches it will show up later..........unpick the one or 2 stitches and redo them before you go to far..........you will be happier later..........

also when getting to a shorter patch look and think how many stitches you may fit into that spot and adjust your stitch length slightly to make it fit...........

nice even stitches...........

the back of my stitchery.............

I saw a tutorial somewhere on an Aussie girls site showing how they do satin stitch..........(send me the link if you know where it was -thanks girls - it is Melly and Me here is the link much better tutorial on the satin stitch then what I showed briefly here) run a tiny line of back stitch around and then the satin stitches go over the edges of it...........must say my satin stitched patches are MUCH nicer now and more even.......

now how to finish...........take your thread to the back of your work and run the needle under a thread on the back and then loop your needle back thru and pull firm...........then.....

run your needle back under threads on the back and pull thru...........

can't see a thing can you...........nice neat finish

main points for me.............make sure your stitches are nice and even - consistency is the name of the game............and for those beginners you will get better as you go along......

and if you have never stitched.............have a go.......it is fun and easy...........

..... practice makes perfect they say....

Happy Stitching...............

Chookyblue