Another Retreat Challenge Block I Stitched On

I thought I would share another of the blocks from the Retreat Challenge Round Robin that I worked on. These were some of the things I was working on the last few months that I could not share until after the retreat. This particular block was a large fan so it gave me lots of opportunity to play with seam treatments. The first one I did was very standard - a Chevron Stitch with trios of Detached Chain Stitch added.

The second seam treatment, done in Gloriana Princess Petite Perle silk thread, was a simple zigzag of straight stitches with french knots, detached chain stitch, and more straight stitches added. I finished it off with sequins attached with beads.

The third seam treatment, again in Gloriana threads, was two rows of box shapes built using chain stitch. More detached chain stitches in the center of each box.

I found some wonderful vintage sew on jewels in the thrift store and had to find a way to use them so this is how the next seam treatment came to be.

I made a row of buttonhole stitch ovals and then used one of the sew on jewels in the center of each oval. This was gone in good old DMC floss.

I have to share this even though I hate it and sincerely hope it has since been removed from the block. I was inspired by Carole Samples' Daddy's Ties book (this concoction is in no way a reflection of Carole's book!) Somehow or other this is what I came up with on my own and I hope the block owner has taken it out and found a nice piece of lace or something to cover the spot! It was stem stitch, detached chain, and french knots.

Anyway, this is the block when it left me and went on to the next stitcher. The fabric at the base of the fan was the challenge fabric and I think whoever pieced this block did a wonderful job working with it and using all the colours. It was a great block to work on!

Comments

Lauri said…

Love your stitching!!
I just wanted to pass on something Martha told me at the retreat.
She knows Carole Samples personally and was trying some of Carole's seams. Martha told Carole something to the effect that she loved Carole's seams but the were so hard to do
Carole told her "Honey I don't actually do all those seams, I just draw them"
LOL

October 11, 2011 at 8:10 AM

gocrazywithme said…

Hi Kerry, I pieced that block for Rebecca Davis. Thanks for the compliment; when I saw that large floral print, it was all I could think to do with it, and I love fans with all the straight seams on the blades to embellish. Had to laugh when I got the next block in the rotation that Rebecca had pieced; it also had a fan shape!

October 11, 2011 at 3:40 PM

Giveaway Day! (CLOSED)

I am very happy to be joining in the Giveaway Day through Sew, Momma, Sew . I have chosen to share one of my finds from a shopping trip, or treasure hunts as I think of them. This is an antique sewing box - I could not resist it when I saw it for sale! Were you able to guess the item from the sneak peek earlier in the week? The box itself is fairly small, 8 inchs X 6 inchs and 4 inches high (20 cm X 15 cm and 10 cm high). From my research it is of Asian origin. Inside the sewing box is lined with hand-painted silk. The inside of the lid features a neat little needlebook. In the bottom of the sewing box there are more beautiful hand-painted blossoms and an attached pincushion. I hope you are as charmed by this little box as I was when I found it and that you will enter my giveaway. I will be pleased to mail internationally so everyone is invited to enter. To enter, visit my Etsy shop and then come back and leave me a comment telling me which item you like best. Feel fr

BAS - Week 79 - Feather Stitch Variations

I have about the next twenty BAS stitches scheduled and by happy coincidence this week's BAS is a series of Feather Stitch variations which coincide with this week's TAST stitch if you are following. So, we can hit two birds with one stone! These hardly look like feather stitch but they are. They are created by making the "v"'s of the feather stitch vertical on the inside. Very simple to do but a different look to an old stitch. The second variation is created by doing two feather stitches at a time on each side, again making sure the inside of your "v"s are vertical and line up as much as possible. Same thing again in this one except they are in series of three. To me these have the look of stitching on old crazy quilts so they are nice to add to your stable of stitch variations. Hope you enjoy them and have fun!

Friday Giveaway - Last Week's Winner & a New Giveaway!

The winner of last week's Friday Giveaway of the current issue of Spin Off magazine is Marilyn! lol - an easy win for Marilyn since she was the only one who left a comment. Marilyn didn't leave an email so I would ask her please to contact me - just leave a comment with your email and I will email you right back to get your mailing information. (I will not publish the comment with your email) If I don't hear back from you by next Friday I will include the magazine in with the prize for next week. Last week I asked for comments suggesting what would make a good giveaway item in the future. Since Marilyn's suggestion was the only one, I will take it! So, this week I will be giving away some specialty threads as Marilyn suggested, along with a package of these great clock charms I just received in the mail. Aren't these great charms? When I found them I bought all that there were in stock, five packages, so I have enough to share with you as well as a package fo

kerrykatiecakes

Search This Blog