an approach to hand stitching project 2409-1 · student work and process photos courtesy of the...

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series 2400

Student work and process photos courtesy of

the artist

Thank you to Julie’s students who contributed

artwork for this segment illustrating the

techniques: Ann Zuniga, Susan Stelow, Gail

Saour, Susan Prytherch, Judith Kolodny-

Price, Sarah J. Hull, Jodie Flakowicz, Cheryl

Corson, Erika Cleveland, and Jan Barrett.

We often think of hand stitching or

hand embroidery as a technique for

creating decorative work. The focus

is often on color and motif. In this

approach, however, I go back to some

basic stitches and explore their potential

for making marks on fabric. The

emphasis of this exploration centers

on the ways in which a stitch can be

manipulated to get different visual

effects.

In addition to exploring the stitches

with needle and thread, I took notes

about my stitching in a journal. The

journal became a place to sketch,

pose questions, come up with stitch

challenge ideas, and reflect on my

stitching and the directions I might

take with it. It was a place to record the

continuing dialog between the stitched

work and my observations related to the

stitching process.

Sometimes having too many creative

choices can be paralyzing! To keep the

focus on the mark-making potential

of the stitches, I set some limits. I

decided to limit my fabric and thread

color palette to black, white, and gray.

I limited the size of my work to 6"

squares with a 4" square stitching area.

The small size meant I could quickly try

out a number of ideas.

I designed a course based on this

stitching approach. Each week focused

on a theme: Line, Pattern and Rhythm,

Texture, and Layers. I chose stitches

to correspond with the themes (for

example, line stitches such as running,

back, and stem to explore the Line

theme). For each theme, I provided

students with a related journal

An Approach to Hand StitchingA challenge projectby Julie B. Booth

Sponsored by Bernina of America and eQuilter.com

Materials• 1 (6") square of white cotton fabric

• 1 (6") square of white acrylic craft

felt for a stabilizer

• 1 (6") square card stock with a 4"

window cut out of the center for a

template

• Assorted black threads (I used floss,

#8 and #12 perle cotton.)

• #5 or #4 crewel embroidery needles

(at least 5)

• Water-soluble fabric marker

Host Susan Brubaker Knapp and quilt artist Julie B. BoothUsing rows of contrasting thick and thin lines to create shapes. Work by Julie B. Booth

Quilting Arts TVproject 2409-1


series 2400

prompt and a series of possible stitch

challenges. Each class session began

with the creation of a stitch sampler

and suggestions for manipulating the

stitches, and then students moved on

to the challenge. As a final project,

students had the option to design a

book featuring their stitch explorations.

Exploring StitchES

challEngES

Exploring PatternExploring Layers

Exploring detached chain stitch. Work by Sarah J. Hull

Exploring couching. Work by Susan Prytherch

Using stitches to create patterns. Work by Jodie Flakowicz

Use a patterned commercial fabric swatch as a jumping off point. Work by Ann Zuniga

Woven fabric strips and yarn with French knots. Work by Judith Kolodny-Price

Assorted appliquéd fabrics with running stitch, fly stitch, and surface darning. Work by Gail Saour

Reverse appliqué and couching. Work by Erika Cleveland



series 2400

how to changE a StitchHere is a list of ways you can manipulate

basic hand stitches to achieve a variety of

effects.

• Change the weight or thickness of the

stitch by changing the weight of the

thread. If you are using embroidery

floss, you can use some or all of the

individual thread strands. Compare

how different the stitch looks using 1

thread versus 4 or 6.

• Change the type of thread in your

needle. Try different types of thread:

shiny, matte, braided, textured, etc.

Compare stitches made with shiny

rayon thread versus crewel embroidery

wool.

• Change the size of the stitch. Long

versus short. Wide versus narrow.

• Change the space between stitches.

With running stitch, the amount of

space left between the stitches can

significantly change the look of the

stitch.

• Change the angle of the stitch. Instead

of stitching in a straight line, try angling

the stitches to make a zigzag line.

• Distort part of the stitch. For example,

change the length of the legs in the

blanket stitch.

• Combine 2 or more types of stitches to

create a new stitch.

To compare changes in the look of stitches

within a category, keep some aspect of

the stitch consistent. For example, make

stitches the same length but change the

number of floss threads used in the stitch

(thick versus thin). Or, use the same

number of threads in your needle but

change the length of the stitches.

Try combining more than one of these

categories when stitching. For example:

Use one thread of floss to make long,

angled chain stitches.

inStructionS

Sample Stitch Challenge: Stitch for 4 + then change …

Prepare for stitching1. Pin the cotton fabric to the felt.

2. Place the template on top of the cotton

fabric. Use the fabric marker to trace

inside the 4" square window to mark

the stitching area.

3. Thread up several needles with an

assortment of threads. Separate a

length of floss and thread needles

with 1, 2, 3, or 4 strands. Place the

threaded needles in a pincushion for

easy access.

Begin the challengeStitch a piece using the following

sequence of directions. You can start

stitching anywhere within the drawn

stitching area and continue from there.

Limit your stitches to the following:

running, back, and stem.

1. Choose a stitch type. Choose a thread

type. Take 4 stitches.

2. Change the direction of the stitch.

Take 4 stitches.

3. Change the type of stitch. Take 4

stitches.


Take 4 stitches.

5. Choose a new thread. Change the

length of the stitch. Take 4 stitches.

6. Change the length of the stitch. Take

4 stitches.


Take 4 stitches.

Optional exerciseAfter Step 7, continue by starting again

with Step 1. If you do this sequence

a number of times you will have an

interesting “map” of your stitching. Try

variations. You can vary the number

and type of stitches or the sequence of

instructions.

threadborn.com

Hand painted and printed fabrics; reverse appliqué and appliqué. Work by Cheryl Corson

Sample Stitch Challenge example


an approach to hand stitching project 2409-1 · student work and process photos courtesy of the...

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