I learned a lot stitching the samples for the Stitch Play workshop and it wasn’t just adding new stitches to my repertoire.
I know that thread makes a significant difference to how the stitch looks and sits on the fabric, but I don’t often take the time to experiment. Usually, I start stitching, realise it isn’t right for the look I’m trying to achieve, and restitch it in the ‘right’ thread. The samples gave me the opportunity to really explore the different effects of different threads, especially the heavier threads which I tend to use less.
My first sample piece was based on the leaves and flowers pairs I stitched for Sandra and Val in the last round of Travelling Books. I liked the way the satin stitch worked up in the variegated thread and also the effect of the knotty Portuguese Stem Stitch.
After having worked some bigger shapes with multiple stitches used on each, I wanted to showcase smaller shapes with just a couple of stitches used but a different stitch to edge each one for my second sample piece.
I enjoyed using these wintry blues and am particularly pleased with the effect of the sheaf stitch around the edge of the central circle.
I thought it was also useful to label the samples with the name of the stitches used.
Two samples in, I started to look for shapes to include on the worksheet and found some lovely vase silhouettes.
Having worked on finding lots of different edging stitches for the spots piece, I went back to simple blanket and Berwick Stitches to hold the vase shapes down. Then I could go to town on linear stitches to create the bands across the vases. Chain Stitch is the only repeated stitch on this piece.
I really liked the effect of the four legged knot stitch (3rd row up from the bottom).
I looked at my three samples so far and sighed as I realised that once again, I’d stuck to my favourite green and blue palette and each one was stitched in shades of a single colour. I decided that for the last sample I was going to use rows of bright clashing colours. Yeah, right…
I simply couldn’t do it! But at least there are other colours than blue and green going on…
The Guilloche Stitch at the top is a composite stitch, with french knots, stem stitch top and bottom and a threaded thing going on down the middle. It’s a stitch I would never use normally, but it was perfect for the band going along the edge of the cup.
I love the feathered chain/chained feather stitch along the top of the mug and I also reused a few stitches from the vases sample. The raised chain band (5th row down) was worked in all six strands of a stranded cotton, as opposed to the perle on the first green vase (also 5th row down) and the effect is much richer and fuller.
I also found that using a heavier weight perle on the scroll stitch (2nd row down) than I did on the second green vase (also 2nd row down) helped it to sit better.
They were fun to stitch, but I was ready to return to something different by the time the workshop came round!
Under A Topaz Sky 
Wow, your samplers are wonderful! Beautiful colour choices, and so useful to know which threads you have used too. Just the right size too to give a good display of stitches.
I started a sampler at the end of last year which initially was going to be simple stitches, then I became more adventurous about the stitches I would use, and now my sampler is languishing unstitched on the shelf. I now feel inspired to go and carry on! Thank you for sharing.
Happy New Year,
Barbara xx
So much more interesting than most samplers, and you’ve had a wonderful time investigating all the possibilities!
These are such great samplers! The idea of small motifs decorated is such a lovely interpretation of samplers. I love how you’ve added the stitches used too – a very useful stitch guide!
lovely samples. so nice to see samples as things in themselves too.
Re the Gainsborough embroidery group – (cos this is the link on the EG website for Scunthorpe EG which I think the Gainsborough is arising from). Was awesome! Ruth and the other ladies were very welcoming and I had a great time.