Sunday, January 14, 2007

T.A.S.T. – Buttonhole Stitch

This weeks challenge from SharonB is Buttonhole stitch.

Once again I have concentrated on texture rather than pattern or colour.
I’m not entirely sure if the stitch I have used is, strictly speaking, buttonhole, I think it is probably more like blanket stitch but if push comes to shove I shall call it ‘wide spaced buttonhole’.

The first sample is on a background of calico. I made a rolled piece of fabric from calico and secured it down with buttonhole stitch using torn strips also made from calico. I then worked further buttonhole stitches around the edges, some close together, some overlapping.



This sample is made using muslin and undyed silk thread. I laid some thick cord at the back of the muslin and used buttonhole stitch to secure it, giving a raised surface on the top.


I then dipped the whole piece in an indigo coloured Procion dyebath.
I feel that both these samples are ‘unfinished’. I could have worked into them more, especially the second one, to make them more interesting.


The final sample is also various undyed silk threads on muslin. This time I have placed a length of cord on the surface and secured it with buttonhole stitch then worked further stitches around the edges in all shapes and sizes, some overlapping and some close together.


I then decided to give it the ‘VCH’ treatment. A coating of white emulsion, followed by a layer of black Quink ink.


Then, of course, out came the bleach.


A collage of close up photos.

Finally finished off with a rubbing of Treasure Gold.


Another collage of close up photos of the finished piece.


All three samples have once again been made into postcards with notes on the back.

A lot of stitchers this week seem to be more experimental with their stitching. There are some really good samples on blogs out there. SharonB lists these on her weekly round up of the Take A Stitch Tuesday challenge. Well worth a look.

18 comments:

Unknown said...

This is fabulous, love the texture, the colour, and you have used bleach and goldfinger, what more could anyone ask :)

Anonymous said...

Fantastic! That treasure gold really makes that piece come alive. Nicely done.

Kim said...

Most excellent! Love the ink/bleach/gold experiment.

Conni said...

Wonderful and inspiring!

Dy said...

Oh my! Your piece is wonderful and I love how you have photographed the steps. Absolutely gorgeous.

Micki said...

These all have such great texture. I especially like what you did with the last one.

Doreen G said...

Wow -words fail me-I just love everything about them.

Françoise said...

Oh, this last sample is great!
And I liked it too before the gold paint layer. Very different, but nice too.

Grangry said...

Wow! Just Wow! Like the way you use unusual materials. Inspiring!

Terri Stegmiller said...

Wow these samples are all amazing. I so enjoy seeing how you take your experiments above and beyond and use materials I would never think of.

Angela said...

These are great. I particularly love the first piece and the close up pictures you took after the bleaching process. Wonderful!

Dianne said...

These are all fantastic!! Such wonderful tetures - and all from buttonhole stitch!!!

Helen in the UK said...

Love these samples - Texture with a capital T!! I think buttonhole and blanket are interchanceable names. This challenge really does encourage creative stitching. Great work :)

Susan D said...

Love your work. I need to be more experimental with my stitches so you've given me some inspiration.

Karin said...

Oh, love the samples, especially the one with the Treasure Gold. Wonderful idea and thanks for the inspiration!

Fiona said...

wonderful... I like the idea of processing the stitch. wonderful

allie aller said...

Completely, utterly cool. LOVE THIS.

neki desu said...

this is a WOW piece.
the process got me thinking about adapting it and using it on my handwovens.thanks for the inspiration.

pardon my ignorance, but what is‘VCH’ treatment?

neki desu