Monday, January 19, 2009

Stitch Explorer - Chicken Scratch

I'm taking part in Sharon B's Stitch Explorer Challenge. Find out all about it here.

This month it's Chicken Scratch. I've explored the technique in several ways:


(Click on photo for bigger image)

Instead of the traditional gingham, I thought I'd try it on a spotted fabric.
Instead of using one of the 'ground' colours (white or black) for the stitching, I used red.
I varied the type of thread. I've used variegated stranded cotton for the basic stitches, cotton perle and sparkly knitted lurex thread for winding and lacing.
I tried out different ways of winding and lacing.

I think it looks more like decorative stitching than lace. Maybe it's the colour, or perhaps it's the size of the stitches - this was the smallest print I had to hand - corresponds to about 3/16" check.

On the spots, I prefer the 'round' lacing or winding to the 'square'.

9 comments:

Emmy said...

as always so beautiful love your work

Conni said...

Oooh, nice! I'm still debating whether to join the challenge - but it's awfully tempting...

sharonb said...

This is very dramatic on the spots - I like it

RuthP said...

That's neat - I like your choice of spots rather than checks.

Judy S. said...

That's a very interesting effect you achieved, Kay Susan! Had you done chicken scratch before? BTW, I love the bird you made!

Anonymous said...

What great work on this spotted fabric. And leaving that "V" pattern of white dots between the triangles and the squares areas is so neat.

Elizabeth

MaryAnn said...

Really like the dotted fabric as a background vs. a gingham. Really is fun to do and look at!

Diane said...

Looks quite a bit different with the spots. I like the strong colours.

Nancilyn (Fiberdabbler) said...

You clever, clever lady!