Stitching

Early in October, I took a two-day hand-stitching workshop at the Pacific Northwest Art School with Christine Mauersberger, someone whose work I have long admired. The image above (about 6" high) combined two stitching exercises. The first was to stitch a circle. The second was to draw lines that captured a series of breaths, transfer the lines to the fabric, and stitch them. I decided to use this as an opportunity to try out a variety of ways of making a line with stitches. My enthusiasm for hand-stitching was re-ignited by the workshop, and when I got home I decided to explore further the variety possible in line-making. I started a sampler using all one type of thread, varying the stitches. I got up to about 45 and paused to do some further trials and a project. I'll pick this up again sometime later to explore further types of lines. (You can click on an image to enlarge it.)

About 45 different ways to stitch a line.

Close-up of top right column

One stitch, different threads

From the further trial of various threads, I chose a nubbly Tassar silk thread from Habu (the 4th one down in the image above) to stitch on a sleeveless blouse of mine. I very much enjoyed working on this, and I like the stitch I used for it. I think of it as a variation on my "conversation stitch," with the conversation not just between 2 or 3 stitches, but between each stitch with the one before and then after it and sometimes in groups. This kind of stitching actually takes more attention than aiming for a regular set of parallel stitches. It keeps my mind engaged as I work, and I'm happy with the look.   

detail of stitching

-->

front

back

I got the idea for the placement of the stitching from a tunic that Christine wore during the workshop. The design was actually printed onto her tunic rather than stitched, but it really looked like stitching.

I am now on the lookout for other items in my wardrobe might benefit from some stitching. . .