Buttonhole stitch and Blanket stitch are not technically the same things. But in modern usage they have combined in the language. What most people mean when they say “buttonhole stitch” is really “blanket stitch.” I’m not going to try to convince you. We’ll worry about knotted buttonhole next week! If you are really interested in… Continue Reading
First, a note My 50th birthday is next Friday! So I’m going to do something I don’t do. For the entire month of April, use the code 50THBIRTHDAY in the checkout box at my Etsy shop and get 20% off of all purchases. All of them. Even custom doodle designs. This starts tomorrow, and will… Continue Reading
Cross stitch. The words these days usually bring up visions of country pictures, samplers with mottoes on them (whether cute or profane) and, possibly, cute teddy bears and birth samplers, or even great reproductions of great art work. These are done in COUNTED cross stitch. (There is also a playlist of counted cross stitch instructions… Continue Reading
French knots are such versatile stitches. They can be made large, or small just by varying the number of times you wrap the thread around the needle. They can be made loosely, to simulate flower petals in 3D, or tightly, to represent the center of flowers. You can use them to stitch an entire picture… Continue Reading
Herringbone stitch is a crossed stitch variation that vaguely resembles the spine and ribs of a herring. In hand and couture plain sewing, it is often called the “catch stitch” and used for hems and finishing seam allowances. In embroidery, you will often see herringbone stitch worked as a counted stitch, because it’s easier to… Continue Reading