Wednesday, 25 November 2015

TAST Week Twenty: Butterfly Chain

Week twenty of the TAST Challenge hosted by Sharon Boggon at Pin Tangle  is the butterfly chain stitch.  Sharon has posted a comprehensive tutorial describing how to work the stitch which, is a combination of straight stitch and twisted chain stitch.  There are also plenty of inspirational photographs giving you lots of ideas how to use it.

This was a new stitch to me and, before adding some to my sampler I made several practice attempts on a very scruffy piece of fabric which had previously been used for free motion quilting practice (among other things) and which has now been thrown away! It gave me the chance to decide how far apart the initial three straight stitches needed to be to give the look that I liked best when I pulled them together with the twisted chain stitch.

Once I was happy, I added a couple of rows to my sampler.  I used a variegated silk thread which I thought gave a very pretty effect. The first row I stitched in a straight line but for the second row I staggered the groups of straight stitches to give a zig zag effect.  

I found this quite a difficult stitch to get looking nice but, I am sure with practice it will get better.  Tension definitely plays an important part!  I enjoyed learning it and I think it would be a perfect addition to a crazy quilt block seam.... I may just add one to my December CQJP block! 
Before

After

 I also used up the thread that I had left in my needle after I had finished stitching to fill in some gaps between my French knots with some straight stitch seeding.  It was an area of my sampler which I wasn't very happy with.  I like it much better now! (Sorry the photo is a bit fuzzy!) 
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20 comments:

  1. Lynda25 November 2015 at 07:57

    I agree - its the gap between the stitches that is essential. I haven't quite mastered that yet but it was fun trying a new stitch. x

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    1. Christine B25 November 2015 at 13:29

      Thank you Lynda! I think it is one of those stitches that gets better with experience! Christine x

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  2. Anonymous25 November 2015 at 11:10

    Hi Christine,i love seeing your new stitches,your project is looking amazing,well done xx

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    1. Christine B25 November 2015 at 13:30

      Thank you Shez! I am really enjoying learning all the new stitches! Christine x

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  3. Magpie's Mumblings25 November 2015 at 14:38

    This is another really pretty stitch. I remember doing it when I participated in the first TAST session, but I don't think I've used it since. I must remedy that!

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    1. Christine B25 November 2015 at 21:35

      Thank you Mary Anne! I think it would look great on a crazy quilt block! Christine x

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  4. Monika Kunstnadel25 November 2015 at 19:22

    Liebe Christine,
    ich freue mich immer diese schönen Stiche bei Dir bewundern zu können. Ich habe bisher nicht gewusst, welche unterschiedliche Möglichkeiten es für diesen Stich gibt. Dein Sampler wird wunderschön und die tollen Garne passen super.
    Liebe Grüße
    Monika

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    1. Christine B25 November 2015 at 21:37

      Thank you Monika! I like how the sampler is growing and it is fun to try out the new stitches! Christine x

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  5. Cath26 November 2015 at 04:58

    What a wonderful way to learn new stitches and to make sure you use them. I love the sampler.

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    1. Christine B26 November 2015 at 12:56

      Thank you Cath! I am really enjoying learning the new stitches! Christine x

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  6. Janet Pring26 November 2015 at 08:28

    It must be fun to be learning all these new stitches. Your sampler must be looking good too xxx

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    1. Christine B26 November 2015 at 12:57

      Thank you Janet! It is a lot of fun learning lots of new stitches.... and the sampler is a reminder so that you don't forget about them again! Chrissie x

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  7. Baa. xxx26 November 2015 at 09:30

    What an interesting stitch - I have never seen it before. It looks lovely on your sampler.

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    1. Christine B26 November 2015 at 12:58

      Thank you! It was new to me too. I am glad to have learned it though.... I think it will be a useful addition to one of my crazy quilt blocks! Christine x

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  8. Linda26 November 2015 at 13:27

    I've never seen this stitch before. I looked at Sharon's wonderful tutorial and was surprised at the way it is stitched. My feeble mind still couldn't grasp how the needle wrapped around the bundle of stitches, so I found a Youtube video and now I get it! By the way, I covet your sampler. :)

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    1. Christine B26 November 2015 at 14:30

      Thank you so much Linda! It is a nice stitch to be able to work.... I think it adds a lot to a piece! Happy Thanksgiving! Christine x

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  9. Sheryl27 November 2015 at 07:34

    Your sampler is so pretty, love all the stitches and the variegated thread you have used.

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    1. Christine B27 November 2015 at 10:53

      Thank you Sheryl! It is fun to see the sampler grow week by week! Christine x

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  10. Steffi28 November 2015 at 09:06

    Liebe Christine,
    das wird ein fantastisch schönes Mustertuch, auch ich lerne ständig noch etwas dazu, vielen Dank für die Infos!
    Liebe Grüße
    Steffi

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    1. Christine B28 November 2015 at 18:48

      Thank you Steffi! I am really enjoying adding new stitches each week and it nice to learn new stitches to add to other projects! Christine x

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