Tuesday 16 February 2016

TAST Week Twenty-Nine: Barb Stitch

Here we are at Tuesday again which, means another new TAST stitch! Stitch twenty-nine of the TAST Challenge hosted by Sharon Boggon at Pin Tangle  is Barb stitch. Sharon has posted a tutorial explaining this stitch (which is a combination stitch) on her blog as always.




The stitch consists of two back to back lines of blanket stitch whipped together with another thread.  I like the blanket stitch so I enjoyed stitching this example.



I filled in another of the boxes on my sampler again using variegated silk thread and then outlined the box using the same thread and stem stitch.


Blanket stitch is worked with the needle away from you.
The thread passes behind the needle but no knot is formed.

If you follow the links, you will see that Sharon calls the base stitch 'buttonhole stitch' but, I prefer to call it 'blanket stitch'.  I know a lot of people don't think there is a difference between the two stitches but I think there is.


Buttonhole stitch is worked with the needle towards you.
The thread passes round the tip of the needle to form a knot.
Buttonhole stitch.... can you see the knot?

You can read a post I wrote explaining what I think the difference is here.  I am only self-taught, so this is really only my own opinion but, in that opinion, there is definitely a difference in the stitches but, you judge for yourselves.

20 comments:

  1. lovely work Christine. Interesting to read about the blanket and buttonhole stitches. I work them with the fabric the other way around and with the edge facing me.

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    1. Thank you Sheryl! I think you just have to be comfortable working your stitches.... I think this is the way I work them LOL!! Christine x

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  2. ohn i didnt realize that they were different stitches,thankyou for showing us the difference my friend xx

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    1. Thank you Shez! It is interesting seeing the history of different stitches and I am sure they are called different names in different places! Christine x

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  3. Your work is lovely! I have an embroidery book Needlework Stitches: 370 Stitches by Barbara Snook that has some fun variations on the buttonhole and blanket stitches. :)

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    1. Thank you Renee! I love both stitches.... I use them a lot and I'll have to look out for the book you have mentioned. Christine x

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  4. I am learning so many new stitches thanks to you!
    I love the blanket stitch and totally agree with you. There is definitely confusion over the two stitches. Your post explaining the difference is a very interesting read. When I googled "difference between buttonhole stitch and blanket stitch, your blog post came up in the top 3 results!
    You may be "only self-taught" but you are WELL-taught and I love your passion for excellence in your stitching.

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    1. Thank you Linda! How funny my blog post was in the top three of a google search! I like history generally but the history of different stitches and how they developed is fascinating. I think the need for excellence comes from being a perfectionist.... a blessing and a curse!! Christine x

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  5. I have learnt something new today, the difference between buttonhole and blanket stitch. Your blanket stitch is always so beautifully done - how do you get the stitches so evenly spaced???

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    1. I am glad that it was useful Dawn... I think it is possibly called different names in different places also. I space the stitches by eye but if I don't like how they look I always take them out and restitch them! Christine x

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  6. Lovely work Christine,
    I never see the bottonhole stitch , i always stitch the blanket stitch, yes i see the knot,
    Thank you for showing, i want test it
    I wish you a lovely Midweek Marika

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    1. Thank you Marika! I hope you enjoy testing them out! Christine x

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  7. Liebe Christine,
    deine Taste Stiche sind immer wieder schön anzusehen.
    Liebe Grüße
    Steffi

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    1. Thank you Steffi! It was a lovely stitch to learn! Christine x

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  8. An ah....moment - thanks for sharing the difference between the two stitches

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    1. It is interesting to see the difference. I often use the buttonhole stitch (with the knot at the top) for fusible applique as it stays sitting on the edge of the shape much better than the blanket stitch! Christine x

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  9. I agree that most people use blanket/buttonhole interchangeably although there is that subtle difference. I like this weeks stitch.

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    1. Thank you Mary Anne! I like it too.... I really enjoyed stitching it and I will have to remember to use it in a future project! Christine x

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  10. I knew there were two different stitches, but didn't know which was which or why--thanks for the explanation! The combination stitch is fun too.

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    1. Thank you Karen! I really enjoyed the barb stitch and I shall be using it again. Glad the information was helpful! Christine x

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