I chose colour for this month’s block.  I’d intended posting as I worked but found I kept going and was surprised to find it finished.

 I used many of the TAST stitches and started with threads of exact shades.  Then I felt it needed a lift so added similar colours.

I used Whipped Chain, Pistil, Cross, Buttonhole, Detached Buttonhole, Up and Down Buttonhole ,Seed, French knot, Fly, Half Chevron, Feather, Cretan/Straight, Bullion, Stem, Chain. Whipped Wheel, Shisha, Pekenese, Drizzle for flower centres, Satin and Couching stitches

The colours are not as they are in real life and I think it’s probably more to do with camera and time of day the photo is taken.

 

I have had to delete my previous post as I managed to do something strange and ended with XML of some description instead of being able to link directly to my chosen blog favourites.  I have since emailed each girl to let them know.

I have to thank Annie and Norma for their kindness in choosing me for the You Make My Day Award.  I am feeling very honoured

A little concentration for both these stitches was required to start but then they were a pleasure to do. The Chained Bar was worked with two cotton threads together, over an existing fly stitch in silk floss. At the bottom right you can see the floss uncovered.

I also used bars of white candlewick cotton and in between, still using the white bars I worked first the blue angora type wool. Half way along I realized I wouldn’t have enough thread to finish so I tapered the stitches and am very pleased with the result.

The variegated Perle shows promise with the staggered stitches making a curved effect.

My final stitch for the year is Spanish Feather, using the doubled cotton threads. I found it slightly awkward to manage but after a few practise shots I was happy to know I’ll use this again.

Many thanks Sharon, for a great learning year. I appreciate the time and effort you have put into this challenge, it can not have been easy.

Thanks too, to the visitors who left lovely comments and support. I appreciate this and it led me to see your own works, which were delightful.

I wish everyone in TAST a healthy and happy New Year, cheers Maureen

Norma blogged her lovely tatted Christmas stocking and I just had to have a shot at making one myself.   Here it is - I hope you like it Norma.   I had no white thread to suit so I used a pale moss green instead.

I found your work easy to follow without the actual pattern.   Now to find an easy way to  work the ends in.

This stitch, so easy to do, came at the right time for me. I found it finished off my latest project perfectly. I am working on a cushion for a friend and I used the Berry stitch to make the flower and bee wings. I used two strands of cream tapestry wool for the inner lazy daisy and a thick yellow tapestry wool for the outer. For the bees I made their bodies with a chenille Pistil stitch, couched with yellow thread and a black/gold metallic thread for the wings.

I see that Sharon has been hard at work sorting out her next year’s Challenge where we can learn and enjoy more creativity in needlework and other formats.

I have just checked Sharon’s site http://sharonb.wordpress.com/take-it-further-challenge/ and find that over 200 women have already joined.

This is an opportunity not to be missed, so why not pop over and see for yourself.

While searching through My Pics I came across my doll photos. I thought I’d blog one. My DD1 started me off on this adventure and I made several dolls all inspired by James Christensen’s drawings. This group was entitled The Hunters, who being humane,wouldn’t use guns to kill their prey. Instead they used hammers on wires?????? Quirky sense of humour has James Christensen.

The dolls are made from polymer clay with cloth bodies and of course, are all in disguise to trick the birds.

 

 

I like using Pistil stitch with many other stitches on seams. I used DMC Perle here alongside a metallic thread Knotted Cable Chain.

 

Here I used the stitch alone in a green Perle thread for leaves.

Lastly I made a maidenhair fern branch with a fine variegated wool. I could have kept going but had nicked my thumb and didn’t fancy bleeding everywhere.

 

 

 

 

This stitch is a winner as far as being worked.

I had a CQ block with heavy lace in the centre which suggested a partial

Paisley design. I used Excel knitted metallic thread and a very large needle. The fibre went through very well for most of the work but started unravelling toward the end. I saved this bit.

I was so pleased with the outcome. I then added a flower and with Edmar Lola white thread did a few more of the KCCs above. Lastly with the saved metallic thread I used it double and worked more KCCs as the white thread blended into the background too well. At no time was the thread stressed, even though it was stretchy and fine. Oh I used a finer needle for the Edmar and last lot.

 

Next I used 3 strands of DMC Mouline variegated thread and made a butterfly. The body is chenille - one large cable and one smaller. The antenna is done with one strand of the DMC. Even the chenille with the large needle worked so easily through the cloth and sat well. I can see uses for this stitch- for spiders and beetles etc., I will have to experiment more.

 

 

This is the first time I have worked a loopy stitch that didn’t roll over and it must be because of the 5th movement, going through the cloth, holds it in place.

 

I like it!

Next year Sharon is again running a Challenge, ‘Take it Further’ which is for the benefit of anyone who wishes to join in and experiment with needle and threads.  For more information please visit  http://sharonb.wordpress.com/take-it-further-challenge/

 

This year’s Challenge of TAST - Take a Stitch Tuesday has been excellent for testing out stitches, which many of us have not tried and some not heard of.