What Are You Stitching?

When we hear about counted embroidery, many of us immediately think of cross stitch. However, there are a multitude of other counted techniques which offer the pleasure of counted stitching, yet produce a very different result to traditional cross stitch. Here are a few examples our readers have sent in.

‘This is a piece of canvas work that I did after I broke my left arm. I am left-handed, so I stitched this entirely with my right hand!’

That is very impressive, Lorraine! I think most of us would struggle if we were forced to stitch with our non-dominant hand, but you’ve done it beautifully.

‘Ever since I was a child, I have embraced anything textile related. I have sewn, crocheted, knitted, spun, woven, embroidered… the list goes on.’

‘Being a retired maths teacher, my favourite technique is counted thread work. I think that I like it due to the preciseness of it. I recently completed this piece, designed by Tanja Berlin.’

This is a lovely piece, Susan. There is a wonderful preciseness with counted work, isn’t there? It produces exquisite results as your gorgeous sampler demonstrates.

‘I love blackwork, but I find myself drawn to the designs that incorporate colour. This is a project I finished last year, called ‘Just Birds’ by Peppermint Purple. It was a joy to stitch.’

‘I gave each bird a name as I worked on them. Meet Timothy Robin(s), Christopher Wren, Cheryl Crow, Taylor Swift, Larry Bird, Peter Finch, Ethan Hawk, Clarice Starling, Florence Nightingale, and Dean Martin.’

Your names really made us laugh, Terry. This is such a bright and colourful project. It must make you smile every time you see it on the wall.

Do you like doing counted work? Do you enjoy the preciseness and accuracy that comes from working your stitches into evenly spaced holes in the fabric? Or do you prefer the freedom of surface stitching?

Whatever it is you like to stitch, we’d like to see it. Send us a picture of your work with a bit of information about the project and your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com