Work that Stitch Wednesday - Picot Stitch

This week's stitch is the Picot Stitch. This is a cute decorative stitch, and that is really all it is. It is used as part of edging mostly but can be used in different parts of any pattern. To make this stitch you chain three and then insert your hook into the third chain from the hook (your beginning chain stitch), yarn over and then pull the yarn through the loop. You then proceed on with the row.

Photo source.

 This stitch is used in the alternative panel pattern in The Enchanted Garden Tote. The tote has a couple of side panel patterns that you can choose from.

Photo Source AFWifeCrochetNut

Very pretty and intricate design!! I really cannot wait to finally dive into this project!

Until next week, be creative!!

Winnie

Work that Stitch Wednesday - Standing Stitch

Hi everyone! Hope you are enjoying my Wednesday posts. I am really learning a lot by doing these posts. Researching for tutorials for these stitches has really helped me understand the steps so much better. I hope it has help you as well.

I wrote about post stitch in my first installment of Work that Stitch Wednesday in this post. The Enchanted Garden Tote uses this stitch in a variety of ways. Bpsc (Back Post Single Crochet), Bphdc (Back post half-double crochet), Bpdc (Back post double crochet), Bptr (Back post treble crochet), Fpsc (Front post single crochet), Fphdc (Front post half-double crochet), Fpdc (Front post double crochet) and Fptr (Front post treble crochet) are all the post stitches throughout this pattern. So glad I have been checking out tutorials on the post stitch!! I will need to look at a few more tutorials for the different variance such as the half-double crochet and treble crochet post stitches, but I am at least familiar with the process already.

In my second installment of Work that Stitch Wednesday I wrote about the Bobble Stitch. Again this stitch is used in the Enchanted Garden Tote. It is called the Bubble Stitch in this pattern but it is pretty much the same stitch. A few great video tutorials can be found by clicking on this link.

Standing Stitch

The Standing Stitch is the stitch I will be writing about today. This stitch allows you to begin a new row in a new color without having to join the yarn the a slip stitch and chaining one and then a single crochet. I have used this stitch in the past but never really knew it was the standing stitch. Now that I have studied the tutorial I do believe this will be my go to stitch when I am working with rows of multiple colors. It keeps the edges so much cleaner! Please check out this terrific tutorial by Marly Bird.

The Standing Stitch is used in the Mandala portion of the tote at about row 8 right before you begin the Crocodile Stitch Flower and then again at around row 30.

Photo source

Until next week, be creative!!

Winnie

Work that Stitch Wednesday - Crocodile Stitch

Hello everyone! If you have followed my blog you know that I am a planner. I research a pattern and break it down to the tiniest details before I dive into making the project. As I wrote about the Enchanted Garden Tote many months ago, I am still in the planning stage for this anticipated project.

The Enchanted Garden Tote is a purchasable pattern so I won't post all the details of it on my blog, but I can breakdown a few of the trickier stitches. As with the internet you can find so many free tutorials and patterns that you may never have to purchase a pattern in the entirety of your creative endeavors. I do find that some patterns are just worth the money and I will splurge on them. I did with the Enchanted Garden Tote and thrilled that I did. As I posted before, this pattern is a three pattern combination and is nearly 100 pages. I am still reading over the patterns and making my notes. (my planner personality gets the best of me sometimes)

One of the more interesting stitches is the Crocodile Stitch. A wonderful written beginner's guide to the Crocodile Stitch can be read over at Red Heart. I love how they explain the stitch as a layered look stitch. This stitch can add so many different variances to a project.

You can see how this stitch creates a beautiful flower.

Picture Courtesy of Courtney Laube Designs

My goal is to practice the stitches in this pattern before diving into it. I figure if I get the concept of the special stitch combinations prior to actually tackling the project, it will go much easier and enjoyable. It's no fun when you work on a project to just get stumped because of a certain stitch combination and its wording or technique. If you are interested in this stitch, check out the video tutorial by The Crochet Crowd below.

Until next week, be creative and have a wonderful week!!

Winnie

Pinterest Inspiration - Quilt Blocks as Framed Art!!

My obsession with Pinterest is relentless, but I do come across some really wonderful inspiring ideas! I have put quilting on the back-burner somewhat because I do not have the correct walking foot to machine quilt. I could hand-quilt, but I'm just too lazy. Yeah, I will admit my laziness when it comes to hand sewing. It could also be that my fingers are not a nimble as they once were.....

But, what did I find on Pinterest?! Great idea of framing applique quilting blocks! Hear are a few pins I came across that are so inspiring!

Going top clockwise:

1. They sandwiched vintage hankies in glass and used the striped wallpaper as the matting effect. So Genius!!

2. Crazy Quilting block..Love all the textures and gorgeous embroidery.

3. An applique quilt block of a gentleman and his pet. This would be a great idea to make as a story board.

4. An old discarded window transformed into a frame for scrapped quilts. I do have a couple of quilts that are fraying and will not be able to repair, but you could also make mini-quilts and frame as well.

There are endless possibilities!! I think these little projects are a great way to familiarize oneself with quilting especially applique quilting. You can work up adorable artwork that are really just practice pieces. These would also be great gifts to love ones and friends as well as ways to use up many of the smaller pieces of fabric one might be stashing for a quick and simple project. 

Another great use of an old window or even a large pane door. 

Terrific way of showcasing small quilted blocks and still not spending too much on a frame especially if you locate clearance frames at your local Michael's Craft Store or Pier 1 Imports. Even if there is small scratches you could easily paint the frame to correspond with your colorful quilt pieces.

Cheers, Winnie

Work that Stitch Wednesday

Hello everyone! To follow up on last week's post on a favorite stitch of mine, I would like to further examine the pattern Tree of Life and discuss another versatile stitch used in this pattern, the Bobble Stitch or Popcorn Stitch. This stitch is used in the flower portion of the afghan. This is the area of the afghan that divides the top from the bottom with rows of beautiful flowers.

Picture Courtesy of ArtyCaelitha at Ravelry.com

A very lovely raised texture stitch that can be a little tricky at first. The stitch begins with a double or triple crochet but you end up having 4 loops on your hook before completing the stitch. For us hookers we are kinda use to only two or three loops at once on our hook. I believe this is why knitting is so frustrating for me to learn. All Free Crochet has a great video tutorial by The Crochet Crowd on the Bobble Stitch.

Until next time, have a creative week!!

Winnie