Stitchy Snippets - TEXTiles

'The slow rhythm of needle through fabric brings me immense satisfaction. To stitch something is to make a declaration of its worth by virtue of the time spent.' Effie Jessop

Effie Jessop draws inspiration from her fascination for language and combines portraits with words plucked from text messages. Through this juxtaposition of 'the digital speed of a mobile phone with the slow handcraft of embroidery' she records a moment and with her textiles forms a tangible, lasting heirloom.

Sweet Letter Stitching

Olá! After writing last week about letter stitching I remembered that I had a treasure at home... Last year my youngest daughter made this embroidered notebook as an anniversary gift to dad.

She didn't use a word processor... She doesn't need it. Her small hands and talent are enough. She's not like her mother...

All by herself she used an old pair of jeans, white paper, orange Bristol board and cotton thread. The pattern is hers, as are all the the stitches and finishing details...

Stitches with personality, my photo

Blank sheets, always so inspiring. My photo

I love the personality of her stitches. Comparing with other previous works we easily identify a "stitching identity" (does it exist??) and she's only 9 years old...

Ok... Maybe I'm exaggerating. But what would you expect from the mother's artist?

Using an old pair of jeans... My photo

Do you know what "PAI" means? It's the Portuguese word for dad or father...

Here in Portugal will be celebrating father's day on the 19th March... It's coming soon...

Easy Letter Stitching

Olá! This week I'll show you how I create patterns with numbers or letters in a very, very, simple way!
As my drawing skills are not so great I try to make my life easier using other instruments... And a word processor is of great help as you will see...

Let's begin!

1. In a new page type the letter you want to work with - the font and size font are not important so far...
2. Then select the letter you've typed and open the "format - font" window. That's what I've done with the letter "I".
3. Choose "70" for the size font, "bold" for the font style and the "outline" effect.
4. In the preview box your letter will be displayed in all its size and you'll be able to choose the best font type (if you choose a size larger than 70 you'll have your letter cut in the preview box).
5. In order to choose the font you just have to scroll down the fonts that are available in the font menu. As you are scrolling down, the final look of the letter will be previewed in the box. In this case, I decided myself for the Handwriting-Dakota.
6. You can close the window and in your document choose the font size that you want to work with.

Using the Format - Font window to choose your font

Sometimes the "Character Spacing" window is also helpful... Using the "scale" you can enlarge or narrow your letter, what is great when you have to fit it to a predefined space. And with "spacing" the same happens, particularly if you will be working with more than one letter.

I've made this Alphabet using this method - Easy! Am I right??

Alphabet created with word processor

Everyone loves a a personalized gift!! Embroidering letters (or numbers) is a great way of surprising someone you love!

That's what I've decided to do using a notebook. I used Handwriting - Dakota font, size 330, bold, outline and scale 66% in Character spacing. I had to reduce the scale in order to fit the notebook.

As always I used a notebook made in Portugal and the threads are also Portuguese.

Personalized Notebook, my photo

*In Portuguese we say letra instead of letter and alfabeto (or abecedário) instead of alphabet.

Playing with running stitch

Olá! Last weekend I decided to make a gift for a sweet girl completing her first anniversary. Embroidery was my first (and only) thought... But I was not in a "pattern" mood... Do you have those days??? I wanted something simple, as simple as possible!

Then I thought... What can be simpler than using running stitch? So I decided to play with running stitch... As I didn't know the colors of her room, I used what I had at home, it was easier, too...

If you like it and want to make something similar you'll see that it's impossible to make something simpler...

Playing with running stitch, my photo

I traced five circles using objects I had at home... If it was today I would have done it differently...
Each day I love more and more using tracing paper in embroidery... When the patterns and the stitches are simple or, above all, when the fabric is hard to trace, using tracing paper is perfect!

• So... You can draw your circles in your computer, print them on tracing paper and then embroider the five circles with running stitch through tracing paper and the fabric.
• Each stitch you see in this piece of embroidery is a variation of running stitch...And all variations begin with these straight stitches...
• After embroidering all the circles with running stitch you can remove the paper. Be careful not to pull it all at once, it's better to remove it piece by piece. It will work...

Beginning with the first circle (in the center), these were the stitches I used: 1) running stitch, 2) Holbein stitch, also called double running stitch or reverse running stitch, much used in blackwork, but here I filled the spaces with a different color; 3) whipped running stitch; 4) laced running stitch; 5) double laced running stitch - sometimes called interlaced running stitch. (Do you use different names?)

Actually I began with the last stitch but it's better to begin with the common running stitch so you can practice and have regular stitches, which is very important in double lacing stitch. Beginning with the most difficult stitch was certainly not a wise decision!!

Finally... to embroider the "number one" I tried the double running stitch, but the colors didn't work, so I decided to whip it and I liked the final result. After that, I read that the whipped backstitch is great for lettering and as the final look is so similar I decided that I made the right choice...

As it was going to be a finished work to hang up, I wanted the hoop to have a beautiful look. Recently I've been finishing my hoops by wrapping them with the threads used in my embroidery and I have to say that I'm very proud of that final look...

Final look with the wrapped hoop, my photo 

Now that no one is listening to us, I must confess that this work is not as I would like it to be... The double laced running stitch is not perfect and the circles... You know what I mean... As we learn with our mistakes, I can give you a piece of advice... Print your circles first and begin with the easiest stitches... Next time I'll do that!!

Some months ago I was asked about the threads I use... I always use a Portuguese manufacturer, they make a very beautiful no.8 pearl cotton for Guimarães Embroidery. But usually I work with crochet thread no.12 (in this case) and no.6 - yes it's true...

Next week I'll tell you how I use my computer to make embroidery patterns with letters and numbers as I did this time with the "One".

Just to end... this beautiful fabric is also made in Portugal and here we call it "estopa"!!