Blanket stitch - I finally know how to do it

Well done, Di. Isn't it a wonderful feeling to get the better of something you were apprehensive about? . In message , Di Maloney writes

Thanks Patti, at 61 and learning how to blanket stitch and embroider was a real thrill for me. My Mum used to embroider, and I had all of her unfinished projects given to me to finish when I learn how to - I now intend to practice a lot and then finish off Mum's projects. I think my Mum and Ma would be very happy for me.

WTG Di!!

And you are not the only one to do that with blanket stitch. One of the sewers here bought a book to learn basic embroidery stitches, and she did her first blanket stitch that way too. The book showed how to do the stitch, but never explained how to set it on the fabric edge.

Now - how about a few French Knots or some Feather Stitch?

~hugs~ Di. It is always a great accomplishment when you can be proud of a new skill.

There's a wonderful embroidery magazine published in Australia. It is 'Inspirations' and rightfully claims to teach and show the "World's Most Beautiful Embroidery". Even the ads in that publication are a joy to read. Have you ever seen it? I really believe you would be delighted to own one or two, or every back issue or something. Congratulations on your blanket stitch success. Polly

NAH -- those are too easy as a "scary" challenge for a beginner (she says, tongue heavily in cheek :-) ). If we really want to scare her, Di should try a Queen Stitch or maybe a Bullion Rose! And congrats to Di for mastering something new, good work!!! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

Hugs and high fives, Di. I'm proud of you! You are an inspiration to all of us who are giving it our best to learn new things. Sunny

Well done Di !!!!!

I used to do a lot of embroidery on DD clothing, for some reason she=20 doesn't want it done anymore (she is 17 tomorrow maybe that is why=20 LOL)

I have a number of my maternal grandmothers embroideries to complete=20 one has a stitch called 'thousand flower' unfortunately I haven't been=20 able to find out what it is.

I still have one of my first doileys and the front is okay but the=20 back is really bad......

Dee in Oz

Thank you all for your kind words. I really am enjoying my newly found skill.

Cats, I have been shown how to do the French Knots - still practising but getting there. Feather stitch will have to wait for time being :>)

Tia, your suggestion "try Queen Stitch or maybe a Bullion Rose" - I asked my sister to show me what one looks like and I nearly fainted - you never know tho, I just might get there yet. LOL

Don't feel like the "lone ranger" Di.... it took me a ridiculously long time to learn the blanket stitch too, but now, I just love it! Congratulations!

Patti in Seattle

might it have anything to do with the beads called millefiore? Millefiore means a thousand flowers. just the first thing that came to mind. then i googled and havent found anything yet but will continue to search as i have the energy. little of that lately, summer wears me out in no time doing nothing. jeanne

hey Di, congrats on persevering til you got it. do we get pix somewhere?

i used to do a lot of hand embroidery way back when i was on the road travelling thru europe with my backpack. i'd spend an evening in the hostel repairing my clothes rather than buy new ones. i used scraps of fabric i found here and there and some that was given to me. i also had beads. i wonder if any of the stuff i did for others and gave away is still floating around the world somewhere. :)

i found these sites with pix of how to do lots and lots of stitches. tho 'a very few different stitches' used in various combos and sometimes mixing short and long stitches and a bead here or there can make even more neat looking embroidery.

the bottom of this page has some of those combos shown.

heres some other links with lots of stitch pix to look at. site has videos of some basic stitches, i use dialup so i didnt look at them.

if i find any others with good pix or info will post them. hth, jeanne

See? This is what makes each quilt unique! Don't worry thought, it always takes me awhiles to remember how to do that and also slip stitch and blind hem stich. Have to practice a bit first.

Ooooh, I've ripped a pattern out of that mag for a gorgeous bustier and skirt. The pattern goes up to a size that is a few sizes smaller than me so I have to shrink into it. But one day I'll make it.....one day....

Thanks Jeanne, but I don't think so because it tells you what colour=20 thread to use. These are older pieces, pre 1966 at least going by the=20 prices.

I have done a seach some time ago and never knew that Millefiore meant=20 a thousand flowers.

Dee > might it have anything to do with the beads called millefiore?

Thanks Jeanne,

I have visited each of them - they were very interesting although I could not access the first one. Just a blank page. I have bookmarked them for future use.

Thankyou also for any future ones you come up with.

Hi Dee,

Have a look here for what may be your thousand flowers.

It could be Brazilian embroidery you are referring to.????????

sorry, Dee, i didnt mean to actually stitch the beads into the design but to stitch flowers in different colours so they look like the millefiore beads. if you google just 'millefiore' you'll see the beads and how they are made in long strips, then cross cut. so they are round with two flat ends.

the beads are made from long 'canes' of glass, fused to one another in a design that when cross cut into single beads look like flowers. iirc, they were first made in Italy. there is another name for them but darned if i can recall what it is....oh wait, let me check google again. grrrrrrr, cant work out the spelling, will find it tomorrow if i get lucky, lol. i've seen similar made with polyclay too. i could see them made with thread too tho. how does the pattern read? if its not how i envisage what i'm talking about i'll beatle off back to my cave. we used to get xmas candy like this when i was a kid. i loved them, wish i could find them now. must do more checking around next xmas, lol. off to bed now, having an early night to see if i can get some more sleep at night rather than being awake half the night then falling asleep all day long, argh. jeanne

Millefiori meaning "thousand flowers" (mille-fleur in French) is the technique you describe. The glass bead that is covered with flowers by "painting" them on with molten glass is called fiorato "flowered". Is that the name you were trying to think of?

Val