Tast 2012 January 17th

Week three - Feather Stitch

I don't use this stitch very much so have had to start to learn it all over again.   When did I last use it? 

Back when I had new babies.  We lived in Cairns where the Monsoon (the wet) comes through each year and people are known to "go troppo".  You have to have lived through that kind of weather to understand it.  Both of my boys where born in Cairns one in February the other in November, one just before and one in the middle of the wet.

Even singlets were too hot, no air-conditioning in those days.  We bought a pedestal fan and positioned it near the bassinet.  We were starting a new business in the early 1980"s and money was tight.  I bought a couple of metres of cotton batiste from an Asian trader in Rusties Bazaar and made little sleeveless shirts.  I didn't have a sewing machine so they were all sewn by hand and most were decorated with Feather Stitch.  

I enjoyed learning this stitch again and I find it a lot easier to do on even weave fabric and get the stitch looking balanced. I used the stitch as bird feathers, looks alright but could be better.  What I forgot when I ironed the finished piece was that over-dyed cottons are not colour-fast.  I sprayed the piece with water and the colour went everywhere, especially the red.  As this is a teaching piece it is a good demonstration of what can go wrong, so it stays.

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Comments

[MargB]

I love your chickens and your foursided edge.. Sad about the colours! I am not quite sure why overdyed cottons can't be run proof

[Rachel]

I think the little chickens are lovely - well done!

[Carolyn Foley]

Thanks, Im working on a sampler pattern for one of those chickens.

[Linda Hubbard]

Love your chicks,and all the variations..

[Carolyn Foley]

Tank you Linda.

[Airycat]

I LOVE the birds!

~Faith
http://airynothing.net/Blogs/anblog

[Carolyn Foley]

Thank you.