Module 4 - Chapter 6 - Drawn Thread Work Stitchery

Well, I love hand stitching, but having never done any form of drawn thread work before, I found this chapter to be a very steep learning curve. I read all the recommended books and still found it difficult to understand what was needed. I followed Sian's instructions, step by step, but when I looked at the blogs of other students who had completed this module, I felt that I was falling hideously short on creativity and independent thought. I had to engage my brain and experiment!

040601

Threads were withdrawn in bands & then threaded, from top to bottom: woven rick rack, woven twig, woven fabric, knotted fabric strips, raised chain band stitched with wool & herringbone stitch with string.

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Blocks of threads were withdrawn horizontally and then stitched in patterns using needleweaving.

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Threads were withdrawn in both directions from the centre. The loose ends were stitched down around the edge of the fabric. The diagonal bars were then stitched, using, from left to right; double rows of buttonhole stitch with cotton a broder, twisted raffia, wrapped with fancy yarn, needle weaving with embroidery thread, wrapped with fabric strip, loosely wrapped with hemp, double rows of wrapped gold embroidery thread, wrapped with a group of blue fancy yarns.

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Threads were cut and withdrawn in both directions. The raw edge was then blanket stitched. Stitches were then worked on the crossover intersections of the withdrawn grid, from left to right; tightly wound, then loosely twisted coton-a-broder, loosely wound hemp with beads, tightly wound gold embroidery thread, cream fancy yarn, cream cotton scrim, a clump of cream fancy threads, blue sweety wrapper held down with pale blue knotted thread.

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Wide bands of threads were withdrawn vertically, then folded and machined together forming tucks. The loops on the middle row were seperated and held down in opposite directions with a cross stitch.

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Every other thread was removed in one direction, then machine satin stitch was worked in stepped blocks.

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Groups of threads were withdrawn vertically and horizontally, then zig zag stitched was worked over the remaining bands of vertical threads. Clumps of withdrawn threads were then woven, plaited, twisted and knotted back into the withdrawn grid. 

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Threads were snipped in the centre and withdrawn from the centre outwards. The blue colour from the centre of the fabric was folded back and displaced onto the cream of the outer edges with bundles of threads that were held down with bars of machine stitching. Short lines of close zig zag stitch were worked over the bars in diagonal steps.

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Threads were withdrawn from the centre outwards in both directions to make withdrawn bands of varying widths. Machine zig zag was worked in both directions in continuous lines over the bars. Blocks of needleweaving were then formed in the withdrawn grid.

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Bands of threads were removed horizontally and then machine zig zag was worked in both directions forming a grid. Threads and fabrics were then threaded into the grid.

Although it was a mental struggle, I thoroughly enjoyed this chapter. I think I have learned to be a little more inventive and discovered some wonderful ways of decorating grids!