Chicken Scratch - 8/16/26

August 16, 1926—Last week, I took a class with my local EGA chapter on a needlework technique called “Chicken Scratch.” I didn’t know anything about it, but I was happy to jump in and find out why the stitching can look so wonderfully lacy on gingham fabric.

That lacy look comes from covering the dark squares of the gingham weave with full stitches in white thread (see above). The technique uses just a small group of stitches: cross stitch, double cross (or Smyrna), woven ovals, squares, and daisies wrapped around running stitches. These are usually worked in white floss or perle thread. What’s fun is that, depending on how you arrange the stitches on the fabric, the finished pieces can look quite different, as you can see in the photo below of work by Yukika Wada.

And where did the name come from? I’m told that, on the back of the project, the threads carried from one square to another look a bit like “chicken scratch”—and that’s how the technique got its name.

 

I’ve come across photos of beautiful pillows, pincushions, aprons, pockets, clutch purses, and all sorts of other pieces worked in Chicken Scratch. Unfortunately, it seems to have fallen out of favor, but who knows? Maybe someday it will make a comeback.

Angels Clothespin for Hospice - Updated 11/20/24

November 20, 2024--Yesterday a group of us from Delaware's Seashore Chapter met at the Delaware Hospice Center to decorate a tree with the clothespin angels many of us stitched.  To fill in the empty spaces, one of our members donated some cut out wood angels that were the same size as the clothespin angels--perfect.  We are very pleased with how it turned out and hope it garners a large donation to Delaware Hospice.

October 25, 2024--Ta Da--All six have now been made up into little angels with hair and wings.  They actually came out kinda cute.  There will be a total of about 40 of these little angels placed on a tree at Delaware Hospice in November.

Clothespin Angels Finished

August 12, 2024--Finished cross stitching three more "skirts" for the clothespin angels that will be put together at my needlepoint chapter's October meeting.  I love the striped cat with a bluebird sitting on it.

Angels Clothespin Second Group of Three Completed

April 23, 2024--The last of the three Clothespin Angels is now stitched and ready for assembly at my ANG chapter's meeting in August.  This one simply states Happy Holidays with lots of embellishments. 

Angels Clothespin Happy Holidays Completed

Angels Clothespin All Three Completed

April 16, 2024--Now the second of the Clothespin Angels has been stitched--this one called Candles.  Now that I have a better idea of what I'm doing, I'm breezing along nicely.  One more to stitch up, then it's assembly time.   

Angel Clothespin Candles Completed

Angels Clothespin Stitched to Date

April 12, 2024--Have completed one of the Clothespin Angels.  This one is called Joy and was a real learning process for me.  First of all, I had to call our chapter's fearless project leader, Shirley H, on how many strands of floss to use on the 18 count Aida cloth.  I started with 2 strands but thought it might be too bulky.  Shirley agreed and recommended using only 1 strand.  Yay!  No laying or railroading the strands together.  Of course, I had to rip out what had been stitched so far, but that was fine since I totally messed up the "half" cross stitches.  

When working up the half stitches in this project, Shirley advised that only 1/4 of a regular cross stitch needed to be done since the backstitching would complete the half stitch.  See the two half stitches circled in the second photo below.  I'm so glad I checked with her about this--the results are much neater and less bulky than what I had initially done. 

I'm now hoping I didn't work up the design too low on the "skirt".  Need room to add lace around the bottom edge.  I also hope that the fabric will iron out nicely when all the stitching is done since I'm not using stretcher bars or a hoop--instead I'm stitching "in hand".

Angel Clothespin Joy Completed

Half Stitch Question

Boy, do I feel like a doofus on this project.  

April 3, 2024--My local ANG chapter, Delaware's Seashore Chapter, is putting together little angels for the Christmas tree at Delaware Hospice.  We received our kits from the member who is organizing this project (thanks Shirley H) which has enough materials to put together three angels (all we had to do was supply our own threads, needles, embroidery hoop, etc.).  

After cross-stitching the design on the "skirt", the fabric will be edged with lace and glued unto a clothespin.  Then each angel will be embellished with curly hair, drawn faces, a bow, etc.   Even though this isn't something I'd normally do (I generally don't like "crafty" things), they are too cute to resist.

Angels Clothespin Materials

Angels Clothespin Skirt and Sleeves drawn on 18 count Aido Cloth

I finally had an opportunity to use my light board to trace the skirt and sleeve patterns unto the Aida cloth.  I've had the light board for ten plus years now and besides loaning it out to a friend, it's been used only two other times.  Of course, I could have taped the master design unto a window, but it's a dark and rainy day, so the light board was used.  I should mention that I had to grab a ladder to pull the light board down from a top shelf in the closet, then put it back when done where it'll probably sit for another ten years.

Spring Sampler - Updated 9/17/24

September 17, 2024--Won a 1st Place Ribbon in the Canvaswork/Needlepoint category at Rehoboth Beach Museum's 12th Annual Needlework Exhibition in Rehoboth Beach, DE.  So pleased.

February 18, 2024--Picked this up from the pillow fabricator yesterday and love how it looks sitting on an extra dining room chair.  The colors work perfectly with the furniture, wall paint and draperies. 

Spring Sampler Finished into a Pillow

Spring Sampler Pillow on a Dining Room Chair

January 22, 2024--The stitching is complete on all 21 bands.  Loved working on this project and I especially love the colors.  Next step is to meet with my pillow fabricator to determine what color will look best for the pillow back and whether or not she'll need a few rows of tent stitches around the edge so the canvas won't show. 

Scroll to the very end to see a full list of my threads used for each band as compared to those used by Melita.  Hope you will find this helpful if you decide to stitch this wonderful piece.

Spring Sampler Completed

January 6, 2024--Now thirteen bands are done, and each one complements the other beautifully.  I'm putting this project away so I can continue stitching on it at EGA's CampWannastitch in Ocean City, MD.  Stay tuned.....

It's interesting how different rows 6 and 16 look from each other because of the way my window light hits the canvas at a slant.   When all the stitching is done, I'll find another way to photograph this piece so the light shines evenly on it.

Spring Sampler Bands 5 through 17 Completed

December 29, 2023--Eleven bands are now stitched, and I love the colors.  As we work from the center outwards (in this case, up and down), Bands 6 through 16 are done.  

Spring Sampler Bands 6 through 16 Completed

December 12, 2023--When I took the photo below on November 1 that shows a partially stitched Band 6, I stopped working on it to confirm with Melita, the project's designer, that the thread used was too bright and light.  She agreed, and I finally had an opportunity to purchase a new thread color from Waste Knot Needlepoint in Arlington, VA on November 20th on my way to Thanksgiving in Ohio.

Sampler Spring Border 6 Question

After looking at all the ribbon-like threads, nothing struck my fancy.  Finally, I found the color Mermaid, #5009, by Kreinik.  Size 16 Medium Braid and it works perfectly--and I love the sparkle.  So, I put away the RG Sparkle Rays PS68 Light Sage for use in a future project.  Of course, I had lots of "frogging" to do and tucking away of tail ends, but I got it done in no time. Here's the result.

Spring Sampler Bands 6 through 15 Completed

The next Band, number 16, uses the same colors and similar patterns as in Band 6, That will balance the project nicely.  

October 10, 2023--I've now stitched seven bands (8 through 14) on this delightful sampler (about one-third done).   I want to take this with me to the New Jersey Needlefest event that takes place in a week and a half, so I'll hold off on doing any more until then.

Spring Sampler Bands 8 through 14 Completed

October 5, 2023--I couldn't resist starting this project instead of waiting for the class that begins later this month.  Melita's instructions are wonderful, so I haven't had any problems so far.

We are instructed to start with Row 11, the center row, then work our way north and south.  So that's what I've done, then I added the top and bottom Rows 10 and 12.  The colors are developing into an interesting combination.  Now I'm really looking forward to adding more rows to see how the colors play together.

Spring Sampler, Rows 10, 11, 12

September 9, 2023--I recently signed up to take Melita Glavin's Spring Sampler project (photo below) through my local EGA chapter at Brandywine (near Wilmington, DE).   This is an award-winning piece designed by Melita and I'm very excited to begin working on it.  

But first, choosing the threads.  This could have been a daunting task if it weren't for the fact that Melita, and her friend, chapter mate and stitcher extraordinaire, Linda M., were willing to meet with a few of us at Fireside Stitchery in Malvern, PA, only a 2.5-hour drive for me from southern Delaware.

I brought some fabric swatches and a paint sample with me upon which I would base my project's color palate.  Linda M. volunteered to work with me and I'm so glad she has the patience of a saint.  I just couldn't imagine how her suggestions would look and kept her constantly finding alternatives.   But in the end, everything came together and I'm very happy with the colors chosen.  Melita was also consulted on some of the color choices and thread substitutions and offered invaluable assistance.  All in all, a very fun day (almost as much fun as going to the casino).

My color palate (fabric and paint swatches from my living and dining rooms are on the right)

Spring Sampler Thread List Revised

And best photo of all--Melita's project photo (hers is done in purple):

Spring Sampler designed and stitched by Melita Glavin--Project Photo

Class will be held towards the end of October, but I may not be able to wait that long to start.

Thread List by Band and Stitch

2 comments:

MelitaJanuary 5, 2024 at 9:48 PM0

It's coming along really nicely. Love the new darker thread in Bands 6 and 16. Perfect! Can't wait to see it in person on the 17th. Don't forget to bring it!

Reply

Brenda M. CôtéJanuary 6, 2024 at 10:25 AM

Thanks Melita. I'll bring it to the meeting on the 17th and also to Camp Wannastitch.

Rose in Assisi Technique - 3/11/22

March 11, 2022--The March meeting program of Delaware's Seashore Chapter of ANG consisted of learning the Assisi technique while cross stitching a rose.  This results in a negative effect where the background is stitched, and the central design is left blank.   Thank you, Bobbie R., for introducing us to this style of stitching and I look forward to working up more designs using this technique.  

This project was stitched on 28 count Jobelin linen with two strands of DMC over 2 threads of fabric, effectively making it 14 count linen.  I think the result is quite dramatic.

Rose Assisi Technique on an Embroidery Hoop (stitching in the "well" to make it easier to end threads on the back of this small project)

Rose Assisi Technique Framed (please ignore a small reflection of light on the bottom)

Valentine Heart - Updated 7/28/19

July 28, 2019--Finished this heart into an ornament today.  Like the results, but ask you overlook the crooked initials and year on the back.   Someday I'll remember to draw an erasable line on the fabric before doing the sewing.

The cord used for the bow is thinner than the one going around the heart.  When I first made it, I realized the heart needed a more substantial cord going around it, so saved the thinner one for a different use--like the bow,

Without further fanfare, here it is:

Heart Valentine Finished

Heart Valentine Finished Back

July 9, 2019--Completed the stitching on this cute heart.  It was a lot of fun and the 50 blocks worked up fast.  Will make the cording and find backing fabric from my stash today.  Looking forward to hanging this in my dressing closet where I have most of my other non-holiday ornaments.

Valentine Heart Completed

July 4, 2019--Happy Independence Day.  My stitching, not having anything to do with the holiday, does at least have the color red in it.

My ANG chapter, Delaware's Seashore Chapter, had a class called Valentine Heart led by one of our members, Roseanne J.  The project, published in the January, 2017 issue of ANG NeedlePointers Magazine, is from Wiehenberg Designs and has 50 blocks of different stitch combinations.  A challenge for even the most experienced needlepointer especially since the diagrams are not numbered as to how to execute the stitch.

So far I've completed 19 blocks using 5 different threads.   Not only did I chose different, but similar colors, I chose different textures as well.  It's interesting, to say the least (IMHO).  Here's a photo of my progress to date.

Valentine Heart through Block 19

Overdyed Spools - 4/29/19

April 29, 2019--Found this little simple frame in my stash and it's perfect for this project.  Now to hang it in my craft room.

Overdyed Spools Framed

April 10, 2019--At my ANG Delaware's Seashore Chapter meeting last week, April 1st , I took a class led by Melita Glavin, the designer of the ANG Chapter Project Book piece called Overdyed Spools.

Melita's talk on how to manipulate and handle overdyed threads was well done and opened a world of possibilities of what to do with the many types of overdyes in the thread world.  We were fortunate that Melita was willing to come to Delaware for this class and enjoyed learning that she and her husband spent the weekend taking advantage of all that Southern Delaware has to offer.

I just finished stitching this piece and love how the overdyed thread fell in clumps in the 2 horizontal blocks, and, by controlling the colors, were striped in the 2 vertical blocks.  Definitely a most enjoyable project, and it will look great framed and hanging in my craft room.

Overdyed Spools Completed

Summer Solstice Sampler - Updated 10/10/16

October 10, 2016--Had this framed at my local Michael's Arts & Crafts and am very pleased with the results.  The frame looks "antique" and the two mats are perfect with the linen.  Looks very colonial.  However, my house is not colonial so the sampler will be relegated to dress up my craft room.

April 30, 2016--My first cross stitch sampler is completed and I thoroughly enjoyed this quick and easy piece.  Using my new MagEyes made the job so much easier on my eyes.

One change I made, however, was deciding not to continuing to stitch "in hand" and to mount the linen on stretcher bars.  What a difference!!!  I was able to stitch more quickly without worrying about warping the fabric or getting it wrinkled and dirty.  Here's the results.....

Summer Solstice Sampler Completed

Summer Solstice Sampler Mounted on Stretcher Bars

March 9, 2016--Our March, 2016 member led project at the ANG Delaware's Seashore Chapter meeting was Summer Solstice Sampler by Sally Ann Designs.  I understand this is second in a series of four seasonal samplers and a companion piece to "Winter's Whisper Sampler", another beautiful sampler done in pale threads.

I've never worked on a cross stitch sampler and this is a beautiful introduction which includes a variety of stitches.

I'm working "in hand" on 32 count linen using 1 strand of Caron Waterlillies over 2 threads in a darker, less variegated color than that used by the designer.  My magnifying glass is going to be an eye saver while working on this piece.  Below is my progress to date.

Progress at 3-9-16