TAST - Sorbello Stitch

Finally got last weeks TAST stitch done so here's Chicken Little No. 87.  The Sorbello stitch is used to make her chain.  The stitch has a distinctive knot look to it, although you can't see that here very well as I've worked them quite close together.  But I quite like the chunky look of the stitch even though its only worked with 2 strands of DMC.  The chunky look kind of reminded me of rapper 'bling' hence the gold chain.

Encrusted Calico progress

Some more progress on the encrusted calico.  I added two threads across the centre of the bone button and added some buttonhole stitch across them.  It still didn't look like 'enough' so I added a large cross stitch at either end.  Not sure I like it, but it needed something.  Here's hoping it will grow on me 😀

The Beads are working I think.  There's enough of them there to add some interest and not so many as to shift me too far out of my comfort zone.

I love how the large button (top left) came out.  I used three of the colour range to create a graduated effect with needlelace (detached buttonhole).  And topped it off with a few beads to hide how it went a bit wonky in the centre. I'm not sure to how to avoid that but lets just say it was all part of the grand plan to use the beads in the centre.

Learning Number 3:
Work Picots before filling in around them.  Otherwise its quite frustrating trying to find somewhere to put the pins in.

Learning Number 4:
Save Woven wheels until the end.  You'll just end up catching them with the needle and pulling them out of shape.

Learning Number 5: 
Never, never, never ever mix all your beads together.  Even if your storage system is awful and bulky and just a pain in the backside.  You'll eventually find some better way to store them and then you'll need to either throw them out and buy some more, or spend hours and hours and hours throwing them all over the floor, I mean sorting them back into their colour groups.  I did the latter because I have masochistic tendencies obviously.  But they look lovely now, again.

Learning Number 6:
Based on my other learning more planning of the stitches is required.  Or at least a general idea of where the 'bigger' stitches will go based on the space needed to execute them (picots) and the durability of them once they're done (woven wheels).

Its all part of the journey though... so onwards and upwards.

Not a lot of progress on the encrusted calico piece in the last couple of days, due to the Viking costume, work and just general life.  But the Viking warrior costume was a hit with Miss P.  Unfortunately due to the early hour, the wet weather and the fact its winter here the photos are dark and fuzzy.  Will get her to put it on again to take some more pics if it ever stops raining.

On the encrusted calico front there is some progress, not a lot but some.  I did stem stitch band on the dog bone button and that worked well although its a bit boring so will have to come up with something a bit 'extra' for that.

I do have a plan for this weeks TAST stitch (Sorbello stitch) although I haven't started the stitching yet.  I was really struggling for inspiration this week, some just seem to fall into place and others are a real slog.

Chicken Little #86 - Herringbone Square

A bit late with my TAST for the week, the new stitch was published this morning.  But here he is.  I love the look on his face, looks like he's saying 'I dare you to make fun of my skivvy' 😆

The stitches came out a bit bigger than I planned, there is actually only two rows of the stitch there, 10 'squares'.

As for this weeks stitch, it's Sorbello stitch.  The link to the tutorial on TAST is here.  I borrowed a pic from Sharon's tutorial.  Hmm what am I going to do with that one??

Haven't started on the Viking costume yet... thats tomorrow afternoons job.