by Sandra | July 14th, 2010
I get bored quickly by making stems with a plain stem stitch. Very flat and uninteresting. Then I started creating two rows of stem stitch together for a more interesting effect. I wasn’t satisfied again and so I created a stitch combination for some flower stems.
This combination does take more time and dedication, but the results are worth it. It combines three stitches–the stem stitch, buttonhole stitch and detached stem stitch. I think I will be narcissistic and call the combo ”Sandra’s Stems”.
First, lay down at least two rows side by side of stem stitch. In the Goldfinch block I used three. (Cosmo embroidery floss two strands)
Second Step:
Wrap the three rows with a buttonhole stitch. Don’t pull the buttonhole stitches too tightly so it looks like a size 12 woman trying to fit into a size 6 pair of skinny jeans aka “Muffin Top” embroidery. Keep the tension taut, not tight. (same color Cosmo floss two strands)
Those buttonhole bars that go across and on top of the stem stitches will serve as the base for detached stem stitches. This row of stitches can be done in a value darker or lighter and will give the illusion of dimension to your stems instead of them laying there looking bland and lifeless. (I am using one strand of 60wt. cotton sewing thread)
The Third Step: Detached Stem Stitch
Finito, finis, done.
The difference is much more obvious in the flesh, but here is an example of the visual difference. “A” shows the highlight added with the detached stem stitch and, “B” shows the stem without the highlight. You can really see the stem’s texture and “heft” with “B” before the highlight is added.
Now an up to date image of the Goldfinch Block with the flower stems completed.
Do you see that slight highlight of the detached stem stitch on the stems that make them look dimensional? Although the stitching of the highlight looks “ziggy zaggy” in the A& B photo, the eye blends that out when it looks at the overall image. Those up close shots always look a bit more rough than they truly are in reality.
Next up…… The seedhead grass.
Sandra,
Sounds like a lot of work, but the results are wonderful … as usual. And I am more than willing to go with Sandra’s Stems.
Judy B
Thank you for another wonderful lesson. Everything looks lovely.
Absolutely fabulous!
Gorgeous!
Once again, AMAZING. Sandra, your creativity, workmanship and attention to detail are unsurpassed. Thanks for sharing.
Sandra, brilliant. Worth the effort. I love the thin stems with the flowers. Makes them look willowy, like they might just move if you look long enough. The shape of the leaves fits perfectly with the stems. Girl, you just ooze talent. Look forward to the seedhead grass. Thanks for sharing your secrets. They’re safe with us because no one can duplicate your stitching!
Sandra, was just studying your beautiful applique and noticed you wrote on your background. Did you use pencil? I thought you always used a plastic overlay.
Wow, wow, wow. These stems are wonderful. You will soon have me loving to do the embroidery details. This is going to be a fabulous block.
you offer such complete instructions. I’ll have to give this a try! Thank you
Beautiful stems! Thank you for sharing the details for Sandra’s Stems, I am definitely going to use the technique, unfortunately right now I don’t have any stems to embroider!!! Happy un-Birthday to Jenna, I am sure you had lots of fun shopping.
Strong enough for the Goldfinch to perch upon. Marvelous!
Hi Sandra,
I’m new to your website and I’m wondering will you have a pattern for the goldfinch? I tried going back in time to other posts to see if this is the direction. I would love to take a class from you and learn your techniques. Just wondering as I have some of the background fabric and would need to order more. It looks like you would need about 2 yards or is this a quilt for a class you are putting together???
Thanks,
Laura T
Wow! What a cool technique….and one that I will use …love your work and thanks for sharing.
Judy,
You know your seal of approval is the cherry on top right? LOL
You are welcome Sara!
Hannele and Mercy,
Isn’t wonderful what a different approach can do for the old stem stitch stems?
Melanie,
I use a no. 2 pencil. The embroidery covers it and If I do really tiny thin embroidery? The pencil wears away quickly as I handle the fabric. A light hand (but enough pressure that you can see the line) with the pencil has never let me down to mark my embroidery lines.
Do not use a mechanical pencil as it tends to catch the threads of the fabric weave and you get a mess of a tracing. Ask me how I know.
Whoa! Brenda? Really? Loving embroidery? You taunt me, surely. LOL
You already do such lush silk ribbon embroidery, you would be a natural–go ahead, feel the love! LOL
Denise,
You will be so please when you use these stems. I love the variegated threads but they usually don’t work here, especially if they have harsh value changes. I am too lazy to special cut the threads to have the right color show up in the right place. Did that make sense? The solid colored embroidery threads, no matter how fabulous, when used in a limited way, such as stems, are so flat. I wanted to bring the same painterly effect to the embroidery like I have done with the applique.
I think I am babbling. Uh oh.
Thanks Pam!
You hit the nail on the head. It has to be scaled for the Goldfinch. Which is why I used three rows of stem stitch. I always notice how out of scale a lot of flower stems on quilts are. Either too large or too small. Real flowers don’t have a heavy stem so applique tends to be a bit heavy handed and out of proportion. But one row of a stem stitch looks way off too the other direction.
This is the best way to scale stems appropriately IMO.
Hi Laura,
Welcome and I am glad you like the site! The Goldfinch pattern will be available as soon as I complete the block and get the pattern printed up. All you have to do is the follow the process here on the blog at your leisure (and if interested) in the meantime. I just write about everything as I am working, no formal class here on the blog. I am sharing my passion and hopefully de-mystifying my process.
This is an applique “sampler” quilt in progress called Naturalist’s Notebook. It started from a class project in one of my workshops called, “The Wren Block”. As I have time, and by follower suggestion, I create new blocks for the series. The Goldfinch is the second block in the series.
You are so welcome Pati!
Why thank you as always Miss Frances
Thanks Sandra! I’ve ordered the wren block and the tea block and will look forward to following along. I’m amazed at the fabrics you pull together and how they sing with each other. I’ve seen some of your quilts in person and I’m always in awe of your talent. I’ll have to keep checking the Block Party Quilters website to see when you are teaching there. I live in Redmond WA and that is probably the closest to being able to take a class of yours.
Thanks again,
Laura T
Laura,
The Block Party Quilter’s Workshop will be a two-day workshop which is GREAT!
Thought I would pass this bit of info along. If you go to the site http://www.Quiltshops.com , they have a search feature that accesses something like 200 other on-line shops. If you type in “gold cascade” it will bring up at least 4 different shops that have this fabric. I use this feature all the time, and have not yet been disappointed!
Becky
Becky,
Thanks for the info.