I am finding Jane Zimmerman’s $50.00 chartpak unhelpful. For each stitch, she shows only a single diagram. For example, here’s the one I’m trying to figure out now: knotted detached buttonhole.
No instructions, no step-by-step guidance. Just this.
Without the help of Linda Connors’ plaited braid stitch tutorial, I was totally unable to master that one. Without the help of Mary Corbet’s video, I was struggling with the trellis stitch. So far, I haven’t found any help for the knotted detached buttonhole stitch. Still trying to get it.
But, I have made progress. On this practice cloth, I produced a line of plaited braid stitch using the Kreinik gold braid called for by the chartpak. It is the correct 1/8 inch width line and the stitches are good.
Can anyone tell me what camera I need to show you close-up shots of this beautiful stitching? I’m using a Canon PowerShot A95.
Now for the trellis stitch. Here are my first attempts to learn the stitch:
I started with the Needlepoint Silk (far right), but soon saw that that would be a very expensive way to practice, so I switched to cotton, first trying with pearl cotton #5, the better to see what I was doing. You’ve seen this practice cloth before. Here I tried stitching leaves. Not even trellis stitch! With Mary’s help, I have done these leaves:
These are trellis stitch. It’s one thing to learn how to make the stitch. It’s another thing to fit the rows of stitches inside an irregular shape. See the holes? I still haven’t learned how to add and subtract stitches to fill the shape evenly. Nevertheless, I pressed on to my official practice cloth, with this result:
This time I used the Needlepoint Silk, which is quite different from working with DMC cotton floss. As you can see, the leaf is still “holey.” But I think I’ve learned how to avoid that when I stitch leaf #1 on the design.
And now back to the knotted detached buttonhole stitch.
Can’t help at all w the stitches, but I do have a Canon Powershot A80, and there are a few things you can do. The zoom is the first, next if you look in the booklet under close-ups, you’ll see that you need to press the flower symbol (bottom of big button on back). There’s chance it might look different in your model, so check the book.
I have found that even with these and using daylight from the window, I can only do so much. I need a tripod to control hand shake. You might also, if you don’t already have one.
Hi, JoWynn! Wow! You’re making great practice progress! I think the leaves look good. I agree with you about the disappointment of that project pack. The stitch instructions are lacking. I think when Jane must have first developed it, stitch instructions were not what they are today. We’ve grown pretty used to the step-by-step explanations. Well, the fact is, I think that’s why more people are embroidering now – because it’s more accessible as far as instruction is concerned. Perhaps I’m wrong? Hm. Just a thought, anyway.
No luck on a PB video yet. If you could just ask the time gods to sprinkle a few more hours on me, I’d appreciate it!
I do really think the leaves look quite good. You’re more apt to see the ‘holes’ when looking at a photo than you are in the real item, I’ve found. Also, if you look at some of the original embroidery from the era, similar holes are apparent in photos.
As for the camera, do you have a “macro” mode? It’s usual got a little tulip symbol by it. If you put it in macro mode, you’ll be able to focus the camera a little closer than in regular mode….
I think you’re doing a great job!!
MC
Jowynn,
As part of the Plymouth Project (with the Jacket), Thistle Thread supplied multi page instructions with step by step photos (in colour!) for Trellis, Spiral Trellis, Ceylon etc stitch.
See http://pinkleader.livejournal.com/48606.html
for links, and tell me if you have any trouble getting to the PDFs.
I hope this makes it easier for you.
Others have already said it, but I came by to suggest you try the macro mode on your Canon (indicated by a small flower that looks like a tulip), and try photographing from about 5 cm away. Good luck!
Hi Jowynn,
This knotted detached buttonhole looked so intriguing that I decided to try it. I think I have figured out the above stitch diagram, my little sample looks promising and I have taken in progress shots. I will do a posting with step by step instructions on them, but on sunday, because I have no time earlier.
BTW, your progress on plaited braid stitch is amazing. I never tried this one because even the step by step instructions are so complicated that I’m afraid of them.
Tenar
[...] buttonhole ·Tagged hand embroidery Jowynn posted a stitch on her blog she had trouble with, knotted detatched buttonhole stitch. It looked interesting, I found I can do it, so I wrote a step-by-step. It looks complicated, but [...]
Great article! I’m loving your website;
Hi
I’m going to be doing a video soon on knotted detached buttonhole.
There’s a really good book on the subject if you can get hold of a copy, its called Needlelace by Pat (?).
Will keep you posted.
Beth