Chain stitching in embroidery and crochet - My block for the Splendid Sampler #thesplendidsampler

There’s a reason that the chain stitch is one of my favorite embroidery stitches.

It reminds me of my grandma.

My grandma and the hundreds of doilies she crocheted out of an endless number of tiny chain stitches. Her crocheted chain stitches look almost identical to the embroidery chain stitch.

I absolutely loved visiting my grandma’s house. When you walked in the door you could see her doilies right away. There’d be one under every plant and lamp. Doily table runners on the side tables. And at Easter there would be pretty yellow and pink and purple ones out. She had a little “stitching station” beside her chair in the living room, so when she was relaxing and watching tv, she would be crocheting. No idle hands for Grandma.

Grandma and Grandpa. Check out all those doilies in the background.

A little over a year ago, while organizing my craft supplies, I came across a bin full of grandma’s thread that she used to make her doilies. About 20 opened spools, some full and some with just a bit of thread left. I had stored them away because I wanted them to stay just as they were when my grandma passed away. But now, years later, I decided the best way for me to honor my grandma was to use her thread.

So I started making her doilies. Stitching the same pattern she used, with her thread, and her tiny crochet hook.

“DOILY: Starting at center, chain 16. Join with sl st to form ring.”

16 chain stitches made, thousands more to go.

My first doily using grandma's floss. The green is from a tiny ball of thread I found hiding in the center of a larger spool.

I was a couple rows into my 4th doily when I was asked by Pat and Jane to design a quilt block for The Splendid Sampler. I knew immediately that I wanted to continue to honor my grandma and her doilies by combining her main craft of crochet with my main craft of embroidery, and my mom’s main craft of quilting. I wanted my block to represent our 3 generations of crafting.

My quilt block is of a “crocheted” doily being stitched with a tiny metal hook.

I love that I finally got to design an embroidery using the chain stitch with what the chain stitch always reminded me of. Grandma’s doilies.

"Crocheted Thoughts" My Splendid Sampler quilt block.

You can get the free pattern for the embroidered quilt block on the Splendid Sampler homepage by clicking the link below.

Get the free pattern here: thesplendidsampler.com

Let’s make the quilt block together! 

Over the next couple of days, I’ll be sewing and embroidering my Splendid Sampler block LIVE on Periscope.

You’ll be able to sew and stitch the block right along with me, and ask any questions you have along the way LIVE and I’ll answer them during the Periscope. We’ll hang out and craft together!

So first, go download the pattern at the Splendid Sampler by clicking here.

Then download the free Periscope app to your device from the App Store for Apple products or Play store for Android (if you're using an iPad, look in the iPhone only apps).

In the app, click the person icon and then the magnifying glass icon, and search for my user name, penguinandfish. Click follow. I will Periscope LIVE at 9:30pm central time, starting tonight, March 20, 2016, so tune in (Periscope should notify you when I’m live). Then grab your crafting supplies and we’ll make the block together.

Note: You do need a Twitter account to use Periscope. If you don't have or want an account, you can still view my Periscopes live (but not participate in comments) at periscope.tv/penguinandfish.

Can't watch LIVE?

If you missed any of the Periscopes live, you can watch all of the replays at:

katch.me/penguinandfish

I'm making EVERY SINGLE BLOCK of The Splendid Sampler LIVE on Periscope and you can watch them all by clicking the Katch link above.

You can also check out my blocks so far on my Instagram at:

instagram.com/penguinandfish (I'd love if you followed me there)

Need some help with embroidery?

I did a few embroidery lessons leading up to the release of my block for The Splendid Sampler. If you're new to embroidery, need some help transferring your design, want a stitch refresher, or want some fun tips and tricks, then check out the replay videos.

To watch, click the katch.me/penguinandfish link then click the "collections" tab on the website. Click "Embroidery Lessons" to watch.

I’m excited to work on the block together with you.

Happy stitching! And good luck with all the rest of The Splendid Sampler blocks.


best
-Alyssa


Comment below, or feel free to contact me (Alyssa) at emails [at] penguinandfish [dot] com (type out using the “@” and “.” symbols with no spaces).

________

If you found this post interesting, I hope you'll join me to get weekly emails on how to craft a happy life - and make something cute in the process. For signing up you’ll also get a FREE hand embroidery pattern.

Click here to join (it's FREE too!)

Artist: xmoonbloom

I DARE YOU not to smile, squeal and giggle when you look at these pet hats by xmoonbloom on Etsy. Unicorn kitty eeeee! See more and check out the gorgeous amigurumi (cute + crochet) plush animals in the xmoonbloom etsy store.

Artist: Pilli Pilli Handmade

These little fox scarves are so cute I can hardly stand it! They were designed and crocheted by Pilli Pilli Handmade. The back of each fox head has a button that can be hooked into the scarf to hold it in place while you wear it. LOVE it! See more in the Pilli Pilli Handmade Etsy store, blog and flickr.

Artist: Susan of TADA's Revolution

These pics are so dang cute I can hardly stand it! These photos and little amigurumi (fun crocheted characters) were made by Susan of TADA's Revolution. Check out more on her flickr and blog. She also has an etsy store where she sells a few cute characters and fun Japanese craft books. Neat!

Artist: Nesting Emily

I love these pieces by Nesting Emily. The top four pieces are from her "Hold" series. I love the doilies and soft materials with the pottery. See lots more of these lovelies in the Nesting Emily Etsy store and flickr site.

Artist: Papaver Vert

I absolutely love these felted bowls and coasters by Papaver Vert. They are so elegant, and the colors are great. See more on the Papavert Vert etsy, blog and over at poppytalk handmade.

My recently finished playing around projects

I thought I'd share my projects that I recently finished. I had these just laying around, half done, and I got the itch to clean up and finish all these things I've started. The first 2 pics are of a teddy bear that I made out of old clothes. I made him a little wonky by putting his head, eyes and arms off center. The second little yellow bear is made out of soft fleece. I think it would be perfect for a baby. And, of course, I can't ever finish a project without starting up something else, and that's what this last pic is of. They are coasters that I crocheted out shopping bags. (See how to make plastic bag "yarn" here on the gooseflesh flickr page.)

Artist: Sweet Nellie

Check out these sweet little characters by Sweet Nellie. They just make me feel like yea! it's Spring! So cute. Check out more on the Sweet Nellie blog and purchase on the Sweet Nellie etsy.

"hold me" red sparkly bear and a new pattern

Yea! Finished another "hold me" bear. Made out of yarn I unraveled from an old sweater, washed, and then crocheted. The red yarn from the sweater was made up of all different threads, one being a sparkly silver. Also am trying to make some new art. This is a flower pattern that goes with my little tea bears that I posted two days ago.

Green "hold me" bear on Cuteable!

Just found out my little "hold me" bear was posted yesterday on the Cuteable blog. Neato!

New "Hold Me" bear

Made another "hold me" bear this past weekend. It is made out of an old green sweater and an old blue sweater that I unraveled, washed and then crocheted. Not really sure if I like the blue nose. It blends in too much I think. I might change it to black.

Artist: Jou Ling, Amigurumi Kingdom

Check out these cute cute cute cupcake bears from Jou Ling at Amigurumi Kingdom. You can purchase these lovelies on her etsy, and see tons more on her flickr.

upcycled Hold Me bear

I finished crocheting and assembling this "Hold Me" bear over the weekend. It's made from bulky yarn I unraveled from old sweaters. Here's a post of the yarn. It's stuffed with small bits of sweater which really gives the bear some weight. It's completely upcycled except for my little tag that I sewed onto the back. Hoping to take some better pics within the next few days and then I'll stick it up on etsy this weekend. But I thought I'd share a little early. It's fun to make something new out of something that was going to be thrown away.

Last post of the year!

I'm heading out to Seattle tomorrow for Christmas. My brother (who makes the awesome hats) lives out there, so the whole family is going out to visit him. I won't be back until next year! I thought it would be good to have my last post of the year be of something I've made since I haven't posted anything of my own in a while. This was my first day in weeks where I just got to sit and relax, and that usually involves crocheting. This is what I ended up making: three more "Un Petit Crochet" rings out of mohair and vintage metallic thread, and I framed a couple of snowflakes that I made a while back. WOO HOO, a productive day! Merry Christmas everyone! Now I gotta get packing.

Vintage Metalic Thread from Germany

When I was in NYC, I went to Tinsel Trading Company and bought some awesome spools of metallic thread. I was playing around with it the other night, not really sure what to do with it. I had planned on making some crochet rings out of it but the thread didn't crochet well. So I took some scrap mohair thread and crocheted that into a ring then stitched in the metal thread as an accent. Here's the result. (man look how dry my hands look, it must be winter)