Not sure what the final orientation will be, but I kind of like this.
The TAST 2012 Quilt Continues!
This time my six inch square is covered with crossed buttonhole stitch. And what goes better with any buttonhole stitch but buttons. That’s where I started. Given the stitch, the attachment was given. Even though the vintage or old buttons I’ve brought with me reflects only a small amount of my button collection, there are still a huge number of choices to consider. Off to the sketch pad.
A quick sketch thinking of button bands on a sweater
A small sampling of my stash
Given the sketch, I knew I needed a variety of button sizes to provide movement and interest. Keeping the buttons within a color family is also necessary so there are not too many variables to grab the eye. I want the buttons to enhance the stitching not compete for top billing. After trying several possible colors, I found my selection of red buttons gave the effect I was looking for. On to the next variable—threads.
I played around with some threads in colors complementary to the buttons. Again, it felt like there was a competition going on between stitch and buttons. Okay, monochrome it is! But that doesn’t mean the threads can’t sing a bit on their own. I chose different textured cottons. And then I played around with numbers of plies of the cotton. Thus the variability and color intensity of the buttons is reflected in the threads.
As for the stitch, I have not done this stitch before, so I had to practice a bit as my brain worked to cross sides as effectively as the threads! I used a DMC #5 Perle Cotton scrap from my stash. I also decided upon DMC variegated cotton floss #115. I love Caron threads and chose a stranded pima cotton (Watercolours) called appropriately Flame. Another of my favorite threads is Weeks Dye Works. Don’t you love the color name? Louisiana Hot Sauce!
I would have to say of the variations in the crossed buttonhole stitch that I tried, the one that looks like cross stitches with bars was the trickiest. Not sure why. Maybe more practice will answer that question. I have presented photos of different orientations of the block in my photo album at Stitchin’ Fingers.
What do you think? Like the block? What variation did you try? Like best? Are you loving TAST 2012? What do yo think the next stitch will be?
The Shop Sampler 