October 2, 2007
Take a Stitch Tuesday week 40
Posted by sharonb under Challenges, Hand Embroidery, Needlework, Take a Stitch Tuesday | Tags: , embroidery, Hand Embroidery, Needlework, stitching, TAST |At week 40 for some reason I feel we are now heading towards the end of the TAST challenge. It feel like a turning point with only 12 more stitches to go. This week I am featuring a stitch from The Batsford Encyclopaedia of Embroidery Stitches by Anne Butler which I found at the Lifeline Book Fair.
Linked Double Chain is an interesting variety of chain stitch. If you are a beginner you might like to make sure you are familiar with chain stitch and with twisted chain stitch since Linked double chain consists of two chain stitches worked side by side which are linked with twisted chain to form a line.
To work the stitch start with a single chain stitch.

Then work a second chain next to it so that the two stitches are side by side.
Work a single twisted chain stitch into the base of the two stitches.
Work two chain stitches side by side emerging from the base of the Twisted Chain

Continue along the line in this manner.
This is a marvelous stitch as it will follow a curve well and lends itself to all sorts of interesting experimentation. It looks particularly effective if you use a thread with a firm twist. Silk ribbon also works well with this stitch. It lends itself to being further embellished with beads so crazy quilters should enjoy it too. I hope you enjoy experimenting with this stitch.

As promised here is a round up of those still in hte challenge. Or I should say a list of those who have left a comment to let me know that they are still working their needle and thread. So here is a list of those still standing as it were.
Neki of A Movable Feast
Pat of Altering Thoughts
Annie of Annies Crazy World
Susan of Art of Textiles
Liz of Arty Lady
Ati of Ati on the crazy road…
Vero of Au Fil du Jardin
Penny of Back Valley Seasons
Lindsay of Craft and Chaos
Crazyqstitcher
Doreen of Creative Meanderings
Barbara on Embroidery Overlaps
Kate of Everyday Revelations
Lynne of Faffing About
Freddy toimetised
Jody of Gumbo Lily
Mann on Heegeldab
Helena on flickr
Helenann on flickr
Jowynn on Flickr
Christine of Lady Jane’s Journal
Glaucia of Libélulas na Janela has done some tremendous catch up work
Luci on Luci’s Creative Adventures
Nina at Madhatter’s Mess on Flickr
Mary Anne of Magpies Mumblings
Norma of Norma’s Needleworkz
Juli on Orange Rug Yarn
Corina of Patch Scrap
Elizabeth of Quieter Moments
Dy of Random Applique
Jenny of Reading and Stitching in Il
Connie of the Scoop Score and Deal
Annie is Sequina on flickr
Susan on Smockery
Sparodic Packrat
Tenar of Tenar’s Cave
Marty of Textiles in Time
Deepa of This and that…my random thoughts
Dale of Thread Studio
Carol-Anne of Threads Across the Web
Vivian of Vivian in Stitches
Nancilyn of What Boggles my Mind
That’s it for this week. Remember to swing by and leave a comment preferably on this page, so that people can follow the link and see what you have done. There is a Take a stitch Tuesday flickr group which you can browse
For anyone enjoying this challenge or who enjoyed the Sumptuous surfaces class, you will possibly enjoy the Develop a Personal Library of Stitches starting on Wednesday November 7. Crazy quilters will be pleased to know that the Encrusted Crazy Quilting is being offered again starting on November 9.
Please Note: I had to change the start dates for both my online classes because I am going to New Zealand for a week. The start dates of both classes have been pushed back rather than try to juggle forum posts from a hotel internet connection. I hope this does not throw too many people out.
Develop a Personal Library of Stitches starts Wednesday November 7 and Encrusted Crazy Quilting is starting on Friday November 9.






October 2, 2007 at 7:43 am
Cool. I’ve never seen this one before. It’s interesting and a bit bizarre, but I bet once the “rhythm” of the stitch is there, it would be quick and fun to work!
I’m looking forward to seeing the results on this one! I haven’t kept up with the challenge by stitching, but I sure have by viewing! There are some really fantastic samples of stitching out there!
Thanks, Sharon.
October 2, 2007 at 9:06 am
Hi Sharon
Don’t get excited. I haven’t started this weeks’ stitch yet. However, I thought you might like to have a look at the stitches I’ve put up on my blog just now…found in an old magazine dated 1928.
Cheers
Mary Anne
October 2, 2007 at 9:52 am
HI Sharon:
I looked up your “book find” on alibris.com, a used book site i use and found that you got a GREAT DEAL!
Alibris has the same book for $76 and $128!
Congratulations!
October 2, 2007 at 12:19 pm
This is a beautiful variation
October 2, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Oh, New Zealand! Where When Why???
October 2, 2007 at 3:52 pm
I’ve posted several weeks on my blog.
vivian-institches.blogspot.com/
October 2, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Hi Pat,
Re: Personal Library of Stitches Course and high speed connection.
What if you don’t have a high speed connection? Why is a high speed connection recommended?
Will it still be practical to take this course if you don’t have this capability? Please let me know.
Enjoying TAST still,
Cindy
October 2, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Jo - where? Christchurch when end of October and why - its a long story but its a bit of family get together -
I have dropped you an email
October 2, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Hi, Sharon, I’m on Flickr, but I also have a blog now, at Parkview 616. If that is not a hot link, the URL is http://www.jowynn.wordpress.com.
Come see me, y’all!
October 3, 2007 at 6:15 am
Hi Cindy
high speed internet connection is recommended so that people can download lessons easily. Some people have taken the classes without high speed connections and have said in the forums its just takes longer but they seemed quite happy. Since I have high speed myself I have no idea how their connection may have effected their enjoyment of the class and I have a feeling that those who were not happy might not complain to me.
So all I can honestly say is that people with lower speeds have taken the class in the past and I have not had complaints but I am sure it would effect forum interaction and thier fun level - as with anything else online speed counts unfortunately
October 3, 2007 at 6:18 am
Jo - Of course how could I forget your blog! I am sorry - you are such a personality on flickr - don’t miss it folks -
Peggy - I know I got a bargain that is why I am still flicking through it and totally delighted with my find. I really have been searching it out for years!
October 3, 2007 at 6:56 am
Hi Sharon and Cindy,
I only have dial-up and have done both Personal Library of Stitches and Sumptuous Surfaces workshops. It just takes longer to download the lessons (For PLOS I just downloaded about 6am when it was a little quicker; for Suptuous Surfaces I was usually up when the lessons were just loaded and did that at 1.30 am but if I wasn’t awake it was a much more respectable 6am.) It did take longer to check the individual photos on blogs and Flickr sites but I just tried to do so every day, so it never became overwhelming.
Just go for it! It really is time, effort and money very well spent!
October 3, 2007 at 7:21 am
Thanks Jacqui thats good to know
October 3, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Hi
uploaded last week’s stitches. drop by at http://amovablefeast.blogspot.com
neki desu
October 5, 2007 at 3:27 am
Hi Sharon/all,
I am still stitching … although I am a few weeks behind right now (more behind than I have been all year) - but I am going on a quilting retreat the weekend after this one, and we can only take hand sewing/etc (machines are not allowed) so I plan to catch up with my stitching then (that is the only reason why I let myself get a few weeks behind) … I am way behind with blogging the stitches though - hopefully I will get caught up with that soon … I keep promising to do that “in the next few days” but life tends to get in the way of spending too many hours blogging.
- Andrea
disorganised in Dunlop (a suburb of Canberra, Australia)
October 7, 2007 at 11:03 pm
Hi to all,
I’ve posted wk40 on my blog
http://aufildujardin.blogspot.com/
and on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/verobirdie/1504931669/
This stitch is fun, and great for texture.
Thank you Sharon for proposing it!
October 8, 2007 at 9:34 am
I had fun with this one. Week 40 is on my blog, http://backvalleyseasons.blogspot.com
Frightening thought that there are less than 12 weeks to go, and Christmas before that!
October 8, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Hi Sharon,
I’ve posted week 40 to my blog. Didn’t play too much with this one but anticipate using it. You can find my small sample here:
http://normasneedlez.blogspot.com
October 8, 2007 at 2:00 pm
I combined Weeks 33 & 34 with 40 . Can be seen on blog
http://mindblogglings.blogspot.com/2007/10/dragon-fire.html
October 9, 2007 at 3:20 am
My week 40 is here:
http://www.isetegija.net/index.php?ind=blog&op=home&idu=2796&singlepost=20539
I enjoyed this stitch, so easy to make and so nice result! Thanks!
October 9, 2007 at 5:12 am
Hi Sharon,
I’m back from a wonderful vacation. I’ve caught up with weeks 39 and 40 in a few quick posts. They are posted in reverse order on my blog. quietermoments.wordpress.com
October 9, 2007 at 8:59 am
I’ve posted my linked double chain sample on my blog- http://blog.orangerugyarn.com///index.php/musings/2007/10/08/linked_double_chain_tast_week_40
I believe I’m also caught up on the stitches I missed earlier this year and I’ll be posting them to my blog as time permits.
October 12, 2007 at 6:17 am
Another great stitch Sharon, I did not manage to post a photo, but I will do it soon! I love it!
October 12, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Week 40 is done and on my blog but week 41 is causing some problems.
Doreen
http://doreeng.blogspot.com/
October 13, 2007 at 3:16 am
Now I have a photo too:
http://corinaj.wordpress.com/
October 14, 2007 at 5:29 am
Really enjoyed this stitch and I have posted it on the flickr group site and at http://flickr.com/photos/helenad/1560031193/
October 17, 2007 at 9:40 am
Hi Sharon, here’s my sample for Linked Double Chain http://faffingabout.blogspot.com/2007/10/tast-linked-double-chain.html