Before I talk about TAST I would like to let people know that my online class Sumptuous Surfaces will run again in January commencing January 24th. If you have enjoyed this challenge you may enjoy this class. The last time this class was run some fantastic work was produce. You can see students work on the flickr group that was set up for students of the class. Even if you are not considering the class it is worth taking a look as there is some great stuff there.

The class commences January 24th. You can book this class here

An update on the Take it Further challenge

I have just updated the Take it Further challenge page and at the time of writing we now have 253 participants signed on. I am closing the sign up in 24 hours from the time I press the publish button on this post. So if you have been hesitating leave a comment with your blog or flickr address to sign on.

The Last Two weeks of TAST

OK now that I have that little bit of self promotion and news out of the way on with TAST. With Christmas day falling on Tuesday it means the regular TAST announcement clashes with a very important day. So I have decided to post both weeks today which means of course it is the last TAST post I will write. I must admit it has crept up on me somewhat as I have been looking ahead to next years Take it Further challenge.

Firstly I really must take my hat off to all those who have managed to stitch along. There must have been times when you wondered if it was worth it. There are also cluster of people trying to catch up which I admire as well as its not easy to so once you have slipped.

I must admit that this challenge was a little too demanding for most people and I will admit too that it bit considerably into my time this year. I would not admit to myself just how much until now. I find if I start thinking negatively half way through something it leads to tossing it in so I never let myself actually look at what it took to write a weekly post about TAST.

That said it has been immensely satisfying to watch and it has had some really exciting times as I watched people discover things about various stitches. It’s been a great thrill and a privilege to run it so I want to say thank you to all those who participated in the challenge.

I usually end my weekly TAST post with a link to the Take a Stitch Tuesday flickr group . It now houses over 1,600 images and if ever I was in any doubt about this challenge browsing through the group re-energised me. Even if you have not been stitching along it is worth taking a look and it is a great review of the year!

Also check the TAST page as I am currently updating the list to display those that are up to date or  attempting to complete

OK before I get too wordy on with the two stitches that are for the final weeks.

Week 51 Chained Bar

The first stitch is chained bar which forms a solid line.

Create the foundation of this stitch by first laying down some long straight stitches.
Between two to six straight stitches in DMC pearl 3 thread work well

You are going to work a zig zag chain stitch across the bar. You might like to refresh your memory of zig zag chain.

Work from left to right. Bring the needle from the back of the fabric and hold the thread with the left thumb. Insert the needle back into where it first came out. Take the needle through the fabric bringing the point of the needle out on a diagonal angle, below the straight stitches. With the thread wrapped under the needle point pull the needle through the fabric.


In the second stitch turn the angle of the chain stitch to take the chain over the bar.
Continue along the bar until the straight stitches are couched down by the zig zag chain stitches

If your stitches do not lie flat as you enter the fabric with each loop pierce the end of the previous loop.

This stitch produces a very heavy solid line. You can also use it to couch down ribbon or fine braid. This is a stitch where contrasting threads work well. For instance a metallic thread over a bar of silk is stunning. Highly textured threads can be used as the bar. If they are very hairy the chain will create interesting indentations on the line.

Week 52 Spanish Feather stitch

Spanish feather stitch is also listed in stitch dictionaries as Spanish knotted feather stitch and known as twisted zigzag chain stitch. It’s an interesting, and for some a challenging stitch creating a wide, ornamental line.

Work Spanish feather stitch downwards, along three imaginary parallel lines. If you want to keep the line straight, it is sometimes useful to mark them on the fabric with a pen that will dissolve with water.

For beginners this stitch can be rather difficult to keep even, so some practice is needed but it is worth learning as it is very versatile. Before you try this stitch do try twisted chain as this stitch is a variety of twisted chain stitch.

Bring your thread through from the back of the fabric and put the needle back in the fabric just above but to the left of where your thread comes out. Bring the needle out at point to the left and slightly down from where your thread comes out as seen in the illustration.

Wrap your thread up and under the needle as illustrated.

Pull the needle through the fabric and you will see that the stitch formed looks like a twisted chain stitch worked at an angle.


Place your needle just above the twist of the stitch near where your thread emerged from the fabric at the beginning.


Bring your needle out on the right line but below where your thread first emerged from the fabric as illustrated.

Wrap the thread over and under the needle to form the second twisted stitch.
Pull your thread through and you will have a pair of twisted chain stitches worked in a zig-zag fashion.

Continue down the line back and forth until you have reached the bottom.

Each time you work a stitch make sure you put your needle in the top of the cross form by the thread.

As you can see the loops create a knotted look at the edges of the row.

This stitch is easier to work with a twisted thread, such as pearl cotton but do experiment with other threads as well as Spanish feather stitch is extremely versatile and full of personality!

As usual swing back and leave a comment here when you have worked a sample and there is a flickr group you can browse too.