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Do you remember the show of Japanese quilts I went to the other day? Pamela of Hokkaido Kudasai has posted pictures of many more of the quilts, including close-ups. Head over to her blog and enjoy.

A day late, here is the completed Sunbonnet Sue Stitch Sampler. While making the yellow Madam Totsuka's Tasselled Chain Stitch flowers I came up with the idea of using a pin to make the loops even.  I am pleased with this trick and will update my instructions of #64 Madam Totsuka's Tasselled Chain (10th June, 2018). Now you can see that the 'boob' is really a knee!

Here is a bit of Sunbonnet Sue. Too many distractions have hindered my completion of this stitch sampler. Hope to be able to post a finish tomorrow.

Work In Progress Wednesday, well soon to be Thursday... Crazy for Crazy I has been a hectic week, but I managed to put the binding border on the Guinness block. I then sorted out fabric and some thread for the next block. What shall I call this colour scheme? Vanilla and lavender ice cream?

It is time for Sunbonnet Sue to come out and play with the most recent five stitches taught at Sunday Stitch School. To see the instructions and read previous blog posts, click on the heading for each stitch. 61 Raised Fishbone Stitch As it is a raised stitch it gives a plump look, good for 3D embroidery and, if worked in a straight line,  filling in any space. It can be used both to make thick leaves or a nice rope like braid. 62 Pearl Stitch Not difficult at all to make a nice knotted line with this knobby stitch. A great advantage is that the knots are not really knots, so reverse stitching is not a knotty problem. 63 French Knotted Chain Stitch The marriage between the Chain Stitch and the French Knot must be celebrated! Just remember to  use a hoop, then it is easy to make, and will look good in a straight line or on a curve. 64 Madam Totsuka's Tasselled Chain Here is a fiddly stitch that grows on you - the more you make, the easier it gets and the more you like them. You...

I went to see an exhibition of Wa quilts at Gajoen in Meguro. Wa stands for 'Japanese', and such quilts have either a Japanese theme or are made from Japanese fabric. These quilts were mainly made from kimono silk and quite perfect. Not one boro quilt in sight. A selection of Japanese patterns (sashiko designs e.g.) in this quilt 平沼淳子＊Atsuko Hiranuma Miroku Bodhisattva of Kouryu Temple in Kyoto made in Mola quilting technique  細井郁子＊Ikuko Hosoi  A round window with 'paper' panes and bamboo growing outside  塚原やすこ＊Yasuko Tsukahara An incredibly small and perfect Mariners Compass  島野徳子＊Tokuko Shimano entirely stitched by hand Gajoen was established in 1928 as a first class Japanese restaurant with banquet rooms, hotel accommodation and rooms for wedding ceremonies. Read more about it here . Gajoen's Hyakudan Kaidan is also used for exhibitions. The walls and ceilings are decorated with paintings, there are tatami straw mats on the floor (shoes have to be removed and ev...

The Rosette Stitch Rose was easy to make and will be a good building block for flowers. It could be a rose bud, the centre of a rose or other flower. It could be rose apples on a tree, and if worked in brown and many wraps it could become a roasted coffee bean - Rosette Stitch Bean?! Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart Aida Sampler Teal   Wool Tailoring Scribble Cloth

I am writing my Work In Progress Wednesday report while the rain is pelting down. The beading I have added to Crazy for Crazy looks like raindrops, but the photo does not show the glitter and sheen. I have added beads in the circled areas: Embellish work on the Guinness block is now completed. Next job is to add the binding and think up a new colour scheme for the next block.

I found today's stitch in the excellent book 'A-Z of Embroidery Stitches 2'. This stitch will make a nice flower, or part of a flower. Make it this way:  Wind the thread anticlockwise around the needle. When you have the desired number of wraps, fix the top wraps with a pin, pull the needle through and anchor the lower wraps, remove the pin and anchor the top wraps. Finished! Homework: Aida Sampler, SSS Reference Chart Teal Wool Tailoring Scribble Cloth

It's been one of those weeks when nothing is 'normal'. Now it's SUNDAY, and I am rushing to hand in my FRIDAY homework for Madam Totsuka's Tasselled Chain Stitch. It is a fiddly stitch, but gets easier for each one you make. Also I have found that perle cotton is the best choice of thread for this stitch. Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart  Aida Sampler  Teal Wool Tailoring Scribble Cloth