Slowstitch Week 45 Kantha embroidery stitches

[@nouveauvieille]

When I was a child in the 60s I asked my mother to teach me to embroider. She taught me how to do stem stitch and that was all. I spent a decade or more using that for EVERYTHING because it's all I thought there was. I did a giant peacock on the front of one of my sweatshirts using side by side stem stitch to fill it all in. It turned out beautifully, but imagine my surprise when I found a book at the school library with so many other options. My world was rocked. :) -Chris

[@k3n.clothtales]

Your peacock does sound beautiful ❤️

[@pamshaw8523]

... Stitching is a gentle art, To soothe the soul And heal the heart.... ❤❤❤❤

[@gailsmith-gv5zl]

Karen at Just Get it Done, recently did an interview with Ekta Kaul which was really interesting. With supreme self control, I avoided buying her book on that occasion. Today I folded. My textile reference library is increasing and it's all your fault, K3n! I'm so glad you are there to clarify the difference between running stich and actual Kantha. I first learned about kantha from a wonderful woman call, I think, Surgeet Hussain, many years ago on a one day course. She taught us so much. It has irritated me, in a way that only other pedants will understand, that people work running stitch and and blithely announce they're doing kantha work. I'll climb down off my soapbox now before I get really worked, lol. Apologies if I've just got up anybody's nose with my chuntering. It's a me thing. Anyway, thank you Katherine, and I'm truly looking forward to the post arriving!! Xx

[@k3n.clothtales]

I completely agree about the kantha, it kind of denies a whole rich and varied tradition. I tried to say it gently rather than getting on my soapbox, 😉 but I am up there with you. I have seen the interview with Ekta, I will mention it and link it next Monday, thank you for the reminder. ❤️

[@cathybrelza5055]

Something to focus my attention on this week. Practice, practice. Thank you 🙏 ❤

[@christinasevaistre7265]

Hello K3N. These lovely videos always make me want to drop everything I'm "supposed" to be doing and just sit quietly and stitch. Great for the moral...less so for the housecleaning ;-)

[@k3n.clothtales]

Happy to enable ❤️

[@helenwratten6470]

What a wonderful and challenging week! There are some definite favourites for me and although wonky, I am pleased with the results. PS when Stella makes a noise, Alfie goes and noses the TV screen! X

[@k3n.clothtales]

How cute! 😂❤️

[@annrubino6252]

Beautiful book and much gratitude for your sharing and tutorial. Mala stitch is my favourite but I'll need to rewatch your demo as I try it. In past, I just looked, admiringly, at this type of embroidery. Now, because of you and Marion I look, and I SEE. Would that everyone appreciated this difference.

[@k3n.clothtales]

My pleasure Ann, yes active looking in everything, like you say, so we actually SEE ♥️

[@crisfernandez477]

You are far from inept Kathryn and I just adore your teachings ❤ all of these new stitches are beautiful and I find them very mindfull. Perfection is for robots! 😅 we can make things pleasing to the eye, but imperfecmtion for me is making things feel loved and homemade. Thanks as usual, have a great week😊

[@maureenlatta6376]

Thanks again. I have loved every minute and all the different stitches. I have attempted to be rather colourful because the Indian people seem to love colour and it makes me feel happy in a strange way. The texture of my convent stitch leaf is hard to stop touching. xx

[@emiliabarbosa8835]

Yuppeee, I so much wanted to learn more about these stitches! 🎉❤🎉 And I got exactly the same book a couple of months ago

[@rmlrhonda]

Such a lovely way to start my day. As always, thank you for your patient teaching of how to do the stitches and the interesting background information. I so enjoy my virtual visits with you in your new park home life, and am looking forward to having your videos as inspiration for years to come. ❤

[@k3n.clothtales]

Thank you Rhonda ❤️

[@alexandraalmeida3661]

Wonderful tutorial. I loved all the stitches, but the spirals are my favourite 💚💙🧡🩷♥️🩵💛💜

[@k3n.clothtales]

Thank you! 😊

[@helenchaffin126]

I love the videos on the different stitches,there's so many I've yet to learn how to do

[@mariettafocke9276]

Thanks dear Kathryn

[@SueAylen]

Thank you for the very interesting stitches tonight. I have not stitched along with you as I have been embellishing the projects I have completed. More stitches the better!! I will look at testing the stitches out tomorrow. It's 10.40pm Monday here in Canberra, Australia. ❤

[@katethompson2818]

Such a mixture of satisfying, familiar, challenging, inviting and a bit frustrating (mala stitch, so far 🤥). I will have fun practising this week. Thanks, k3n!

[@k3n.clothtales]

Mala stitch is challenging to begin with but lovely when it clicks. ❤️

[@lisaemery6599]

I love the idea of the use of both words to describe Kantha….”story rags” or “rag stories”! How beautiful!

[@k3n.clothtales]

Yes, indeed beautiful to put the words together either way. ❤️

[@annagray4208]

Exhausting😂 AND fun . Thanks Kathryn

[@EileenSpeakman]

Hello Kathryn., here we are again, happy slow stitch Monday. I have a collection of rulers and templates - from now on they will be referred to as handy dandy thingy bobs. Mathematics rulers/protractors to give right angles and the half circle are useful - I had the small (school?) size and then found much larger ones at a boot sale, and I've some art templates as well, not just straight lines but wiggly lines, wavy lines, and various shapes , etc. Very handy dandy. My mother did beautiful embroidery. And she was a brilliant seamstress. In my earlier days family jumpers, cardigans, and men's V neck pullovers were all hand knitted. And knitwear that was no longer being used was deconstructed and the yarn wound into a ball. Re-used for men's striped pullovers (called tank tops in the swinging 60s) darning, embellishing, tea cosies, . stripey scarves, gloves and mittens, bed socks, a bolero style short top with short or cap sleeves - keeps the top of the back and shoulders warm., and knitted swimwear - but only for beach play - get it wet and it droops! Well, that's been my happy morning, time for lunch and then some household chores. Thank you for your company. UK. E❤.

[@EileenSpeakman]

......... I meant to also say - knitting yarns can be separated into their single strands and used for embroidery. E❤

[@k3n.clothtales]

I had a friend round today and we were talking about pulling back old knitwear to reuse the yarn. I still do it. I remember sitting with my hands out for my granny with a crinkly skein of yarn around them while she wound it into balls ❤️

[@carolbyrne3241]

Oh I loved learning some different stitches and some I had not even heard of, so thank you Kathryn ❤

[@damienk5011]

Hiya dear K3n 😊Thankyou for sharing another restful episode! lots of fun finding the different names to the stiches- some the same and others different to what l call them! Have a cheerful week!Cheers 😊 to all,Julia, Brisbane, Australia 🙏 ❤ 🇦🇺 😀 🪃 xx

[@k3n.clothtales]

Hello Julia, aren't all the connections wonderful? How across continents we can be different but have things in common. ❤️

[@juliemarie1116]

Very well said......​@@k3n.clothtales

[@jj-nb1ll]

Very inspiring!...and that book has definitely made it into my Christmas wish list.Thank you Katherine.x

[@AvrilLowe]

I loved this week’s video especially as I have this book, and yes it truly is a most beautiful book! As well as traditional kantha, the author’s personal interpretation of it in her own work is fascinating. She has featured in a few other KZbin videos (ignore the film star with the same name 😆).

[@k3n.clothtales]

Yes there is an interview video that I meant to link, I will talk about it next week. I also love her contemporary and personal take on kantha. ❤️

[@SusanMJB45]

Love this. Thank you, Kathryn. I always love learning about embroidery from other cultures. Although I am addicted to rows of parallel running stitch that you introduced me to...... I sometimes think that it might be nice to have just a few more stitches in my slow stitch repertoire. So this video is perfect !!!!

[@sandramyer7081]

Good idea and lovely instruction! Know i no! TZy, Kathryn❤

[@k3n.clothtales]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@suebulford]

Hi Kathryn fantastic video and so interesting to hear and learn about kantha ❤

[@k3n.clothtales]

Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@c0ldlight1]

I haven’t tried many of these stitches before- but I’ve seen them and wondered. They are marvelous! I do a lot of my stitching on wool felt because I like it- and doing the new darning stitch just into the surface of the wool was magnificent. Also, you should totally put that in your book! Maybe make a little mini stack of that and also the other samples you did before the video and stitch them all on the same page. I loved seeing all of your stitches, and I think you will too if you look back on it in a few months.

[@k3n.clothtales]

Thank you, I will put it in my book. I regret now saying I wouldn't. I have been thinking about why I did that, why I felt the need for it to be 'pretty'. I was feeling a bit stressed to be honest that might be why I wanted some order. ❤️

[@kellywilkinson292]

This is the first time I stitched along with the video. I made a biscornu a couple of days ago and I tried out today’s stitches on it. It was not as impossible as I thought it would be, though I messed up quite a bit 😂 It was really relaxing. I’m happy I tried it.

[@k3n.clothtales]

Wonderful!❤️

[@Sa_Stafford]

This is all SO fascinating. Thank you ❤

[@k3n.clothtales]

Glad you enjoyed it! ☺️

[@joannefildew9092]

This was super helpful. Thank you!😊

[@ninaindoorssinging4715]

I loved trying out these new stitches, and by doing them on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, I am just in time to finish on my self-imposed schedule of doing the Monday piece within the 7 days! I do wish I had watched the video through first though, as you will see when I post a picture of my sampler...

[@janet7640]

Oh dearest Kathryn, I do wish you’d put it in your book. Perhaps I should not say. I’ve have loved that it’s a document of your time sharing your wisdom and experience with us. Ekta Kaul’s quote so eloquently describes what you give to us all each and every week. much love, xo j

[@k3n.clothtales]

You are right, I should and I will include both. I don't know why I went against my own teaching, I have been reflecting on it. ❤️

[@janet7640]

@@k3n.clothtales oh yes, both! Completes the story, doesn’t it? xo

[@joannakracher9507]

To paraphrase Garfield, the cat: I love Mondays ❤

[@k3n.clothtales]

😸😽😽😽

[@EllenWalters-eo8xb]

Love it Kathryn. As always!

[@lunardesignstudiolinda1256]

Thanks for sharing your inspirations. The book and Jude Hill, wow I had never watched her. I’m hooked

[@judymarkel8029]

Oh yes I do love the stitches. Thank you😊

[@malindahawkins6551]

Everything you teach is important ❤

[@HulyaDemir-e6c]

Teşekkürler ketrin ne güzel bir paylaşım çok bilgili ve beceriklisin yaratıcısın örnek alınacak birisin💐🙋

[@samanthakhosla9504]

Looking forward to doing this project and I ordered the book!

[@ReallyJillRogoff]

The first two stitches are old friends (always fun to do), but the rest are new to me. I enjoyed all but the mala stitch, and am happily completing my spiral and leaf. I can see myself using these stitches in many other projects. Thank-you, dear Kathryn, for another engrossing session. Am looking forward to next week's piece. ❤

[@dailydoseofpaper]

Oeoehhhh that spiral would be such a great way to practice my patience…😌 i do have the book as well and love it. One more way to acknowledge the beauty of and appreciation for domestic work. Love the texture of the Convent stitch. Oh and I have been ecoprinting like a mad woman the past few days. Thank you sweety darling for it all. Yes…. Bananarama, ofcourse!!!🍀💖😍🥰💐

[@k3n.clothtales]

Lovely to hear fellow ecoprinting mad woman. 😁❤️

[@SueBancroft]

Loved today's video, I enjoy lots of forms of embroidery but haven't tried Kantha yet. I've just watched the Ekta Kaul interview, fascinating and she is so interesting to listen to. Needless to say I've just ordered her book from Amazon and look forward to receiving it tomorrow.

[@del1336]

This is great, Kathryn. Really inspiring 🤩 Best wishes, Del 🦚

[@susanforsberg2547]

All hand stitching is SLOW STITCH although some have tried going faster I don’t know why I find it amusing that some want to make it be different hand stitching is hand stitching since the beginning of time personally I’ve been hand stitching for 70 years ❤️🥰❤️

[@k3n.clothtales]

I am sorry but I have to disagree, not all hand stitching is Slowstitch. Slowstitch is an ethos, an exercise in mindfulness. If I hem a skirt for example, with one eye on the TV, hardly aware of what my hands are doing, i am hand stitching but I am not slowstitching. ❤️

[@pamfrank3962]

Thank you for sharing this enjoyable session. ❤ I have wanted to know how to do the spiral stitch for some time...your demonstration was perfect.

[@k3n.clothtales]

Thank you Pam, I am so pleased ❤️

[@janetburgess5781]

Thank you, it looks like fun, you could put the practice piece in and write practice piece for chanel on it or under it Have a great week

[@craftypat]

I recently watched an interview with Ekta Kaul on the channel "Just Get It Done Quilts". It's a great video to watch.

[@k3n.clothtales]

Yes I have watched it too, I will mention and link to it next Monday. I meant to, I forgot. 😁❤️

[@craftypat]

I sew and crochet. It seems there is a competition in the crochet world to be fast. I've started purposely slowing down. I don't need the items I make. I do it for the process, so I go really slow. Often, I do things you have suggested about paying attention to the feels and sounds of crocheting.

[@SusanMJB45]

I also stitch and crochet and ever since discovering slow stitch, I have definitely incorporated the mindfulness of slow stitching into my crochet sessions and now enjoy it so much more as I get into a nice slow rhythm.

[@craftypat]

​@@SusanMJB45 it also keeps me from getting tennis elbow pain 😊

[@lyndaholloway5469]

Soda Ash will set this dye. Had a little cross body bag that was cotton and needed to be dry cleaned so the color would not run, well not in my world. I put it in a bath of Soda ash and left it for a short time then rinsed it and have had no problems with it. Best to you.

[@FashionArtBySa]

👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤

[@malindahawkins6551]

Ordered book

[@lucy7b]

❤❤❤

[@TheFaybreda]

This is how we learned stitching in school... lots of samplers before using them in practical work... making seams, buttonholes, patches, etc in skirts, blouses, aprons. There was little importance attached to creativity. I appreciate now the need for learning skill and then creating with it. Did you consider the similarity between the darning and Bayeux tapestry stitch???

[@TheFaybreda]

Sorry Bayeux similar to Jali stitch

[@k3n.clothtales]

Yes, there are lots of connections across cultures of similar stitches done slightly differently aren't there? I think Marion demonstrated the Bayeux stitch recently. ❤️

[@kathyffarney-keck8593]

One of my history podcasts traced how the shape came to be called paisley, through the history of the shaws of india

[@SarahNewbould]

The Mala stitch is like a Jane Austen dance. Dont think I'd be good at that either 😳

[@k3n.clothtales]

I know what you mean, I straight away had an image of Darcy and Lizzie Bennett in my head ❤️

[@SarahNewbould]

@@k3n.clothtales me too. Loving all you do for us x

[@venice93]

You ironed!!??!!

[@k3n.clothtales]

I know! It was really crumpled though 😂❤️

[@michelledonnelly1305]

As I am struggling with stem stitch because I'm somewhat visually impaired, I wonder what Yvonne does on stitches like these first two where you aim for the hole the previous stitch was in. I tried to find Yvonne on the fb group but there were several!

[@k3n.clothtales]

I wonder too if she tackles such stitches. I do know that she doesn't do every prompt. ♥️

[@michelledonnelly1305]

@@k3n.clothtales Well I would love to see her work. I have great admiration for her. BTW, thank you for being you.❤

[@sandrapaterson1750]

Thank you Kathryn. Can you please list in order the names of the stitches you did on this piece. I am sorry but I am hard of hearing and I couldn’t understand what you said in a couple of them

[@k3n.clothtales]

I showed double running stitch, stem stitch, cable stitch, mala stitch, pattern darning, convent stitch and Jail stitch. ❤️

[@mixedthreadart]

Does anyone know of another name for the Mala Stitch? I can't find any written instructions and doubt I can see the book by next week. Thanks in advance from Struggling in Saskatchewan 😢

[@k3n.clothtales]

I am sorry you are struggling. It's a modified double chain stitch, but there are many versions and this is quite specific. I had never seen it before getting the book. To be honest it took a while to work it out from the pictures and written instructions. It was more through the process of trying it and observing that x happened when I did y that enabled me to get the hang of it. I am sorry it wasn't clear enough in the video. 😔❤️

[@mixedthreadart]

Thank you and I will keep trying.

[@k3n.clothtales]

I made an extra little video showing the stitch, don't know if you saw it ❤️

[@michelledonnelly1305]

Okay, I am confused about why you didn't put your page in your book. If slow stitching is about enjoying the process and not being concerned with the end result why, was your page not book worthy? It may just be that I am exhausted from a mind numbing day of learning these stitches but I really am struggling to understand this. (Also, I'm in the U.S. and we have this election thing tomorrow and I really need something to take my mind off of that!😒)

[@heathertroynak9041]

I think sometimes even in the process, being in our process, sometimes we just want to like what we see. That it is lovely to our visual sense. The process maybe was wonderfully mindful but we still may want that extra bonus of visual harmony. Or maybe the process wasn’t as slow and healing as perhaps our souls may have needed and the outcome reflected that. I’m not speaking for Kathryn or her process this week, I’m just offering, lovingly, a perspective as I’ve experienced myself. We are all only humans journeying along, aren’t we ❤. I’m also in the states trying to process though this darned election so I’m sending you soothing company while we wait. Stitch more if it helps, don’t if it doesn’t. We got this. And each other.

[@michelledonnelly1305]

@@heathertroynak9041 What lovely thoughts and so well said. You really made that make sense to me. Thank you and I'm sure we are both hoping for the same outcome tomorrow. I will be stitching, trying to make sense of these new stitches Kathryn taught us today. They are so challenging so they will help me keep my mind off the election. Thank you again for your thoughts.❤

[@heathertroynak9041]

@@michelledonnelly1305you are so welcome. Again, I’m not attempting to speak for Kathryn. I only wanted to offer your confusion an off ramp so you could get back to stitching therapeutically as get through these next few days. Weeks?!? I’ll be thinking of you!!!

[@k3n.clothtales]

I asked myself the exact same question Michelle. I don't know why, I just felt the need. Maybe because it's a sampler rather than a more creative piece? So I wanted it to look right. Maybe because I am a bit fragile at the moment so I need things to look right? I don't really have a definitive answer, there probably isn't one. But reflecting on my decision is part of Slowstitch so I am doing that. I am thinking of you all today and hoping for peace and reconciliation, whatever happens. Sending love ❤️

[@michelledonnelly1305]

@@k3n.clothtales You have given me a lot to think about here. I have several pieces in my book that I considered redoing but decided to leave them and ask myself 'what have I learned' when I look at them. And maybe that's okay for me since I am so new to stitching...slow or otherwise. But because you are so much more experienced you can give yourself permission to say no to a piece of work? I'll be mulling on this one for awhile! I DID think about messaging you and saying that if you were having a particularly hard moment thinking about He Who Shall Not Be Named I could send you a picture of my spiral and you could have a good laugh! That should cheer you up!!💗