Stitch School: Wheatear
The seventeenth in a series of posts about common (and not so common) embroidery stitches—what they are and how to do them.
The wheatear stitch, which resembles a sheaf of wheat when finished, is usually worked in a short, straight line. Drawing a vertical line on your fabric will help you to keep it even and, instead of working sideways as we usually do, we'll do this one working from top to bottom. As with most stitches, you can vary the appearance by lengthening or shortening the "ears" or by varying their placement.
We'll use gold thread to get the full wheaty effect, but this would also be pretty for a border in other colors, too. Bring your thread to the front to the left of the top of your drawn line. Then take the needle to the back on the line and about 1/4 inch down towards you.
Pull the thread through and come up again 1/4 inch to the right of the drawn line, directly opposite the first stitch. Take the needle to the back using the same hole as your first stitch.
Pull the thread through, forming a V shape. Come up again on the line about 1/4 inch below the bottom of the V.
Slide your needle from right to left behind the previous two stitches at the base of the V, being careful not to pierce the fabric.
Take your needle to the back again using the same hole in the fabric and forming a loop under the point of the V. Pull your thread through and bring the needle up to the left of the loop and in line with the beginning of the first stitch above it.
Repeat, using the hole at the base of the V for the end of each stitch and looping your thread through each time.
Continue working down the line and take a stitch to the back at the base of the final V. Here's what it looks like finished. Cool, huh?
Try this with a V that's less wide if you want a more compact-looking wheat sheaf—the loops and side pieces blend together more.
We'll do something easy next week since I've just gotten slammed with several graphic design projects at once (my other career) and probably won't have time for anything complicated. If you're just joining us or missed any of the lessons in this series, there's a handy list of previous Stitch School posts in the menu to the right. Happy stitching!
The wheatear stitch, which resembles a sheaf of wheat when finished, is usually worked in a short, straight line. Drawing a vertical line on your fabric will help you to keep it even and, instead of working sideways as we usually do, we'll do this one working from top to bottom. As with most stitches, you can vary the appearance by lengthening or shortening the "ears" or by varying their placement.
We'll use gold thread to get the full wheaty effect, but this would also be pretty for a border in other colors, too. Bring your thread to the front to the left of the top of your drawn line. Then take the needle to the back on the line and about 1/4 inch down towards you.
Pull the thread through and come up again 1/4 inch to the right of the drawn line, directly opposite the first stitch. Take the needle to the back using the same hole as your first stitch.
Pull the thread through, forming a V shape. Come up again on the line about 1/4 inch below the bottom of the V.
Slide your needle from right to left behind the previous two stitches at the base of the V, being careful not to pierce the fabric.
Take your needle to the back again using the same hole in the fabric and forming a loop under the point of the V. Pull your thread through and bring the needle up to the left of the loop and in line with the beginning of the first stitch above it.
Repeat, using the hole at the base of the V for the end of each stitch and looping your thread through each time.
Continue working down the line and take a stitch to the back at the base of the final V. Here's what it looks like finished. Cool, huh?
Try this with a V that's less wide if you want a more compact-looking wheat sheaf—the loops and side pieces blend together more.
We'll do something easy next week since I've just gotten slammed with several graphic design projects at once (my other career) and probably won't have time for anything complicated. If you're just joining us or missed any of the lessons in this series, there's a handy list of previous Stitch School posts in the menu to the right. Happy stitching!
Labels: embroidery, Stitch School, wheatear
posted by janet at 3:29 PM
5 Comments:
Ooh, I like this one. Gotta confess I've never heard of it, though. I can picture it as lavendar blossoms too.
I hadn't heard of this one either—found it in a UK embroidery book. You're right—it does look like lavender. Especially if you keep the side parts shorter and closer in so the whole thing is more compact. I'll have to try it in purple and see!
I love your stich school! Thank you so much for donig it!
Help ! I'm almost out of ink and paper on my copier, from copying all the stitches I like.
Have you thought about doing a book?
Love your site!
Willa Ham
Macon, GA
Dear Janet, Its so commendable that you take such interest in sharing your gifts. I call it a gift because you have a talent that is unique adn well used. I just discovered your tutorials adn I couldn't thank you enough. It reinforces my belief that there is much good on the internet as there is the converse. More power to your needle. I can't wait to revitalise my embroidery hobby.
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