Schwalm Whitework Sampler So Far...

The December' 2014 Challenge is over, BUT the Work continues............

Initially, I just made the circle motif to learn the Schwalm Whitework. Later I added the tulip motifs to learn the other stitches. Now I have to add more elements and motifs to this sampler. Lets see what comes up next.

Schwalm Whitework : The Mosquito Stitch

Mosquito Stitch is another beautiful filling stitch. The threads are drawn in a pattern similar to the Waffle Stitch, that is in one direction only.

Bring the needle up at uppermost row leaving just 2 threads on the right. 

Go back 2 threads on the right of the lower row and pick 4 threads.

 Pick 4 threads on the upper row as shown above.

 Continue working in the same manner.

One row completed. 

Turn the work upside down to work the next row.

As there are no more pictures , for convenience sake and understanding better I have graphically illustrated the next row from the middle of the second row. 
Just notice the place where the needle is brought up on the right side ( here at the BLUE DOT) . Then pass the needle under the 4 threads shown with the dotted lines,

Continue Working as shown in the pictures below.

Schwalm Whitework - Waffle Stitch

 

 

Waffle stitch is another type of filling stitch after the drawn thread work has been done.
Unlike the previous stitches the threads are drawn only in one direction in this type of stitch.

I have drawn threads in 2-3 pattern  (draw 2 threads and leave 3).

Usually for coarser or thicker linens 1-3 pattern is used.

Bring the needle up at one end. 

Next stitch is worked in the next( upper) row. 

Leave 4 threads and pick next 4 threads.

Pass the needle under the 4 threads once again to form a knot.

Next stitch is taken in the row below it. 

Pick the 4 threads just below.

Pass the needle under the 4 threads once again to form a knot.

Continue this making sure to pick the same number of threads to get a symmetrical work.

Next row is worked in a similar way but by turning the work upside down.

After two rows are completed the design begins to show.

Schwalm Whitework : Four Sided Filling Stitch

When I first started Schawlm Whitework, I was not very confident nor was sure that I could finish even one motif. It does look very difficult. A good book with instructions and pictures does help a lot to learn the stitches. 

After finishing the circle motif I knew that I could do more so I added four tulip motifs to the corners and tried other filling stitches.It is really great fun and I do enjoy Whitework now.

This is the second filling stitch that I have tried and is called the Four Sided Stitch.

Threads are drawn in 2-3 pattern ( draw 2 threads and leave 3)
I have updated the Drawn Thread Work post with more information on how I draw the threads.

To begin, anchor the thread to the fabric under the chain stitch on the wrong side of the fabric so that the needle can be brought up to the right side in the right lower window to start the first stitch.

Begin the stitch at the right lower window of the first square and make a stitch as shown above and continue as shown in the pictures below.

The last stitch has to be made as indicated with the yellow line. 

It is same as the Picture no. 1 (sorry for the missing picture)

With this stitch the four sided stitch for the next square is started.

Making the next stitch

First Row Completed

For the next row turn the work upside down and work from right to left starting at the right lower window of the first square to be stitched.

Continue the stitch

A revision ....

Where do you bring up the needle to start the stitch?

Check below

Keep working till all the rows are completed.

I will be working on two more filling stitches - mosquito stitch and waffle stitch.

Schwalm Embroidery : Tulip Motif and the Basic Filling Stitch

 

Today's post is on how a little tulip motif has been embroidered in Schwalm White work. I had posted earlier on the Circle motif and worked a Basic Marburg filling stitch. As I wanted to try a different stitch I could not post the Marburg stitch in detail this time. 

This is just an illustration of steps that I followed and not a tutorial as I don't claim it to be 100% correct, Still I have sincerely tried to work it the same way as it should be. Consider this as an impetus to start  Schwalm White work embroidery.

The tulip motif has been reinforced with the Coral Stitch on the outside and the Chain Stitch on the inside.
I have worked a Basic filling stitch here. This stitch reinforces the threads after the drawn thread work after which other decorative filling stitches can be done. For this small motif the basic filling stitch itself  looks sufficient.


After the drawn thread work the motif looks like this. The fabric is even more fine than what the magnified picture looks like. Counting thread to draw it is even more difficult. For this matter, the thread count differs in two place. Can you spot the difference?

Threads drawn in a 2-3 pattern ( Withdraw 2 threads and leave 3)

Pictorial representation of the first row

The long axis of the motif here is not along the grain of the fabric hence the drawn thread appears to be diagonally placed. The stitch is worked diagonally so the adjust accordingly.

The stitch is worked from left to right

Row 1 completed

 To start the second row turn the work Upside down and work from left to right

The picture of one step could not be uploaded. After the above picture work next stitch the same way as the picture no. 3 of the first row (shown above) and then work the step in picture shown below.

While working the next row Turn the work again so that the stitch is worked from left to right.

 

Please note that the needle tip should go under the thread and not over it as shown above.The stitch is correct , just that pull the needle up keeping the thread over it to avoid a knot.

Continue working in the same manner.

 This is how the sampler looks after the two motifs are done. Lots more to work....