"It takes ages to finish a quilt you're not working on!"

Friday, July 22, 2005

Chicken Scratch or Swiss Embroidery?

While I was looking for some inspiration for Pam Kellogg's teatowel challenge, and was leafing through a small book called "Easy To Embroider" by Anna Griffiths, I was astonished to find four pages devoted to what everyone here refers to as Chicken Scratch! To quote the first paragraph: This clever but simple technique - called Swiss Embroidery - is both pretty and practical. Here it is used for a table mat, but it can be used to decorate all kinds of household articles made of gingham. I have scanned the first two pages, then a close-up of the first page giving the instructions, but as you will see, I didn't do a very good job. I couldn't figure out how to rotate the scan so it would appear here the right way up, and as well as that, it isn't very clear - sorry! But I was quite excited to find this in one of my books, so I had to at least try! The book was published in 1991 by Anaya Publishers, London.

5 comments:

Pamela Kellogg said...

Oh wow Gina! I'm always amazed at how little bits of Chicken Scratch info keep showing up here and there! Glad you found something on it!

Linda said...

Heyyyyyyy!

In some places in America it is refered to as "Australian Cross Stitch".

I wonder if we will ever find out where/how it originated.

Fascinating. :)

Linda said...

I've just had a closeup look - this has a completely different stitch in it that I haven't seen in any other Chicken Scratch.

Did I say it was fascinating??? *grin*

z_mnor said...

Gina

Thanks for the great info. I'm inspired more to do another Chicken Scratch project.

Gina E. said...

Hi all, thanks for the comments. Linda, it never rains but it pours, as they say; I just received a parcel of oddments from an eBay auction and included was a very unusual Chicken scratch apron - done in white and red thread on dark blue gingham - very pretty! As soon as I wash and iron it, I will scan a bit to show you.
Welcome to Patra's Place, Li'l Honey! I just visited your blog and I WANT your sunbonnet Sue days of the week bell pull - very cute!