Gertie at STC Craft: A Stitch-Along!
July 15, 2011 | Gretchen Hirsch 
While I’ve been gearing up to do some ribbon embroidery from the new Alabama Chanin book, I’ve also been thinking of ways we can make my posts here more interactive. And what better way than a little sew-along? Or rather, a stitch-along! I’ve been reading the book Stitch Magic by Alison Reid and it has tons of fun ways to spruce up your sewing. I can’t stop thinking about adding pintucks, pleats, and cording to my projects. Being a lover of vintage fashion, I see these details all the time in gorgeous dresses but have never taken the time to properly learn the techniques.
So here’s what I propose: each week we will do a little stitch sample trying out one of the techniques. I’ll guide you through the how-to and give you inspirational ideas for adding these flourishes to your handmade garments. At the end of the stitch-along, you’ll have a little sample book of swatches to refer back to!
The standard supplies needed will be thread, hand-sewing needles, and some cotton fabric. If you have a sewing machine, that's great. If not, I'll give hand-stitching options for each technique. Here’s what I’m thinking for the schedule (with special supplies needed in parentheses):
Week of 7/ 25: Quilting (six-strand embroidery floss, batting)
Week of 8/1: Pintucks (twin machine needle, pintuck foot helpful but optional)
Week of 8/8: Pleating
Week of 8/15: Cording (cotton piping cord, cording foot optional)
Week of 8/22: Smocking
Are you in? What do you think? Personally, I think this is going to be great fun! Please leave any questions in the comments.
Reader Comments (39)
I think this is awesome! I can't wait to start.
Hey Gertie! Looking forward to a little kick in the pants to bust me out of my sewing rut with this sew-along! Thanks, XXX Jean (and Butter)
This sounds absolutely perfect ... and just what I need! Thanks so much!
Sounds Great. I'm in. Always wanted to make a sample swatch book for each sewing foot I have. So this will be a great start and I can then take it another notch up. Thanks Gertie.
I know all about quilting, but as for the rest? Clueless. I'm in!
I'm in! Thanks for your time.
Oh boy, just in time for my summer projects. I am always trying to teach myself techniques and this will really help! Can't wait.
I'm the same as Jenny -- quilting, check. The rest, I'd like to learn -- especially smocking. I've been wanting a smocked top for some time now, and haven't had the guts to really try it.
Yay! This is going to be so much fun! Can't wait to get started :)
Sounds great! I've never used a twin needle before so I don't know how easy it will be to find one or what type to get. As for the rest, I'm in.
I'm in! Really looking forward to pintucks and pleats as mine always seem a little...messy.
I'm in! Sounds like fun :-)
When I learned sewing in the sixth grade, we did a sample book of stitches as part of the class so this stitch along brings back some memories! It'll be fun to give it another try and see what my mind has retained!
Ooh count me in please! I've been wishing to add new techniques to my sewing repertoire for quite some time.
Thanks so much for creating this!
Sounds like a fun way to boost my sewing skills. Thanks, Gertie, for being our fearless leader!
I'm in - I got this book for my birthday a couple of months back so it will be great to use it in the stitch along. I've never done a stitch along before. I'm (possibly disproportionately) excited about this! :)
Sounds like a great hot-weather diversion! I'm totally in. Thanks for sharing this great idea and your great instructions!
Sounds like a great idea to learn all sorts of techniques, looking forward to this
I'm in! I've been looking for something to help me settle down and sew, and I think this may be just the ticket.
Great! I recently picked this book up myself, and really like it. I tried the pintuck bag, I think it worked out. A sample book/thing sounds great....can't wait to light that fire!