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Friday, 10 May 2019

A crafty afternoon.

A new craft group started up yesterday in a village hall on the other side of town. I went along to have a look. There was a speaker demonstrating the art of traditional chickenscratch embroidery. I have never heard of it before. 
We were all given a piece of gingham, we could choose the colour, and instructions and charts on how to do it. The teacher had examples of it to give us a few ideas.  

One lady brought along some of the craft work she has been doing at home. Dolls, bags, and book covers.

Another lady brought these two dolls she had made.


This is what I ended up with. It's a bit like doodling with thread. I didn't follow instructions, the rebel that I am, I made it up as I went along. The teacher said it was quite good. I don't know what I'm going to do with it, probably keep doodling, add some more stitches. 

I don't think I'll be going on a regular basis, it's too far away and I don't have the time.

I went to town today. Took a massive bag of stuff to the Age UK charity shop. Went to the bank. Then went to the council office to get my bus pass renewed. Was too late, closed. A notice on the door said they close at 3.30pm. Flippin heck, that's early. Will have to go back. Toodle pip.  ilona
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16 comments:

  1. Hard up Hester10 May 2019 at 21:34

    I ysed to enjoy Chicken Scratch, but could never find a use for it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Judy10 May 2019 at 22:19

    I've never seen the green stitch used in chickenscratch embroidery but I really like the look of it. I remember hearts, flowers or animals around the hems of dresses as a kid or on pockets.

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    Replies
    1. Meanqueen10 May 2019 at 22:47

      You haven't seen it before because I made it up.

      Delete
  3. Caz.P.10 May 2019 at 22:47

    yes, the council shut at 3.30 so make sure you are there well before that. They have a point where they stop giving out the numbers.

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  4. hazel c UK 11 May 2019 at 00:05

    I did a lot of chicken scratch embroidery also called Swiss embroidery there is lots of patterns for it, we made small aprons. Glad you enjoyed it.
    Hazel c uk

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    Replies
    1. Meanqueen11 May 2019 at 09:30

      Yooootoooob is full of videos on how to do it. Seems to me like it's a very basic stitch which goes in different directions. It's just doodling in squares, a simple pattern to follow. Not really my thing.

      Delete
  5. Joy11 May 2019 at 06:39

    I've never heard of that either - it looks very attractive.
    xx

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  6. Debi11 May 2019 at 09:09

    I havent heard of chickenscratch embroidery before...not that I am an expert on these things,lol.I could imagine it looking great around the hem of a dress or even as a brooch effect on a plain black dress.We never have any craft groups like this around where I live.It must have been annoying to get to the council offices to find them closed at 3.30.Ive noticed that places are closing earlier these days.What used to be 5pm went to 4pm..but 3.30 is a bit extreme!.It seems that only the supermarkets and pubs are open very late now!Ive also got 6 big bags for the charity shop,so I hope to get them dropped off today.Ive sorted another 18 books,to go to the charity book swop stall.but I still have a few that I cant bare to part with!xx

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    Replies
    1. Meanqueen11 May 2019 at 09:32

      It would look nice as a decorative border, but as Hester says, I can't think of anything useful to do with it.

      Delete
  7. Kitty Greene11 May 2019 at 13:10

    I remember doing that in primary school, the first lessons in embroidery. It was considered suitable for the very young because they just had to follow the squares.

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  8. Lesley Gilbert11 May 2019 at 20:47

    It looks a bit like the sort of embroidery you find on the chest front of a girls dress, usually in white thread I think. I liked the items the lady made, especially the 2 dolls. I clicked on the photo's that came in the email and they enlarge a lot bigger than on this site and you get a much closer view of what she made - and of your sewing of course, haha - well done to you both :)

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  9. Stellamarina12 May 2019 at 01:44

    I have never heard it called Chicken Scratch embroidery but I remember learning to do it at school at around 12 years old. In fact I made two gingham tablecloths using the stitch around the border that were put in my "Hope Chest" and that I still use for outdoor barbecue type meals 50 years later. Aloha

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  10. Donna12 May 2019 at 13:40

    Didn't know that was called chickenscratch. Many long years ago while in home economics class .. one assignment was to decorate the apron we had sewn with chickenscratch. Let's just say I didn't get as creative as you have.

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  11. Bettina Groh12 May 2019 at 20:45

    I remember my Mother-in-law doing this type of embroidery. She made hers into aprons and table runners... that was about 50 years ago! Doesn't time fly by when you are having fun?

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  12. Grandmabeckyl.blogspot13 May 2019 at 01:38

    I remember chicken scratch embroidery from when I was young. Think I made a few bibs with that stitch. We were given pillowcases from my husband's uncle and aunt that were red and white and had white chicken scratch hearts on it for our wedding. I think I still have them as well. I used to do counted cross stitch but not done it in awhile. Now I'm knitting, which I've done for years but needed to start doing it again. I like yarn and need to use what I bought on sale a few years ago. Have a good week, Ilona!

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  13. Gillian14 May 2019 at 08:23

    I love the dolls - brilliant faces! would be fun to make for friends.

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