We’ve revisited gingham embroidery on Needle ‘n Thread several times over the years, but when summer comes, I always think it’s a subject worth drawing to your attention again.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly ten years since I put together this index devoted to embroidery on gingham (also called “chicken scratch” here in the US). And some of the information and tutorials stretch all the way back the first years of the blog! That’s seventeen years! Crazy!
Gingham embroidery is one of those styles of needlework that evokes a certain nostalgia, I think. There’s something very homey about it. While it seems a bit old fashioned and relegated to a certain era, it isn’t, really. It’s so easy to update the look of gingham embroidery with modern color trends, bright and crisp fabrics, and different types of fibers.
This is a colorful and fun style of embroidery that’s accessible to anyone – from child to adult, from beginner to advanced stitcher.
For some reasons, I tend to associate gingham embroidery with summer. Picnic blankets! Table cloths! Children’s play clothes! Crisp, sunny bedsheets! These are my associations with gingham in my life, and they always seemed to revolve around summer.
Nothing says summer in my mind more than watermelon, so once upon a time, I developed a watermelon project (that I used on placemats) using gingham embroidery. You’ll find the charts for that project – and many others – in the Gingham Embroidery Index.
In fact, there are quite a few free charts for gingham embroidery available in the index, from simple to more complex, if you want to try the techniques out for yourself.
If you’re looking for something colorful, bright, easy, and summery to stitch on, why not try a a little slice of gingham embroidery? If you don’t know how to do it, or what fabrics and threads to choose and use, don’t worry – you’ll find a tutorial on how to work gingham embroidery and you’ll find plenty of information on fabrics and threads in the articles listed in the Gingham Embroidery Index.
I hope you enjoy it!
What’s Up?
Well, I’m back in Kansas! Hurray! I love Kansas! Even if it’s a million degrees!
Tomorrow is Independence Day here in the US – pretty much the quintessential summer holiday. And I’ll be doing the quintessential Summer Things with my family: picnic, mosquitoes, picnic, mosquitoes, and fireworks. But somewhere in there, I also plan to sneak into the studio and get caught up on a few things now that I’m home. There is much to do, and I’m excited to get caught up again and going!
Later this week, we’ll talk about the next Stitch Snippet, which is right around the corner. I have not quite finished stitching the main sample (!) but I’m plugging away on it and I will have enough to show you what it’s all about.
I’ll also share some other summer stitching that I’ve been up to.
Did you know we are already thinking ahead about Christmas? This month, we’re planning our Stitch Snippet for Christmas (and starting one for autumn). But we’re also thinking about other projects, because We Love Embroidery Projects. It’s what we do.
Here’s hoping July is off to a good start for you! I’m glad to be back!
Gingham and rickrack and watermelon–what could be more summery? Happy Independence Day!
I agree! 🙂
We started with embroidery like this in the 1950’s, too. I became in charge of embroidery on the pillowcases which came preprinted. I like looking through the metal round container of floss leftovers from other projects to find a color I liked. My mother would crochet an edge with a steel hook. We used these as our pillow covers. I was also in charge of ironing them.
Hope your 4th is a great family day and a day celebrating that we are in a country where we can plan special days without threats or fear.