I’m currently working on a left-handed stitch dictionary. I’d like to make it as useful as possible for as many people as possible.
I’m therefore asking for requests – what stitches do you as a left-hander, particularly want instructions for? If you are a needlework teacher, what stitches would you really like left-handed instructions for for your left-handed students?
So far I’ve had requests for the following embroidery stitches: french knots, colonial knots, ladder stitch and plaited braid stitch. I’d love to add your request to my list!
The dictionary will have simple stitches, right through to much more difficult stitches, all diagrammed step-by-step, with accompanying written instructions and photographs.
Just leave a comment for me with your stitch request.
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
To Margaret C, who requested bullion stitch, you’ll be pleased to know that its already in! 🙂 Thanks for the request Margaret.
Oh thank you-there really is a need for this. I would love to see feather and herringbone included-two great crazy quilt stitches.
Hi Miri,
Yes, they’re both in, with lots of variations of each. Thanks for your encouragement and the specific requests.
Hey, 🙂
I’m interested in Elizabethan embroidery. I’m slowly building a sampler and learning the stitches – ladder, trellis, variations of detached buttonhole, ceylon, (everything in Jane Zimmerman’s Elizabethan Surface Embroidery book).
Of course, I’m learning to do it as a left hander, and would love some instructions that are actually for me. I’m really interested that you are already including plaited braid stitch.
I have a problem with the Coral Stitch. It would be helpful to have good left handed instructions for this stitch and many others.
Thanks,
Denise
Hi Elmsley Rose,
I visited your blog just last night, and here you are commenting on mine!
Now you have me intrigued – I’ve never heard of ceylon stitch. I’m off on a quest to find it. I’ll probably find it and think “Oh, that! I know that one,” but off the top of my head it rings no bells.
Good luck with your sampler. 🙂
Hi Denise.
I have a question for you: what do you mean by coral stitch? There are two stitches that are commonly referred to as coral stitch. One is a line of knots, also known as coral knot stitch, or even snail trail. The other is a type of feather stitch with arms that sit straight up and down, rather than angled as usual.
Which one do you mean? Or do you mean something different again?
Elmsley Rose,
I found ceylon stitch – at least two variations (one of which I *had* seen before), and realised that it is related extremely closely to vandyke stitch.
Thanks for alerting me to it! I’ve just given it a go. Nice stitch! 🙂
In Elizabethan work, Ceylon stitch was used as a wide line stitch for vinework, or to do caterpillars and ‘bodies’ in general.
I can only refer you to Jane Zimmerman as to the specific type of Ceylon stitch tho! Or the Plymouth Embroiderer’s Blog, of course.
That’s so great that you are interested
I don’t have a request for a particular stitch, but I would definitely buy a left handed stitch dictionary.
I find it tiresome to always have to reverse images so that they look like something I would do, especially when learning new stitches and techniques.
Hi Mia, thanks for the encouragement. I hope that the book will be just what you need.
Oh, you can’t know how much the South Paw community loves you right now! Hardanger and other cutwork embroidery stitches are my biggest problems. I’ve been trying to learn Hardanger by watching my stitches in the mirror, so I can see how they compare the books I have. Please make sure your publishers know that your American fans want to buy copies too! Thank you so much for remembering us!
I am decidely left-handed, but along the way I learned to stitch with my right hand to rest my left hand a bit. The only issue is to make sure I keep the needle working in a “left-handed” direction.
I’d like to see every left-handed stitch have an inset of the right-handed stitch. This would help righties teaching left-handers too.
Hi Grace,
You asked for each stitch to have an inset of the right handed stitch, for the sake of right handed teachers. Hmm… many left handed stitches turn out exactly the same, its just we position our fabric and needle differently to get the same result. In that case, there is no need for a right handed inset, is there?
Are you thinking of when we stitch what they’re stitching, flipped over (like seeing it in the mirror)?
Hi Yvette,
Do you know the Plymouth Embrioderer’s blog? Where they are re-constructing a 17thC jacket over a year long project, using volunteers?
Thistle Threads provided very detailed instructions for RH detached buttonhole, ceylon, trellis stitches. (and reverse chain)
Ceylon are at http://www.plimoth.org/embroidery-blog/2007/05/24/reverse-chain-ceylon-stitch-instructions/
(you can find the others by googling “stitch name instructions”
Just String (Jeanne) has great instructions for a RH’ers Spiral Trellis stitch
http://juststring.blogspot.com/2008/06/spiral-trellis-stitch.html
I’m adding these for your interest. They are the best instructions for these Elizabethan stitches that I know of, and I’d love to see them translated for a LHer.
I have worked out detached buttonhole and Ceylon for a LHer but die miserably on trellis, spiral trellis, and also on picots and bullions. (I know these last have already been nominated)
Hi Elmsley Rose – I think I need you as my Elizabethan consultant!
Yes, spent a lovely few hours reading about the Plimoth jacket just yesterday. Have already printed out Tricia’s wonderful stitch instructions. I was familiar with her work in FineLines, so I know its great quality.
Will check the Just String page – thanks.
As for picots – which ones? Have you got a book reference for me? There are so many different types!
Many thanks again. I’m always willing to hear more suggestions from you!
oh wow – um, I don’t know much – just what I’ve learnt as I’m going along. I’ve only been doing embroidery seriously for a year!
Jeanne of Just String knows a lot more about Elizabethan Stitches, or
Sabrina de la Bere at http://www.bayrose.org/AandS/Ventures.html
(although both RH)
Not that I’m not willing to help but I’m only a chick!
A thought – a lot of LHers can work out simple stitches in their heads or with mirrors with a bit of practice.
Perhaps concentrating on the more complex stitches? Lisa E. mentioned cutwork and hardanger. (just an idea)
Also thought that you might want to take this discussion to the Stitchin’ Fingers ning group and see what the LHers there say.
Elmsley Rose – but YOU’RE the one that is left handed! 🙂
Did you see my picots question? Which picots are you interested in? Any book or web references that you can give me so I can see what you mean?
As for the question of hardanger etc – I’m thinking of this book as a stitch dictionary, not a guide to different techniques… Got to think on that further…
Yvette,
Gosh, you nailed down exactly what I was trying to say.
I think the smaller illustration, flipped over like you said, would really help left-handers like me who have already learned stitches using a mirror.
(This must be a real labor of love – thank you!)
Hi Grace,
Yes, I can see merit in the comparative right-handed diagram that you are suggesting.
My goodness, this book keeps getting bigger and bigger. But, it IS worth making it the best it can be!
Oh, I’m just nervous coz I’m a beginner (well, you can see my work on my blog) and I’m learning each stitch as I encounter it.
The people I referred you to are experts and would teach LHers.
That was my line of thinking.
Picots : http://www.needlenthread.com/2008/01/woven-picot-another-embroidery-video.html
It occurred to me that LHers would have trouble with any stitch twisted, knotted, woven or braided.
Do you want to do the basics, or have an emphasis on the harder stuff?
I do know there are a couple of LH stitch dictionaries around (from the 70s I think). I read reviews, and ended up with the impression that I might as well just use a mirror. But with the harder stitches, that’s …too hard.
oh, just realized I repeated myself about the complexity stuff. (tho re woven/braided sort of stitches as opposed to techniques).
I’ve been thinking about your book, but also have the flu, so no brain!!
By ‘only a chick’ I meant a baby. *gr*
Thanks for the picot reference. I will check it out.
I do want to have the harder stitches, but in including them, I have to also have the basics. You can’t have the harder ones without the simple ones. Yes, there are a couple of left handed books from many years ago, but they desperately need updating. And neither is very thorough. I intend for mine to be much more comprehensive.
From the times you are posting, I can’t figure out what side of the globe you are on… I’m in Sydney, Australia.
I’m in Melbourne! 🙂
As Frank Lloyd Wright might say “Well, there you are…” 🙂 Waving frantically!
*big smile and wave*
going to do a bumblebee with a turkey knot body this afternoon – (learn to turkey!)
Another leftie reporting in.. I’m a beginning leftie and am finding it difficult to figure out quite a few of the stitches. I don’t need the what kind of needle and thread to use, I would be grateful for a book of just stitches and diagrams… for beginners. My goal is to work up to a bullion stitch and some silk ribbon embroidery so I’m game for anything and can’t wait for your instruction book to come out! Thank you for thinking of us lefties!
Cretan stitch and bouillion stitch. Overcast would probably also help.
Hi Kay and Maddie-Can-Fly,
Thanks for your input!
A left-handed stitch book… how wonderful. I’m left-handed and it gets confusing following stitch instructions. Maybe include any needle lacing stitches like detached button hole etc?
Thanks
Kirsten Edwards
The Gift of Stitching
I am so frustrated. I need a repertoire of stitches. I need tutorials for:
stem stitch
chain stitch
cretan stitch
buttonhole stitch
back stitch
lazy daisy stitch
herringbone stitch
That’s just to get me started. I’ve had so many teachers tell me to sit opposite them as if that will solve my problems. It does not. Is there anyplace on the internet that has tutorials for left handers???
This would be a great resource! I did just find these diagrams for leftys too.
Hi Arlene, Unfortunately I knew of no place where there are tutorials for lefties, until Corinne put her link in.
Thanks Corinne, for the link to the lefty stitch instructions. They should help until my book comes out!