Embellished Elephant

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Stitch Showcase: Wheatear Stitch

I was inspired to revisit this stitch one August morning when I went for a walk and my way back to the house was to pass through a field of wheat. I also think this stitch looks a bit like a millipede - especially when stitched in black or brown thread!

I look at this stitch as being a combination of an arrowhead stitch and a lazy daisy stitch.

  • Start by creating an arrowhead stitch

  • Bring the needle up through the fabric a few millimetres below the point of the arrow

  • Pass the needle under both arms of the arrow without piercing the fabric

  • Take the needle down through the fabric in the same hole it came up through

  • If creating a chain of wheatears, then start the next arrow at the base of the loop of the first stitch.

The sample below was stitched with the aim of representing wheat blowing in the wind. The fabric is naturally dyed using turmeric and onion skins.

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