Chicken Scratch or Amish Lace Embroidery

[hanane]

Anyone know any thing about this type of embroidery. I have seen it on aprons. Any other applications?

Thank you




Hanane

[Gina E.]

Hello Hanane,
This work is known as Chicken Scratch in the USA, as well as Swiss Embroidery elsewhere. I haven't heard it referred to as Amish Lace though, but it is an appropriate description! I have dozens of small tablecloths, napkins and aprons made of gingham or similar material, with this attractive stitching on them. It is mostly cross stitch with numerous variations available to enhance the basic cross stitch. The most common form is white cotton stitches on the gingham, but I have many examples of other colours introduced into the pattern, such as red or blue, depending on the colour of the fabric.
I don't know where it originated, but it's been around a long time, and was apparently very popular here in Australia in the early 20th century, as there is still a lot to be found in second hand shops.

[hanane]

Thank you Gina for the info. I had not heard it called Swiss Embroidery before either. Don't you just love all the "old" crafts. I know I do.

Hanane

[Melisa B]

I recieved a table cloth done like this for a wedding present.
Melisa B

[Gina E.]

Pam K. is one of the most talented people I know (through cyberspace that is). I am the proud owner of several of her CQ pieces and admire them all over again each time I look at them. Did she have some chicken scratch on her blog? I must have missed that -this means another eye candy visit!

[sharonb]

Chicken scratch embroidery is also known as Depression Lace, Chinese Pinwheel, Tic Tac Toe Embroidery, Hoover Star, Mountain Lace, Gingham Lace, Norwegian Embroidery, Snowflake Embroidery or Amish Embroidery.

Its a technique that has loads of potential - no matter if you are in to retro stitching or not
I found these very basic instructions online

http://www.pegasusor.com/chicinst.htm

hope its useful

[hanane]

Thanks Sharon. I have these instructions. They are very useful

[Pam Kellogg]

Gina, you shouldn't be feeding my ego like that!!!

Yes, I did do quite a bit of Chicken Scratch back in 2005.

I've been wanting to do a bit more for adding to my CQ's.

[Diane]

Ooooh, I'm definitely going to add a piece of gingham to my next CQ block. I love the look of this!
Diane

[Pam Kellogg]

Thanks for your compliments! Chicken Scratch is quite lovely and easy to do. As you can see I also added my own touch to it, some Silk Ribbon Embroidery and some beads.

When I get my TIF block completed, I may work up another 1 or 2 of these hearts to add to my CQ's!

Pam

[Maya]

Well I've learnt something new. Chicken scratch is beautiful. Thanks Sharon for the link to how to go about doing chicken scratch.

[Mary Corbet]

Aprons, kitchen towels... checked tablecloths... cloth napkins (great for a summer picnic). If you're into the look, you could probably use it on curtains, even, though wow. That would be... checkered.

I'm working up a really simple checked towel with a border of chicken scratch right now, as a class sample. It's a simple technique for kids, and makes a cute kitchen towel. Problem is, the checks on the towels are probably too big for it - I don't like the idea of longer stitches that can get caught. Then, of course, there's the problem of the back, with longer stitches that can also get caught. So I'll probably re-situate the border further up, and do a quick fold-over, and sew it up on the machine, so the back is covered.

Still trying to work that one out, actually....

[hanane]

Mary, I am using a large check gingham. I am going to to cover the back with fleece to make throw for my bed.