It's been a while since my last post but IM BACK.
For those who have been following along on Instagram, tiktok, Facebook, and through the newsletter- you've probably seen the shift over the last year from multimedium paint and thread to lots and lots of texture and knots.
I have become absolutely into trying to add as much texture to my pieces as possible, making my pieces more earthy, and exploring natural themes. There's something really fun and tactile in exploring texture. It's cool to look at but holy heck - so soft to touch too!
So, in light of this exploration and shift, I want to share with you all 3 stitches I use (on top of long and short stitch) to add texture to a piece; bullion knot, French knot, and turkey work!
Bullion Knot
The bullion knot can create a long raised and tapered tube effect. I use this one a lot when I want to create a single large raised piece of texture- like fungus or gore pieces. It's a really flexible knot too and can be turned into a straight raised knot or curved or even rounded.
Here's a quick tutorial by Cutesy Crafts on youtube:
French Knot
The French knot and I go way back. This is a knot I've used a lot in my embroidery patterns/kits and pieces. It's a really easy way to add a bit of texture to a piece. I primarily use this when I want to create dots, small raised circles, and clusters of circles to make things like buds and moss.
Here is a tutorial by Mary Corbet on how to French Knot:
Turkey Work
The last stitch I want to share is my nemesis, (I don't know why I keep using- jk I do, it's because it's really fun to touch) the Turkey Stitch (or turkey work). This stitch is a bit more tedious and complicated than the other two, but it creates a really lovely texture.
I love to use this stitch for moss or to make like a needle punch effect. I will warn you again- it is the worst - but also really satisfying.
Here is a tutorial by Paraffle Embroidery on how to turkey work:
Let's wrap this up...
Adding texture has been so satisfying, it's also given me an opportunity to explore some new techniques and embroidery styles.
While I listed three handy knots here, these are just a few ways to add some texture to your pieces.
As always, if you have any tips or questions- feel free to drop a comment below or reach out.
Stay weird and wonderful pals,
-Kass