Chicken Scratch Embroidery

Before this month, I had never heard of chicken scratch embroidery. I have so many different hobbies already - I didn't need another one. But alas, Erin had to go and introduce chicken scratch stamps over on the Papertrey site on Nicole's blog here. I thought I was safe for a while. I googled and pinterested "chicken scratch" and wasn't overly impressed. I figured I'd pass on this one.

Then the other day I was in a quilt shop and saw some beautiful aqua gingham fabric. Aqua is my favorite color. Cannot resist it! So I bought a yard and thought maybe I'd give chicken scratch embroidery a try. Just a try. Not going crazy with it - yet.

So I searched on Pinterest and found a couple tutorials for actually doing the embroidery on gingham fabric. It started to look inviting. So I cut a 9" x 9" square of that beautiful aqua fabric and some Size 8 white pearl cotton and gave it a try.  It's actually very easy once you wrap your head around it.
Oh.my.gosh! I really really loved the results! The pearl cotton just makes the design jump off the fabric! I.think.I'm.hooked! So I made a little 4" square of a simple design using just the basic stitches, and then made it into a pincushion. LOVE!

This is the basic stitch pattern I used. Just four double cross stitches, four straight stitches, and then the weave through the straight stitches. I did the weave twice to make it pop.

Pinterest Link

I can't believe how the stitches transform the gingham! So I think my next project will be to make two little aprons for my two granddaughters with a chicken scratch border along the bottom. Not quite this elaborate, but along this line.

 

Pinterest link

So what do you think? I think I need to order those stamps so I can make a coordinating tag!!! It never ends! Good thing it's so fun! Thanks for stopping by!