Monday 30 December 2013

Chicken Scratch / Gingham Embroidery : An Introduction and the Stitches



Chicken Scratch embroidery is also called as Tenneriffe Lace, Snowflaking & Amish Embroidery. It is worked on gingham or checkered cloth, hence also called as Gingham Embroidery. It gives a lacy finish to the fabric/ work. 

Most commonly used fabrics for chicken scratch embroidery are the 1/8-inch or 1/4-inch checks. The 1/8-inch gingham is used mainly for small projects – pincushions, jar lids, bookmarks, and sachets. The 1/4-inch is used for larger projects – pillows, quilts, clothing, place mats, and tablecloths.

Materials Required:

Gingham or checkered fabric
Embroidery floss 
Needle ( sharp needle with large eye preferred) 
Scissors
Embroidery Hoop


The number of strands of floss used in chicken scratch embroidery depends on the type of fabric used. 
  • 2- strand floss is used in 1/8 - inch checkered fabric, and  
  • 3- strand is used in 1/4 - inch checkered fabric.

Counting the squares :Using a scale count the number of squares per inch on each side. Sometimes the checks may not be same on each side. 
Counting the squares help in deciding upon a pattern and placing it well on the fabric. Thus. reducing wastage of fabric.




There are many different kinds of stitches used in chicken scratch embroidery.



Click here for Stitches used in Chicken Scratch Embroidery





1 comment:

  1. I look forward to this. My mom used to do chicken scratch embroidery and I still have one of her aprons that she made from gingham with the chicken scratch embroidery. :)

    ReplyDelete

I love to read your comments and what you think of this post