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Lucy Ludwig's avatar

Yvette, there is a discussion of this technique in “One Needle, One Thread: Mail (Hmong) Embroidery and Fabric Piecework from Guizhou, China” by Tomoko Torimaru. University of Hawaii Art Gallery, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2008 pp 95-97. The author calls it “couched braid embroidery”. The braids are 8-strand flat silk braids, usually made at home from flat silk purchased at local market. Jacque Carey discusses this in “Chinese Braid Embroidery” The Carey Company, 2007.

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Yvette Stanton-Whitework Queen's avatar

Thanks Lucy. That's such useful information for anyone wanting to know more!

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Kate Scott's avatar

I too find it fascinating to figure out how some stitches are done. I recently visited The Museum of Northern Peoples in Hokkaido, Japan, where there are some wonderful embroidered textiles on display. I was very taken with a type of chain stitch that the Ainu people decorate their wonderful cloaks with intricate interwoven lines.

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Yvette Stanton-Whitework Queen's avatar

Ooh, that sounds interesting! I know of a running stitch worked by Ainu peoples. Do you have photos of the chain stitch?

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BGinBmore's avatar

Selina Ben (UnwrittenStitch.com) has taught a small Ainu-style embroidery piece that includes chain stitch. I don't see it on her website right now; I took the online class through Tatter.org

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Yvette Stanton-Whitework Queen's avatar

Thank you. That's very interesting.

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Kate Scott's avatar

Thank you I’ll look it up. I have the photos on my computer. I’ll find them later and try and share.

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