Well--I finally finished my pulled thread sampler. Actually, I completed the pulled thread squares about 5 years ago, but it took this long to get around to adding the hem-stitched border and hang the whole thing up.
44 squares of different pulled thread stitches - just didn't know when to stop!
I used a very loosely-woven fabric to work up 44 different stitches from The Danish Pulled Thread Embroidery book the Dover Needlework Series. I think Dover is just one of the best needlecraft series around; I am slowly collecting as many of these books as I can find...
With this sampler, I made the dumb mistake of not writing down what stitch is in each square. Some stitches are easy and look great. Some are really, really hard to do, and don't look good enough to be worth the extra effort. If only I had kept notes about this!
This detail of the edging shows the drawn-thread border running up and down both sides.
Some pulled thread stitches are very difficult to work because you distort the ground fabric when you apply the necessary tension with each little "pull". With some of the stitches (like the Greek Cross), it is very hard to see and pick up the right threads.
more details from the middle of the sampler - the pulled satin stitches that make the basket weave square are so simple to do and very dramatic.
I have made two miniature bedspreads using pulled-thread stitches, and plan to do more...
more details from my sampler - I had to anchor the dowel, as the stitches need tension to look their best.
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