Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Ric-Rac and Chicken Scratch

While hunting through my sewing tote I came upon a treasure trove of
ric-racs that I had bought last summer while we were stuck in Haines
Alaska due to a landslide on the mountain side between there and where we were working. Wow, that was a mouthful!
 

What I really wanted you to take note of was the price on these trims. Can you believe it?
When was the last time you saw ric-rac for .15 cents? Were we even born then?
I'm not sure...
I had also found a chicken scratch tablecloth while up North.
It looks so complicated.
Here is a close-up view of my piece. I remember my Grandma showing me how to do this. It is really so, so simple. Yet it can dress up gingham and make it look truly unique.
amybarickman.com
Here is a piece that is really gussied up with ric-rac and twisted yarn. I am looking forward to trying this one! I just haven't decided what to make with it yet though.
Any ideas?
 It is saved on my Pinterest board under 'Sew Sweet' if you'd like to re-pin it. I try to keep adding to my boards whenever I see something interesting, which is whenever I happen to visit someone elses Pinterest site!
primrosedesign.blogspot.ca/2009/09

This piece appears to be a bit more complicated. If you want to see several pattern ideas just search'chicken scratch' images. There are so many photos of several lovely pieces and patterns to try.
I hope I've inspired you to do a little scratching of your own now!
Blessings-Kimberly




16 comments:

  1. Beautiful and unique patterns.
    Plenty to scratch around here and find, just to afraid to look, lol...

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  2. Morning Kimberly, lovely Bric-Brac, so pretty as is that pattern on the cloth, beautiful......Happy Scatching, Francine.

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  3. I love ric-rac and gingham and chicken scratch! You are right, it is actually really easy, mostly just a bunch of straight stitches. I do like that last picture with the more complicated embroidery stitches. Have I visited your pinterest boards yet? I'll have to go check.

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  4. This was interesting, and I love the way it looks...might be a little too "fiddly" for me to do however, haha. Enjoy your day!

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  5. Those are amazing pieces. I have never seen any of that work firsthand- Love it- can't wait to see what you do with it- xo Diana

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  6. I love vintage handwork! I keep saying I'm going to try chicken scratch but like a lot of thing, I haven't got a round to it. Boy do I have a long list of "round to it"!

    Thanks for sharing all the ric rac and can you imagine 15 cents!!!

    Here's to a great week!!!

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  7. I love ric-rac and gingham :-)
    So love that your Gramma taught you that skill....cool memories I'm sure.


    Hugs!

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  8. Fabulous prices and pieces, I love rid-rac, it's one of my favourite old fashioned things.
    I have never heard of chicken-scratch, it's so pretty! I remember my mom having a gingham apron that had some of that on it. I always loved it.
    Hugs, Cindy

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  9. You know what? I have never seen that before. I think it is amazing.
    So is the prices on the rick-rac. What fun.
    You do find the most amazing things. That is why I pin on Pinterest too.
    Things I want to make or ideas that would be fun. I think I already have more things on there than I will ever find time to do. :)
    Have a lovely day.

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  10. totally unique patterns - I'll be scratching out in the future - wink! Thanks for the sharing..
    Hugs

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  11. It's fun to find all these rick rack and other trims from days gone by. My mil had lots of the stuff that we finally donated to VVillage as I'm not a sewer and I knew someone else might get to enjoy them. I love that last photo of the gingham work. It is really beautiful. I have a gingham square that my mil did in that style with white cross stitch thread. I've never tried to do one though. I hope you are doing well. Hugs, Pam

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  12. These are really great patterns! I liked this very much.

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  13. Such cute and pretty stitchery and ric-rac! My mom used to always have packages of ric-rac like that in her sewing basket when I was little.

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  14. So pretty! You were in Haines! So close to me and yet so far!

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  15. Impressive! Both the prices and the stitchery. You come up with the best "finds".

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  16. I once had a brown gingham apron with chicken scratch and I loved it so that I wore it out. I'm very interested in trying some. It looks so cute on little girls' dresses, too...a little easier than smocking.

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All of your comments are read and much appreciated.
You are dear and lovely friends!