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...

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

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete
  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!

    ReplyDelete
  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

    ReplyDelete
  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!!!

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


    Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  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

    ReplyDelete
  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.

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

    ReplyDelete
  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

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

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  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.

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete

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