Third Place

What if you had only ONE STITCH to USE ??? How many variations of it could you think of ?? What could you do with it???

Reading Audrey Francini’s classic Crewel Embroidery, I was inspired to create an updated chain stitch sampler in a colorful sugar skull design, using the traditional motifs of crewel work. Rather than stitching with the conventional fabric and muted wool colors of Francini’s floral designs, I changed the ground fabric to bright gold linen, and used threads in a bold color palette. Chain, broad chain, detached and detached twisted chain, wrapped chain, rosette chain, beaded chain, and interlaced chain are all used to make this happy “Calavera”, or skull, common in Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations.