100 Stitches rosette chain stitch

This is the rosette chain stitch:

It is the latest stitch on my 100 Stitches journey.  I think this is a beautiful stitch that would be nice for borders:

I had avoided learning this stitch because it looked so hard! I had tried it a few times and I just wasn't getting it.  But I decided to try again and I am so glad I did because now that I know how to do it, it is very simple and straightforward.  For my little demonstration, I am using pearl cotton floss, dmc #666 and I am going to be drawing some parallel guidelines:

I drew mine about 1/4" apart:

This stitch is always worked from right to left.  The first step is to come up through the fabric on the right edge of the top line:

Pull the floss all the way through and to the left:

now bring the needle around to the right in a big circle and go back into the fabric on the top line, to the left of where the floss first emerged.  Bring the needle back out on the bottom line.  Notice the needle is goin into the fabric at a diagonal, from the top line coming out on the bottom line at a slant:

The needle goes over the working floss at the bottom of the big circle:

Pull all the way through and this is the crossed loop that forms:

Now bring your needle up under the right side of the crossed loop.  Don't go into the fabric or pick up any fabric, just slide the needle under the floss:

Pull all the way through, but not too tight:

Now, bring the needle around again, creating a big circle.  This time, the needle goes under the working floss, into the fabric on the top line at a slant and emerging on the bottom line:

Start pulling through and make sure the needle now goes over the working floss at the bottom of the big circle:

Pull all the way through and you have this crossed loop again:

Slide the needle up and under the right side of the crossed loop, again not picking up any fabric, just sliding under:

And just keep repeating these steps

until you have a full line:

of beautiful stitching:

This stitch is nice and neat on the underside:

and gorgeous on the topside!

I'm really happy to add this stitch to my repertoire.  I know I will use it as a border on tea towels.  100 Stitches suggested working this in a circle to form small flowers - I am definitely going to try that too!
This is stitch #48 on the 100 Stitches list, it is in the linked stitches category.  I have finished all 13 stitches in the linked stitches category!

100 Stitches - Zig-Zag Cable Chain Stitch

This is the zig-zag cable chain stitch:

Isn't it a beautiful stitch?  It is the next stitch on my 100 Stitches list.

It looks a little like ric rac - a perfect trimming stitch!

I found that when learning and practicing this stitch, drawing two parallel guidelines really helps.

Nothing however could help make it easier for me to figure out this stitch!  After an amazing amout of time spent staring at the 100 Stitches drawing, I think I have it down.  Here is how I do the stitch.  First step is to come up through the fabric on one end of one of the guidelines.  As you can see in the picture, I am starting at the right end of the top guideline:

Pull all the way through and bring the needle and working floss around like this:

Position the needle over the working thread where it first emerged:

The basic steps for this stitch are to wrap the working thread around the needle.  Sort of like a french knot but you are only wrapping the working floss around once:

Draw the working floss snugly around the needle, not too tight - and draw it almost to the tip of the needle:

Then a little to the left of where the floss first emerged, go back into the fabric:

and come back out on the opposite guideline.  Notice that my needle is coming out on a diagonal to the guidelines:

Now adjust the working floss so that the needle is going to go over the working floss:

Pull all the way through:

and a nice loop forms:

Now the next stitch starts on the bottom guideline.   The steps are the same.  The needle is over the working floss where it emerged:

then the working floss is wapped around the needle:

Drawn snug and almost to the tip of the needle, the needle goes into the fabric:

emerges on the opposite guideline:

working floss is positioned under the needle:

start pulling the needle through:

and pull forming a loop:

and the second stitch is complete.

Just make the next stitch start on the top guideline exactly like the first stitch.  Keep stitching and end up with this:

Here is a picture of the underside of the stitching:

The zig-zag cable chain stitch is #46 on the 100 Stitches list and is in the Linked Stitches section.

100 Stitches - #43 zig-zag chain stitch

Here is the latest stitch I have learned from 100 Stitches. It is the zig-zag chain stitch:I think it is a beautiful stitch! Especially when using this floss:This is pearl cotton floss, dmc color variations #4180: I found this to be a very easy to learn stitch. When I saw how slanted the stitches looked in the example picture in 100 Stitches, I thought I would need guide lines. I was right! I drew mine at 3/8" apart. The example in 100 Stitches is worked from right to left so that is what I did. The first step is to come up through the fabric on the top line:
Pull all the way through and go back into the fabric right next to where your needle emerged:
bring your needle out on the bottom line, at a diagonal from where the needle went into the fabric:
Now make sure the working thread is under the needle tip: and pull the needle all the way through forming a loop:
I was a bit surprised at this next step. You now take the needle and go back down into the fabric, but on the way you pierce the end of the loop!
You go right through the floss with your needle - then come back out of the fabric at a diagonal to the top line:
Then, as before, make sure your working thread is laying under your needle tip and pull all the way through.
making a loop that you pierce again to make the next stitch:
pull through
and continue
until you have a long line of stitching:
According to 100 Stitches, piercing the end of the loop will insure that each loop will be held in place. It makes a difference - the finished line of stitching looks so nice and even. It looks so much better without the guide lines: Here is the nice neat underside of this stitch:
This is stitch #43 and is in the linked stitches category of 100 Stitches.