Chicken Scratch Embroidery

Chicken Scratch Embroidery is worked on gingham fabric. It is known as many different names:
Snowflake Embroidery, Depression Lace, Swiss Embroidery, Gingham Lace. Amish Embroidery, Depression Lace, Mountain Lace.....
The origin of chicken scratch embroidery is uncertain, but the craft does date to early America.
As the early settlers traveled across the seas and land to settle in their new homes, the craft came with them.
Chicken Scratch embroidery is worked on gingham fabric, I prefer using an embroidery hoop to hold the fabric. It is worked from a chart, like cross stitch.
The needle should have a long eye and a sharp point, number 5 embroidery needle is perfect.
The thread is embroidery floss or stranded cotton.
White is the colour of choice but you can certainly experiment for different effects.

Three simple stitches are used in chicken scratch embroidery – the double cross-stitch (Smyrna Stitch), the straight running stitch, and the woven circle stitch.
Chicken Scratch is worked in order. The outline is completed first, then the double cross-stitch followed by the running stitch. The woven circle stitches are worked last.

 

Pin Box

  

All sides have a different pattern.