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Chicken Scratch EmbroideryAlso known as Snowflake Embroidery, Depression Lace or Gingham Lace

FABRIC

Chicken Scratch is a type of embroideryworked on gingham fabric. It is avariation of gingham embroidery. Usingcertain stitches, thread or floss creates alacelike design on gingham fabric whenfinished. Gingham fabric usually comesin 4, 8 or 16 squares to the square inch.If possible, use gingham fabric with a truesquare check. Fabric that comes in-inch checks or -inch checks is mostoften used for Chicken Scratch.

STITCHING

There are three stitches used in ChickenScratch embroidery. The double crossstitch, the straight running stitch and thewoven circle stitch can create a widevariety of looks, depending on color andnumber of strands of embroidery flossused in the design. Stitch with one, two

or many colors of floss. When using justtwo colors, one is usually white and theother a darker version of the darkestgingham check. For-inch checked or -inch checked gingham, use 2, 3 or 4strands of 6-strand embroidery floss.

Experimenting before you start the finalproject will let you judge the best look foryour design. Use an embroidery crewelneedle, size 6 or 7, for stitching. An

embroidery hoop is needed to keep thefabric smooth and the stitches even.

To create the laciest effects, use darkfloss on the white squares for the doublecross-stitch or white floss on the darkersquares. Use the running stitches on theshaded squares.

To create Chicken Scratch embroidery,you have many choices. You can outlinethe total design in one color and useanother color to fill in or use all one colorin a design to create a totally differentlook with the same design.

GETTING STARTED

Count the number of squares in yourdesign, and then count the squares in thefabric. Add to this figure at least 2 inchesbeyond the design and then consider thefinishing technique. Add more inches ifyou need to have more room around yourdesign for completing the project.

If the fabric ravels, finish the edges with amachine zigzag stitch or a hand-overcaststitch.

Find the center of your design and the

center of the fabric. Place the fabric inthe embroidery hoop. Begin with thedouble cross-stitches that outline thedesign.

The second set of stitches will be therunning stitches that go back and forthacross the design, and then from top tobottom. The woven circle stitches are thelast set of stitches to complete to thedesign.

While working on the design, it may benecessary to loosen and reposition yourwork many times. Never leave your workin a tight hoop when you are not workingon the project. This can cause creasesimpossible to remove when the project iscompleted.

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TO BEGIN STITCHING

Cut a 20 to 25-inch length of embroideryfloss. Separate the strands by carefullyholding one end and pulling your fingers

gently through the floss to separate thestrands. You may use 2, 3 or 4 strands.Separate the floss as required, threadyour needle and stitch.

If the project will be washed frequently, itis recommended that the floss be knottedat the end. Knots are hidden on thewrong side of the work.

Starting at the upper left or right corner,embroider the outline of the design first.

If floss is not knotted, leave a 1-inch tailon the backside of the fabric. You cancatch the floss tail in the first few stitcheson the wrong side of the project.

Be sure to cross all stitches in the samedirection. Do the double cross stitches inthe same sequence each time.

After the outline stitch, fill in the designwith stitches. Do all the double crossstitches first, and then do the straightrunning stitches.

Stitch the running stitches on the shadedsquares so that the ends of the stitchalways point to a white square. Work allthe running stitches by passing theneedle over a shaded square and under awhite square, then back over the nextshaded square, etc. Do all the runningstitches in one direction, and thencomplete the running stitches in theremaining direction. For example, if youstart going across the design from right toleft, complete all the running stitches inthat direction before going

up and down the design. It may benecessary to turn the design upside downto work stitches.

The woven circle stitch is the last stitch tobe completed. A circle is formed by usingwhite floss and weaving the needleunderneath the four running stitches thatsurround a white square. Bring needle upat the end of a running stitch, and afterweaving under the four running stitches,end by inserting needle at the startingpoint(see diagram). Do not pull the circletoo tight, as this will prevent the whitesquare from showing inside the circle.

Keep the tension of the floss even,

making smooth stitches. To preventshadow-through (the shadow of thethread showing through to the right side),do not carry floss across a largeunworked area on the back of the design.

If a mistake is made, use the needle topull stitches out one stitch at a time,taking care not to disturb other stitches.

READING THE CHART

Chicken Scratch is worked by following achart. See the attached example. Eachsquare on the chart represents onesquare or check of the gingham fabric.Most charts are shaded to look likegingham fabric. Symbols are placed inthe squares to represent the stitches andsometimes are colored to representdifferent color embroidery floss. If not incolor, then symbols may sometimes

represent different colors of the floss tobe used. A charted design will alwayshave a key. The key will tell you whateach symbol represents.

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How to do the stitches:

Graphics by Mary Hixson

Mary Hixson, M.S.County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences

Marjorie M. Baker, M.S.Extension Associate for Textiles and Clothing

October 2004; revised April 2005; revised July 2012

Copyright 2004, 2005, 2012 date for materials developed by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. This publication may bereproduced in portions or its entirety for educational or nonprofit purposes only. Permitted users shall give credit to the author(s) andinclude this copyright notice.

Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, ornational origin.

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EXAMPLE

Half PatternCenter

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* - o - o - o - o - * - o - o - *

x x x x x x

* - o - o - o - o - * - o - *

x x x x x

* - o - o - o - o - * *

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x x x x x

* - o - o - o - o - * - o - *x x x x x x

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* * * * * * - o - o - o - *

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* - o - o - o - *

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Key: * Double cross stitch using darker floss o Woven circle stitch Straight running stitch - Straight running stitchx Double cross stitch using lighter color floss