Chicken Scratch????

 What the heck is Chicken Scratch Embroidery?!!  Here is the answer.....

Chicken Scratch embroidery (also known as Broderie Suisse, Australian Cross Stitch and Depression Lace) is a variation of cross stitch that is traditionally done on gingham fabric using perle cotton, mercerized cotton thread or stranded embroidery thread.  The gingham squares act as stitching guides and help to form a lacy pattern..

So why is it called Chicken Scratch anyway?  One thought is the main stitch looks like a chicken's track.  One story suggests the technique started during Great Depression when a woman wished to add lace to her plain gingham dress or apron (many of these aprons can still be found in antique shops)  So with only floss, she began to add lacy look to her plain gingham fabric.  Of course, husband thought it looked like "chicken scratches"!  

As stated above, this type of embroidery can also be called Amish embroidery, or snowflake embroidery.

Here is your chance to participate in a study of this interesting needlework-

Wise Craft is presenting a year long study in Block of the Month--

look at the details on the web page.