Chicken Scratch Embroidery
Depression Lace, Amish Embroidery, Snowflake Lace, or Gingham Embroidery
Whatever you call this needlework, chicken scratch embroidery is pretty!
I had seen chicken scratch embroidery before, but didn't know what it was called. When I looked it up online, I searched for "gingham embroidery" because this type of embroidery seems to always be done on gingham fabric.
I came across this vintage pillowcase shown here at a thrift store recently. It's a great example of chicken scratch embroidery. These pieces remind me of smocking, which is often done on gingham fabric, too. But unlike smocking, the needlework doesn't gather the fabric. This stitching looks a lot like cross stitch to me.
In my research, I found out that this needlework goes by lots of names:
~ gingham embroidery
~ snowflake lace or snowflaking
~ Amish embroidery
~ Depression lace or Hoover lace because it was done as a way to dress up fabric during the 1930s when money was scarce
~ teneriffe lace
Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
Chicken Scratch Stitches
It involves only about three or four types of stitches -
the running stitch, the cross stitch, the double
cross stitch, and (if you want to consider
it a separate stitch), the threaded running stitch.
Source: Needle N Thread
Gingham Embroidery Pillowcase - Keep an Eye out for Vintage Linens
I've seen many vintage pieces with chicken scratch embroidery on them through the years. Aprons, pillows, and pillowcases are just a few linens that women stitched on to dress up their gingham fabric.
Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
Tutorials for Chicken Scratch Embroidery - Learn This Simple Form of Embroidery
- Chicken Scratch Embroidery Tutorial, Free pattern and Stitch Guide! - Pink Paper Peppermints | Chris
I've had so much fun working on this Chicken Scratch (also known as Gingham Embroidery) tutorial for you. I even designed my very own pattern! (Which is why it took me so long to post it.). - Drawn Thread on Gingham Tutorial
Drawn thread embroidery is not relegated solely to even-weave linen. Today, we generally associate drawn thread techniques with even-weave, and it's true that it's possibly easier and more precise when it is worked on even-weave. But in the past, dra - Needlepointers.com - Chicken Scratch
These instructions are in French (I think) but there are also great diagrams making this chicken scratch tutorial a winner!
Supplies Needed to Make Chicken Scratch Embroidery - You'll Just Need a Few Things
Needlepointers recommends having the following supplies on hand to make your own chicken scratch embroidery designs:
~ embroidery needle (size #24) with a large eye so the floss can fit through
~ embroidery hoop to keep the fabric taut
~ embroidery scissors
~ embroidery floss
~ gingham fabric
~ needle threader, if needed
Bad Handwriting
Handwriting that is hard to read
is also called chicken scratch.
Chicken Scratch How To on YouTube
This YouTube video is 13 minutes long but provides some great information if you want to start chicken scratching yourself.
Blogs That Show Chicken Scratch Embroidery - Project Ideas and Photos to Inspire You
- Gingham Embroidery or Chicken Scratch Project
Homespun Projects -- Chicken Scratch Gingham Embroidery -- Chicken Scratch or Gingham Embroidery -- This wonderful project idea was submitted by Laurie Latour of Jacksonville, Florida. Laurie is an expert at this creative embroidery and she does some - Chicken Scratch Embroidery on Gingham
Chicken Scratch - Embroidery on Gingham -- Right off the bat, I'll admit I've never been a major fan of gingham except on baby goods and picnic tables, but I was chatting with a lady the other day about embroidery, and she started talking about "chic - Crochet Bunnies and Chicken Scratch Embroidery Eggs - Pink Paper Peppermints | Christian Printables
Here are some more Eastery things I've been working on as promised. Crochet Bunnies and Chicken Scratch Embroidery Eggs - Primrose Design: not quite chicken scratch
The seller who I bought this from had two and the first was traditional chicken scratch made into a pillow top (another idea for using this style of embroidery) with a ruffled edge. Nice but nothing you hadn't seen before. The one I bought had that l
Gingham Fabric for Gingham Embroidery - Make Your Own Chicken Scratch Creations
For beginner's projects, start with gingham fabric with wider squares. Use the smaller squares for more advanced projects after you've tackled a few chicken scratch embroidery projects.
Popularity of Chicken Scratch
From the 1930s to the 1950s,
chicken scratch embroidery was often done
on aprons making this look very popular.
Source: Needlepointers
Free Chicken Scratch Embroidery Patterns
- CHICKEN EMBROIDERY FREE PATTERN SCRATCH - EMBROIDERY & ORIGAMI
CHICKEN EMBROIDERY FREE PATTERN SCRATCH -- Chicken Scratch (Snowflaking) on Needlepointers.com Chicken Scratch is also known as snowflaking, gingham embroidery and Amish embroidery. - Free Chicken Scratch Patterns - Free Chicken Scratch Embroidery Patterns
Chicken Scratch Embroidery, a variation of Cross Stitch, is done on gingham fabric. Use these free patterns to practice this traditional embroidery style. - Muddlepud: Freebie Alert! Snowflakes That Stay on My Gingham Eyelashes
Because I haven't gotten beyond merely glancing at my pile of projects-to-be and thinking about them late at night after choosing sleep over creative fulfillment (so not like me!), I've decided to encourage others in Blogland to craft so that I might - Chicken Scratch patterns %u2014 whip up
Jenna over at CorgiPants is kindly offering whipup readers the pattern below. She's having a week of free chicken scratch patterns to celebrate the opening of her etsy store. Link, and her store link. Share and Enjoy:
Embroidery Books Featuring Chicken Scratch Designs
Add a Gingham Lace Apron to Your Collection - Vintage Finds for You
These chicken scratch pieces are ready to be added to your vintage linen collection, in case you don't have the time or inkling to make them yourselves.
Gingham Lace
While it's not real lace-making, lace stitch is a type
of needle weaving worked on gingham
that produces many lacy looks.
It's not difficult to do and works up quickly.
Laurie Latour, Guest Blogger at Needle N Thread
Affiliate Disclosure
This author, Peggy Hazelwood, participates in Amazon, eBay, All Posters, and other affiliate advertising programs. When you click an advertising link on this page and make a purchase, I receive a small percent of the sale. Thank you for reading this far!
