A vintage hand embroidery technique that was originally popularized during the Depression Era here in the United States, Chicken Scratch is always stitched on a base of gingham check. Embroidery thread is stitched in a series of X’s and simple weaves using the individual squares of the gingham as a grid for the stitch patterns. Vintage pieces of gingham stitched with this technique can look as if they have a layer of lace laid over the gingham. A beautiful, simple technique that is easy to learn and meditative to stitch.

Blair fell hard for this technique when her family moved from Seattle, Washington to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2020. She cleaned out and downsized her studio supplies, and while doing so, she rediscovered an antique gingham quilt square stitched with this technique. While waiting for her studio to be built in their new home, Chicken Scratch embroidery was the perfect, portable diversion. After many many hours of stitching, she is still constantly trying new variations of Chicken Scratch. It is the most meditative activity to keep her hands busy in the evenings after quilting all day in her studio. Stitch patterns, thread colors, and combinations of them all on different colors of gingham never gets old.