Chicken scratch embroidery has been having a real moment lately, popping up in stitching circles and on Instagram feeds as makers fall for its charm all over again and it’s easy to see why. All it takes is a handful of simple stitches, a square of gingham, and a little patience, and suddenly you’re holding something that looks like it took far more skill than it did. It’s the kind of project that rewards slowness… the sort of hand-stitching practice that asks you to sit down, breathe, and let your hands do the thinking for a while.
Back in March, we introduced you to Carolyn Forster, (check out the launch HERE) whose love of thread and quiet, dedicated making felt like a natural fit for the Aurifil family from the very first conversation. Carolyn told us then that she’d actually stumbled onto chicken scratch while researching 1930s quilts, and, in her words, fell “completely down the rabbit hole” of trying the designs on different squares, in different colors, unable to stop. That obsession became All-New Twenty To Make: Chicken Scratch Embroidery, and now that the book is out in the world, we wanted to spend more time with it and with the thread set Carolyn built specifically to go alongside it.
Twenty Projects, One Rabbit Hole
Published by Search Press as the newest addition to their long-running All-New Twenty to Make series, the book is a compact, giftable little hardback that holds a genuinely wide range of ideas. There are twenty designs in total, moving from simple cross-stitch-style motifs up through intricate woven patterns, and they’re worked onto everything from bags and clothing to bunting garlands and table settings. A few favorites worth pointing out: Diamond Starbursts and Quintet Stitch Diamond both lean into that lace-like geometry chicken scratch is known for, while Woven Zig Zags and Woven Corners show off just how much texture you can build once you start layering the woven stitches over one another.
What makes it such a lovely entry point is how little it asks of you at the start. The stitch library up front covers everything a beginner needs, and from there the book trusts you to explore. There’s even a to-scale gingham template printed at the back so more adventurous stitchers can start drafting their own motifs. It’s a book built the way Carolyn teaches: give people just enough to get going, and let the making take over from there.
Where the Cotton Floss Comes In
This is really the heart of why we wanted to come back to this one. When Carolyn curated the coordinating set featuring 10 Small Spools of Cotton Floss, she wasn’t picking colors in the abstract… she built the palette directly from the projects in the book itself, cherry-picking across the wide range she’d used (the table runner project alone calls for every color in the box) to land on a set that works together no matter which design you pick up first. Classic red, black, and white are all there for the traditionalists, alongside a variegated thread for anyone drawn to the movement it brings to a piece.
It means you can open the book to nearly any page and already have the thread in hand. No hunting through a bin of floss trying to match colors… no guessing whether something coordinates. And because it comes on Aurifil’s wooden spools rather than needing to be re-wound onto cards, it travels well too. Carolyn mentioned stitching chicken scratch on retreats and trips precisely because the format makes it so easy to just cut what you need and go. For a technique this portable and this meditative, that matters more than it might seem to at first.
A Practice Worth Slowing Down For
Part of what’s drawing so many makers to chicken scratch right now, we think, is exactly that slowness. It doesn’t ask for a big project or a long-term commitment, but it still delivers that particular satisfaction of hand stitching: the repetitive, grounding rhythm of needle and thread, the sense of having made something lace-like out of almost nothing. Carolyn put it simply back in March: start where you are, use what you have, and just get on with it. That’s really all this technique requires.
Giveaway: Win the Book (and More)
To celebrate the book’s release, we’re giving away a copy of All-New Twenty To Make: Chicken Scratch Embroidery along with Carolyn’s 1930s Quilts AND her Chicken Scratch Embroidery companion thread set. To enter, simply comment on this post and tell us your favorite featured project. The giveaway runs from Thursday, July 9, through Sunday night, July 12, at 11:59pm CST. We’ll pull a random winner and email them the week of the 13th.
Ready to dive in yourself? You can find the book here and the coordinating Cotton Floss set here.
Love the small projects. My favorite is the last one, the black and white tote. ❤️
I really love any Carolyn Forster book and have had the privilege of reading this new chicken scratch book via my library. I would love to make a neck scarf from the chicken scratch designs.
❤️ the tote bag and the coasters… the triangular sections of stitching look so great in those naturally squared off items❤️
Chicken scratch is fun! My grandmother made aprons using it, and I did a couple of projects years ago. Time to try it again. My favorite of the projects is the little drawstring project bag. I could use one of those.
My 95 yr old aunt has been a sewist all of her life. She is working on her second chicken scratch quilt ! She really wants to teach me this technique to carry on the art. However we live many states away and she said that she couldn’t write the instructions down for me.
So I have been wanting to teach myself this art and this book is exactly what I need. Thank you for sharing with others.
Love the bunting with the contrasting thread
I love the little buttons! I could use those for so many projects.
I love the little drawstring bag.
I remember my grandma having an apron with chicken scratch on it. Good memories. I really like the small mug rugs as a beginning project. Easy to transport on travels.
The black and grey tote at the end is fantastic! A perfect little sampler, row quilt style. It’s a great way to showcase various stitches. ❤️
Did chicken scratch years ago. Time to do it again. Love the green & white tote.
My favorite is the motif on the blouse!
Looking forward to embellishing garments
Love the black and white tote and the floss is great to work with
I love that blouse! I also love the gingham that looks like a linen blend used in these projects. I will be looking for it!
Where to begin….I watched my mom and grandma doing this…..I still have many items they created. Now, it’s my turn. I want to make the little drawstring bag to gift to my fellow teachers and students.
The mug mats! I like small easy to take with projects.
I love the embroidery on the blouse 🤩
I like the tote bags & the draw string bag! (so many cute projects!)
So many fun projects. I love the blouse the best.
My fav is the Diamond Starburst. It would make a cute design on an added gingham cuff on some denim capris. When my kids were young I taught chicken scratch to other kids at our local museum. A fun project and great way to do just a little in simple Xs or expand to larger projects with more complicated designs. Would love the book!
My favorite is the black tote with the variety of chicken scratch stitches in cream. I made little baby rompers from gingham with chicken scratch hearts on the bibs. So cute.
My favorite are the colorful coasters!
I love the black tote at the end! I’ve done many other embroidery projects, but have never heard of chicken scratch embroidery! I can see myself following Carolyn down her rabbit hole 😂😍
I love the clothing embellishment possibilities. I like to recycle clothes by updating or changing them up a bit and adding any of these would do the trick. I realized this when seeing the design on the dress and my imagination is swirling.
Love the idea of an easy carry along project! I love the patterns on the coasters!
I have the perfect checked linen to make the zigzag stitched design on a top as pictured!
I adore the bag made with chicken scratch. That was my first introduction to embroidery when I was about eight years old.
Simple projects! I was drawn to the mug rugs.
The band sampler-ish layout on dark grey gingham is very striking. Pattern in other colors would make a nice Christmas tree tote too.
Love the banner and the top and the floss!
Yes I love stitching that is small and very portable, finish looks like beautiful lace.
I have a magazine 1960/80 and in there it is called Australian Cross Stitch.
I am a needlelace, another small and portable stitching project.
I especially like that blue/black gingham top.
Thanks for a great giveaway.
I love it all! But that blouse is GORGEOUS! I can see that project in my future!
It is such a fun technique! Current favorite are the coasters. Love holding them, running my fingers over the design!!
I love her work, stitching and her quilts. Reminds me of my first learning to stitch on gingham when I was in Girls Scouts years ago!!! Aurifil floss and thread is beautiful and very smooth, no fussy fibers. I enjoy working with 50 wt. I’m getting back to handwork and appreciate their well made floss. I can’t wait to buy Carolyn’s new book! Thanks for sending your newsletters. I so much enjoy reading about all the artists that are sharing their love of the art of handwork, quilting, etc. Nancy B.
So many lovely projects! While it’s hard to choose a fave, I’ll go with the coasters, which would make the sweetest housewarming gift
now when I look at my Grandma’s pillows, I’m wondering if she thought about taking the basic further! perfect slow stitching projects. pick one you ask…I’d start with the hearts move onto the banner and then beyond. thanks for the chance to win and thanks to Carolyn.
So fortuitous to receive this email! I have been wanting to get back to embroidery and this looks perfect! The drawstring bag looks fun, and I am thinking of 2 early teen great nieces who might enjoy one. Thank you for sharing!
I love everything about these projects! One favorite is the little mug mats. They would make quick little projects for gifts, especially when making them for members of a group.
I love the sweet littLe dress.
I like the coasters because it gives a chance to enjoy the work if there is not a lot of time involved.
Black and grey tote with it’s sampler-style stitching is my favourite. Festive tree?
I’d love to make the little sewing bag. So many nice choices for gifts.
I LOVE THIS IDEA. IT REMINDS ME OF WHAT I ATTEMPTED TO DO AS A CHILD.
The black and white tote I’d make right away. It’s lovely. Then I’d make the coasters. 😃
Tough to chose just one. Think I have to go with embellishing the top of the blouse (or dress?)
I’ll start with the bookmark. But want to do all of them.
I did chicken scratch years ago. I think the coasters would be fun to make.
Love the tea cup cozy, so simple looking, but totally beautiful!
I have always done my embroidery on a sewing machine. Would love to learn a new technique. Aurifil thread is the only thread I use for machine embroidery 50wt. Beautiful colored that never bleed. Best thread ever! Need projects that I can travel with.
I love the idea of using plaid fabric and embroidery. It makes it easier to have even stitches.
My girls used to do this. Pretty sure I have some packed away. I like the bunting and the embroidery hoop design.
My favorit ist the triangle version on the bag 🦋
Love Carolyn’s work and the efficiency of combining with Aurifil thread – beauty, quality and convenience!
All of the projects are wonderful. I really like the smaller projects, like the coasters though, as it is something I can see myself making. Some of the other larger projects seem overwhelming. I love that this is done on plaid fabrics too.
I love the totes, especially the last one. I think it could be centered and made to give the impression of a Christmas Tree. Overall, I like this embroidery, it reminds me of an American version of Sashiko.
Each featured project is so lovely; however, the stitchwork on the black & gray tote bag really captures my attention. I could see these designs on a denim shirt or a small purse.
The tote
I think all of the projects look great, but I love the tote bags. Thanks for the chance to win a wonderful giveaway.
I love the embellishment on the blouse and imagining how the technique can be used in different ways to embellish clothing ( cuffs, collars, etc.)
And i like how she combines the embroidery with “quilt-as-you-go”.
I love the clothing embellishment and that last black and grey tote!
i love the coasters. i’m very taken by small projects right now & those are perfectly sized.
I like the embroidered blouse.
This looks like fun! I might try it on my first quilt top which has gingham – made when I was a teenager. I like the embroidery on the hexie blocks!
Love the little one in the hoop!
Oh they are all so lovely. I think the coasters and dress or top front are fun. I want to chicken scratch some collars, cuffs and pockets! Would love the stitch ideas in the book! A lot of love went into that book!
Great ideas, great colours, but I love the decoration on the top best of all!
Looks like a fabulous book.
I always enjoy Carolyn’s books. I like the coasters. I have an apron that my grandmother made & embellished with chicken scratch embroidery.
I am so excited to see the return of gingham embroidery, and with a new book and a color box to get us started. What fun!!!
I especially like the tote bag and the drawstring bag. These would make wonderful gifts.
Like her quote about use what you have, and get on with it. I like all of her work, in particular, the bag with the Christmas tree on it.
My favorite is the short and long stitching on the mug rugs
I really like the woven zig zag on the blouse. It adds such nice detail to a solid fabric. I’m going to try this ❣️
I love the black and gray tote as well as the covered buttons.
My Mother stitched this onto tablecloths, pillows and our dresses. To see it revived makes my heart sing.
The little coasters on blue. Love the interplay of different colours. I have a chicken scratch apron my great grandma made for me in the 60’s. 🙂
I love anything gingham. But I really like the tote bag.
Really like the coasters. Buttons have a lot of potential too!
I like the idea of embellishing garments! Love the blouse example above! The mug rugs though are tre bien! Love that these projects are perfect for on the go!
Love the little woven corners coasters. I recall seeing aprons adorned with chicken-scratch embroidery years ago and then it seemed to disappear. I’m glad it’s making a resurgence.
I like the tote with the diagonal stitching.
This looks like a lot of fun.
I really like the sampler tote bag!
I love the mini hoop ornament and the bunting ❤️
This brings back fond memories of my grandmother’s embroidered orange gingham apron. I had no idea it was called chicken scratch. Would love to try it on an apron and maybe some gingham shirts I have. Maybe starting with a small project like a bookmark.
I love all of the chicken scratch projects but my favourite has to be the Diamond Starburst. I love it’s simplicity and yet it appearance Is one of incredibly intricate and delicate lace.
My favorite is the diamond starburst tote. I did some chicken scratch embroidery in junior high school long ago.
The blouse is beautiful
Can’t wait to try this – love the little buttons!
I remember embellishing a gingham apron with chicken scratch when I was probably ten. I had no idea there were so many stitch possibilities, and for that variety the black and gray tote is my favorite. As always, Aurifil makes any project better.
The project at the top of the blog with the gingham check (to the left) and embroidered star caught my eye immediately. Just started adding embroidery to my quilts and love it.
I think the gorgeous tote bag is especially scrumptious!
I sew love to do Chicken Scratch. I am 76 and my Granny taught me when I was six years old. It took another two years before I was trusted to mark the designs for her on gingham. She always used white Coats & Clark pearl cotton bought at her cousin’s “dime” store. Love, love, love the tote bag hanging on the wooden kitchen chair.
It’s been many, many years since I’ve done chicken scratch. Still have a short sleeved lightweight jacket I made for my mom, used the chicken scratch around the bottom and bottom of the sleeves. Always enjoyed it. I have a blouse similar to the embellished one shown that I will have to give a try on. Also like the banner.
This looks so much fun and who doesn’t like gingham. I love the tote bag
This seems like an excellent way to get started with hand embroidery! Would be wonderful to win this package!
Love the totes!
Would love to learn this technique
I love the adorable bunting! And the buttons would be a very useful addition to my garments.
Beautiful work
Great ideas. Love the tote bags
Oh My! 😲 What an amazing stitching style! 🤩
My favorite is the red & white gingham “mug rug”!
Love so many of the projects shown, especially the book bag with the modern style Christmas Tree.
My fav is the red, white and blue on the packaging for Aurifil. I learned chicken scratch years ago, but it wasn’t this interesting.
Love Chicken Scratch projects. My favorite is the hexagon shapes with the chicken scratch on them!
I love the top
My favorite one is the little drawstring sewing bag! I love that this slow hand-sewing technique is making a revival!
I, too, want to try the cute coasters and tote bag. My daughter is wanting something like this for her apartment. I should surprise her! Thanks!
So many cute ideas! I would probably make the banner first, maybe in a Halloween theme!
I like the diamond starbursts on the bag.
So many great designs but I really love the stitching on the shirt
I like the coasters. they are so pretty.
My favorite is the embroidered shirt!
Love having hand work like this to do riding in the car or watching tv. The Woven Corners would be the first one I’d try. Thanks!
Love the tote bag! A client recently introduced me to chicken scratch embroidery and I love it!
I love the tote bag. What a lovely book!
I always have to have something for my hands to do when I’m traveling. This book looks like the perfect thing for me!
I love these Gingham coasters!!
Everyone’s getting these for Christmas.