Next up on my agenda for the City and Guilds course are the samplers using linear stitches. Linear stitches are those we all use to outline a shape or provide a line where we need one. They're often among the very first stitches we master when we're learning to embroider. I remember learning back stitch and stem stitch right away when I was first starting to embroider.The purpose of the linear stitches sampler is to demonstrate knowledge of and an ability to do specific stitches often used in this way. That isn't to say, however, that these stitches are used only for outlining or providing a line in a design. I have used stem stitch as a filling stitch many times and it's a favourite of mine when used this way!In an effort to use only things I already have, I looked in my fabric drawers and found some linen from a table runner project I did a long, long time ago. The linen came from a small fabric shop and isn't specifically for embroidery. The weave is uneven, which meant that I needed to draw lines onto the fabric so I could keep my stitching straight.I began with two side by side rows of chain stitch in pale pink wool and brown silk threads. Below that I embroidered a line of back stitch in pearl cotton #8. Next, gimp couched with silk. Below that, herringbone stitch using Valdani variegated stranded cotton. Then another row of backstitch with silk thread looped through, which is called Pekinese stitch. This is one of my favourites and, although it's not on the list, I love that it begins as a simple back stitch and gets very fancy by adding the looped thread, so I included it! Lastly I combined three strands of Silk Mill silk and worked a row of stem stitch.When I came back the next day I noticed that the piece wasn't very interesting or exciting so I decided to add something that gave a bit of texture to the line - puffy couching! Now, I don't think "puffy whipped stitch" is the official name for this way of whipping a running stitch. but it's certainly a descriptive name! As you can see from the photo above, the base stitch is a running stitch. Once that stitch was in place along the length of the line, I threaded a tapestry needle with three strands of wool and threaded them through the running stitches. To keep the stitched raised, I used my wooden laying tool to pull the thread off the fabric a bit as I worked. I love how it looks a bit like a wave or a lacy edge!The next day I went on to add 5 rows of running stitches, alternating where the stitch was on top of the fabric in each row. Below that set of running stitches, I couched down another strand of gimp, this time using a cross stitch to hold it in place, rather than the straight stitch I used previously.The last row I put in that day was a row of open chain stitch. It looks quite blocky since I made the stitch more square than oblong. I also used variegated thread, which added some interest.It's fun doing all these stitches that I've known and used for so long in a sampler! In fact, it's so much fun, that I think I'll be finished very soon...watch this space!