This lattice work sampler – where I’m using a bunch of different lattice stitch fillings and other techniques from the Stitch Fun series – is turning into seriously random embroidery chaos.

But it’s fun, and it’s also serving a tremendously useful purpose for me. Let me explain…

See, I have Those Days now and then – those days when I’m not quite sure what to work on next, where I’ve got so much going that I can’t find a starting place. My brain goes into standby mode. The only thing I can seem to think is… “?”

Don’t we all have Those Days now and then?

On Those Days, I know I should be doing something stitch-related, but I have to clear my head first.

And so, I pick up this little sampler and put a half hour or so into it. What do you think magically happens?

My head clears, and I find myself formulating a clear plan.

And while there’s absolutely No Plan to this sampler, it’s perfect to work on while Making Plans.

In the photos above, do you recognize the filling technique?

It’s battlement couching, and while it’s similar to the area worked previously and filled with the same technique, this time the colors are opposite in filling order. The red sits on top here, with the darker yellows in the background.

What do you think? Do you like this version of battlement couching better, or this version?

Blue! This section cried out for a blue outline. Being somewhat tired of chain stitch, which (in one way or another) has made up the majority of the outlines on the sampler, I opted for raised stem stitch, one of the stitch tutorials covered in the Stitch Fun series. I worked the raised stem stitch in alternating lines of dark and light blue.

Golly, it was so much fun, that before I knew it, I was setting up another foundation for raised stem stitch on this circle element.

Raised stem stitch makes a neat, clean filling, and it works up fast. Just remember to use a tapestry needle once you start the stem stitch part, and before you know it (and I mean lickity-split!), the area you’re filling will be full.

It’s fast! It’s fantastic! It’s fun!

I went for the reddish-orange and yellow combination on this one.

The sampler’s filling up. There are only a couple more significant spots left to go.

And then what will I do for brain juice?

In any case, there’s a moral to this story: Never underestimate the power of random embroidery for clearing the head and revving up the brain! It works!

If you like playing around with embroidery stitches and want to go all random with some Stitch Fun, feel free to visit the Stitch Fun index, where you’ll find tutorials for all the stitches used in this particular jumble, as well as the somewhat bizarre embroidery pattern used for this sampler.