Originally posted 2009-01-22 10:16:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Needlepoint damask, a technique which uses Tent Stitch and contrasting textures of thread, is a marvelous way to make needlepoint backgrounds. You get a subtle pattern, but nothing which overwhelms.
The picture above is a damask pattern based on a Chinese lattice which I used on a lovely purse from Whimsy & grace.
Yesterday I added a page, with samples and patterns, about the technique to All about Needlepoint. But I can’t stop thinking about these delightful patterns. So I’ve come up with some others and I want to share them with you today.
This is another Chinese pattern, but one based on an overall design you will see in fabric and in paintings. I call it Chinese Key. Because it is a small overall pattern, it works particularly well on smaller pieces. I’ve used it as backgrounds for pincushions and boxtops.
Curvy Zig-zag, pictured above, is a stripe pattern, but one which has curves. It works well when you want a vertical background, but not one with a strong pattern. The smaller the contrast in textures between the two threads, the more subtle this pattern will be.
This check is about a simple as you can get. It’s just blocks of nine stitches in two different threads. But it’s very effective. Kelly Clark used it as a background on Mr. Snowman, shown in the bottom picture on this page.
A more complex pattern, this damask will use three textures. Enhance the crosses in the center of half the diamonds by making them as tiny Cross Stitches in a thread like metallic. The result will be elegant
I’m going to challenge you to make your own needlepoint damask patterns. Email me with your chart as a JPG to napaneedlepoint @ gmail.com (remove the spaces please). with it as an attachment and I’ll do another post with your patterns.
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Oooh, I like these Janet. Thank you.
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