Sketching a Canvas

Originally posted 2006-08-05 06:55:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I like the Shdow Stitching effect, but I really want to talk about another technique, my DH christened “Sketching with Thread”

Often we are attracted to a hand-painted canvas because of the delicacy of the lines, they are so compelling. But stitch the canvas and all of a sudden those delicate lines become thick, solid and often dotted.

Why?

For several reasons:

First, needlepoint stitches have a slant. If you keep the slant the same no matter the direction of the line, you will get solid lines in one direction and lines of bumps in the other.

Second, in an unstitched canvas all lines will look thinner because there is the white space of the holes. Once a canvas is stitched the holes are filled.

So how to preserve the delicacy of the lines even after stitching?

It’s easy.

First, thin the thread. While most of the leaves are stitched usiing four strands of floss, most of the darkest green is stitched using only two strands. Even in the parts where there are solid lines, the lines are thinner and more delicate. This allows those lines to be a transition between the thicker four floss lines and the very thin straight stitch ines using two strands.

Second, over stitch with thin threads. The veins of the leaves are stitched with single straight stitches using two strands. These are quite thin and because the canvas underneath is completely stitched, no paint shows. You can, as I did, just make up the stitching, or you can photocopy the canvas before you do the solid stitching to follow where the lines go.

Finally, change the slant of the stitch. To preserve the solid line, even if it’s thin, change the slant so that the line stays solid.

Tons of fun and it accomplished what I wanted.

Related posts:

1. Symmetry and the Needlepoint Line Problem
2. Needlepoint Tips
3. Using Overdyed and Hand-dyed Threads on Painted Canvas
4. Transferring a Design to Needlepoint Canvas
5. Divide and Conquer Shading