Great Idea for Shading

Ever wonder how to shade using non-strandable threads? Try checkerboard-ing. Stitch every other stitch/intersection in one color and then return with a second color and stitch the open areas. It is a simple concept but powerful too. You can combine checkerboard-ing with thread blending "in the needle" and add a whole new dimension to your shading.

Checkerboard-ing works not just with tent stitch but with other decorative stitches as well (such as brick, alternating tent, etc.) However, it is most effective with smaller stitches because the effect is more subtle.

At first you may not enjoy the look of checkerboard-ing but give it time and distance and it grows on you. It's a great way to develop a color that you can't find, to transition between areas or between DYE LOTS.

Happy stitching!

Stitch of the Week: Plaited Square

Sherlee Lanz in her book A Pageant of Pattern for Needlepoint has this to say about plaited stitches: "Even when their structures are completely known, one finds a certain unaccountable mystery in them" (p. 254). Less poetically she also calls plaited stitches "dynamic" and "rewarding" and I agree with her. I was surprised while doing research for this Stitch of the Week to discover that the Plaited Square stitch is not listed in the index to many stitch guides. Perhaps it is known by another name. If not, it deserves a wider audience. The stitch is easy, versatile and makes a fine fill stitch.

Like many stitches describing how to execute the Plaited Square is more difficult than actually doing it. The stitch consists of four straight stitches (all of the same length) that alternate in orientation from vertical to horizontal as they proceed in a counter clockwise direction. Each new stitch overlaps the previously completed stitch except for the fourth stitch which ends underneath stitch number one, completing a nice, neat little package.

A variation on the Plaited Square involves orienting the stitch unit diagonally rather than straight up and down (the Plaited Square Diagonal).

How the individual stitch units are arranged creates the versatile nature of this stitch. They can be arranged side by side or one can leave a space between stitch units to be filled in by another row of stitches halfway below the first. Alternately, one can leave space in between the stitches to be filled in with tent stitches or any other appropriately sized decorative stitch that fits.

The stitch can be executed in most types of thread. I used wool to stitch up the examples included here but a plied thread might have been a better choice to show off the stitch detail. I would probably use a thread slightly smaller than normal for the size mesh.

Focus On: Vineyard Merino Wool

We recently started carrying the entire Vineyard Merino Wool line — all 150 colors! We've only had the wool on the wall for a few days, but customers are already raving about this wool.

Merino Wool comes from a breed of sheep prized for its wool, the finest and softest of any sheep. Vineyard Merino Wool is 100 percent wool, sells in hanks of 30 yards and is best for 13 to 18 mesh counts. Its texture is similar to pearl cotton, yet it retains its softness; strong but not scratchy. It is not strandable, so is very easy to work with -- just cut it and go. Vineyard Merino Wool is ideal for Bargello stitching on 18 mesh because it will cover that smaller mesh well on straight stitches, and its colors and numbers match much of the Vineyard silk.

You can use Vineyard Merino Wool on just about any stitch, but keep in mind that this covers best on 14 and 16 mesh; if you use it on 13 you may want to double it on vertical and horizontal stitches, and it may be too think for small stitches on 18 mesh.

Below are some stitch samples using Vineyard Merino Wool. We also want to point out that this has some nice shades of purple — very rich — that are not always available in other lines of fiber. The stitches used, in order are:

Cashmere: A nice box stitch that is easy to compensate and works well on architectural designs

Double Stitch: Stitched with wool, perfect for fur trim on a coat. It also works well for shrubbery.

Horizontal Parisian: Works well in small areas and easy to compensate. Also good for large animals, bird wings and backgrounds. I used two strands on the sample, as it's on 13 mesh and needs a little more coverage than one strand offers

Diagonal Mosaic: Very versatile, good for backgrounds, sky, water, clothing, fields, angel or butterfly wings.

Kalem (Knitting): Looks like knitting, so great for scarves, sweaters, mittens or any other article of clothing you want to have a knitted look.

Oblique Slav: Wonderful texture for horizontal straight lines, wall or ceiling molding, and decorative bands on clothing. I've stitched it using one strand and two strands so you can see the difference.

Focus On: Alpaca 18

Alpaca 18 is a great thread to use when you want to achieve a realistic look for animals, hair and beards. It is 100% natural Alpaca, made in Peru from the Alpaca sheep of South America. While primarily used on 18ct mesh, it also works on 13ct mesh if you don't pull too hard and want a light look. Rainbow Gallery produces Alpaca in 19 colors, 12 yards to a card. It is a non-divisible thread, and one single strand is equal to two strands of Patternayan wool.

Alpaca 18 is available in natural animal colors and offers a variety of choice for animals, hair, beards, and other natural effects. It can also be brushed with a Bunka Brush or toothbrush to raise the nap a bit. When stitching with Alpaca 18, it's best to use shorter strands than usual so that it doesn't get worn out from too many passes through the canvas.

Some stitches/effects suggested for Alpaca 18:

Giant Horizontal Interlocking Gobelin (over 4 horizontal, 1 vertical thread) -- use for animal fur (cats, dogs, horses, etc.) see photo top left

Horizontal Interlocking Gobelin -- flat appearance (see photo top left)

Kennan -- animal fur (see photo top right)

Long and Short -- animal fur (see photo middle left)

Horizontal Parisian -- fuzzy animal, elephants, reindeer, horses, dogs, bird wings (see photo bottom right)

Velvet -- fuzzy effect, hair, fur (see photo bottom left)

Stitch of the Week: Medieval Mosaic

This week's Stitch of the Week is Medieval Mosaic, an excellent stitch to know. Medieval Mosaic works up quickly, makes a lovely background or filling stitch for a large area and is very versatile. Use Medieval Mosaic with overdyed thread for depicting sky, water and beaches. Medieval Mosaic can also be used when stitching up wallpaper, carpets, clothing and rivers.

Medieval Mosaic is stitched in vertical rows. If you want, you may turn your canvas 90 degrees and stitch in horizontal rows (the end result will be the same).

The stitch is a series of Gobelin stitches -- one group is over four canvas threads, the other group is over two canvas threads. Each group consists of four individual stitches. The longer stitches step to the left one canvas thread with each stitch while maintaining the same stitch length. The shorter stitch units step to the right one canvas thread with each stitch unit. The result is a series of forward advancing long Gobelin stitch followed by a series of receding shorter Gobelin stitches. As you may have already guessed in subsequent rows the position of the long and short Gobelin stitches are reversed so that if you started with long stitches in the first row you will start with short stitches in the second row (and vice versa). See diagram for a visual representation of these directions.

Medieval Mosaic is a stitch that shows off flat, ribbon-type threads such as Neon Rays, Ribbon Floss, Flair and Sparkle Rays. It also looks good with stranded threads such as embroidery floss, Splendor or Mandarin Floss. Be sure to use a laying tool for best effect.

Focus On: Impressions

Impressions is workhorse thread -- it comes in many, many different colors (approximately 230), always looks appropriate and is very versatile. Impressions is manufactured by Caron Collection. It is composed of 50% wool and 50% silk. The combination of silk and wool is a popular one. The silk lends lustre while the wool provides durability. Also, silk and wool reflect light differently giving greater depth of color.

Impressions is a single stranded thread with a tight twist. One strand is equivalent to one strand of Pearl Cotton size 8. On 18 mesh canvas use one strand of Impressions for Basketweave and two strands for upright stitches. For 13 mesh canvas use 2 strands Impressions for Basketweave and three strands for upright stitches. For decorative stitches on either 13 or 18 mesh canvas experiment with one, two or more strands of Impressions to create the look you prefer.

Impressions combines well with other fibers. In the photos here it has been combined with Splendor for Diagonal Mosaic (see photo top left) as well as Cushion stitch. Either of these stitches would make an excellent background. Other stitches for use with Impressions include the Kalem or Knitting stitch which makes for elegant looking knitted garments as well as Giant Interlocking Horizontal Gobelin (at left) which would be perfect for animal fur.

Framed Pavilion (below) makes elegant clothing.

Stitch of the Week: Angelis

Angelis is a darning pattern -- the first that we have featured as a "Stitch of the Week." Darning patterns are a special breed of stitches. A darning pattern is essentially running stitches done in decorative repeats.

The possibilities for darning patterns are endless. Angelis is a popular darning pattern that works well as a background stitch or as a filling stitch for a large area. The best part of darning stitches is that they are quick to work up.

Because the pattern calls for numerous straight stitches done over five canvas threads, Angelis poses a risk of snagging and should be avoided on pieces where durability is a major consideration.