Saturday, June 27, 2009

The Dragon's Grid



Now that all the background Scotch Stitches are in place, it is time to deal with the grid lines that separate each square in the checkerboard. I used one ply of the very dark red/brown Soie d’Alger #2925 to lay long stitches along the grid lines. I did all the vertical stitches first. Note that each grid line was painted on top of a ridge, not in a ditch, but my thread lies in a ditch. Because I used just one ply of my very dark reddish brown silk, some of the paint will show. This gives extra dimension to the grid. I just had to make sure I always used the hole to the right (or left--doesn’t matter, just be consistent) of the painted line.

Once the vertical lines were covered, I did the horizontal ones. Again, I had to make sure I always used the hole above or below the painted line. Once both vertical and horizontal lines were laid, I couch them down at the corners of each grid using one strand of red metallic Bijoux #414 in a tiny cross stitch. (Bijoux is a thin metallic thread similar to but less shiny than Accentuate.) This adds a bit more subtle sparkle and keeps the long lengths of thread from sticking up and snagging something.

I thought about using the red Hi-Lights for the tie down XSs but decided that it might be a little too heavy a thread. Besides, the Bijoux gives an even subtler shine than the Hi-Lights and I think it looks nice in the background.

The dragon's body is next on the list. I've already pulled out my stash of Water N Ice....

Jane/Chilly Hollow
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