Last night I worked on O'jishi's background ang also tested my idea of using one strand of my Watercolours (Chili 217) for a border using the same stitch as in the background. What do you think? I am not certain myself whether this is what I want. I probably will need to work on the central mask before I decide whether a border of faux bamboo or this stitch will look good. However, I don't like filling in the Watercolours area with tent stitches in the same thread. I think those central tent stitches between the Alternating Cashmere Pairs need to be in a gold metallic.
What do you think?
Before I forget, there is a new Kelmscott magnet featuring a crown and new scissors out. I saw them on the Needle in a Haystack blog.
http://needlestack.typepad.com/whats_new/2009/11/new-kelmscott-designs-scissors-needleminder.html
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow
19 comments:
I think the metalic will look nice, but what about the mask? What are you stitching it in? Will it overwhelm the focal point? I love what you have done so far!
Beth, you are right. It is way to early to decide about a border when I don't know what threads and stitches I'll use for the mask itself yet. Still, I have my test stitching in and can think about it as I work on other areas.
I love the color in the border - think it looks great with the rest of the design. I do think though you need to use a different stitch than the rest of the background - not sure what, but a different stitch.
I'm still hoping for a tryout of the bamboo idea. Sharon G's bamboo you linked to is lovely and might make a terrific border. The Watercolours thread is quite a good color.
Nancy
Personally for me -- I would prefer the border in a different stitch. As for placement of the border, I too think it is too early to decide on the border, but I think perhaps a border on the right side and the bottom only would be my preference. Now for threads -- I think I would use a chili color metallic on the face (except for the mouth) -- a darker version of the same color on the border (perhaps even blending a filament of the same color).
I think putting gold between the Cashmeres would be a great touch. It will nicely echo the colors of the mask and will give the border the look of a Chinese Lattice, although these kind of patterns are also typical of Japan.
Keep Stitching,
Janet
Please leave this one, and I agree the tents would have to be one of the golds, and then do a sample of the bamboo above it. Wait: Don't do it though until you have started putting in mask stitches as it will jump out at us as to which is the right one.
Do you think you need the tent stitching or how will it look with the canvas showing through?
How will it look without the tent stitching and letting the canvas show through? That's a lot of tent stitching.
I like the darker part of the Chili, but I'm not sure about the lighter part. I love the fact that it is the same stitch as the background and I do like the metallic. But, I think you are right that you have to get the mask in to figure out if you'll want a border and if so, what kind of border. And a border on the left, where the background is much busier may look so much different than a border on the right where the background is pretty bland. Oh what fun we are going to have watching Miss Jane.
Nancy, you are right. I never realized I put my test on a quiet corner of the design. Guess I'd better stitch another test on the left side. Thanks for pointing that out.
Ellie--It is a lot of tent stitching but not nearly as much as I did on the border of Cape Cod Dogs. I only stitched a bit between two pairs so you can see the test pairs without the tent stitches, too. I don't like it as much as leaving the background pairs empty. That works but not stitching the Chili red border with tent stitches is too much of a contrast in my opinion.
I'm sure that Pat and everyone else is right. We'll know what stitches to use for the border once the mask has stitching on it.
Good point, Janet, about the alternating cashmere pairs looking like lattice work. I hadn't realized that.
Patt, your idea about a border only on two sides is fascinating! I am grateful for your thread ideas, too. I have some pretty coral silks for the mouth but haven't decided about any other threads yet. There are not too many coral metallics so I am a bit limited by that.
Nancy, I'm starting to think the faux bamboo idea is wrong for this design. It just doesn't look right to me mentally now. But stay tuned! I'm going to do what several people have suggested and wait until the mask is much more finished before I decide on a border.
Maybe it shouldn't have one....?
MN Stitcher, you may be right and using the same stitch for the border not quite right. We'll wait and see....
Hi Jane,
I love that border color, but I think that a different stitch might be in order. The concept of the bamboo fascinates me, I must admit. What about a rice laid filling? Or s fern border (I am looking at chapter 24 of Amy's cookbook as I type). Waiting to see what you decide....Denise
Denise, thanks for the comments. You aren't the only person who thinks that another stitch than the background one is better for a border. I will look at my laid filings book and think about a fern stitch. Thanks for the help!
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