The Nordic Snowman is done! Hurrah! My next step will be to assemble him into a stocking. Stockings are not difficult although turning small stockings right side out (they are often assembled with the wrong side facing out) can be painful. I have some nice red velvet for the back side and some pretty blue silk moire for the lining. I'll pick up trim today as all the trim I have is a bit too fat for this small stocking.
When I finish a piece, I always thinks about what I learned, what went particularly well and what I wish I'd done better. I certainly learned about how to mix various white threads in a piece in this one! I also was very careful about the threads on the back side since I didn't want any of the ends on the back side causing shadows behind the white areas. I stitched most of the whites first and was careful to not put starting knots or weave ending threads in bright colors too close to white areas. This seems to have worked out well. I am particularly happy with the fur trim on his stocking although I don't like the fur ball at the base of his stocking as well. It is a little too prominent. Next time I might try using a thinner thread than Faux Fur for French knots fur. I also am very happy with the red bow around the stocking. There I mixed Kreinik's red holographic thread with a regular dark red Kreinik metallic for shading and it looks very nice. The new Kreinik holographic thread is very shiny and in the right place, it looks terrific. It also holds up well with other metallic threads so you can use it for jewels in a gold crown and not have the jewels be overwhelmed by the gold setting. Holographic Fyreworks from Rainbow Gallery is a similar thread but it only comes in one width so I would choose Kreinik holographic when I could, just because it has the flexibility of a stitcher being able to choose thread sizes.
Hope you have enjoyed watching the Nordic snowman evolve. After I tackle finishing the stocking and doing some other finishing that I've let pile up, I'll be back working on the next quilt block in Stars for a New Millennium.
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow
14 comments:
Jane, this is an adorable piece! I've enjoyed watching you stitch it & you did a great job! Denise
Thanks, Denise. It has been an interesting piece to stitch with all the colors and all that white. I'm glad you had fun watching. Wish me luck with the finishing!
The Nordic Snowman Stocking is just the cutest thing I have seen. Great job, Jane. And, it was fun to watch the Cape Cod Mermaid/Dog canvas being attached to the Red Tote. Tell us more about the Red Tote. Please show us the end result. Thanks, Robin
I also think it is cute! I like the ball at the end of the hat as it really does sply out more in real life too! Putting my feet up to watch and wait for the next one!
Jane,
Not only is this a real cutie, I loved your discussion of using different threads for the same stitch. Even though it's all basketweave, there is lots of texture and variety. Thanks! Indiana Robin
Thanks to everyone for their nice compliments on the Nordic snowman. I appreciate it.
And Robin in Memphis, I took a photo of Cape Cod Dogs on position on the tote bag this morning but it was so foggy, it didn't turn out well. I do another photo this afternoon in the sunshine and post it tomorrow.
Nicely done! Very cute!
Lovely work as ever, Jane. I've learned a lot as you stitched the stocking too. Thanks for continuing to let us peek into your stitching creations.
Nancy
You are welcome, Nancy. I am glad I'm not the only one learning as I stitch!
Grrrraaate! This is exactly how is should be done, so colorful and textured. Very festive, nice job Jane.
Thank you, Madonna. And thanks to everyone else who commented. Whether you like it, hate it, love it or have ideas or shopping sources, I love hearing from you all.
I am always amazed by how much you get done! I love this stocking. Very bright and cheerful. Let us know how finishing goes. I have given up on finishing my own projects. Too frustrating!
Beth, I stitch every night without fail. Also, a lot of my projects aren't very big. It is easy to make progress when you combine those two things.
I forgot to say that I hate finishing but it is expensive and I'd like to save as much money as possible by doing the finishing I can do myself. I'd rather spend that cash on things like more thread and canvases and charts and tools!
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