Tuesday, December 24, 2013

The Blue Russian: Choosing Background Threads and Stitches

Once I had a background shape roughed out, then it was time to choose a thread and a stitch for the background.  I wanted something small in scale, Leigh wanted something that looked icy and cold, and I wanted a beautiful stitch.  I always like beautiful backgrounds, don't you?  This is Father Frost, the Russian Santa, so I was thinking cold, icy and Fabrege in style.

I looked at all the threads I had chosen, trying to find a color than enhanced the blues and silvers and whites on Santa that looked icy.  I couldn't use white or pale blue (the natural choices for an ice look) since the whites and pale blues of the Blue Russian would run the risk of blending into the background.  What to do?  I knew I could always go with ecru as Northern Light Santa is painted on ecru canvas and looks good, but this isn't an icy color.   I finally ended up with a lovely shade of pale pastel blue with a hint of green mint--Splendor S855.  It is called "Blue Blush."
http://bethsneedlepoint.com/Dot_StoreProducts.asp?storecategoryDesc=Splendor&idstoreCategory=57

I like it because it is so pale but it is not white or blue.  I only had Splendor, though.  To get the proper icy feel, I was going to want Silk Lame Braid with its metallic sparkle.  Have you used Silk Lame Braid before?  I love it!  It is Rainbow Gallery silk mixed with metallic in three sizes:  13 count, 18 count and Petite.  You choose the diameter of thread based on what stitch you plan to use.   But does the same pastel blue with a hint of mint come in Silk Lame Braid?  To find out, I used my Secret Weapon--I emailed Rainbow Gallery and asked.  The answer was YES!




And I soon had my hands on 18 count Silk Lame Braid SL17 and Petite Silk Lame Braid SP17, which you see in the photo along with the original Splendor S855.  They are all the same color, except that the Silk Lame Braids have a touch of green metallic woven in with the silk.  (By the way, the 18 count SL17 also has gold highlights along with the green although the Petite SP17 does not have a touch of gold.)  In the photo you see three cards of my color in regular and Petite Silk Lame Braid and also in Splendor.  The stitched area around Santa's head and staff are in that color although ti looks whiter in the photograph.

For the background, I choose a lovely stitch called Staggered Crosses.  That's the diagonal stitch in the upper right of the canvas above Blue Russian's head.  I've only stitched the big crosses in the photo above.   The tiny cross stitches (which can be replaced by beads) have not been done yet.



Why that stitch?  Because it is beautiful, it is a two-step stitch so I can add a second thread to ramp up the ice or beauty factor in Step Two, and it is small scale.  All that matters.  In the large photo above you will also see three tubes of beads and a packet of blue crystal sequins.  I have been considering whether to use beads or sequins in Step Two of Staggered Crosses, so I poured out clumps of beads and put sequins on the canvas just to see what the colors do with my stitch.   Right over Santa's head are a clump of tiny pearls, then there is a clump of crystal beads, and finally on the right side a group of blue-green beads. So far I like the pearls best.  I also put two blue sequins on the canvas.  Alas, I can see I need to stitch more of Santa before I decide what to do with Step Two in the background.




If you look even more closely at this photo, you'll see I have three background stitches tested in the background.  On the right side I've done quite a bit of Staggered Crosses (and will do some more of that background after Christmas) but on the left I've worked some Large Woven Stitch in gold and blue.  This stitch is groups of slanting parallel lines with a shorter stitch in between. You can do all three stitches in a stitch unit in one color or you can use a second color on the middle short stitch.  This is a slightly larger scale stitch but very elegant in golds.  It occurred to me that folks stitching several Russian Santas might like a stitch that they could use on all of their Santas.  Blue Russian could have a silver background with blue touches, the Holly Santa could have a gold background with green touches and the Birdland Santa could be gold with red, etc.  You get the idea.




This is what Large Woven Stitch looks like.  Sharp observers have also spotted the blue snowflake on the left side of Santa.  This is actually a Russian Orthodox cross.  I thought folks who want a basketweave background because they are doing a shaped stand up or ornament might like to include something Russian in the background.  I charted two of these Russian style crosses--one color block equals one tent stitch.  They can be scattered across the background.  Make a paper copy of your canvas and put coins all around the background until you find an arrangement you like, circle the coins on the paper and then put your Russian Crosses there on your actual canvas.


Before I end for this week, I have added a new tab to the front page of Blog--a materials list for the Northern Light Santa.  As I make my choices, I will list the materials I am using there for those of you who are copying my stitching exactly.  Eventually I'll transfer that list to the stitch guide but for now, it's there to help you in your shopping.  For those of you who have to mail order everything, I suggest you wait until I am further along before you start ordering so you don't have to pay multiple shipping charges. I'm sorry, but this is unfolding as I blog, so I don't know what I am going to use yet.

I'll be back again on January 6th with more stitching on Blue Russian. Until then, everyone have a happy Christmas and a safe New Year!

Questions?  Email me at chillyhollow @ hotmail.com and I'll get back to you by the next day.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Special Nativity Set UPDATED

Speaking of Nativity sets, I have a very special one to share with you this morning, courtesy of Dr. Palma Seljan, who has been stitching the set since early September. This set was designed by Deborah Woodward of Painted Pony.  The pieces can be stitched as a double-sided stand up but Palma chose to do only one side for each of the figures.  Many of the figures are eight inches tall, but some of the smaller ones are five inches tall and the buffalo is the largest at nine inches.

Prepare to be amazed....

The Buffalo

The Horse

The Wolf

The Angel

Little Shepherd Girl
The Pots

Blackfoot Chief

Comanche Chief

Souix Chief


Jose
Maria and El Nino

First Two Pieces Finished by West Coast Finishing

Thank you for sharing, Palma!

UPDATE:  Palma has all the pieces of her Nativity set back from the finisher.  You can see it here.  Use the Next command at the upper right corner of the photo from more views of the set.  Amazing!
http://stitcherie.ning.com/photo/finished-nativity-set3/prev?context=latest

UPDATE #2:  Ruth Schmuff is showing off the Nativity set at her shop, Bedecked and Beaddazzled.  Stop in if you have a chance to see these beauties, but if you aren't around Baltimore in time, Ruth posted photos on her blog.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/02/southwestern-nativity.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Nativity Sets

I love Nativity sets. I well remember the traditional painted plaster set from my childhood. Battered and broken in places, it still went on a table for Christmas since my parents wanted to remind us that Christmas was not just about our getting presents. Stephanie is equally in love with Nativities, but unlike me, she has a needlepoint collection of Nativity sets that she shares on her blog. It's a wonderful reason to think about the meaning of Christmas, even if you are not Christian.
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2013/12/jesus-is-reason-for-season.html

http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2013/12/about-those-other-nativities.html

http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2013/12/kelly-clark-nativity-with-guides-by-amy.html

http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2013/12/unusual-nativity-set-from-demarj.html

Enjoy Christmas Eve.  It's my favorite day of the year.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.