The Candy Cane Dog Stocking

Elmer the Candy Cane Dog stocking is finished!

Now he will be put away with the Joan Thomasson Surfin' Santa to wait for Christmas present time. Have you realized by now I'm devoting the bulk of this year to making small Christmas ornaments for my family and friends?

Elmer's trim around the edges is Facets from Kreinik.  This is a trim that looks rather like metallic square beads.  You can see the various colors available here.
http://www.fun2stitch.com/facet-metallic-kreinik-thread.htm

I looked at the gold, silver, red and both shades of blue before deciding that I would couch the lightest shade of blue all around the stocking. I did put two rows at the top of the tiny stocking, just because one row looked skimpy.  I used the regular Facets, not the Petite Facets.

The back side is blue velvet and the inside is blue chintz fabric.  I also added a few dangles made from the crystal cubes and the Sundance #11 and #14 hex crystal beads to make the stocking a little more fancy.  I think that if the stocking turns on the tree, the rear view will be pretty, even if it isn't as charming as Elmer himself is.

I think the stocking is really cute and was amazed that it took me only a little over a week to stitch.  Of course I worked each night on this but it still worked up fast.  Elmer is not very big.  The "ankle" is only around 3 inches wide and the stocking almost 6 inches tall.  That makes for a difficult finish.  Next time I won't make something this small a real stocking.

He's a cutie, though. I am so glad he caught my eye and came home with me!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Beads, Beautiful Beads

All the beads and crystals are attached to the Candy Cane Dog stocking now.  The first thing I added were six ruby Swarkovski crystals to the centers of the large snowflakes on the top and toe of the stocking.  (By the way, I used a doubled ply of red DMC cotton to attach the crystals firmly.)  I choose the 4mm bicone shaped beads for this.   Swarkovski has a lot of colors, shapes and sizes of glass faceted beads and findings to choose from as you can see here.
http://www.artbeads.com/swarovski-crystal-beads.html

Then I had to decide whether to use pearls or diamonds for the other beads on this piece.  I had two sizes of fake pearls which were lovely and three sizes of iridescent faceted crystal beads (hex or cubes) to choose from, all from Sundance Designs.  I finally went with the crystal beads since I had three sizes (both #11 and #14 hex beads and 8 mm cubes).  That would allow me to use the larger #11 hex beads at the top of the stocking and the smaller #14 on the toe and for the tiny stars behind the dog.  (Both are color 250 although the larger size 11 beads are labeled H250.) Then I could use the cubes as trim in the finishing.  So that's what I did.

In the photo the larger #11 beads are attached in the stocking top using doubled white DMC cotton floss.  The rest of the stocking uses the smaller #14 beads.  For the stars in the sky behind the dog, I used blue doubled DMC cotton floss.  For the small crosses in the toe of the stocking, I used white DMC cotton floss again.  Changing the colors of the attaching thread in these crystals changes the bead color slightly, making the stars somewhat blue and the crosses white.  In the photo you see some of the light reflection from the Sundance beads.  The red Swarkovski bicone beads aren't as flashy as I assumed they would be. The whole stocking looks rather elegant--if you ignore Elmer!

I have a few finishing touches for the stocking and I need to start assembling my finishing materials:  sewing thread, embroidery needles, choose a trim, pick lining and backing fabric, etc.  It may take me several nights to get the stocking put together so I guess I'd better get started!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Muzzle and Snowflakes

I have finished Elmer the Candy Cane Dog's muzzle, using white and gray Wisper in tent stitches.  The tent stitches mean this fuzzy thread isn't as fuzzy as it could be, but it still stands out a little as being different from his body and the candy cane, which is what I wanted.  (By the way, my card of white Wisper does not have a color number but the gray Wisper is W60.)  Wisper is a thin fuzzy thread that is a mix of kid mohair and nylon.  I doubled a strand in my needle so it would cover my 18 count canvas ok.  Wisper usually looks better in long stitches, and you can use the tip of your needle or a laying tool to gently stroke the stitches after you lay them on the canvas to bring more of the fuzzies to the front.  Since I was using tent stitches I didn't bother to do this.

The same photo above shows I've been working on the big snowflakes at the top and bottom of the canvas.  The top is finished.  The empty spots are where beads will go.

The bottom shows better how I went about stitching the big snowflakes.  Using the same white Very Velvet I used to couch the long diagonal lines, I tent stitched all the single stitches in the centers of the snowflakes.  That is what you see in the stocking toe.  Then I used a new white thread called either Faux Fur or Santa's Beard & Suit to insert long stitches in the snowflake arms.  That is the step you see finished at the stocking top.

I should explain that both Faux Fur and Santa's Beard & Suit are from Rainbow Gallery.  Both threads are very fuzzy and are meant for 13 count canvas.  They are made up of 85 percent acrylic and 15% wool and both threads come from Italy. As far as I can tell, these two threads are identical except that there are 10 yards on the Santa's Beard & Suit card while the Faux Fur card holds 20 yards.  I used Santa's Beard because there wasn't much thread left on the card and I hoped to use it all up (although I didn't).  The Santa's Beard thread is fuzzier than my Very Velvet so it is a little harder to stitch with but it looks lovely as the fuzzy snowflakes.  The fact that the centers of each snowflake are done in Very Velvet isn't obvious.  I took advantage of the characteristics of each thread to stitch the snowflakes, using the clear definition of the Very Velvet for the single tent stitches and avoiding the fact that Very Velvet picked up red fuzzies from my red Crystal Braid and looked pink by finishing the snowflakes with Santa's Beard.

Mixing four different white threads (Very Velvet, Santa's Beard & Suit, Wisper and Burmilana) worked well for me on this piece as all four were the same stark white shade.  I don't think I would have mixed thread brands if some of them had been cream, some white and some ivory.

My next step will be choosing the beads and trim that will finish this darling little stocking.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Dog Body

The candy cane dog has a body now, after much struggling.  I wanted to try using a different animal fur stitch than my usual interlocking Goblein or random long and short stitches.  So I pulled out my copies of the three Stitches for Effects books and rummaged through them.  Gosh, there are a TON of canvases suitable for dog beds or baskets or pillows or leashes!  But after a little searching (fur is the best way to find stitches for dogs in these books) I came up with something different--Horizontal Parisian (Stitches for Effects p. 35) or Parisian Strip (also knows as Parisian Row Variation, from More Stitches for Effect p. 54).  These two stitches are actually the same stitch--a straight stitch over two threads immediately followed by a straight stitch over four threads.  The shorter stitch is centered a thread below the top--or above the bottom depending on how you look at it--of the longer stitch. Once you do a short/long pair, then you repeat this endless across the row.  Short over two, then long over four threads.  The next row you put the short stitches under the long ones of the previous rows and then repeat the pairs.  The only difference between Horizontal Parisian and Parisian Strip is whether your pair of stitches are upright (Parisian Strip) or horizontal (Horizontal Parisian).  Mrs. Howren and Robertson say this is an easy stitch to compensate and it is perfect for small areas.

However, when I tried using Horizontal Parisian for Elmer's face and Parisian Strip for his body, it didn't look right. I think I didn't have enough space for the stitches to look good.  So I tried long tent stitches (which are just tent stitches over two threads instead of one)--too regular.  Then I went to Goblein--too regular.  Finally I gave up and used Interlocking Goblein which is one of my standby stitches.  It looks just the way I wanted Elmer to look and worked well with the black tip of his tail which was already stitched in packed stem stitches.

I used tan Impressions 1136 for the bulk of Elmer's fur, with four plies of Mandarin Floss M821 for the dark brown shadows and two plies of Cashmere H04 which is a dark brown with a green tinge for the very darkest areas I wanted in deepest shadow.  I'd already used the Impressions and the Mandarin Floss for Elmer's nose and to outline his eyes.

It did take several hours to try out stitches, reject them, rip them out and try something else, so Elmer's muzzle is unstitched.  I'm debating whether to use tent stitches there or continue with the Interlocking Goblein.  I'm also debating whether to use the same threads (gray Medici and white Burmilana) as his stocking cap or whether to use something else entirely.  I see more test stitching in my immediate future.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Eyes, Nose, Ears, Tail and Candy Cane

I've added quite a few Stash Credits this morning based on all the stitching I did last night on the candy cane dog.  Elmer is holding his candy cane now.  It's sort of awkward looking but that is how it was painted.  I am beginning to think this is not actually candy, but is a stuffed dog toy that has been through the wringer.  One of my dogs loves stuffed toys and even sleeps with them, but none are in particularly good shape after a romp with Suki who is a powerful Akita.  The candy cane may well be a much-loved dog toy being presented to Elmer's owner as a sign of affection.  That thought makes up for the slightly off-kilter and lumpy rendering of the candy cane.

I laid 2 or 3 (depending on the area's width) long lengths of white Very Velvet along the length of the candy cane and at the crook, then covered this with 3-4 layers of ribbon floss in my favorite color -- 142F-2 White.  Ribbon floss is easily snagged even by rough spots on your fingers and needs to be laid to keep the twists from making the surface of the candy cane rough. Use short lengths. Once I got the Very Velvet covered to my satisfaction, I wrapped the length with red Silk Lame Braid.   I could have used the red Crystal Braid that was used in the stocking top and toe, but I thought I'd use Silk Lame Braid to perhaps add a little more interest to the design with a slightly different red.  It was hard to get the Silk Lame Braid on the top of the candy cane smoothly.  Another ribbon floss in red might have been a better and smoother choice, but I like how it turned out.  A dog's toy won't be perfect after it has been well loved, after all.

Elmer's red collar was stitched in the same Vineyards Silk and Sheep's Silk I used for his stocking cap. The stitches on each end were long slanted ones which the center stitches were upright.  Whether leaning or upright, all stitches covered the red painted area of the collar.

His dog tag is three shades of Rainbow Gallery's Coronet Braid, which I love for its shine.  The shadow on the right is in the gold and silver mix called Vatican Gold 83B, the center highlight is the Pewter 85B, and the rest of the dog tag is the yellow Arctic Gold 82B. In all cases I used outline stitches and size 8 Coronet Braid, which fits 18 count canvas nicely.  Coronet Braid is somewhat stiff so you will need to coax it into position with your needle or the tip of a laying tool but it shines like the dickens in artificial light.
http://www.rainbowgallery.com/detail.cfm?ID=60

Elmer's nose is done in two threads:  the dark brown Mandarin Floss M821 and the tan Impressions 1136.  I laid a strand of the darker Mandarin Floss across the top of his nose, then wrapped it with short vertical stitches in the same thread.  The bottom of the nose is just slanted \ / stitches in the tan Impressions.

Elmer's eyes are ringed with the dark brown Mandarin Floss, then the yellow parts are done in Kreinik yellow gold #028 (size 8 braid).  I finished up with the black and white highlights in black Impressions 0020 and a white wool from my stash that is not labeled (I think it is Silk & Ivory).  All the stitches were tent stitches except for the black Impressions. There I used a cross stitch to not give too much direction to Elmer's gaze.

I finished by stitching Elmer's ears and the tip of his tail in packed stem stitches with more of the black Impressions.  All this takes a very long time to tell but it was only a few hours of stitching.

The next part is to tackle his fur.  I want to use a stitch for his fur I haven't tried before, and will test stitch two possibilities this morning before everyone is up here and the day officially begins.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Elmer Has a Cap

Last night I gave the little dog his Santa stocking cap.  The red is stitched in random long stitches, slanting to show direction, using Vinceyard Silk for the bright red and Silk N Colors in a darker variegated red for the shading.  The fur trim is all French knots, just one wrap, done in Burmilana (white) and Medici (gray).  I can see lint in the photo from the wool in these threads I'll need to remove today.

You can see in the photo that I've started filling in the large snowflakes at the top using white Very Velvet.  I am not quite sure I like this as much as I like the couched lines in Very Velvet.  In a certain light the Very Velvet looks pink paired with the red Crystal braid.  I will think on this while I work on the dog's body.

Mixing whites with other whites and whites with strong colors can be tricky.  I think the white Burmilana on the dog's cap looks ok with the white in the Very Velvet but I'm not sure.  Another thing to think about.  I wasn't going to use the Burmilana and Medici on Elmer's muzzle but now I think I might want to, just to minimize any differences between the face and cap.

Do any of you stitch a lot of Santas?  How do you handle the differences between Santa's white beard and the fur trim on his red Santa suit?

I plan to pad the candy cane and stitch it tonight and then work on the muzzle.  That's The Plan anyway but things change.  Elmer is a very demanding dog!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Sparkling Red and Dull White

I'm making good progress on the candy cane dog stocking.  Last night I stitched most of the red areas in the top and toe of the stocking and started experimenting with the right thread for the white lines and snowflakes.

I thought originally that I would use a highly reflective thread, probably a metallic, for the white snowflakes and use something that was matte for the red areas. Elmer has turned that idea on its head, first with the fact that metallic threads don't show up well against the dusty blue sky and now because I used the sparkly red Crystal Braid for the stocking top and toe.

But when you stitch a painted canvas, each choice you make effects the next choice you make, and the next!  You have to be flexible and just go with where the design choices you make take you.  So I pulled out some white Kreinik 032 braid and some white Very Velvet and did some test stitching in the stocking's toe.  I didn't like how the Kreinik looked paired with the sparkling red Crystal Braid.  The two threads were too much alike in areas that are very different and with great contrast between colors, so I pulled out my Kreinik test stitches and tried Very Velvet instead.  Its contrast with the Crystal Braid looked very good.  So I tent stitched the bottom diagonal line on the toe for a few stitches.  That I didn't like. Turns out this stocking wants a long length of thread laid across the white lines.  If you use the same thread to couch it down with a tent stitch every other hole, you get a very nice smooth velvet line that stands up to the fancy Crystal Braid.

In the photo above I haven't finished all the red Crystal Braid in the stocking top but have done the toe's white diagonal lines and have also done tent stitches in the centers of each large snowflake. I've also stitched a few tent stitches in the partial snowflake's edge on the right toe.  I will play with the large snowflakes tonight and finish the red areas in the top of the stocking.

I think now that the candy cane itself will look great padded using white Very Velvet with the red Crystal Braid for the candy stripe but we'll have to see  how that goes.  I'll be starting the dog shortly and I think I want to get the candy cane and hat done before I tackle the dog's eyes and face.  Stay tuned as Elmer comes to life....

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Blue Skies, No Stars

The Candy Cane Dog Stocking is coming right along.  The blue sky behind the dog is completely stitched in basketweave using Petite Very Velvet #V618 Antique Blue.  (Note that Very Velvet 218 is the same color.  Rainbow Gallery calls all Very Velvet threads 2xx and all Petite Very Velvet threads 6xx.  If the second and third digits in the color number are identical, the colors are identical between the two size of this velour-like thread.)
You can read more about using this thread at these sites.
http://shopthestitchery.com/item_1/Petite-Very-Velvet.htm

http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2010/02/focus-on-very-velvet.html

I love the look and feel of this thread but using it did mean I had to deviate from my plan to stitch the little stars in the Petite Very Velvet sky with overdyed Krenik from ThreadworX.  I have some beautiful overdyed blue Kreinik that Beth from ThreadworX sent me.  I wanted to use it for the little stars in the sky.  I have both #8 braid and #12 braid but the #8 sinks into the Petite Very Velvet whether I use tent stitches or cross stitches.  The #12 also disappears as a tent stitch and is too fat in a cross stitch.  It just looks messy as a XS, which is a sure sign you are using the wrong weight of thread.  I've put my #71018 aside and hope I can use it later because it is beautiful.
http://threadworx.com/product.php?catid=8&catName=Hand%20Overdyed%20Metallic%20#8%20braid%20-%2010%20yards&pg_num=1

So it's on to Plan B, which is to use beads for these tiny stars.  I have tiny fake white pearl beads and slightly larger size 11 crystal beads, either of which will work. I am going to postpone choosing which to use until the large snowflakes are stitched.  I think how I work them will impact which color and style of bead to use for the tiny stars.

In the photo you'll see I have been stitching the top and toe of the stocking, using two different threads.  It didn't escape my notice as I studied the top and toe patterns that there were separate elements making up the red areas.  I decided I would stitch those separately.  In the top I've done a long mosaic stitch using red Very Velvet (the large size, not the Petite I used for the sky).  In the bottom I'm doing Scotch stitches both large and small plus some little fishbone stitches which are just interlocking V shapes, using red Crystal Braid CR18 from Rainbow Gallery.

I think I like the Crystal Braid best for this piece.  The Very Velvet is just too thick for 18 count canvas, especially if I need to use it in tent stitches in the small areas around the little snowflakes.  Interestingly, the Crystal Braid is constructed the same way as the blue snow's Silk Lame Braid.  The main difference seems to be that Crystal Braid is a mix of nylon and polyester while Silk Lame Braid is a mix of silk and rayon.  The Crystal Braid is a bit shinier and a little less easy to snag and it works well on 18 count just like the Silk Lame Braid does.  Either is a great touch when you need some shine without going all out.  I hope the photos on the Rainbow Gallery site help you understand what these two threads are like.  I
http://www.rainbowgallery.com/detail.cfm?ID=914

http://www.rainbowgallery.com/detail.cfm?ID=1190

I've added a scan of each.  The blue thread is the silk/rayon Silk Lame Braid and the red thread is the nylon/polyester Crystal Braid. Each is a lovely thread, and I am happy to use both for the Candy Cane Dog.


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Stitching The Ground Elmer Sits On

Because this is a Christmas stocking, I want it to have a lot of zing, which means I want to use things that shine and catch the eye--things such as metallic threads, beads and/or crystals, or I can also use color to make this stocking a star on the Christmas tree.  I can also use contrasts to make elements of this stocking stand out.

Studying the Kirk & Hamilton stocking and thinking about Christmas stockings in general and how I'd like this one to look, I thought I would like to have bling in each section, whether it is the dog, the toe or the top.  The snowflakes are easy but how do I make the dog stand out with bling?  I decided that the best way to do this is to surround the dog with beaded or metallic stars in the dark blue sky and to treat the lighter blue ground he stands on as sparkling snow.  If I make the dog darker and solid with heavier threads, those contrasts should make him the focal point.

So I needed a thread and a stitch to accomplish this.  First, I pulled out all the threads in my stash which are close to the blue of the ground the dog stands on.  Keeping in mind that I wanted sparkle, I tossed out the dull threads that are wools or cottons, won't work well on 18 count canvas, etc.  I ended up with a card of Silk Lame Braid, which is a new thread from Rainbow Gallery that twists silk and metallic together into a soft thread with a little sparkle.  This thread is intended for 18 count (there is a 13/14 count-sized version) but I used a size 20 needle to get it through the holes instead of my more normal 22 or 24 as this thread is easily snagged.  I choose Sky Blue SL13 and used shorter than normal lengths to cut down on snagging or roughing up this delicate thread.
http://www.rainbowgallery.com/Detail.CFM?ID=1149

Now for a stitch.  I'd recently seen Robin King use a nice stitch for her SharonG Miss Kitty bra and tap pants set--Victorian Stair Step.  I liked the look but decided that I wanted the slant to go the other way, so I reversed it into Backwards Victorian Stair.  It gave me a little diagonal movement, especially since I used a sparkly thread that gives movement through its shine.
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2010/02/pink-background-phase-1.html

Here are two online diagrams of the normal Victorian Stair Step stitch.
http://carolelake.com/Stitches/VictStep.htm

http://www.needlesandthreadsofruxton.com/stitches/victorianstep.pdf

If you look closely at the final photo, you'll see I stopped stitching my blue snow ground the dog sits on before the painted canvas ends at the horizon.  That was the logical stopping point.  I'll continue the darker blue sky a little more to meet where I want the backwards Victorian Stair Step to end when I stitch that part of the stocking.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Candy Cane Dog Stocking: Emphasizing What's Important

Once I have decided what I want to emphasize on this painted canvas (which is basically the dog, his candy cane, and the snowflake top and toe of the stocking), it is time to work on what threads and stitches I want to use.

I like to stitch realistic canvases so I am in the habit of thinking about what things look like in real life and choosing threads and stitches that mimic what one actually sees.

There is also the rule that light colors come forward while dark things recede.  I've found this doesn't always work, but perhaps what Melissa Shirley said in her guest blogger stint here will help us refine this rule:

Melissa Shirley said:
I’ll take the opportunity to say here one of the things I think about a lot when I’m stitching and when I see stitched work is how the stitching and thread selection creates a depth of field. I want to see what’s in front come forward and what’s in back recede and I try to use color and threads and stitches to achieve that. The few “rules” I try to keep in mind are:

Threads that come forward are shiny, lighter and warmer colors, and heavier in weight. Threads that recede are matte, cooler colors and thinner in weight.

With these rules in mind, I studied the stocking.  We have the dog which I could stitch with warm browns and black in medium shades of brown with fuzzy threads like wools to make him come forward.  The darker blue sky and the lighter blue ground he stands on will naturally recede because blue is a cooler color than the brown and black on the dog. 

The red stocking toe and top are a warm red, and if I use a sparkling thread for the snowflakes, they will also be a little more prominent.

The candy cane done in red and white with a sparkling thread will also come forward.  I could also pad it to make it even more prominent.

I will still need to deal with the stocking cap and the dog's collar but those are small areas I can approach as I work him.  I may just reuse threads I used elsewhere for these areas.

This is a small Christmas stocking, so I need to remember that it must have full thread coverage to wear well and I'll need to choose threads that allow it to hold its own on a Christmas tree full of lights and shiny ornaments, all screaming for attention.

None of this has really helped me pick threads and textures, but it has narrowed things down.  Remember, you don't need to plan everything out before you start stitching.  You just need to think about how the piece will be used which effects how durable your threads have to be and how eye-catching, what you want to emphasize in the design, and what is less important.

Tomorrow I'll talk about choosing the first area to stitch and picking a thread and stitch for this area.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Sketching Elmer the Candy Cane Dog

I'd appreciate it if you would hold the snickering down this morning as you look at my sketch of the candy cane dog stocking from Kirk & Hamilton I am about to start working on.

Yesterday after making a color and then a black and white copy of my canvas, I put the copies and my original away and sketched what I remembered of the design.  I do this to help remember what's going on in a design that is important to me.  Compare the sketch to the photo of this design--

You can see that I didn't miss much in my sketch but then this is a pretty simple design.  The central image of the stocking is the dog and his candy cane.  The secondary bits are the snowflake stocking top and the toe.  I will make sure I emphasize these three areas as I stitch.  I totally missed the fact that the dog has a Santa stocking cap and ignored the snowflakes in the blue "sky" behind him.  These will be less important in my interpretation of this design.

I find sketches like these very useful in picking out the important parts of a design and also in discovering what is less important.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

How to Choose a Painted Canvas: Elmer The Candy Cane Dog Stocking

The first and most important thing to do when you are choosing a painted canvas to stitch is to fall in love.  If you don't really like a design, the first time you run into a snag you will put it away into the Someday Pile, from which it will likely never emerge again.

I fell in love with Elmer here.

If you are going to do anything except tent stitch the design, it is easier to work with a simple canvas.  The beautifully drawn, realistic canvases with gorgeous shading are what I love but they are harder for a beginner at painted canvases to deal with.  Luckily I adore the Candy Cane Dog stocking from Kirk & Hamilton which I've named Elmer.  The dog isn't all that detailed and the background is very simple.  Plus if you look at the snowflakes, you can see that the painted area of each flake is carefully centered on each stitch intersection.  There is not going to be any question as to what is a snowflake stitch and what is a background stitch.

If you are a beginner at painted canvases, this is exactly the sort of canvas you should work with first.  It is simple and well painted but something I really like so I will enjoy stitching it.

After you fall in love and bring your canvas home, make a color copy.  I use copies as a template for finishing a design by cutting out the paper shape, then using it as a pattern for cutting the backing material and lining.  A color copy comes in handy if you need help figuring out where something belongs that you stitched over, too.  I sometimes also make a black and white copy to mark up with notes.

Now put the canvas and your copies away where you can't see them.  Once they are out of view, pull out some scratch paper and sketch what you remember of the canvas.  Tomorrow I'll tell you what I do with these scribbles.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow