Threadaholic Alert

If you are a threadaholic who hoards all sorts of unusual threads for that special project or if you just want to bookmark a source for threads that are a bit different, here's Chandail's page for thread oddities such as Au Ver au Soie metallic braid, DMC's memory thread sold by the yard, Prisms or Borealis, and silk floss complexion collections.

https://www.chandailneedlepoint.com/shop/Threads.htm

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 19, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitches (and Threads) for Faces

Faces on needlepoint canvas can be hard.  There's usually not much space so even one stitch can throw the expression off.  I thought for Christmas I'd list all the stitches and threads I've seen or used that worked well.

Tent stitches or basketweave are the classic face stitches.  They work very well, but you may find you need to do a reverse tent stitch to make an eye or eyebrow or mouth's corner look right.

If you don't want to use a tent stitch, try skip tent, brick stitch over two, interlocking Gobelin, or even diagonal mosaic if your design slants.  Long and short or split stitch also works nicely.  

I often use silk for faces because of the sheen but cotton floss is a great choice if you want a more matte look.  I also used white Flair for a snowman's face once and it really was the right icy look.  

Changing the amount of thread also works very well.  I have stitched a geisha's painted white face with Caron's Impressions.  The design was painted on 13 count and I used only one strand so the painted nose and eyebrows showed through the thread.  It looked really nice.  

When it comes to the eyebrows, eyelashes and noses, I often stitch right over them with my chosen skin stitch, then stem stitch the features on top with one ply of a floss to add them back.  Eyes and mouths are a challenge at time since one stitch can change the expression.  Be prepared to rip out.  I often use a Swarovski crystal sequin for the eyes and attach it with invisible thread or with the eyelash color.  You can cover one pie-shaped wedge of the sequin with thread to create an expression or make your eyes look to one side.  For mouths I often use a tent and reverse tent stitch for the corners of the mouth and then do hoizontal stitches of varying lengths for the lips.  

Experiment and see what works for you.  Faces are the heart and soul of designs with people in them so it's worth ripping and redoing if necessary.

By the way, if you need thread brands and numbers for skin colors, this article is for you.

https://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/p/threads-for-skin.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow 

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 16, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Skin Tones in DMC

Folks are always asking what threads are good for creating different skin tones. Traditionally needlepointers have used the late Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum's list of DMC colors to choose the right thread for their Aboriginal/Asian/African/European skin tones.
http://www.tiag.com/background/altcolor.html

Here's a new source, passed on from the ANG email list to me from Deborah. Thanks, Deb!
http://www.carouselcharts.com/SkinTones.pdf

Carousel Charts is a cross stitch company. They've also published a guide to changing colors in general that I found very interesting.
http://www.carouselcharts.com/LightnDark.pdf

Colleen of Needle Works in Austin just posted a list of skin tone shades from her Mom's old copy of The Needlepoint Book. There are two colors for eyes and lips as a bonus. I think these are DMC colors, by the way.
http://www.stitchinginthetexashillcountry.com/the_needle_works/2013/02/share-a-stitch-sunday-february-24.html

Carole Lake suggests these DMC floss colors:
Lips: 309, 938
Pinks/corals: 818, 761, 819
Porcelains/peaches: 948, 712, 754
Tans: 712, 437, 738, 3774, 739
Peaches/tans: 948, 754, 3778, 758
Asian: 739, 3774, 950
African-American: 632, 3772, 3773

A chart from Lord Libidan
https://lordlibidan.com/find-the-perfect-skin-tone-dmc-threads/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sandra's Skin Colors

I've just discovered that Fleur de Paris sells sets of DMC cotton floss called "Sandra's Skin Colors" that match Sandra Gilmore's skin tones in her painted canvases.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2017/01/clara-is-going-to-tnna.html

I searched all over the Fleur de Paris website and didn't see any mention of this but I bet your favorite shop can order for you if you have one of the Sandra Gilmore people to stitch, or just stitch lots of faces and am a collector of skin tone threads.

Many thanks to Laura Perin for the tip!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 13, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Pepperpot Skin Again

Seeing Stars Santa with Pepperpot Face

Last November I showed off my new set of Pepperpot Silk skeins in various skin tones.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2015/11/pepperpot-skins.html

I finally got around to stitching a face with it.  Above is Leigh Design's Seeing Stars Santa from her Seashore Santa series.  As you can see, my tent stitches aren't totally even in this extreme closeup but if your stitch tension is tighter than mine and you really like Pepperpot Silk, the colors are lovely and good matches to certain skin tones.  I normally use 2 plies of silk floss for faces so I am not used to pulling threads tight as you can see.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp835x.html

I used Pepperpot's "Baked Alaska" for Santa's skin and "Cotton Candy" for his pink cheeks.  Cotton Candy isn't one of the skin tone set; Baked Alaska is.  Pepperpot Silks come in a huge range of tans so I think you could pick darker shades for the person you are stitching if they are not particularly fair.
http://www.planetearthfiber.com/index.php/needlepoint-fiber/pepper-pot-silk

This is a thread well worth adding to your stash.  I like my Santa's face and will use this again the next time I stitch a person.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 26, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Pepperpot Skin

Pepperpot Silks in Skin Tones

I have a new batch of thread that I'm looking forward to using--Pepperpot Silk's new skin tones!  There are six shades which you can tell from the photograph.  I included a photograph of Melissa Shirley's new "Angel with Tree"so you can see how the colors coordinate with painted canvas faces.
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?index=7865&cat=70

This design is on 18 count, by the way.  Pepperpot Silk generally does good tent stitch coverage on 18 count but I like to split each strand into three as my stitch tension is fairly loose.  As long as I am careful to cut out the thick or thin spots in the plies, it works nicely for me.    If your stitching tension is tighter than mine, you'll find a strand of Pepperpot Silk as it comes off the skein perfect for 18 count tent stitches.

The colors are (left to right) --
Baked Alaska 192
Fondant 190
Fresh 191
Powder Puff 193
Shell 195
Tippy Toes 194

I will probably use 195 and 192 for the rosy cheeks and 194 or 190 for the rest of her skin.  If you want to see larger photos, try these at the Planet Earth Fiber website.  Each skein has 30 yards of thread, by the way.
http://www.planetearthfiber.com/index.php/needlepoint-fiber/pepper-pot-silk

I've seen a lot of shops announcing they have these new colors in stock, so ask at your favorite local shop to pick up a set if you like stitching folks a lot like I do and you enjoy using Pepperpot Silk.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 6, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Skin and Eyes UPDATED

Before we talk about faces some more, I thought I'd post some online resources to help you with that face that is driving you nuts. First up are thread colors and types of skin.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2012/09/skin-tones-in-dmc.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2011/10/threads-for-perfect-skin.html

Here are some wonderful tips for stitching "speaking" eyes.
http://www.funkandweber.com/create-eye-sparkles-in-cross-stitch/

All these links are in my  "Tutorials and Tips" tab above but I've noticed most folks don't realize that is there so it bears repeating in the main part of Blog.

UPDATE: Jane G. reminded me of the Access Commodites skin tone kits.  They come in a clear plastic box with instructions on how to use them written by Tony Minieri.   Jane says each set comes with a wide variety of silks.You can see them on the Access Commodities website but you'll have to click on "Silk Thread Kits" and then on "Access Commodites Skin Tones" to see them.

http://www.accesscommodities.com/products

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 12, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.