This laid filling pattern
begins with vertical stitches laid in every third channel. Next, you make a
pattern of cross stitches on top. I worked mine in diagonal rows. This certainly
does not have to be in a square. You simply make bars across the area that you
want to stitch, adjusting them to fit.
I used #5 pearl cotton for the base and Kreinik #16 metallic braid for the
cross stitches in this basic sample.
This is an interesting stitch on painted or colored canvas because the ground
color shows through and becomes a part of the visual impact of the stitch. This
stitch is very versatile. For example, you could use it for
- water (imagine a vibrant blue fine metallic tied down with a
turquoise-to-teal silk overdye)
- the roof of a cottage (imagine a dark brown pearl cotton tied down with a
rough textured tweed thread
- the awning shading a window (imagine crisp linen threads in white and
green)
- shrubbery (imagine an overdyed dark green for the bars and an overdye with
bright colors for the crosses)
You could do all of these in the same piece and no one would realize you'd
used the same stitch more than once.
Consider the following options
- Don't make all the crosses the same color. Use an overdyed thread to
create a random sprinkling of color.
- Don't make all the bars the same color. You can create a feeling of motion
by changing the colors of the underlying bars while keeping the crosses the
same.
- Vary the sizes of the threads used.
- Make the bars harmonize with the color of the canvas underneath so that
the crosses appear to float on top.
- Make the pattern more solid by adding beads in the spaces or by moving the
bars closer together.
- Make the pattern lighter by making the crosses and/or the bars farther
apart.
- Work the crosses in waves (as in Bargello) or in stripes.
Get out your bits and pieces from your stash and a piece of doodle canvas and
see how many variations you can find!
©2007 CHL Design. Permission is granted to print this page for personal use only.
