Updated November 12, 2021.
Using sunny warm colors, this owl brings a smile to the face of everyone who sees it.The color scheme is inspired by the colors in the Colour Complements hand-dyed silk (available on Etsy). It’s a lovely combination of warm colors with some nice, lighter, cool accents. As you can see this shade, used in both sections of the body, works with many colors.
In this owl I used:
- Colour Complements hand-dyed 20/2 silk
- Colour Complements hand-dyed twisted rayon
- Pebbly Perle P70 (no longer made)
- Variegated Gold Rush 14 GD110C
To create your color scheme, pick an overdyed thread. Then pick two solid threads in colors from the overdye. Finally, pick a metallic, solid or overdyed, in a coordinating color.
Trace the outline of the owl onto your canvas. Remember that the eyes and the tip of the top triangle are represented by dots and transfer them as well. From the middle dot, draw two diagonal lines to make the top triangle.
Head
Stitch the triangle in the top middle in Bluegrass below. This is another version of Little Shoppe Grass stitch, one that uses Reverse Tent in the lines with skipped stitches.
Outline the face in Tent and Reverse Tent using the same thread.
The large faceted brads used for the eyes are so distinctive and echo the colors so nicely that stitching behind them would detract from the design. The large, colorful eyes against open canvas create a focal point. This is reinforced by similar colors appearing in both overdyes.
Left Side
Stitch the left side in Thistle Scotch, below. This Scotch variation has a stitch left out in a corner of each unit. A Cross Stitch accent is placed there. The stitch is from Thistle Needlepoint’s Quick Stitch Variations book.
Right Side
Stitch the right side in Paul & Lin, below. While mostly Tent Stitch, the three-stitch units in the accent color add a nice rhythm to the stitch. The stitch is from the Needlepoint Teacher website.
Follow the entire series on-line:
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
Am so delighted to read your post this morning! Am very excited to see you are experimenting with the threads. What did you think about stitching with the rayon? It is next to go up on the site so I’m wondering….. Thanks for the shout out Janet, very appreciated. Lorraine
Lorraine —
I adored the silk, it was so easy to use.
I’m not a huge rayon fan, but I liked the twisted rayon. twisting the strands makes them easier to use than stranded rayon. Although I found shorter lengths worked better because it untwisted less.
Next up will be the pearl cottons.
Keep stitching,
Janet