Until today I had never really been satisfied with the results I got for stitching wood. I don’t mean trees, I mean wood. If it was painted, no problem. But wood that looked like wood, well, no. I tried overdyed threads, but didn’t like the colors. I tried textured stitches but thought they mostly look contrived. Usually I settled for a hand-dyed thread and a Gobelin Stitch of some kind.
Working on this vintage Wooly Dreams Christmas canvas has forced me to find a new way to stitch wood. I really like the effect and its on any stitcher can easily do and you can make it any color you wish and still retain a woody look. That means you could use this for wooden furniture or stained wood with no problems.
The method is stitched in two passes. The first is to stitch random clumps and lines using a solid-colored thread darker or lighter than your main color. It needs to have enough difference in value that you will see them, but not so much that they will stick out. They should have irregular edges and be scattered around the area. They should take up no more than about 15-20% of the area. It can be stitched as Basketweave or Continental.
If you look at the top of the column pictured above you’ll see this step.
Once you have completed this step, you’ll fill in with a blended thread that is a 50/50 split between two semi-solid stranded threads. One of these should be similar to your solid thread, but lighter or darker. The other should be from a different color family of the same color. Stitch these stitches in Continental.
Continental is important because it allows the color changes, which are very subtle, to be in straight lines. Basketweave will make even subtle changes stand out because the changes will be in diagonal lines.
The power of this comes from the needleblending. This allows the two colors to mix so that sometimes one color shows in the stitch, sometimes the other, and sometimes both. Because one of the colors in the blend is in the same family as the solid color, you get continuity in the entire area. Because the other thread is from a different family, you get contrast.
The changing colors give the area a texture that makes the wood look realistic. At the bottom of the column pictured above, you can see the result.
It’s simple to do, so any stitcher can do it. It does not require anything to be painted on the canvas.Because of the different threads it’s interesting enough to be a focal point. Because of the Tent Stitch it can also become a rich subtle background.
Since I have many nativity canvas and just got one more, I am so excited to keep putting this method to work.
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
Jane Melick says
Thank you, Janet, I have been wracking my head over the wooden bars on a lobster trap and have only come up with one idea. I shall try this.
Many, many thanks!
Jane