The most common way to shade needlepoint is needleblending (putting two shades of thread in the same needle). While I love it, there are lots of other ways to shade that can be done with just about any thread.
One of my favorites is to use layered stitches. The key to doing this is that each layer of the stitch does not have to use the same color of thread. Because the layers show through in these stitches, you see both colors.
As is the case in needleblending or single-strand shading, your eye is fooled into seeing an intermediate color. You just make the stitch as you normally do.
You can see how well this works in the vintage ornament pictured above. Only three colors and one stitch (Double Straight Cross) were used to create a shaded round ornament.
The key is to know where you will have the areas of transition. Here it was pretty simple because the original canvas had a white highlight on it. I stitched that highlight, including some partial stitches in white.
Around it is a ring where only the lower layer (Upright Cross) is white. The top layer here is light blue.
There was a transitional lighter blue area painted on the canvas and I stitched that, including partial stitches, in light blue for both layers.
Around that another ring is made using light blue for the lower layer and blue for the top. These stitches are easier to see in the photo because of the value difference in the two threads. Hanging on the tree where it will be seen at a greater distance, these colors will blend into an intermediate color.
The rest of the ornament is stitched in blue.
You can easily make an ornament just like this yourself:
- Draw the shape of your ornament on canvas; circles are easiest.
- Pick light, medium, and dark threads in your chosen color. White can be one of these colors.
- Mark a much smaller circle where you will want the highlight to be. This is the place where light hits the ornament first, the rest of the shape slants away from it.
- Mark a second, slightly bigger, circle where the middle color will end.
- Pick a stitch that uses two layers.
- Start stitching with the lightest color. Stitch the whole smallest circle in your chosen stitch.
- Surround this area with only the lower layer made in your lightest color.
- Complete these stitches with the middle color. Then stitch the remainder of the second circle in your chosen stitch using only the middle color.
- Surround this area with only the lower layer made in your middle color.
- Complete these stitches with the darkest color. Then stitch the remainder of the ornament in your chosen stitch using only the darkest color.
- If you like add a box for the hanger and stitch it in a stitch of your choice using metallic thread.
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
Ellen Davis says
Very interesting. I’m going to try this. So what is the size of the smallest circle? What is the name of this stitch, please? Thank you.
Janet M Perry says
The stitch is Double Upright Cross. The smallest circle is one full stitch and several partial stitches; it’s just what was painted on the canvas.
Keep stitching,
Janet