One thing that often surprises me when I look at needlepoint done only in Tent Stitch is how flat it can look. When I started doing needlepoint back in 1970, all Tent Stitch and Persian Wool were the norms for needlepoint but today often this choice looks a bit dull. Un happily all too often we just don’t know what to do about it. In fact, I’m facing this with the Penny McLeod canvas pictured above. I’m starting it tonight and it will need mostly to be stitched in Tent.
Fixing this problem isn’t very hard, it just requires a bit of advance planning.
Here are some easy ways to do it:
- Use different threadsThread have different textures, by using several threads in each project will create more variety in the piece.
- Add texture with stitches. Even back in the 1970’s textured stitches wre used, just not as much, to give variety to needlepoint.
- Create a feeling of distance with stitch and color choice.
- Use shading.By using shading, either needle blending or pixel shading, you add planes to your stitching or make items rounded. Doing both will keep your needlepoint from looking flat.
On the luggage tag, above I’ll be using many different threads from my scrap bag. I’m thinking I’ll use shiny threads for the colored stripes on the heart. For the yellow side, I’ll add texture by using different stitches. I’ll create dimension by using threads and stitches that are higher and have shinier threads than in the background. I will also pick slightly more muted shaes for the background stripes. In these ways, my mostly Tent canvas becomes as exciting stitched as it was unstitched.
Not all of these will work for every canvas but some will for any canvas. Try them out!
On Saturday, learn about a process called dithering a cross-stitch process that can also avoid flat areas.
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
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