This month’s Mindy is a seasonal one, her adorable pumpkin, canvas 1R. It’s a delightful canvas and features the “lumberjack” plaid, filling in a pumpkin shape. Except for the background, the canvas is all Tent Stitch. This easy stitching will set you up so that you can start making needlepoint plaids (explore the plaids section of my shop for projects, charted, and custom plaids). You’ll love stitching this design!
Threads Needed
- 1 skien Rainbow Persian RP01 (black)
- 1 card Nordic Gold N07 (black)
- 1 spool Kreinik Tapestry (#12)053F (day-glo green)
- 1 spool Kreinik Fine (#8) 052F (glow-in-the-dark white
- 1 skein Gumnut Stars 722 (pale gold)
- 1 skein Gentle Arts Simply Wool Burnt Orange
Stitching a Plaid
All plaids are made up of stripes that are woven together to for a regular secession of blocks. Notice how when stripes the same color cross, there are blocks of solid color. When stripes of different colors meet, you get a check. You can see this clearly in the photo below.
This plaid is unusual because there are only two colors and the stripes are the same width, 5 stitches in this version. Stitching the plaid is easier than you think. Stitch the vertical rows on all the intersections with vertical on top. With stitching on the vertical threads you will get the perfect every other stitch pattern without counting.
Once the stripes in one direction are complete, stitch the stripes in the other direction, stitching on the horizontal intersections.
Stitching the rest of the pumpkin
Stitch the stem in Tent and Tent for Letters, below, using the green Kreinik. Tent for Letters, below, uses a second layer of stitching to create solid lines where the slant of the line is opposite the slant of the stitches. Whenever this occurs, begin by making a longer stitch going the length of the line, slanting up and to the left. Cover this with Tent Stitches. The lower layer of stitches creates the connection between the stitches in the line that would be missing otherwise. It looks like the picture below.
Background
The gold background is stitched in T Stitch, below, using two strands of Stars. This gives light coverage for the background.
Stitch the white intersections in Needlepoint Cross Stitch, below, using white Kreinik.
Stitch the black stars in Tent and tent for Letters using Nordic Gold.
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
I am just getting back into Needlepointing. What is Canvas 1R?
Most canvases from designers have numbers, so everyone can be sure to buy the correct one. The number for this particular canvas is 1R.
Keep stitching,
Janet