This month’s LAS mini-sock features some of my favorite stitches. I call them alternating stitches because they alternate between long and short diagonal stitches in a definite pattern. Nobuko (pink area) was the first of these I learned. I adore the way it doesn’t have a diagonal feel to it, even though it is made of nothing but diagonal stitches.
Since then I’ve learned many more. One thing they all have in common is the oblique direction of the finished stitch. This lifts them from the realm of many diagonal stitches and makes them suited for backgrounds and other areas where a strong direction isn’t needed.
Best of all, they are all easy to do because they are made entirely from diagonal stitches.
When you make any of these stitches take car when making the first row and learn the length of the stitches and the pattern; this will make the other rows much easier to make. You also might find it helpful to fill in any compensation towards the end of stitching each block.
The Colors
I used Watercolours in Plum for this piece. Except for the navy patch, all the other threads used are slightly lighter versions of the colors in the overdye. With very dark overdyes, it’s easy to get a design that looks somber and heavy. Lighten the effect by picking lighter shades of the colors. You are looking for colors that “go together” not colors that “match” the overdye. Even so, the two dark patches make for a design that is darker than what I’d like, a good set of colors, just not for this piece.
For the design, I used:
- Watercolours in Plum
- Vineyard Merino in navy blue/li>
- Petite Frosty Rays in pink
- Kreinik #12 in pink
- Planet Earth Silk in fuchsia
- Flair in violet
Making the Mini-socks
Trace the mini-sock outline onto your 18 mesh canvas and let dry overnight.
Stitch the Watercolours patch in Kentucky, above, using a single strand of Watercolours.
Stitch the navy patch in Triple Diagonal Parisian, above, using Vineyard Merino.
Stitch the pink patch in Nobuko, above, using Frosty Rays for all long stitches and every other short stitch. Use Kreinik for the remaining short stitches.
Stitch the violet patch in Diagonal Victorian Step, above, using Flair.
Stitch the fuchsia patch in Donohue, using Planet Earth Silk. This stitch is form ANG’s 2009 Stitch of the Month. Click on the stitch name for the diagram
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
have you stopped the mini socks of the month?? Where is March?? I have done Jan. and Feb. and thought March was on the way but I dont seem to find it.
Gayle —
Thanks for asking, because of other commitments I had to do last week’s content early and have it “drip” in on the correct date. The mini-sock will be Tuesday’s post.