It’s always good to have a few reliable background stitches that you can use time and time again. For me, as is the case for many others, that stitch is T Stitch. But it can get too predictable. Sheena thinks so too and so a recent post in her blog she has three suggestions for other stitches to use.
Two of these, Skip Tent and Straight T you may know or have seen on this blog. Sheena has them both here by different names. Her third stitch, a darning pattern, is a great one that’s new to me.
I often use darning patterns when I want to stitch something distant, such as fields, or something open, such as skies. I had forgotten how wonderful darning can be as a background until I brought home a Tish Indian I did close to 25 years ago for my mom. The background is darned using Medici in a patten similar to Sheena’s. It’s hanging outside my office where I see it several times a day. It’s calm texture is soo soothing in this piece that has lots going on in it.
I’m trying Sheena’s background in an upcoming project!
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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