Using Canvases to Use Up Stash Part 2

Yesterday we talked about picking a canvas for a scrap bag project. Today I’d like to give you an idea of how different stitchers use their own stashes to interpret the same canvas differently.

Patt Large (the designer) and I have both stitched her Star Ornament #1 (Patt’s is pictured below). While Patt wrote the stitch guide based on her ornament, I followed it mostly in stitching mine.

Patt says about her selection “For the star series, I knew I was just going to use DMC Floss so I was not concerned with the variable of thread textures playing in the mix. It is not like stitching a kimono where you could be influenced by the fabric of a true kimono. Geometrics are up to you.

“To begin, I just picked a color. Since the star had 4 similar sections, I think picked a different color but of the same value (hue) and placed each in a different area of the four sections. I continued on in this manner until the star had been filled in with color. In doing so, I paid attention to the number of blues, greens, reds, etc., in each section, trying to keep that equal in each section along with the value (hue) of the color.

“I do this before stitching. When done, I looked at each of the 4 sections to see if I had colors that I refer to as ones that ‘give life.’ If the values of the colors overall when looking at them all together are too similar, then for me I need to trade out one of those colors for one that causes ‘action in the mix’ — your eye to go ‘oh, I look there first, that color draws me.’

“Finally, if I am doing a geometric where I am using ribbon or metallics, etc., I apply the same principles — balance. Don’t put all the ribbon or metallic in the same row (up or down). Do not make all the metallic or ribbon the same family of colors (all the pink areas, etc.).”

I worked differently (mine is pictured at the top of the post), having the canvas already printed in front of me. At one point I pulled several threads from my scrap bag to use for this star. My scrap bag has lots of bright tropical colors as well as many samples of knitting yarns and ribbons in brighter and pastel shades. The original colors I pulled reflected this. As I began to stitch I found that my choices were a bit think for lighter colors. I also found that I wanted some sparkle, so I picked some metallic and Flair from my stash in a variety of shades, including a couple where I was almost out.

I decided that, mostly, I’d pick the brighter colors from my possibilities and reserve the darker and more muted colors for the centers of each point. After adding some metallic to the spokes radiating from the center, I decided I didn’t like it much, so metallic is used in only a few other areas.

Looking at the two you can see how we skewed our color choices. Patt’s star uses all solid flosses and is much lighter than mine, with her colors mostly not greyed. Mine is darker with a strong contrast been saturated tropical colors and muted shades. There is lots of contrast there.

Is one better than the other? Not necessarily. But like all Scrap Bag Projects, it reflects what we have available.