It is a needlepoint canvas on Penelope canvas and appears to be printed very very well. I thought I might play with it a bit, but wondered if anybody out there has ever worked one of these and has any super duper secret tips to share?
I've got DMC perle 5 in the called for colors, but am open to suggestions if something else works better.
WooHoo!
I've worked on a few of these in years gone by and the kits they came in always had wool. Depending on the canvas count they could be done using DMC tapestry wool, Anchor tapestry wool, Penelope wool or DMC crewel wool.
ReplyDeleteI did one in either DMC or Anchor perle and it's still hanging on my lounge wall and looks as good as it did the day it was framed.
Handling all the color changes can be a problem. I suggest that you stop one stitch before you plan to change colors and park that needle on a magnet on the FRONT of the canvas. When you are ready to work that color again, finish that last stitch and then move to the next area. If threads and needles are on the front of the canvas, you are less likely to create a mess on the back.
ReplyDeleteI just finished a canvas of this type. it is an old canvas I found at the bottom of the box. I did it with dmc perle cotton just because I like working with it. turned out beautiful. it was fun to do-one stitch- just fill in the colors. paint by number with thread! I felt it wasn't the kind of stitching my needlepoint friends would consider up to the status of the ones with all the lovely threads and a multitude of stitches, however. nice to see my needlepoint idol does this stuff too! by the way- I loved doing every stitch of this thing! and isn't that what its all about?
ReplyDeleteWhoa, that brings back memories, as I haven't worked on one in years. I too stitch one color at a time in an area and then park the needle, while I stitch with the next color, and so on until I finish a section...a needle nanny would work well.
ReplyDeleteI love the design and the colors! Enjoy it Coni.
I've also worked a few of these older patterns. I like wool or floss for the background and shinier threads for the floral. Good old collection d'art!
ReplyDeleteIt'll look lovely in perle.
ReplyDeleteI did the major areas in Paternayan wool and highlighted
ReplyDeletewith silk....eons ago. Can be soothing....
I did one of these- years ago in 1980 I think. I used yarn, Paternayan (sp?) I think. Turned out well. Too bad it got lost in on of our moves.😑
ReplyDeleteThat will be a spectacular piece Coni! Can't wait to see its progress. 🤗
*one*
ReplyDeleteI just started one by Beth Russel that was in my stash. (A gift I received years ago.) I decided it would be fun and easy to stitch on summer trips. I'm using the wool that came with it. I plan to finish it as a pillow. You may know this, but the sheen rubs off of perle so it will look prettier longer if it is framed or finished in some way that doesn't get a long of wear. Enjoy it! It's very pretty.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the stitch count? I did a painted canvas of Van Gogh's Sunflowers a very long time ago, and it was 10/20 count Penelope. I just ignored the teensy blocks and treated it like a 10-count, using DMC wool. It's been hanging up proudly in its frame since about 1975 and still looks excellent.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd done one previous canvas - also 10-count, also DMC wool, but it was a bargello pattern I made up in 70s colours: white to dark brown via yellow, orange and tan! It's a cushion, still bright and unfaded.
I only used tent or basketweave. Mostly tent, because there wasn't enough space to do much basketweaving in all those colours. And it did indeed pull the canvas out of shape, so I got cunning and stitched the table that the vase stands on in the opposite direction to the vase and flowers. And when I saw it helped, I did the same kind of thing for the background, which is a painted wall with blotches of yellow, green and grey, presumably shadows and reflections. I thought it looked leprous, so I stitched every alternate row in yellow, and then the other rows in yellow, green or grey as required. It looks so ... intentional? As if the wall was actually yellow all the time, but with reflections and shadows that just seem more convincing.
Your poppies are gorgeous. When I'd finished the sunflowers, I considered doing two companion pieces, one poppies and the other the Van Gogh irises. But I got over it!
It's a wonderfully relaxing way to stitch - good for something to do while binge-watching TV or, in my case, binge-watching cricket test matches, which can go on for five days at six hours a day! Have fun, and keep us informed. Ooh, and the Red Velvet Cake looks really yummy too.
I have a canvas like this that was a gift many many years ago but I have never stitched it because I didn't know where to start so I am really looking forward to seeing how you tackle this! It is really pretty :)
ReplyDeleteHave you seen this? https://www.thespruce.com/double-thread-needlepoint-canvas-3861783
ReplyDeleteBeautiful canvas!
ReplyDeleteOnly thing I can add is: mount it on stretcher bars. Tent or basketweave stitch will cause it to go off-kilter otherwise. Love the perle cotton.
Lynn in southern NJ
One more tip! I'm finding it's easier to stitch all of one color at a time and then switch. It helps me to keep track when there are many similar shades and many quick color changes.
ReplyDeleteYou can add in some floss if you want closer shading. And of course if there are areas you want more detail, you can use the smaller threads. I did a lady once and did the face and hands in the 20 count, and the rest in 10. My, that was an eon ago!!
ReplyDeleteHi Coni! its been a while since I could comment ... the Yahoo OpenID has not worked in ages and I don't have any other logins.
ReplyDeleteCanvas warps with tent stitch, a little less with basketweave which works well with large areas of similar color.
I have some canvas pieces (18 ct mono I believe), that I am working in full cross stitch.
I work each stitch to completion. This reduces the stress on the canvas and minimizes warping.
It does mean more work and using a finer thread than if you did a tent stitcy.
If you have ever looked at an Elizabeth Bradley canvas, they use a full cross stitch using the Victorian Cross Stitch.
It also reduces the warping of a canvas.
EB canvases are worked on a larger canvas with a thicker wool thread. They can be used for pillows, rugs etc.
http://www.elizabethbradley.com/about-victorian-cross-stitch-right
I know you work within a frame, so I'm not sure how much work you do with two hands.
Have fun. Poppies looks like it will be a fun project
M in NC
How funny, my grand-mother left me a very similar one a long time ago...
ReplyDelete