StayHomeRetreat

Lesson 3

Stitching Play

Stitching over your draw up / watercolor / prepared image

If you are new to stitching or haven’t stitched for many years this is a very gentle approach and I would recommend working relatively small. I used an old tiny painting that I knew I still wanted to do more with. It was a monochromatic, charcoal and Titanium Buff painting, with the charcoal set. I decided to use mostly muted toned threads because the piece lended itself to it. It was actually a wonderful piece to work with because of the different tonal values. I was able to place my muted tones in the various zones that added interest. She seemed to come alive and lift right off the canvas.

This piece isn’t overloaded with stitches and allows both the painting, mixed with stitches, to make your piece come alive. The combination of the two work wonderfully together. If you don’t have something lying around to work on, do a quick charcoal drawing or a watercolor on a small canvas, or even a small drawing will work. Start laying down your threads.

I kept my stitches very simple in this lesson, so I didn’t feel the need to talk too much in the video.

My stitches are painterly and clear.

This piece took a few hours and was easily achieved in one day.

I haven’t listed the colors of the threads I used, mainly because I’m not sure my thread names/codes would be the same as yours. I also wanted to encourage you to use colors that you found pleasing especially if you are going to use your finished image on a bag or to be framed up. I want you to be happy with your own preferences.

Remember there are no rules, just what you love and are drawn to.

I hope you enjoy this lesson. I fell hopelessly in love with each stitch and was completely surprised and delighted by the outcome. It was simple, doable and felt unique and completely different to some of my other works. I am so looking forward to playing more with this technique of combining some stitching to my painted pieces.