Saturday, November 23, 2013

Single colour & negative space


Inspired by this month’s single-colour focus, and by Sewphie’s post about single-colour shading, I took thread to fabric and worked in the negative space around a simple shape.


This was an experiment, but I am pleased with the result. I worked small stab stitches, varying the size as they converge towards the centre. The piece is small – the widest point of heart itself measures just 4 cm/1-½", but I still worked what seems like 5 million stitches! Of course there are aspects that I will change for the next project, but that’s the fun of trying something new, watching the evolution of an idea.


First tip for the next project: Stitch a tiny guideline around the edge of the negative space. I didn’t do this when I began the left side, but here I have added them for the right, and it made the stitching easier and neater when I got to that side.



A very useful tip: Use a thread conditioner. This makes a huge difference to the stitching. Repeated stab stitches of this sort are torture for the poor embroidery floss, and it wears and frays much quicker without the conditioner (I learned this the hard way when I took this project out with me and forgot the Thread Heaven). Otherwise, cut shorter lengths of floss to minimize wear.


I used a cookie cutter to trace the shape. As I stitched this tiny project, my brain was conjuring up all sorts of variations of a theme...I envisaged a meteor leaving a trail of whites, yellows and golds, worked on black...drops of rain falling and collecting in a puddle...and a beard of bees, worked in tiny black and yellow stabs, swarming around a face (that was late one night).

But for now, I’m trying out other stitches around a negative space. French knots look dainty around a butterfly...


...and a snowflake with ice-blue knots, just in time for the onset of winter.




What are you stitching? Please share in the &Stitches Flickr group. We'd love to see it!

18 comments:

  1. Lovely work and interesting experiment. Xo

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  2. Crikey Chrissie - they're fab x Jane

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  3. This looks so neat! After I get down some free motion quilting, then making dresses, embroidery is next on my list. I've studied the other two, but I haven't found a lot of embroidery blogs that do cool stuff. (of course you are one of those!) It doesn't look like cross stitch. Do I just get some floss and go at it? Or is there patterns? I have reference to a few embroidery stitches, I guess I just need to check out some books. It's probably a lot cheaper than making dresses.

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    1. Hi Karrie, I'd say just get some floss and go for it - that's what I did! You can see in the photos that I didn't have a pattern, I used cookie cutters to trace the shapes. The heart photo shows tiny stab stitches - I went with the simplest option to test out my idea - but you indeed could try cross stitching around a space, or French knots like I'm using in the final photos...give it a go and let us know how you get on! Cx

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  4. This is a fantastic idea - definitely want to give it a try!

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  5. Very lovely Chrissie - well done! Joy x

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  6. Saying "I love this" would be an understatement! A big one! My mind is already turning and burning and fingers eager to begin a project based on your idea here. thank you for sharing your experimental play! Awesomeness!

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  7. These are beautiful! Definitely on my list of things I want to try. Man, that list is getting long...lol :)

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  8. Followed you here. Great work Chrissie. Jo x

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  9. They all look lovely Chrissie. Looking forward to seeing the snowflake! xx

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  10. What a great idea. Thanks for sharing. As Jooles says 'I can almost hear your brain pinging!'

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  11. Such a clever idea. Thanks so much for sharing. I've heard of "negative space" and how it is used in art, but didn't really understand. This is great.

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  12. Having Flickr problems but you totally inspired me to make this. Thank you!

    http://canadianabroad-susan.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/let-it-snow.html

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  13. Nifty, might try this using beads....

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  14. Thinking Christmas tree ornaments, stitched around a child's hand in green, bright colors speckled in for lights...

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  15. I have the butterfly cookie cutter, I can't wait to give this a whirl

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