Wednesday, April 16, 2008

More Threads and Metallics and Beads!

It's amazing the different effects one can produce with the same thread, but different stitches. This red piece is another "rollie" which will be finished as a cylindrical shape to hang on the tree or maybe as part of a mobile at Holiday time. This time I used the laces and "bracelet" trims in a horizontal layout, so needed the vertical lines to anchor it. The red ribbon floss is identical, except for using the shimmer blend for the basketweave around the beaded bracelet - but due to the way the light plays on the long, flat stitches above and below, it looks much darker. I wanted the vertical lines to be rather subtle, so used my favorite crystal clear Sundance (color 250 hexagonal) beads with red thread - so that they will glitter as the ornament turns, but not be a different color. There are single gold tent stitches between each bead. Also - I chose to use beads on the bracelet, as the Leviathan stitch I normally use for this count was too lumpy and prominent for the effect I wanted. You can see on the detail the tent stitches on the warp threads, getting ready to insert beads on the weft - very simple for a small area, and it looks solid beads. I ran out of gold braid (Kreinik gold #221), so am waiting for more to arrive so that I can outline and stitch the flowers - and continue on down to the bottom. Meanwhile, in addition to the spiraling rollie, I have the little mini-stocking to work on. Again, I used the YLI ribbon floss, and stitched long, flat areas going in different directions. The way the light hits them adds to the surface interest. Just for fun - I used multi-colors for the beads. Red, gold, green, and blue - a kind of "confetti" effect. I had to just use white floss to apply them, as I wasn't about to use colored thread and have to re-thread the beading needle so many times. The ric-rac on the heel is made with the Kreinik 1/16" ribbon in green #015, which is one of my very favorites! It lies so nice and flat, whereas the braid would be a bit difficult. I'm not really sure what I will do with the heel and toe - will decide after I get the rest of it done. As for the name? Who knows? Maybe a family cat. Incidentally, if you click on the detail of the red rollie - the one with the warp threads stitched - and enlarge it, you can easily see that the weft stitches are left bare for the insertion of the beads. I wasn't able to do that when drawing the "chains" on the mini-stocking, as I left an even number of threads between them so that I could make the long stitches in opposite directions, and needed a center. The beads wobble a bit, and it is very annoying - but couldn't be helped.

2 comments:

NCPat said...

These are both very pretty! I really like your rollies, and I love the different color beads on the white stocking as your accent. Suggesting a solid white heel and toe done in sparkly....

Emi said...

-Precioso, y claro que tiene una belleza espectacular...esos brillos son geniales...Con cariƱo Emi.