Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Busy Lizzy, General comments, Ginkgo Leaves, Needlepoint Shops, Other People's Pieces, Threads
Ginkgo Leaves is a Lee canvas (design size 8.5″ x 3.75), BR67. In June, at Cleo’s First Tuesday Stitch-in at Busy Lizzie, I found a new thread Line that I haven’t seen anywhere else. It is from Gloriana Threads and is Duchess Silk, a hand-dyed thread. Some colors have more subtle changes in the skein than others. The Antique Black is darker than the canvas but that’s ok. And, I will not use Brick after all because I am using some sparkly threads including Kreinik, Silk Lame Braid, or Snow for the edges of the leaves.
I was thinking basketweave for something easy to stitch but discovered that Duchess Silk is too thick. So, I selected various stitches incorporating a little additional sparkle into four of the eight (different from the edges).
My main goal was to find stitch patterns with stitches over 2 or 3 canvas threads that would create a diagonal effect according to the direction of the leaf. They came from Desert Island Vol 1 and 2 by Carole Lake and Michael Boren, Lone Star’s Grab-n-Go Stitches, Needlepoint Dictionary of Stitches by Susan Sturgeon Roberts, and The Needlepoint Book by Jo Ippolito Christensen
Part of this was stitched at yesterday’s Stitch-in with the ANG Main Line Stitchers. We had 5 in person at Buff’s house because the church is working on the floors. Speaking of Buff, she was quite observant by noticing that I was uncharacteristically stitching “in the well”. It is something that I have done when the canvas has too little around the sides of the design because it makes ending threads easier. When do you work “in the well”?
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Melitastitches4fun's Blog 
I have never tried working “in the well” – maybe I’ll give it a try. Love your choice of stitches so far!
Comment by lpleyer August 28, 2022 @ 3:55 pmThanks Linda. It can be useful.
Comment by melitastitches4fun August 28, 2022 @ 3:56 pmI’m in the habit of working ‘in the well’ most of the time. I find it especially helpful for ending threads especially with Hilton-style stitches — easier to slide the needle underneath.
Comment by JoanneP August 28, 2022 @ 4:01 pmOk. Yeah, ending threads can be tricky.
Comment by melitastitches4fun August 28, 2022 @ 4:11 pmI’m surprised the folks at the shop didn’t tell you it’s a bit heavy for basketweave on 18-ct canvas. I like the way you’re using it though, which really gives the simple canvas a nice texture and depth.
Comment by Remedial Stitcher August 28, 2022 @ 4:43 pmI am sure I didn’t mention that I was thinking of basketweave.
Comment by melitastitches4fun August 28, 2022 @ 4:47 pmI too stitch in the well if the selvedge is short or if I am doing a lot of beading as I lean my bead tray against the bars. Like your colors!
Comment by Vicky De Angelis August 28, 2022 @ 6:07 pmGood idea when working with a bead tray.
Comment by melitastitches4fun August 28, 2022 @ 8:16 pmThe design is pretty, and the stitch selection makes it flow.
I don’t stitch in the well. I’ve never actually tried it, but my stitching brain thinks it would make regular stitching more awkward. Ending stitching is not usually problematic. But, I may consider
Comment by craftingwacky August 29, 2022 @ 4:32 pmGlad you like the stitch selections so far.
Comment by melitastitches4fun August 29, 2022 @ 4:44 pm(continuing from my comment) stitching in the well the next time I don’t have a lot of selvedge.
Comment by craftingwacky August 29, 2022 @ 4:33 pm