Melitastitches4fun's Blog

The fourth clue in the Stitching Games 2015 run by stitcherie is 3.

Initially,  I thought a 3-sided stitch pattern but with the 6-sided shapes in the vase, I didn’t think that would work anywhere.

I really wanted to work on the bottom area which is area number 3 when you start with the top area as number 1 and going either clockwise or counter clockwise around the exterior, the bottom is area 3.

It doesn’t end there. I tried 3 thread types. First was Pepper Pot Silk (Tendrils 098) which is a great match to the green bamboo in one and two threads in the Florentine and Satin pattern from SuZy’s Portable Stitches. Two was too thick and one not enough coverage. So, I tried Silk & Ivory (Lime 56) which seemed dull somehow but coverage was great. Then, I tried Vineyard Merino (English Ivy M-1197) which was so close to the bamboo color that it would detract from the focal point. And, by then, I’d stitched enough to see the diamond pattern would conflict with the 6-sided pattern.

The 3s saga continues as I searched for a new stitch pattern. The vertical look of Buildong Blocks conflicted with the vertical bamboo. So, I was thinking horizontal pattern as I thumbed through The Needlepoint Book (looking forward to the 3rd revised edition coming out soon; but, I have too many notes in this one to part with it!). Plaited Gobelin is pictured vertically but easily works in either direction. And, I can mix in rows of the dark Mandarin Floss (M914) used in the bamboo and maybe Needle Necessities/Kreinik #12 braid overdyed with greens and purples unless the sparkles conflict with the vase. But, I am happy with my 3rd stitch pattern!

The third clue in the Stitching Games 2015 run by stitcherie is “Nigel”. Leonard Nimoy had just died & I thought of Nigel 7 right away believing it was from Star Trek. But, apparently not. I see it was mentioned in a Futurama episode. That still didn’t give me any ideas. So, I googled it, discovered it is the brightest star in the constellation Orion, & is a blue-bright supergiant. It appears that I am taking these clues literally because all I could think of was finding a stitch that looked like a star. I went through SuZy’s Portable Stitches by SuZy Murphy. I love the app because it is set up by a list of stitches and by a list of uses. Under the category ‘Starry Skies’, I found the Combined Cross stitch. The thread I selected, Needle Necessities Inc (175), is an overdyed floss with purple that matches the vase & blue like the star, Nigel. They are randomly placed, like the stars, to not create a pattern or a streaky effect.

The second clue in the Stitching Games 2015 run by stitcherie is “football” & why not – it was released on Superbowl Sunday!

I went through SuZy’s Portable Stitches & have 2 leading candidates heading to the Superbowl (a test canvas) – Fran’s Stitch (looks like a lot of footballs) & French Swag (looks like a gridiron). May the best stitch pattern win.

Fran’s Stitch was out of the running when I layer it out on graph paper because it was too large for the area.

I also went through Needlepoint Dictionary of Stitches on my Kindle & found Hex shape which looks like a little football.

So, I tried combining the Rhodes stitches from French Swag & the Hex shape (a slightly smaller one) with Stripes A (from Portable Stitches) but it was too many stripes & no contrast to the bamboo.

The part I like is the Hex. So, I decided to keep it simple and I made the top of what I see as a decorative vase all Hex shapes.

I used Kreinik (045) #4 for the footballs, #16 for the rim of the vase, & #32 for the sides. The thread has a bit of green that complements the bamboo. The purple comes from selected portions of Gloriana Seaweed #088.

Take 2 for the bamboo. I knew I had to redo it after Bill asked me what the other version was (after I told him 3 times). So, I studied images of bamboo & realized my color was way off & had to figure out how to make it more realistic. Hopefully, you’ll agree as does Bill, “It looks like bamboo. ” What will clue 2 be?

The first clue in the Stitching Games 2015 run by stitcherie is “pickle”.

I had an idea of a tea tray getting a Chinese motif of either a bonsai tree or bamboos.  And, with pickle being green either would work. As you can, I hope, I selected bamboos.

Is there any chance you can see this? I can redraw the design & redo it – I have the whole month. Thoughts?

Ok, I have a serious problem.  After just making up a list of all the pending needlepoint projects I have, what do I do? Get started on something new. Why? It sounds interesting. Although I’ve read the rules, I am not quite sure what will happen in the Stitching Games 2015! on stitcherie!

My design is 6″x9″ (minimum 6″x6″) & we’ll get a one word clue or image every month (for 10 months) & use that to inspire us. In Nov, you can finish any other areas. Declare any “background” areas & stitch all year long. Since I have so many projects,  I decided just to make a design with 10 areas. After finding out what complicated canvases others are doing & that I am only one not using a painted canvas,  I’m not sure if this will work but hopefully it will!

The only finishing item in my stash at least 6″ is the tea tray. So, that’s how I determined the size & here’s my line drawn canvas.