While working on the new spread for the journal, I thought maybe I should share a little tip with you on how to fill irregular shapes with long and short stitching! Especially since there was a similar request recently.
See all the other posts on needlepainting tips here.
By the way, if you recognize the motif, tell in the comments below! :)
I was previously asked about how to fill large spaces with long and short stitching. Like, when you have a motif and you want to fill the white space around it with a color, for example. And the method is pretty much the same that will be demonstrated in this post.
The number 1, most important thing to do is: choose the direction of your stitches and stick with it until the end.
If it is vertical, keep it vertical even in the smallest corners or curves.
Don't think that “since there is very little space there, and it is a curve, so maybe it would look better if I slant my stitches a little to fit better in the curve...” or anything of that sort. No, no, no. The direction of your stitches should be consistent no matter what specifics that area has!
And that's pretty much the whole secret. The only thing left is patience because filling large spaces with stitching does take some effort and time.
The flower I needed to fill also has an irregular shape. And one could be tempted to fill it with satin stitch in a radial way: starting from the sides and ending at the center.
But the vertical stitching looks a bit neater, in my opinion.
So, the first thing you can do is to mark the direction of your stitches. I did it with a simple pencil – it doesn't matter if it is permanent because everything will be covered anyway.
Then start long and short stitching the way you're used to it. No special tricks here. I'm just using guiding stitches at first and then rely on the direction of the previously worked stitches. You can see that there are corners and curves in the center of this motif but we need to fight the temptation to change the direction of the stitches to fit them in there. It will spoil the appearance of stitching.
And here's the outcome!
Look forward to the whole spread :)
Hola Amina! Espero que tu y tu familia estén a salvo después de semejante terremoto que ha sufrido Turquía!
ReplyDeleteEsta nueva publicación me ha llegado en el momento correcto. Porque me siento medio estancada con un proyecto que estoy haciendo desde que comenzó esto de la pandemia. Y sinceramente ya no sabia que hacer. Estoy en pleno bordado de un pavo real. Con el cuerpo, la cabeza y la vegetación de alrededor no tuve mayores problemas. Mi némesis son las plumas de la cola (???!!!!!!???!!!) Al inicio me parecía que era sencillo pero ya llevo desarmado dos veces porque no me convence como queda el trabajo. He cambiado los puntos y aun así no me termina de agradar el resultado final. Inocentemente, creí que esto del aislamiento y la cuarentena nos llevaba obligadamente a ir todo mas lento y que iba a dedicarle mucho mas tiempo al bordado. Gran error de mi parte! No solo seguí con mis obligaciones habituales sino que se me agregaron otras (que hago con el mayor de los gustos) ayudando a familiares y vecinos que por edad y cuestiones de salud son personas de riesgo y no pueden salir como antes. En fin, es algo que hago con mucho cariño, no me resulta para nada pesado.
Volviendo a mi pavo real, tu posteo me esta dando una nueva perspectiva de como hacer esas plumas de la cola. Y ya la estoy imaginando. Hoy es sábado, día de no salir a hacer ningún tramite ni compras. Así que me dedicare a mi bordado!
Dios te bendiga y te proteja! saludos desde Córdoba, Argentina.
¡Hola Fabiana!
DeleteNo se preocupe, el terremoto no nos tocó. ¡Espero que usted y su familia también estén sanos y seguros! Dios los bendiga por ayudar a quienes lo necesitan. ¡Tu pavo real va a resultar increíble! ¡Cada esfuerzo lo hará cada vez más precioso! Que tengas un buen día :) ¡Abrazos a Córdoba!
Thank you, Amina. This is very helpful. My tendency was to vary direction. Now I know a better way. I've been embroidering nearly all my life, but I have avoided long and short as much as possible. You've made it much more approachable with your tutorials.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy you're giving it a chance! It takes a bit of practice, but you'll get there God willing!
DeleteWhat color blue is that? It's so pretty.
ReplyDeleteIt is Anchor 00133! First time using Anchor, by the way, and it's been great :)
DeleteDoes it ever make sense to fill a n irrefular shape with stem stitches in a repeating outline? In this case I am needing to fill an elk shape, and I'm afraid I will ruin the shape if I do it vertically. Hope that makes sense! Thanks.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think it's possible. But I also think vertical stitches would be fine! Depending on what kind of effect you are looking forward to :)
DeleteHi Amina! I had a question about your outline of the flower - do you cover it with your inside long/short stitches or do you just work your stitches up to that outline but leave it exposed? I hope that makes sense - I found this post really helpful!
ReplyDeleteBài viết với các thông tin rất hữu ích, mời bạn xem các thông tin bài viết >>> Bạn có thể nhận biết tình trạng này ra sao?
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the great tutorials and inspiration. It's very helpful... and the flower is the Dsnish design Mega Mussel from Royal Copenhagen. My cupboard is stuffed with cups and plates with this design. Greetings from Denmark
ReplyDelete