In case you think I've been cleaning house or washing windows, I thought I'd share the (aided) exploration for the perfect stitch for Santa's coat on Lauren's stocking. I say aided, because Jane Wood is consulting and searching for stitches with me.
One thing we learned right away is when the stocking is hanging, Santa's coat is at an angle, so definitely don't want to use something that is obviously in horizontal rows. Second, we decided we didn't want anything too directional. Third, we thought something round would complement the roses in the stocking, so you can see all the varieties of stitches we've been trying.
In addition to figuring out the right stitch, I felt pretty strongly at the beginning and still feel somewhat that I don't want the coat to be too yellow -- I've seen photographs of this stocking completed, and the ones I like are more white/offwhite than yellow, although I'm loving the very pale shade of yellow that you can see in the photo. (And of course, to keep myself right on the edge, I'm incessantly humming the song, "Fill me up, Buttercup.")
In the process I've discovered Lorikeet -- the overdyed wool by Gloriana. Love that stuff.
Here's what I'm thinking right now -- I like the beetle stitch -- it's 2nd from the top in the left column. It seems a bit small, so I made it bigger in the same row in the 3rd column. I played a bit with making the beetles more circular in the top one -- the one underneath is the right number of stitches across, just 2 intersections bigger all over. I used 3 plies of Lorikeet on the circles, a metallic for the V on the back and Gumnuts Silk for the stitches in between. I don't really like the darker thread in between on the top one (3rd column still).
Jane of CH pointed out the cover of the current issue of Needlepoint News last week -- two stitches are from Joan Thomasson's piece, which is on the front cover. The XX in the top right hand corner and the swirly things in the 2nd column, 4 down from the top. I think the XX stitch is quite nice, although it really needs to be done in an overdyed silk, which I don't have in the right colors -- I've looked at Silk 'n Colors and Waterlilies, and have found a few options -- if we decide that stitch is a finalist, I'll order them and try it out.
I like the DNA spiral-looking stitch. I need to work with it a bit more -- I used two colors of Lorikeet -- an off white and a very pale yellow (there goes that song again) and I'm thinking it's not quite enough contrast. Also I did the stitch before I got my issue of the magazine -- I faked it from a scan Jane sent, and I didn't get it quite right. The areas in the middle, however, are meant to be sort of irregular, so that part is correct.
So it's the same old decision making process -- stitch needs to be complementary to the overall theme -- not too big or small for the space it's in -- and it needs to be the right colors. I think that means I'm still working on this.
Originally posted November 14, 2007
Still looking, but getting close, I think. 
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