Stitch Arena

You may find it beneficial to read "A bit about it" before continuing.

Work through the following steps to create your own individual piece of artwork:

1. Choose your inspiration
2. Recognise the key elements – line, colour, shape, form or texture?
3. Experiment
4. Sample and create your final design
5. Evaluation

Step 1 - Choose your Inspiration

Looking at the photograph, I recognised that the subject of it is based upon Lines. So, for your own design you need to find an inspiration based upon Line too.

There are many ways in which Line can be represented, for example:

Parallel lines – hedgerows, rock strata, leaf veins, wood grain

Radiating lines – bicycle wheels, umbrellas, tree rings

Intersecting lines – window panes, roof tiles, street maps

Step 2 - Recognise the Key elements

Look closely at the subject and try to focus only on the lines. At this stage, ignore colours or textures or other elements.

Simplify your inspiration by transferring the relevant lines on a sheet of paper or trace them roughly on tracing paper. You have now eliminated any unnecessary elements and will be able to see the lines in the most basic form.

Step 3 - Experiment

It is up to you how far you want to take your experimentation. You can either work just one of the following suggestions, or for a more individual design, try to work a selection of them to create something really unique. Ask yourself questions as you go along.

Looking at your drawing or tracing, do you want to keep the lines as you have drawn them?

If Yes, how would you develop the design? You could:

• Scale it up (enlarge) to create a large, single motif
• Scale it down (reduce in size) to create a small motif
• Repeat the design in a grid to form a pattern
• Rotate it flip it over to create a symmetrical design
• Create a border to frame it

If No, how would you develop the design? You could:

• Stretch it in one direction - lengthways or widthways
• Use only a small section of the design to create an abstract
• Scale up or down
• Erase some of them
• Make them thicker or thinner
• Make a repeating pattern

Play about with your design until you discover one that you really like.

For my experimentation example I drew a basic likeness of the subject.

I then erased some of the lines I had traced as it looked too busy – there needed to be some free space.

I then reduced the size of the design on a photocopier and rotated it slightly so that it would fit more easily into a picture frame.

I decided that it would look better surrounded by a border. I based this on the "frost". Looking at it, it is randomly jagged and spiky, so I drew lines that represented this.

It is now time to look at fabrics and threads.

Step 4 - Sample and create your own design

I have detailed below the development stages I went through to decide on the final threads, fabrics and stitches. Follow my example and you should be able to create your design.How I sampled my design

Looking back at the photograph. I wanted to recreate the cold frost on the grass, so I decided to look at reflective and shimmery threads, such as rayons and metallics in pale, silvery tones. Choosing threads

I picked the following threads to experiment with:

• DMC Precious Metal – E168 Silver
• DMC Pearlescent Effects – E966 Pale Green
• DMC Satin – S415 Silver Grey

In order for the "frost" effect to stand out, the background fabric needs to be dark. I wanted to keep the lustrous feel to the design, so I decided that a dupion silk would be appropriate.

To keep the cold, frosty feel I decided that a cold colour would be most suitable, hence the teal green.

Consider how many strands to use:

• 1 strand makes a fine line
• 6 strands make a thicker line

The stem needs to be wider then the outer branches. Using 6 strands together did not appeal as the strands bunched up together and would not lie flat. I therefore used 3 strands and worked 2 stitches close together. To create an unbroken lustre as shown in the photograph, the twist was taken out of the thread. To do this, separate each strand one at a time then put the number of desired strands back together for stitching. This gives a much neater stitch.

I then used reduced this to 3 strands for the "branches" coming off the stem.

I looked at different ways of creating the "starbursts" at the tips.

I needed a stitch that would recreate the spiky effect. Looking through the Stitch Library, I came across Pistil Stitch, Detached Chain and Fly Stitch that could be adapted to suit by simply extending the tying stitch to create the stalk section of it.

For the border, I needed that spiky effect again, but this time not as single stitches, but worked along a line. Looking through the Stitch Library again, Blanket Stitch seemed the most appropriate.

Instead of working neat, regular stitches all at the same angle, I made some long, some short, some leaning backwards, some forwards and spaced them unevenly apart.

Step 5 - Analysing your samples

Once the sampling has been worked you can now make an informed choice as to which threads and stitches you prefer and how to apply them to your design.

Happy stitching! You're not finished yet though...

Evaluation

This is an important part of the design process that is often ignored or missed completely.

By evaluating and analysing your sampling and the whole design process, you will be able to understand what you have learned and be able to put this into practice in the future.

What worked well and why, i.e., did your samples give you a good impression of the final piece?

Are you pleased with the finished piece?

What surprised you?

Did this project enable you to practice new techniques?Have you used these materials before and would you use them again?

What did you enjoy the most?

If this project was successful, why?