Techniques 11

Gay Ann Rogers, Needlework

The Queen’s Techniques

Techniques 11: first posted June 27 10; reposted February 2012
Perhaps a Useful Guideline, particularly for Painted Canvases

I suppose we all have our pet peeves, and I have my share of stitching pet peeves. Right at the top of my list is a category of needlepoint I shall call ‘Goop’.

‘Goop’ is a piece of needlepoint where the stitcher has thought, gee, here is a good design for me to incorporate every thread and stitch I know. Usually Goop happens on painted canvases, and what might begin life as a pretty, albeit cluttered, painted canvas design ends up with 67 threads and 102 stitches to show off every bit of technique the stitcher knows.

What amazes me is the number of times I have overheard stitchers applauding Goop as a real tour de force; all they seem to see is the display of technique, they miss entirely the concept of a design calling for help underneath the weight of way too much thread and way too many stitches.

So what can I do to discourage Goop? Long ago I hatched a general guideline. It doesn’t always work (no formula always works in visual matters) but I have over the years found it a helpful place to start.

Let’s look at the three components of a needlework design:
Line.
Color.
Texture.

Here’s my basic guideline:
Explore two of the three; keep one simple.

For example:
If the line of a design is very busy and the colors many, keep the texture simple.
If the line of the design is very busy but the colors simple, go ahead and add more texture.
If the line of the design is simple but the colors many, go ahead and add more texture.

The Queen’s Techniques

The Queen’s Techniques is an ongoing column of tips that make a difference in my needlework. It is my way. Just remember, my way is not the only way or the definitive way, it is just my way.