There is a sense of bitter sweetness when I complete a project. As much as I love the satisfaction that comes with successfully completing a project, I am happiest during the production phase and find myself eagerly searching out the next opportunity!
Some would say it is the thrill of the chase. For me, I think you could say that the answer leads to more questions…
Counted Cross Stitch is super easy and completely unforgiving at the same time.
Yes, once again, I have found another amazing metaphor to talk about education while talking about needle work.
I had taken a long hiatus from needle work when I had the twins, but I finally felt that they were sleeping through the night and I had a few evenings each week when I might actually watch a movie on TCM and relax with a project in my hands so I started this counted cross stitch project.
Of course once we start to have time we are ready to move on to a new phase of life and before I knew it the embroidery was tucked away and I was busy working on certification to become a high school teacher which included tests, working as a substitute teacher, getting a provisional job before being able to register for classes and then finally completing licensure! Those few hours were spent many times over leaving no time to do embroidery.
Unlike the crewel Pewter Vase which was stamped on the fabric and comprised of dozens of stitches, the Art Deco Spirits is counted cross stitch so the fabric is blank, the pattern in on a sheet of paper, and it calls for only two stitches; the cross stitch for the design and back stitch for outlines.
Most people who have done counted cross stitch have worked on 14 count Aida which means there are 14 thread per inch, permitting 14 stitches per inch. Aida can be purchased in 12 count up to 18 count at most craft stores. This fabric is 32 count linen which means 32 stitches per inch.
I’ll say that again; 32 stitches per inch.
The good news is that with 2.0 readers I can still see my work. Also helpful was that I had kept track of where I had left off and marked my pattern clearly so when I resumed work I was able to pick up as if no time had passed. I had already finished three of the four panels and realized that I had done a bad job of spacing them so I was going to have a large white void in the center of the project, but that could be figured out once the fourth panel was completed.
Working on Air had been the most difficult of the four panels when I set it aside. Even though both Fire and Air had similar amounts of white and grey space, it just felt like there was more detail work in Air. The necessary counting and changing thread colors frequently to create the subtle gradations of color, light and shadow were completely unforgiving. The placement of an extra stitch would throw off all of the subtlety as well as the counting!
When I picked it up again I was really glad that the white and grey were done and I could focus on the colors wrapping from the dove down the left side and across the bottom back up to her hair.
Time and distance made this project much easier and I kept surprising myself how quickly it was progressing. But there was a sense of disappointment too. I did not see the details of the dove and the woman’s face. I followed the pattern and knew it was exactly as designed, but in person with my glasses on it just wasn’t impressive.
Never-the-less, I was inspired by the font for the four labels and decided to include the title in the blank space with room for my signature. I liked the contrast of the black and gold, but decided to do the second line with the dark grey and opalescent fill and then took it to the laundry room to wash away the oils and grime from my own hands as well as my students’. Unlike the wool and silk of the Pewter Vase, DMC cotton floss is completely washable and the metallic threads are both washable and dry-clean safe.
As I stretched the canvas to allow it to drip dry as smoothly as possible and minimize the work to iron and block it I stepped away and realized that like any pointillist painting (pixels for the 21st century readers) distance is required to fully appreciate the finished product.
Pulling back the curtain, I am pleased to reveal that the back of my work is as well done as the front:
Christine Heinicke 