Experiments 1

I have got some 32 count evenweave fabric to experiment with, 2 over 2 that is the equivalent of 16 count aida. Just to start with I thought I would take a single stitch pattern and sew it in all possible directions in two thicknesses of thread to see what it would look like. I also tried using contrasting running stitch outlines instead of pencil to work within.

I used the same pattern as was under the stem of the first leaf I tried so that I was already familiar with it. My initial observation was that evenweave is much softer and more stretchy than aida so everything seemed to be wonky but actually it seems to even out over larger areas. The picture above shows three sides working the pattern vertically and horizontally with two threads. For the centre four blocks I adapted the pattern slightly so that it could be diagonal and used only one thread.

There is something curiously satisfying about the fact that it includes all possible directions, the regularity is pleasing in a similar way to patchwork. The only problem is that I think the horizontal and vertical blocks should have been sewn so that the end of the pattern was at the outer edge rather than where it joins the next block in the corners. It would make the edge neater. Also, using thread rather than pencil means having to remove the thread which was more difficult than I had expected because the needle had passed through it in places, I need to be more careful. On the whole though I am happy and it is useful to see both how dense the stitches are at this larger size and how different directions interact visually.

The change in size was actually a bit odd to start with, I haven't used stitches that large in a long time. If I put the leaf and this square next to each other you can see just how pronounced the difference is.

I will need to bare the change of scale in mind when I am coming up with designs since larger stitches will not allow such detailed shading or precise edges.