Stitch Key for Canvas Stitches

Letter are a bit hard to read but I have named the stitched from left to right, going down first, then across to the line stitches.

A. Cross - small, B. Cross - large, C. Satin, D. Blanket, E. Herringbone, F. Wave, G. Cretin, H. Cretin - wide, I. Chain, J. Open Chain, K. Running, L. Long Arm Cross, M. Rice - small, N-P. Smyrna - large and small, Q. Chinese, R. Portugese Knot, S. Stem, T. Cushion, U. Eye - large and small, V. Canvas Fern, W. Rice - large.

Canvas Stitches in One Colour

This sample uses one colour thread on 10 count mono canvas. I used Perle No 5 cotton in light green. This type of thread has a nice sheen and produces interesting textural effects on stitches in a repeat pattern.

I would not generally use this colour but it was a close colour to the light green moss on the rocks. I tea dyed the canvas to take away the stark white and give an 'old' look.

A stitch key attached indicates the stitches used.

Black and White Shape Studies

I have created two shape studies in black and white. One with cutting the paper and the other tearing the paper. I focussed on different areas of the wall for these studies.

The one with cut shapes gives an interesting effect and the negative space could be used to for a base for an embroidery design. It could be viewed as a two dimensional work with the dark areas representign garden beds or ponds and the white could be a winding path between.

Some of the rocks in the wall were quite large with smaller rocks filling the gaps. These larger areas could be broken up with different designs and colours within one area.

Colour Studies 2 and 3

I have created two more colour studies using water colour base and soft and oil pastel over the top. These give a good textural effect and colours can be combined, drawn over each other to create other colours eg. voilet and light grey creates a pleasing lavender effect.

One study focusses on the colours in the moss from light blue/green to dark purple/green. It also experiments with the lighter pink/peach/yellow hues of the top of the rocks.

The other study looks at the ochres and browns of the darker rock areas.

Black and White Image

As a precursor to the Shape Observation in black and white I have copied the original photograph of the wall in black and white to obtain a feel for the shading of the piece.

I have cut these shapes and rearranged them on a white background (below) to give an idea about the shapes that the separate rocks create.

I found this interesting as it altered my ideas about how the different shapes were structured when they were cut out separately and did not relate to the overall wall.


















I will use these as a base for the Shape Observations.

I will also create solid black shapes by eye and with cutting and tearing the paper to see what different effects these create.

Colour Study 1 of Rock Wall

I created this colour study using water colour and Prisma colour pencils. I painted a paler wash of the desired colour onto water colour paper and overlaid this with pencil shading. I built the colour up with various shades of pencils in differenct colours.

I was amazed at the range of different colours and tones which appeared through careful study of the photographs. Previously when I have created embroidered pieces I have tried to translate the colours directly from the source to selecting the threads and chose colours in a random fashion as I created my peice. I found that by developing the colour study of the rock wall I examined the photograph more carefully for colour changes and noticed many more colours than I might otherwise have chosen.

I found this exercise very rewarding and valuable.


I will develop further colour studies using a water colour base overlaid with pastel and oil pastels.

Rubbing of Rock Wall

I made a rubbing of one segment of the rock wall using white tissue paper and black pastel. It was very windy and therefore hard to get a good sample as the paper was blowing everywhere. I will take some more rubbings using black paper and white crayon, of different areas of the wall.

When this sample is magnified it does however, provide some interesting texture (from the mossy surface and the rough stone) and portrays a feeling of movement.