Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Starting the background

I decided to start on the background instead of boring you with French knots on Otto again. Susan thought that since the stitches on Otto are so dense that the background should be open to balance the design look. Working with DMC Variegated Coton Perle size 5, I began working the pattern in a vertical gobelin stitch which is supposed to resemble distant mountains. (Even though one of the girls in stitch group says he looked a bit like a sheep with horns when I first started!) Since his head is curved, she created this angular open pattern with the irregular corners. There is more to come with the background so you will have to stay tuned!

5 comments:

The Chilly Hollow Needlepoint Adventure said...

I always loved this background. Susan Portra has an instinctive feel for backgrounds in my opinion, which has me awed. I always find backgrounds a real pain to decide on!

By the way, Otto says those aren't horns, they are bent halos. LOL

NCPat said...

I agree on both! LOL

Beth in IL said...

I love Otto! He looks like he has an attitude.

NCPat said...

He definately does!

Napa Needlepoint said...

Love that background. Great choice of stitch and thread.

Keep Stitching,
Janet