Still More On The Packing Case

Bands In Place

Bands In Place

When I came to work the bands on the “back” surface of the packing case, I felt that the slightly darker yellow silk thread was still too bright, so I worked the Bokhara Couching in two colours – the yellow as the long stitch, and the grey as the diagonal couching stitch. That shadows it nicely, I think.

I’ve only worked the trailing satin stitch edging at the back for about twice the distance I think will be visible. I believe there will be enough layers of fabric over the top, representing the clothes of the figures, that the trail won’t show through – but there is no point making life too difficult!

Planks On Side

Planks On Side

I want to give some suggestion of the planks making up the packing case, but the silk thread is too heavy for that purpose. Fortunately I have some stranded threads that match the silk very closely, and using one of each colour breaks it up, as does using back stitches.

I used quilter’s disappearing pen to sketch approximate planks. It disappears so quickly that sometimes I’d lost my guideline by the time I was half way across!

Packing Case

Packing Case

I used a slightly different technique on the top. I’ve laid two strands across on each plank-line, and then couched down each strand individually in a brick pattern, It creates a less spotty effect, and I am now wondering whether I should take out the backstitch and use this other technique instead.

I’ve done the trailing satin stitch on the back edge, because I am fairly sure about that, but the planking still leaves me in a quandary. Have I used the right technique? Do I need to do more, to differentiate shadow from sunlit? Dare I leave it as it is, put it in place, and add any other details later?

So I am now, once again, at the “Stare at it and think” stage.

11 Comments

  1. Lady Fi says:

    It’s really taking shape and looks good.

  2. Sue Jones says:

    The two-colour couching works very well. Just the right degree of woody texture. You might try running a few very-light coloured, very fine threads across the planks on the sunny top side, to lighten the surface. Irregular running stitch, to suggest roughness in the grain. I don’t think you want much grain on the left side, if any, and the near side is great as it is.

  3. elaine says:

    I like it, very realistic.

  4. Have you tried holding it up and looking at it in a mirror – I know it sounds strange but I do it with quilts, as it somehow gives you a different view!

  5. Carolyn says:

    Yes, the darker colour gives a better definition to the shape.

  6. Penny says:

    It looks wonderful! Your stitching has definitely caught the feeling of the crate.

  7. Andy LW says:

    I think you have now “knocked the nail on the crate” – it looks very realistic.

  8. Jillayne says:

    it’s really wonderful – I love the effect the two threads give, it was a great decision.

  9. karen says:

    this is amazing. I love how you have captured the 3D element of this with your very skilled use of threads….

  10. Terrie says:

    Reading your blog I got to know more about the techniques of stitching.

  11. Janice says:

    The stare at it and think stage can last much longer than the actual stitching, in my experience! You have definitely created a three-dimensional and realistic packing crate.