Stories with Stitch People
Jessica Savage gives a mini masterclass in how to design with accuracy and get those details right…
Hullo! ThemainquestionIget askedregardingdesigning patternsis–“howdidyoumake itsoaccurate?” SotodayIwill sharemytipformakingaccuratecross stitchrepresentationsofthingsand peoplethatyoucanutiliseinyourown patternendeavours!
Manyhavehadthosemomentswhen tryingtomakeacrossstitchpattern whereyoucan’tquitegetsomethingto lookright– whetherit’stheshapeofan object, thetiltofabuilding, orthe positioningofapersoninaStitch Peopleportrait.
Mybiggesttipforanyoneworking withthisstrugglesoundsvery obviousbut, sooften, ourbrainsgo intoautopilotandwedon’tdoit (myselfincluded!).
Thetipis: drawwhatyousee, not whatyouthinkyousee.
Soundsabsurd, yes? Ofcourse you’redrawingwhatyousee! Thehair goesacrosstheforehead, thetree standsstraightandtall, thedogis sittingunderthetree… Butwhereare thedog’slegs? Dotheysitbeneath himoraretheyouttotheside? Does herhairgoacrossherforeheadfrom theoppositesideofherface, orisit morefromthemiddle?
WheneverIgetstuckwitha pattern, Itrytolookpastmy assumptionsoftheimage– what mybrainthinksI’mseeing– and lookatwhatisactuallyinfrontof me. Ourbrainslovetoskimover detailsinfavourofefficiency. Ittells us,“we’veseenthisbefore, sowedon’t needtostudyitingreatdetail.” But whenyou’retryingtoreplicatewhat youseeinanartisticmedium, you needtoreigninyourbrain’stimesavingtendencies.
Forexample, ifI’mworkingonapose foraStitchPeopleportraitandIcan’t makeitwork, I’llfocusonwhatI’m actuallyseeing– thebendoftheelbow isinlinewithhiswaist, hishandis placedabovehiship, notonit. Bydoing thisyoucanspotdetailsthatmay otherwisegounnoticed. It’stheselittle detailsthatmakeapatternlookright. Andwhenyougetitjustright, people maynotknowwhatyou’vedonebut theycertainlyknowyou’vedoneitwell! Happystitching! Jess