Still Life in Thread Last week, I was thinking spring but spring did not come.  Rather we had Snow Storm Barbara and consecutive days of more snow. So this week, I’ve decided to be still and just wait for spring. In being still, I decided to work on a still life drawing. I know I should arrange objects on a table and draw from reality but I always end up drawing from my imagination. If you’ll notice, curvy shapes, pots and jars are one of my favorite things to draw. So here is the composition I created in my sketchbook.

Here’s how I recreated this still life in thread

And here is a look at the back of the still life in thread sketch

And now, the video showing me stitching the “still life in thread”

Tips, Techniques and Tools

Still Life in Thread

1. You don’t need outlines to show the edges of the objects in your drawing.
2. You can use transition between threads to show edges
3. In order to create a soft edge, blend threads in adjacent areas into each other
4. Soft edges create unity in your piece. They are best used when working inside of a shape that is viewed as a whole.  For example on the surface of an apple, you’ll want to use soft edges. On the other hand, you’ll want to use a hard edge between the apple and the table on which it lies.
5. Blending thread colors involves stitching a little ways into your previous line of shading (watch the video to see this), that way you get a smooth transition
6. The key to blending threads in adjacent areas is to maintain the same direction in your stitches.
7. If your line of stitching is going in a horizontal direction, for example, to blend threads in an adjacent area, you need to maintain the same horizontal stitching.

I hope you find these tips helpful in your own work. As always, I can’t wait to read your comments and answer your questions. Warmest Regards,   Watch and read about the entire Stitch The Sketch series.