Thursday, March 18, 2010

The Police Sign and Slanting Lines

I'm making good progress on the Tardis now.  Last night saw me outline the Police Box sign on the front top of the Tardis by stitching long stitches over my perle cotton with my floss.  Then I filled in the sign center with tent stitches using my perle cotton.  I will add the letters on top of this later.  I plan to alternate working out the roof of the Tardis with filling in the exterior walls.

After a lot of experimentation with various stitches that Tony Minieri recommended in his Needlepoint Now articles on stitching architectural elements, I decided that Interlocking Goblein (over three threads) works best to cover the black canvas and give me a smooth wall.  I have started this stitch on the right door piece and will work my way down the door while I figure out how to stitch the top of the Tardis.

I want to point out two areas of the Tardis that are problems because I choose to work a three-quarters turned view of it instead of just a straight on view.  See how the police sign on the front has drops to the top periodically?  I can't do a slanted sign (which the correct perspective requires) in the stitch I've chosen that is smooth.  I have to drop down a thread periodically.

The other problem area is the base of the Tardis.  Again, I can't do a slanted padded line well because of the stitch I've chosen.

I could have avoided this by choosing a head-on view.  If this sort of thing bothers you, don't stitch your buildings or architectural elements any way except straight on.  Or choose another stitch that does slants better.  But really, all I need to do is convey the idea of a Tardis.  It doesn't have to be perfect and I know better how to do the next building more realistically after stitching this.

No problem is just an error--it is an opportunity to learn.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow