Sunday, May 22, 2011

More Cat Topiary Garden Background Threads

Robin commented that hearing about possible background threads for the cat topiary garden was almost like a scavenger hunt!  LOL

So here are more possibilities I found in my stash, and the reasons I rejected them.  Remember, these are for the background trees which I plan to stitch in light coverage stitches so that the painted background will show.  I'm not looking for thread matches to all the paint colors, just a medium light value to cover all the trees.

Rainbow Gallery Grandeur (#5 silk perle) in color G870 - this is a perfect match to the Rainbow Gallery Splendor 870 which I am using myself.  However, it's a silk perle, and floss-type threads will allow more of the paint to show.  If you are working the 13 count version of this design and you have this in your stash, you might try it and see what you think.

Needlepaints colors 2101, 2102, 2103 and 2104 - This is a limited edition line of 100 percent Egyptian cotton floss from Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum of Lavender and Lace.  She dyed a range of purples and "robin's egg blues" for some of her designs and I picked up one of each as they became available.  Of the colors above, the lighest 2101 would work well in the background although if you were completely covering all the trees with stitches in different threads, several other colors would work.

Six Strand Sweets' "Spice Drop" is a little dark for what I plan but if you have this in your stash and don't mind your garden being slightly darker, then use this.

Likewise, Crescent Colours' "Caribbean Waters" is a little dark but if this is what you have, it'll work.  This is an overdyed thread with several shades of the same color, until Six Strand Sweet's floss which is one shade.

Needlepoint Inc's silk floss in the "Jade range 523."  This is slightly darker, grayer and greener than the Splendor silk floss I choose but it will work.

Silk 'N Colors silk floss in the very beautiful "Japanese Sea 306" which is bluer and darker than my Splendor. This is an overdyed thread in several subtle shades of the same color.  I think it is a tad too blue (most of the background is trees, not sky) but it is a gorgeous shade.

Caron's Soie Cristale silk floss in color 8092.  This is also darker and bluer than my Splendor.  It is very similar to the Silk 'N Colors but is a solid color, not tones of one color like Japanese Sea 306 is.

Needle Necessities' Empress Silks in C32.  This discontinued silk floss is lovely but a bit difficult to work with as it is flat silk.  The color is darker and bluer than my Splendor.  It will provide the best shine of any of the threads I've considered, however.

Needle Necessities' overdyed floss "Bali Hai 135."  This is a medium dark teal/dark gray-blue/light teal green mix, probably too dark for the top of the sky but if you want to change colors as the background darkens, it is a good choice, especially if you went with one of the DMC Variation overdyed cotton flosses for the lighter background at the top of the design.  This is a discontinued thread but you can substitute ThreadworX's "1053 Dreamscape."

I hope this gives everyone who plans to stitch along with me plenty of choices so that no one has to spend a lot of money on thread but can either pick up a fairly inexpensive and easily available DMC overdye or use something from their stash.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

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