The flash of a mermaid’s tail is all we see through the water’s depths. Where is she going? What was she doing? Only the mermaid knows her tale.
Teaching objectives:
- Learn to work within a line drawn canvas
- Interpret and compensate small stitch patterns
- Work with various materials to enhance the stitched project
Overdyed threads convey the changing colors of water in different levels. Students will trace the outline onto a hand painted canvas, then be guided through discovering a stitch path for each stitch. Stitches will be compensated to the edges of the outline.
Students will decide the shape and angle of the mermaid’s tail and complete the tail with round and shell sequins. Final embellishments of couched gimpe and single loop thread will complete their mermaid’s tale.
Stitches include stem stitch, diagonal mosaic, diagonal open gobelin, staggered cashmere, diagonal oblong cross, barred gobelin variation, diagonal mosaic variation, diagonal cashmere, diagonal Hungarian ground variation, open diagonal double Parisian, inverse diagonal mosaic variation, open diagonal mosaic, and couching.
| Duration | 2 day class for basic to intermediate stitchers |
|---|---|
| Kit Materials | 18 ct. mono deluxe canvas with a painted background; Painter's Threads 6 strand cotton floss, #8 pearl cotton, #8 and #4 braids, single loop rayon and gimpe; round sequins, shell sequins; size 22 tapestry needles and beading needle |
| Size | 8" x 8" on 18 ct canvas, 144 x 144 |
| Student Supplies | 2 pairs 14" stretcher bars with tacks or staples; scissors; laying tool; magnification and lighting if needed |