Translate

Saturday 3 August 2019

The People Chose Monochrome



Regular followers will be aware that for over 3 years now I have run a themed SAL on the first Saturday of each month.  First we spent 26 months doing The Alphabet Club and then 12 months of the Zodiac.  Now I have decided to listen to the People and post about your choice of theme.  Each month I ask for suggestions on the blog and then make a poll in the IHSW Facebook Group from those suggestions.

August - Monochrome
September - Bees
October - Cats

Monochrome - a photograph or picture developed or executed in black and white or in varying tones of only one colour.

Something you find quite often in stitching although we usually go for the colour rather than black and white.  A monochrome design can be a fantastic way to use those hand-dyed fabrics and variegated threads.  For many people it's a chance to change colours for the first time without worrying whether they will co-ordinate, unlike a design with a wider range of colours.

My first monochrome was an unintentional stitch.  My Mum had started it but come to a halt, so after a year of not stitching it she offered it to me to finish.  I don't know who the desinger is, it came as a kit from a catalogue


The only issue I had with this was that my Mum stitches her xxx the opposite way to me, so I had to make sure I did the same!

I obviously enjoyed the experience because the next year I started a series of three I call "Blackwork in Purple" - DMC 3041 to be precise.



The first two were bought designs and the final was designed by myself using motifs from a library book of sampler motifs.


This is a nice example of using colour to create some interest in a simple design:


Now, one of the problems with monochrome designs is that they can be a little ... boring?  repetitive?  relentless?  That's how I felt about this design by A Mon Ami Pierre until I hit upon the idea of stitching it each evening while the Small Boy was in the bath!  This post shows the monthly progress photos back in 2014 - November WIPocalypse 2014



A Mon Ami Pierre- Noel Blanc

This worked so well I had another bath-time monochrome finish the following year:


Prairie Moon - Thine is the Trick and the Treat

It's not just samplers that make nice monochrome designs, many designers do some gorgeous silhouettes.  Passione Ricamo does a free fairy every June, of which I have stitched exactly one which I gave away!


I am realising how many designs I could show you!  So I will finish with this one, the fabric caused me no end of issues so I abandoned it and have plans to make a box surround out of what I have stitched so far:


While looking for the photo I found this collage - Orange and Black make a very striking contrast!


Now it's over to you. All you have to do is make a post on the theme of Monochrome, mention The People's Choice SAL (you can copy the picture I used at the top of this post and in my side bar) and my blog. Please link up using the URL of the actual blog post, not the home page of your blog. I look forward to seeing what you all post.

*

*

Finally, I need your suggestions for the next poll.  Any thing, no matter how obscure, weird or random will go into the poll.  Keep the theme suggestions to a single word or two - so you could have Cats, or Blue, or Holidays, or Warmth etc.  Really anything which could be illustrated in cross stitch.


Looking forward to reading them all!






16 comments:

Pamela said...

You have some great pieces. I especially like the alphabet sampler you designed.

Beth in IL said...

Thanks for hosting this! Turkeys? Animals? (A reason to start one of Plum Street Samplers animal stacks!)Quilts?

Rachel said...

I think you're right about monochrome being mainly associated with samplers, and you've done a lovely job proving that with your 3041 trio, although I do like the splash of colours in Noel Blanc.
I also think you must own the rights to the black on orange, judging by how many times you've used it that colour combination! Just perfect for Halloween. :)

jocondine said...

Your monochromes are very nice, glad to see again the black/red love freebie, simple idea for a great effect. Halloween charts are amazing in black, even more on orange fabric. xxx

Linda said...

All gorgeous projects Jo. I really like the orange and black.

Linda

Julie said...

So many lovely finishes you have shared for this months and a lot I remember watching grow.

Mary said...

You certainly have stitched your share of monochromatic pieces!! My favorite is the one your Mom started, I love all the Quaker motifs. The one benefit of stitching in one color is that it saves you time changing floss colors but I enjoy doing just that!! I'm looking forward to your Bee theme!! Mary

RJ said...

Your monochromes are so beautiful Jo. I especially love the first two. I'm curious which way do you cross your X's and which way does your Mum do it? As always, I enjoyed seeing so many lovely pieces. Hope you are having a wonderful week. My internet has been down so I'm just catching up with everyone. RJ@stitchingfriends

A Patchwork of Crafts said...

That was a fun read, thank you. I am trying to think of anything that I could share that has not already been on my blog that would fir the theme. Will get back to you if I do. As for suggestions for future peoples choice how about modes of transport or dragons (it would not be me if I did not suggest dragons) ducks, I like duck and could do with some motivation to get on with some duck patterns.

Katie said...

Linked up. Thanks for hosting. Love all your orange pieces. Great post!

Christine said...

Ha ha! I see what you did there with the header!
Lots of lovely monochrome pieces there. Great to see the White Christmas one again, I love that piece

Rhona said...

So many wonderful pieces!

Ariadne said...

Your monochromes are lovely. I wonder if I have ever stitched something monochromatic. I must have but can't find a photo. AriadnefromGreece!

beadgirl said...

Nice. The monochrome look can be quite striking.

Astrids dragon said...

So many beautiful pieces! I really love Noel Blanc and of course ALL the Halloween stitching!
How about fall colours or colourful stitching for November? And all things holiday or winter for December?

Leonore Winterer said...

Hah, I actually made it! I was surprised how little I have stitched that fit the bill, I thought there was more to show.