I was working in the lab late one night Part 2

Here's the second part of the baby vampire. The gradual filling.

HCC=Heavy Chain Stitch, SS=Satin Stitch, RC=Roumanian Couching, CS=Cretan Stitch, L&SSS=Long & Short Stitch Shading

The ears, eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, buttons, and cloak collar will be filled using the satin stitch. I suggest doing this first for a couple of reasons. First, I find it very easy to work around areas that have been filled with the satin stitch. There's almost no chance of catching bits of thread and snagging them since the satin stitch lies very flat. Second, it's the stitch that takes the longest to do. If you get it out of the way first when you're still fresh you're less likely to rush through it when you're so close to finishing and making a mess of it.




The eyebrows, eyes, nose, buttons, should be done in black. Make sure you have good light because otherwise it's going to be very difficult to see what you're doing. The mouth will also be done in black with the teeth obviously being done in white and the tongue in red. The ears will be done in white and the cloak color in a dark burgundy/wine color. I would suggest leaving the collar for last because although it's the largest area it's also going to be the easiest to do. I'm a big fan of getting the little fiddly stuff done first because you're more likely to pay attention and not make silly mistakes. The satin stitch is also fairly forgiving, so it's relaxing to start with that before moving on to couching, which is a less forgiving stitch.

The skin will be filled using Roumanian Couching in white. Roumanian Couching is a much smoother stitch than the Bokhara Couching used on the fish. I didn't want Laurence to have bumps all over his face because he's supposed to be a cute vampire. The most important thing to keep an eye on for the face is taking your time and working very carefully around the facial features. Fill in his hands, feet, and neck the same way.

Next, I suggest doing the hair, which will be filled using the heavy chain stitch in black. Decide where you're going to part his hair and draw that in using a charcoal pencil, because you're actually going to be able to work that in there using the stitch. The heavy chain stitch is quite raised compared to the satin stitch and Roumanian couching, so this will provide a nice three dimensional effect to the face.

After the skin is done move on to his clothes in the Cretan Stitch. Definitely take time mapping out the lines for this stitch. You don't want to get some good momentum going just to find out that you've literally sewed yourself into a corner and now you've got a franken-suit.

I've saved the most fun part for last. The Long and Short Stitch Shading of the cape! It's going to be gorgeous. I've been inspired. You see, I realized I had a slight problem with my original plan for doing the long and short stitch shading for the cape. This is my first time doing the long and short stitch shading, and the instructional video focused on an area about an inch long. The cape is a teensy bit longer than just an inch! Whatever shall we do? And then I had my epiphany. Just do a consistently repeating shading going from darker reds to lighter to darker to lighter until the end of the cape! It'll hopefully give an illusion of movement, but at the very least it'll draw the eye. In any case, it'll be a great opportunity for lots of practice. So let's get cracking!