I was working in the lab late one night part 3

Oh, baby vampire, I love you so. I especially love that I've accidentally sewed you a pimp cloak. You're so cool.

So yes, I've been working on the Long and Short Stitch Shading (L&SSS) for the past few days. It is remarkably relaxing. I was so worried at first, since this is my first time using it and all the examples I've seen of it are much smaller. The baby vampire's cape is about three inches long, but all the examples I've seen have been only an inch long. I think that L&SSS would have been an impossible obstacle for my anxiety if I wasn't treating it, for a couple of reasons. First, the aforementioned length problem. I can feel my brain trying to cripple me. It's screaming that the L&SSS should only be used for small areas and that no matter what I do I'm going to fail because I'm doing it wrong. Since I'm treating it I can use logic to shut that up. The videos I've watched and books I've read are tutorials; there's no reason that a tutorial would involve eight square inches of fabric. Since I'm treating the disorder I can actually use that to ignore the voice. Before, no matter how much logic I used the voice would win.

The second reason my disorder would be crippling me here is because I'm using it in a way the tutorials don't show. Instead of going from dark to light and stopping I'm repeating the pattern over and over again because the cape is so long. I chose to do this, but I can still hear that voice telling me that I'm violating some rule of L&SSS and therefore everyone will point and laugh at my poor baby vampire. I very well might be violating some rule of the stitch, but at this point I can put that to the side. I'm still learning and it's natural to make mistakes. I love that I can tell myself that and actually believe it as opposed to it not sticking at all.

I am happy the way it's turning out. L&SSS is probably the most challenging and time-consuming stitch I've done, if only because I have to switch thread so often. Keeping the stitches straight and the tension uniform is also a challenge. If things aren't consistent it starts to look a bit like a sneeze, which is not the effect I'm going for. I've had to start over a section or two because things were just going wonky, but that's life.

I like how the stitch looks. Compared to the padded Satin Stitch, L&SSS looks almost painted on since it lies flush against the fabric. So far it also looks great with the Portuguese Knotted Stem Stitch outline where the outline looks like fur edging or something. I like how relaxing it is to sew this stitch. It's very slow, so it's easy to get into a rhythm and just go with it. I also like how the multiple colors really pop next to the monochromatic baby vampire. I also like how it make the padded Satin Stitch look more luxurious. All in all, I'm glad with the way this is going.


Even if my baby vampire ends up with a pimp cloak.

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!