ASK63: Paisley Peacock
Description:
This unusual interpretation of a peacock is adapted from a Sri Lankan batik that I saw in the home of one of my son’s friends in Alexandria. This commercial artwork was purchased in Sheran’s native country and he was delighted with my interest in adapting it to needlepoint and using it as a teaching piece.
The original design source was altered somewhat to make it easier to interpret on 18-count canvas. I enlarged many of the individual “feathers” and widened the legs to create larger pattern areas, and I eliminated one of the tulip shapes along the lower side to make the design less crowded. Instead of adding all of the paisley details in the batik, I used busy patterns to achieve a similar effect.
The peacock’s head is charted to keep the elements symmetrical and uniform but all of the other elements are freely drawn. Most of the composite patterns are solid treatments but some are slightly open. Many of these are couching patterns and two of them are also beaded. The combinations of stitches used were carefully chosen so that any awkward compensation could be avoided along the curves. Some of the patterns are variations of traditional ones like Parisian and Alicia Lace but most of the fillings are original arrangements. All of the areas will be outlined in back stitches to assure that the curves will be smooth. These outlines will be whipped after the fillings are added to eliminate the dimples of the sinking holes. The final appearance will be more like Stem Outline.
THREADS. A variety of threads are used in this design. The basic staples are #5 and #8 pearl cotton, but additional novelty threads include silk and cotton floss, Petite Very Velvet, Petite Sparkle Rays, Burmilana, Neon Rays and three different Kreinik metallic braids.
This unusual interpretation of a peacock is adapted from a Sri Lankan batik that I saw in the home of one of my son’s friends in Alexandria. This commercial artwork was purchased in Sheran’s native country and he was delighted with my interest in adapting it to needlepoint and using it as a teaching piece.
The original design source was altered somewhat to make it easier to interpret on 18-count canvas. I enlarged many of the individual “feathers” and widened the legs to create larger pattern areas, and I eliminated one of the tulip shapes along the lower side to make the design less crowded. Instead of adding all of the paisley details in the batik, I used busy patterns to achieve a similar effect.
The peacock’s head is charted to keep the elements symmetrical and uniform but all of the other elements are freely drawn. Most of the composite patterns are solid treatments but some are slightly open. Many of these are couching patterns and two of them are also beaded. The combinations of stitches used were carefully chosen so that any awkward compensation could be avoided along the curves. Some of the patterns are variations of traditional ones like Parisian and Alicia Lace but most of the fillings are original arrangements. All of the areas will be outlined in back stitches to assure that the curves will be smooth. These outlines will be whipped after the fillings are added to eliminate the dimples of the sinking holes. The final appearance will be more like Stem Outline.
THREADS. A variety of threads are used in this design. The basic staples are #5 and #8 pearl cotton, but additional novelty threads include silk and cotton floss, Petite Very Velvet, Petite Sparkle Rays, Burmilana, Neon Rays and three different Kreinik metallic braids.