THE COUCHING STITCH CREATES AN EXQUISITE PRAIRIE STYLE MOTIF!  

We used the COUCHING STITCH to create this elegant Prairie Style motif…. designed and stitched exclusively for our NINETEENTH FREE VIVA ZIVA ! Newsletter #1916.

Subscribe now to ZIVA’s free newsletter ... to be released in May, 2016 and stitch our free glasses/cell phone case design, called “Prairie Ginkgo”.

WHAT IS THE PRAIRIE STYLE?

THE PRAIRIE SCHOOL, a late 19th and early 20th century architectural style, most common to the Midwestern United States, drew its inspiration from many influences prevalent at the time…namely:

• the design aesthetics of the Arts and Crafts Movement and
• the craze for Japanese designs in Europe

ITS CHARACTERISTICS

Simplicity and Discipline!

The works of the Prairie School architects were usually marked by horizontal lines, which were thought to evoke and relate to the native prairie landscape.

The window panels (photo above), with their linear geometric patterns suited the design philosophy of the Prairie style.

 

PRAIRIE STYLE MATERIALS AND COLOURS

Natural materials of wood, brick and stone were predominant and the number of materials was limited. For textiles, they chose a muted earthen palette of browns, warm greys, and wheat-tones for the background, accented by different greens, rusts, and reds… just as you would see when walking in the woods in autumn.

These colours harmonized with the natural materials of the building, providing a calm natural environment to delight the eye.

Go to ZIVA’s Prairie Style seat covers for more background on the Prairie Style Movement.

YOUR PRAIRIE STYLE FREE DESIGN….
YOUR CHOICE OF A GLASSES CASE
            OR CELL PHONE CASE               

THE DESIGN 

We’ve created an elegant Prairie Style free design of stylized Ginkgo stems and leaves with a classic Prairie Style geometric border for a glasses or cell phone case featuring two new stitches to learn…..

the Couching stitch and the Long and Short stitch.

The size of the case, as shown in the photo above, is 3.25” x 6.5” (approx. 8 cm x 16.5 cm) 

If you would like to see more Prairie Style designs, go to Prairie Style Cushions or Prairie Style seat benches.

COLOURS

We have slightly updated the colour palette from the classic colours of the Prairie Style earth tones, by accenting the central geometric pattern of the ginkgo stems in black to give it a more modern twist. If you are more of a purist, you could use a dark brown!

YARNS

A silk and wool thread (50/50) was used on the ginkgo leaves motif and 100% Wool tapestry yarn was used for the rest. The entire case could also be stitched in cotton, or all silk and wool, or all silk.

MAKING UP IDEAS:

• If  your glasses or cell phone are larger, you could add more rows of the red outside border
• Side gussets can be added to give the case more depth if needed
• You can also stitch it twice to create a case with the motif on both sides

  STITCHES USED

LONG AND SHORT STITCH:

The Long and Short stitch was used for all the ginkgo leaves to create a soft, irregular edge for the leaves, and also to create shading in white and light grey or two tones of red.

THE COUCHING STITCH: 

The Couching stitch creates a geometric pattern with the crisp, ‘bas relief’ clean lines I was looking for.  We used it only on the central stems but you could also use it on the dark green outline on the border motif as well.  

TENT STITCH:

The standard Basketweave Tent stitch was used on the rest of the case. But you could also choose a different stitch such a the Cross Stitch.

 Instructions for these new stitches are included in the next VIVA ZIVA! newsletter. 

VIVA ZIVA NEWSLETTER FEATURES

Full instructions and chart on how to create this free glasses/cell phone case design, are included in the next VIVA ZIVA! Newsletter.  

What’s also in the Newsletter: 

• The nineteenth VIVA ZIVA! Newsletter updates you about our latest paintings and a sneak preview of new designs to be added to the site in the summer of 2016!
• A needlepoint chart and instructions on how to do the Prairie Style motif
• A list of readily available yarn colours and the size and type of canvas to purchase.
• I also answer your FAQs and more!

 

Go to the Subscription Page for more detail about the newsletters.

OR YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE HERE!

 

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Go from this glasses/cell phone case design, featuring the couching stitch, and have a look at other free needlepoint designs included in VIVA ZIVA newsletters!

Go back to Ziva's Home Page for other designs from the ZIVA Collection.

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