Crazy question about the white areas
Hello fellow stitchers! I am a reborn stitcher, meaning my mom taught me many years ago, and I have rekindled the love. This is my first scene that I am working on. I was just wondering if the white areas are to remain empty of colour, or if it should be stitched? There was no white floss given in the kit nor was it listed on the colour key legend. It just seems a little strange to me that all the rest is stitched and not the white areas. Help please, am I overthinking this? All the best stitching friends!
Posted by: t-scott on 12/14/16
In looking at the closeup picture, the white part of the clouds look un-stitched to me. I would probably add my own white floss, and stitch the clouds, if it was not provided. I think it might drive me crazy if I left the white un-stitched.
by: MarzHere on 12/14/16
t-scott:

Since this is a kit and the manufacturer didn't include white floss, I would assume they didn't stitch them. You sound as though you think you should stitch the white areas with white floss.

I totally agree you should stitch the white areas with white floss. I've used two patterns (WA state light houses) that have left large spaces of white unstitched. I wasn't comfortable leaving those areas unstitched. I decided to use my white floss to fill in those areas. I was happier with the end results. Besides, I have a lot of white floss in my collection of floss.

It's really your decision to make. Do what you're comfortable with and happy doing. Let us know what you decided.

I'm not an employee of ECS, just a stitcher who saw your question.

Diana
by: Lady D on 12/14/16
I agree with the other stitchers. Since this is a "scene", I do not think I would like to see the white part of it not stitched. That's just me....a Stitcher in the Chat Room!!
by: jerseycrafter on 12/15/16
I agree the white areas should be stitched. I would guess that if you had someone take a close-up look at the pattern, they would notice a difference in "depth" where the areas stitched meet the areas NOT stitched and maybe consider it incomplete, especially since the areas are white.
I've done some projects using Black fabric for the entire background (so I don't have to stitch tons of DMC 310) and other projects using a hand-dyed fabric for the background and only stitch the subject areas of the project without it being as obvious as when a white area is not stitched.

by: Bermuda on 12/16/16
Does anyone know if you can just buy the chart. I prefer to kit my own projects.
by: craftydorin on 07/04/17
I'm on the other side...just to confuse you. I've often had a sky that wasn't to be stitched in and by following the chart it gives another dimension to your picture. Why else would they leave it unstitched?

Wait to buy your white floss until you're finished.
by: MaryJoDenmark on 07/06/17
I agree with Marydenmark on this one. Leaving part of the design unstitched was not an accident by the designer. When you finish the stitched part of the pattern, you could stitch part of a cloud with white thread and then decide which you like better. I have a framed piece that I finished in 2001, and it has areas of sky and parts of a pond, including two swans, which are unstitched. The designer was Mary Barton and I can see that it strongly gives an effect of shading. If you leave those areas blank, you can always go back later and change it if you want.
by: luvtoxstitch on 07/11/17
After looking at the pattern in a much larger picture I would stitch in the white clouds even if they don't say so in the instructions. No more white than there is in the clouds I just don't think it would look right not being stitched. That is just what I would do.

I really like the pattern.
by: syagel on 07/11/17
I too would wait until you are finished, see the finished result then decide.
Welcome back to stitching.
by: Maryb on 07/11/17
Hi t-scott

I have to agree with everyone who says wait.

I think the whole thing comes down to matter of preference, but that will become clearer when you're finished with the design as it was created.

If the photo comes through, this design had no grass and no blue sky, but it just felt unfinished somehow, so I added it.

On the question of pattern or kit, I'm sure you can buy most patterns separately, unless it's already a manufacturers kit, but I love the fact that you can also purchase the patterns as complete kits here. And hopefully soon I will be able to add to my own "stash". 😃

To everyone here, I hope your summer is going well. I am posting less on this new board simply because apart from topic, I can no longer see who I am replying to! It makes things a little problematic, to say the least. I also found I'm not getting email alerts so I don't know who's replied to what. So if I don't reply to a post, please don't think me rude!

t-scott, a new rebirth, how exciting! I simply can't imagine a life without cross stitching. So happy for you!

Happy summer and happy stitching, everybody.

Fondly, Bluejay
by: Bluejay on 07/12/17