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This was an attempt to use artist canvas to incorporate stitchery (embroidery) onto a painted canvas. This is the first of a series I am working on.

Photo 1. Painted with acrylic paint and stitched with Rainbow Gallery Bravo cotton thread using a # 20 needle. Multiple stitches mostly of woven types (better view of stitches in next photo) Art canvas 9.5 in X 7..5 in.

Photo 2. Close view showing L. to R. half hitch, twisted half hitch, long couching, over under weaving over 3 threads, couching, bullion and long stitches.

Photo 3. Back view showing canvas stapled to frame (commercial purchase already on frame) and threads pulled thru to back.

Lessons learned: Let paint dry at least a week. Use sharp needle and try not to pierce canvas until you are sure of the location, small white spots in canvas will peak thru. I would have been better off using a table clamp to secure the canvas but since it was small it was not too bad to work with. (All projects in this series will be on the 9.5 by 7.5 inch canvas) Tension can be tricky and doing the bullion was not great. I had forgotten how to do the stitch then the cotton thread with the wrong twist (S twist) did not like to behave! I learned the bullion stitch using Brazilian method. I will attempt this stitch again using Brazilian rayon thread and correct “Z” twist.

NOTE: just as in many types of stitchery around the world, Bullion stitch is done in different fibers and methods depending upon the country. Brazilian is the raised embroidery done with the “Z” twist rayon threads. In Australia, the more common “S” twist and everything from cotton to wool to silk is used with beautiful results. At a later point in my experimenting I will do a sampler of each type.