What's your favorite red?

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                    N E W S L E T T E R     April 28th 2008


Latest news: cross stitch and needlework patterns
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Dear stitchers,
Why is red such an appealing color for stitchers and designers alike? With Barbara Ana introducing her new Shaker pattern series, we decided to entirely focus this newsletter on red monochromes.
There is also a brand new section of red monochrome patterns on our website. Do check it out!
Happy stitching!

The Creative Poppy team

>> to see the what's new section directly on the website, click here.
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New Shaker Pattern series:
Barbara Ana has just introduced her new series of Shaker style cross stitch patterns. Intricate and skilfully designed they use a subtle combination of reds (DMC 321 and 815) that give the stitching extra depth.
 
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Red monochromes - No two reds alike
We would like to take you for a little tour of some beautiful red monochromes.  The variety of reds used is amazing.

Historically red has always been a stitcher's favorite. As early as the eighteenth century stitchers adopted Turkish red - or rouge d'Andrinople - because of its bright color and of the special dye process that made it colorfast, especially on cotton. Later it became known as "Rouge du Rhin" because of the red dyes that flowed into the Rhine river area after the dyeing process. Continuously produced in the same region of Alsace, the original color is still available in the DMC range as color 321. 

With stitchers never tiring of red, color ranges have been expanding and enriched ever since, with as many as 40 reds in some color ranges! Variegated, overdyed and multicolor threads have brought interesting effects, with subtle color changes every few stitches. Here's a little tour of our designers' selection.


This original sampler was stitched in Turkey red. When reproducing this sampler Muriel Brunet opted for the slightly darker DMC 498. This design comes with and extra matching "Rose wreath" design, that Muriel created herself and that incorporates either a rose or a miniature initial from the original alphabet, stitched one on one. For this exquisite pattern, Muriel suggests using the silk thread "Soie d'Alger" color 944 from the "Ver à Soie" range.

Annick Abrial loves colors so much that she developped her very own ranges of threads and fabrics "Fils et Toiles de Morphée". The poetess of stitching now has some of her patterns available in English. The right one goes: 
"She stitches her soul away
Drawing the scarlet thread,
Weaving in and out
The red letters of her heart"


Also finding inspiration in antique samplers, Dessins DHC offers many patterns with an authentic feel. These "initial" designs (with complete alphabet included) can be stitched in the "negative" or "positive" version and are here shown stitched with DMC 498.



Designs by Couleur d'étoile offer intricate heart patterns each with a special theme such as "My stitching room" that mixes roses with tiny scissors and other stitcher's treasures. She likes stitching them on linen, over one thread, and her pick of red is DMC 815.



Lili Soleil has a great collection of traditional style samplers featuring regional representations of homes such as this Black forest sampler. Here choice of red is DMC 304.




Marie-Anne Réthoret has always loved red monochrome designs. Recently she discovered DMC's Color Variations 4210 and it has become her favorite. It is actually a combination of four of DMC's reds (915,814,777,498) so the parts of the designs can be color coordinated with those solid colors. Of course, Marie-Anne's best selling "red monochrome biscornu" is stitched in that color.


Another biscornu, this time by Tam's Creation who specializes in Blackwork. Entirely stitched in backstitch, with an intricate lace-like pattern, this biscornu comes in a darker, brick red DMC 3777.





Hand dyed threads are also very popular. Melanie, the designer of Tom & Lily was one of the first to experiment with them. One of her favorite threads is from Atalie and comes under the pretty name of "Lie de vin".


There isn't room unfortunately for more. We can never tire of admiring works in red monochrome. The beauty of them is that you can pick your very own favorite thread and make your work unique.

>> Click here so see more red monochrome patterns

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That's all for now. Next time we'll be presenting some wedding patterns.

Happy stitching! See you soon on

www.creativepoppy.com