My modern 3D cross stitch and needlepoint pattern is now available on Etsy!
This project is visually enticing, with rich colors that create a very cool 3D effect that your eyes will be drawn to again and again. It looks great framed and would also make a gorgeous throw pillow. Its three-dimensional effect is achieved through the use of some really vibrant, jewel tone colors.
This project was inspired by its older sibling, my English Paper Pieced (EPP) wall quilt. Here, you can see the two projects next to each other (and yes, the pattern of shapes and colors of the quilt and the needlepoint are exactly the same).
The quilt was mainly inspired by the works of graphic artist Matt W. Moore. I am absolutely enamored with his use of color and his eye for pattern. I was also inspired by my friend Diane Gilleland, who wrote the excellent book All Points Patchwork, a very useful guide to EPP.
In my designs, the colors determine the pattern and the pattern determines the colors. The whole design becomes a kind of iterative process until both pattern and colors balance out. For the quilt, I used all solids trying to maximize the three-dimensional effect. I started with a jelly roll of bright Kona solids, and then added fat quarters of deep purples, teal, jet black, and a ombre collection of royal blues.
You can see I certainly shied away from using many pastels. A few light pinks, blues, and greens worked fine but I tried a lemony yellow for some of the orange/yellow blocks and it was just too light to stand up to the other bright colors. In creating the needlework pattern, I was able to refine the colors a bit more, especially the series of celery greens. In the quilt these greens are a bit close in shade, where in my stitched example the three celery greens are more distinct.
I love this modern 3D cross stitch and needlepoint project with the colors I used and I’d also enjoy seeing it in other color combinations as well. I think a version in earth tones like rust, gold, brown, green, and red would be very striking.