This site, Embroidery Methods.com, has an outstanding article with tips for finishing embroidery. While many of the tips are more applicable to embroidery on fabric than to needlepoint, it has some great advice
Monthly Archive:: November 2008
I haven’t been quite as busy this week with the site as I had hoped, but there are still many new pages available. There are two new free patterns pages: quilt-based geometrics , and specific needlepoint techniques. Several of these patterns have been intregrated into the existing directories as well. And lots of new thread information, including an article about dyelots in Caron Collection overdyes , and finishes in Kreinik metallics. There is also a new main section, Needlepoint Projects, which gathers material from throughout the site for people wanting to make particular projects. An article on measuring and making a footstool or seat cover are new there this week. I’ve got a bunch more stuff in the queue to add and some questions to answer, so stop back often to see what’s there
I designed this little ornament using leftover canvas (see the line?) and knitting yarn for a great site called Craft Leftovers. You can read about it and download the pattern on that blog. It’s a fin adaptation of a leaf quilt block and uses all straight stitches. Because it’s a diamond, it is easy to finish yourself. I stitched it in very leafy colors, but the design is abstract enough that it could be done in almost any color scheme. It also didn’t take long to do only a couple of hours. So sit back, grab your stash and the ends of your canvas and take a break from all the stitching you have to do
New at All about Needlepoint this week: Needlepoint Pattern Free Directory: Christmas (non ornaments) Halloween Holiday New Content Pages: Frog Stitch Directional Light Light in Threads (shiny and dull threads) Understanding value Finishing Tips Two small needlepoint alphabets New information is being added to All about Needlepoint all the time. There’s lots of content there and more being added all the time. If there is something you want to know, contact me (napaneedlepoint @ gmail.com – remove the spaces) and let me know. Now I’m off to do my Bargello class and maybe even fit in some work on my San Francisco heart
The first Stitch in Public Day has now become an annual event. Since February is National Embroidery Month, the EGA Board has designated the first Saturday as being Stitch in Public Day. The day is on a weekend do more stitchers who work can participate. Now, I know that in most of the country the weather in February is a bit bad for stitching outside, but don’t let this deter you. I don’t mean stitching in the park wearing gloves, but I do mean find places indoors where you can stitch in public. Think about stitching in the Mall on a Saturday afternoon, out in the center where everyone can see you. During the day last September, many groups stitched at bookstores and coffee shops, this is a perfect time to do that. We’ve got three months to plan events, you can look at the many postings for activities by
The Japanese are legendary for these completely amazing “magazines,” for lack of a better word, which glory in the cleverest craft ideas. You see things you hadn’t ever thought of, ideas for embroidery, cross stitch, temari, knitting, sewing, and dozens of other crafts, presented in a refreshing style. They have great pictures, which really show off the project, and lots of charts, diagrams, and graphs. The whole thing is in Japanese, but there is generally more than enough graphic information to figure it out. Today at CraftyPod, Sisten Diane, shows off an phenomenal book of Japanese plastic canvas projects. It’s amazing. There are so many good ideas here, the tote bag done as latch hook, those amazing bowls, and I love the cigarette case (make it as a cell phone holder?) and the tissue box is to die for. Now most of these projects use molded plastic canvas shapes not