Originally posted 2007-10-13 08:35:02. Republished by Blog Post PromoterI know lots of needlepointers and I’d say that Straight Stitches tend to be more of a problem for then than any other stitches. They shouldn’t be. They offer some tremendous possibilities in needlepoint and there are easy ways to overcome most dificulties. For myself, I love Straight Stitches, and use them often. In writing stitch guides it can be a real challenge to me not to use any Straight Sttitches. So why are they so great? First, Straight Stitches allow you to get straight diagonal lines. With a diagonal stitch you get an irregular edge, because stitches will go into two different diagonal rows of holes. With Straight Stitches you go up a single diagonal row of holes getting a clean edge. Second, Straight Stitches allow you to get rounded shapes easily. Take a simple Straight Stitch, like Hungarian, and double
Monthly Archive:: January 2010
Originally posted 2008-09-08 05:54:04. Republished by Blog Post PromoterThe first of my eBooks to be published (out late this month) will be a collection of 50 quilt blocks charted for either cross stitch or needlepoint. The blocks are charted simply and range in size from 15×15 to 24×24. You can stitch them just as they are or substitute other stitches for each square of the chart. To inspire your creativity and to show you just how flexible these blocks can be, I let the modelstitchers loose on them, giving them no instruction, no colors, and asking them to do what they liked. One of them, Jan Sprague, just posted two of her blocks on her blog. They are really cool. The top one, Alaska Homestead, is pretty much stitched as charted, with one Tent Stitch per square on the chart. I just love the way she used overdyes on this.
When we think about challenges in needlepoint, we don’t often think that a limited set of colors is a problem. At least it’s not high on my list. Way too much background? That’s there. Odd shapes where there will be lots of compensation? That’s there. Too many tiny little spaces where the temptation to use Tent Stitch is great? That’s there too. One difference between modern needlepoint and the needlepoint of the 70′s is that today we expect to have variety in our pieces. This comes from different stitches, threads and colors. Our needlepoint doesn’t look flat. Restricted color palettes, especially if there isn’t lots of room for textured stitches can look flat and dull. There is an easy way to fix this. Use threads with more than one texture in those colors. For example, if your borders are in stranded silk, a relatively matte thread, use perle cotton and
Originally posted 2007-02-20 14:58:07. Republished by Blog Post Promoter Isn’t it just too adorable? This is the finished FAS-Stitch pendant. As you can see from the picture, the end result is elegant and striking. And it couldn’t be easier to do. You buy a kit or the finishing at your LNS. Included in the kit is an order form and an pre-addressed envelope. You stitch the canvas and send it to FAS-Stitch in the envelope. You pick whether you want a leather cord (it comes in several colors) or sterling silver wire. You also pick the length. For an extra fee you can get the pendant in gold. About two weeks later it comes back to you in a jewelry box. So it’s ready to wrap and go. Because the pendant is made from aluminum, it’s lightweight. My DD, who gets this one, is just too excited about wearing it
My friend Diane over at Crafty Pod has a love for plastic canvas. She’s made many remarkable projects from it, buys vintage and Japanese books on it looking for ideas, and generally lifts this material from the realm of church-bazaar crafts to something fun, bright, and hip. There are two tremendous virtues to plastic canvas that are showcased well in Diane’s pieces. First, since it’s rigid, you can use it to make useful things, like this box, and finish them yourself. Second, because the mesh size is large, plastic canvas projects are quick to stitch. Because there are so many wonderful knitting yarns out there, your project can be made in bright colors and the natural fibers we’re used to as needlepointers. Diane’s box tutorial over at CRAFT magazine is simply marvelous. She begins by explaining how to measure items and size your box. Then she goes on to talk
Originally posted 2008-03-27 05:03:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter I’m in the midst of updating the services and products I offer to stitchers through my website, Napa Needlepoint. You can expect to see some big changes in the next few months. One great way to keep informed of these changes is to subscribe to the site’s mailing list (new). Subscribers to the list will not only be the first to hear about the new services, they will also get free gifts and special offers from me. As a thank you gift for subscribing, you will get a new stitch guide for this delightful stitch sampler ornament, done using a Jody Designs canvas. It is a great exploration of threads and stitches. It has never before been offered in print. This guide has the same features of my other stitch guides, including diagrams of stitches, a color cover, and a separate
Lots of new colors out in threads at the TNNA Needlework Market, which opens in Long Beach this morning. Kreinik is coming out with a brand new series of threads in 16 shades, holographic colors (pictured above). It is a multi-colored, multi-dimensional thread that can change with the light. They have “L” after the color number and will be available in blending filament, #8 & #12 braid, and 1/16″ & 1/8″ ribbon. The color are: silver, gold, red, black, pink, lavender, lime, copper, mocha, fuchsia, purple, berry, orange, blue and royal. Fleur de Paris’ lovely crewel weight wool, Bella Lusso, has 15 new colors, available in both skeins and hanks. Rainbow Gallery has new threads in several lines. For 13 count, there are 15 new colors of Silk Lame Braid, 2 news colors of Neon Rays, 7 new colors of Neon Rays Plus, and a news hologram Fyre Werks. For
Personal, or birthday, plaids are a unique way to make a needlework accessory for yourself or as a gift. As part of Counted Wishes, beginning Feb. 1 I will be teaching a Cyberclass on making these plaids as a wallet insert. The class can be done in needlepoint or cross stitch (the cross stitch insert is pictured above). In the three-lesson class you will learn how to create your plaid and arrange colors for it, how to design the plaid, stitching the plaid, and how to finish it easily to fit into a wallet. This delightful class is only $20. and will include a free ebook copy of my popular project pack, Birthday Plaid Mini-sock (value $10). You can register for the class via PayPal. All registrants will be added to a private Yahoo group for the class