Originally posted 2006-04-26 07:24:36. Republished by Blog Post PromoterOn Sundays, I take a break from all the stitching I do for models, for stitch guides and for commissions and stitch for me. I started to do this because I rememebred my grandmother’s “no sewing on Sundays” rule. She was head of an alterations department at a swank dress shop, so sewing was her work. But since she was never idle, on Sundays she knitted or crocheted. So I’m doing sort of the same thing. I’m working on pieces from my stash, which is growing again since my recent eBay binge. I started doing this back in February and have finished three pieces and am working on three others. Today I worked on my son’s (three years late) graduation ornament, a Kathy Schenkel nutcracker. And started a graduation cap ornament for my youngest daughter. I’m going to rip everything out and
Monthly Archive:: May 2010
Originally posted 2009-05-06 08:28:57. Republished by Blog Post Promoter With these two blocks you have all the patterns you need to stitch the blocks for the mod Sampler. I didn’t have time today to stitch more than three blocks, but, as you can see, this completes two rows of the quilt. I’ll update you with a picture of the completed blocks towards the end of the month. This block, which is split vertically down the middle is stitched in Giant Diagonal Cashmere. Diagonal Cashmere is a fun stitch where two Cashmere Stitches share the shortest stitch. In making these blocks each side should be stitched exactly the same. The final block can be found as the last block in the second row. It is another version of Log Cabin (second block in top row). This one has top and bottom “logs’ longer than the side “logs.” It is called Courthouse
Originally posted 2008-12-16 20:24:44. Republished by Blog Post PromoterHave you ever been a Needlepoint Numpty? I love this term, it so perfectly expresses that state of being brain dead when it comes to your needlepoint. I just learned it today in this wonderful post from the blog Block-a-Day. She’s working on a needlepoint cushion for Christmas (it’s a delightful design) and numptiness has overcome her, particularly in doing the background. You’ll love her rules and sympathize with her predicament
Here’s a great idea for a quick contemporary needlepoint rug. It was designed by Karen Barbe and complete instructions for the rug are on her blog. The key is to use rug canvas (if you can’t find it, try latch hook canvas). Ad you’ll need a bulky, hand-wearing yarn. A single stitch, leaf in this case, is used throughout. You could also use the same materials and pattern to make a floor pillow. You can use any bold, highly textured stitch on rug canvas to make a fast and easy project. I used Norwich Stitch, an ANG stitch of the month) and three shades of rug wool to make a bold pillow. You can do the same. And remember if it’s 7 mesh rug canvas a 12″ pillow is the same number of intersection as a 4 2/3″ inch piece on 18 mesh. Thanks and a shout out to Denise
Have odds and ends of threads sitting around? Looking for some great free projects to use them up? Look no further than Cheryl Fall’s great stash-busting projects on About.com The delightful thing about these projects is that buy using little bits of many colors, they are a great way to use up your odds and ends of threads. There is lots of variety in the projects, from quilt designs (top) to these charming cupcakes. Since I’m thinking I need to do a Scrap Bag Project, I have the delightful task of deciding which on to pick
A recent entry on Rittenhouse Needlepoint‘s Stitch of the Week was Medieval Mosaic (pictured above). One of my favorite stitches. It took me a bit to get the hang of this stitch, but once I did it became one of my favorites. The stitch is made entirely from straight stitches, four long ones, followed by four short. The tricky thing is that they move in a zig-zag line. I finally figured it out when I isolated one column, stitched it and then moved to the next. This gives the stitch a neat diagonal feeling, which I exploited for the border of this Tink Boord-Dill tile. Notice how the vertical and horizontal sides have a different feel
Originally posted 2009-05-12 06:01:08. Republished by Blog Post PromoterMy studio is full of books. I think I buy every needlepoint book that comes out. I am always looking for “oldies but goodies” at guild auctions and library sales. I’m also one of those people who forget what books I have and so I buy them again. As a result, this site has lots of book reviews. This Let’s Get Post is a master list of the book reviews so far. Whenever I write a new review it will always be listed in the category “book reviews.” You can also find them easily that way. Bargello Books Bargello Christmas Medallions Best Bargello Book Creating Contemporary Bargello Project & Chart Books Folk Art Needlepoint The Needlepoint Belt Series Keeping the Faith Here Be Drolleries My Point Exactly Miniature Embroidered Patchwork Here Be Wyverns Exotic Textiles in Needlepoint From Molehill to Mountain Celtic
Originally posted 2006-12-06 07:28:14. Republished by Blog Post PromoterRight now sitting on my desk are lots of Christmas ornaments. One of them, Petei’s Alice in Wonderland, could be a stand-up except for one thing – I can’t hide the hanger. But finisher Susan Thompson has developed a unique solution for this problem. Her small stand-ups can double as ornaments, or is it that her ornaments can double as stand-ups? Anyhow, the back of the ornament has a button attached to it. When it’s not Christmas, you can hide the hanger by looping it onto the button. It’s just the coolest idea!
You may have heard of “Pimp your Ride” but “Pimp your Needlepoint????” No thank you. But the idea of taking something utilitarian and everyday and fixing it up into something that’s unique and yours. I can stand behind that. With this post I’m starting an occasional series of projects designed to do just that, create little, lovely things that will give you another bit of beauty in your life. They may be original projects or they may be ones I find around the web, but all will be both beautiful AND useful. The first entry is from my friend Kristen of Craft Leftovers. All April she showcased projects using items in her stash. This one is for covered buttons using scraps of fabric, made into magnets. If you are handy, you could also do tiny bits of embroidery on fabric (not canvas, it’s too stiff). To turn them into stitcher’s
Originally posted 2003-04-23 06:25:40. Republished by Blog Post PromoterKathy Schenkel is one of my favorite designers, I didn’t know it, but I instinctively have picked her pieces when I wanted to buy myself something special to stitch. Her line encompasses a variety of totally addictive designs, including ornaments finished as 3-D rolls (I’m making a graduation one of these for my son), cubes (I’ve got a sheep one of these, pictures, mini-socks (a cow for me), and my new addiction, a series of “drink” coasters. You’ll love her designs too. Here’s a look, in her own words, into her designer’s world. How did you get started designing? I started designing needlepoint canvases after I had my children. I was looking for a way to continue working and be with them at the same time. I have an education (B.A. and M.F.A.) and work experience in the field of Graphic Design,
Thanks and a tip of the hat to Denise at Craft Gossip for alerting me to these charming animals samplers from Aliola. There are links to the entire collection. I just love the folk art, almost primative style of them. I can see them done as a set in a rough thread, maybe Pebbly Perle, linen, or Wildflowers and used as the basis to decorate a nursery or child’s room. Aliola’s blog is in Russian, as are the names of the animals on the charts. but this just adds to their charm
Originally posted 2008-12-21 15:34:34. Republished by Blog Post PromoterJudy updated her delightful Four Way Bargello I wrote about yesterday with two more posts. On the FREEBIES,Etc. blog there is a post showing the completed border and talking about her plans for the spring versions. I also think she has the best advice ever for doing Four Way Bargello, mark out the diagonals with a pen on your canvas. Turning the pattern on the diagonal and having them line up properly is, I think, the hardest thing about Four Way Bargello, I’ll be starting a new Four Way ornament in a couple of weeks (after I get this pile of deadlines complete and I’m going to do this. Her blog POSSIBILITES, Etc. has a post showing the completed ornament and talking about an alternative for finishing
Last week’s stitch of the week from Rittenhouse Needlepoint is one of my favorites, Arrowhead. It’s a variation of Scotch Stitch where half the stitch is made up of Tent Stitches. Big Deal you say? But there is more to this stitch than that. The middle stitch in the longest row of Tent Stitches is done in the same color as the other half of the Scotch, with the other Tent Stitches being “background,” making little arrowheads. You can make this bold or subtle, making it a great stitch for needlepoint
Originally posted 2009-01-17 18:36:05. Republished by Blog Post PromoterJohn Young created this Pod Post Twinchy himself, using what he calls the “bottom up” method of turning pictures into needlepoint. Here’s how he describes the process: ” I prefer going the “bottom up” way, using a pixel-art program like Pixen (for the mac) or GraphicsGale (for windows). I like to start with a document that’s the same number of pixels wide as the thread count of the finished canvas, then build up the design using a pencil tool, zoomed WAY in.” The design has four layers in the program, one for each color. While you visit this picture, take a look at the finished stitching
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