Nuts about Needlepoint » charts in needlepoint

What Kind of Needlepoint Club Would You Like to See? (now revised)

Janet Perry — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:07:45 +0000

I’ve been thinking about offering a monthly needlepoint club for 2011 but I’m torn about what to do and I’d like you to help me decide by participating in this poll.

My plan is to offer one project per month. The packet will include line-drawn canvas, instructions and, possibly, threads (I’m still debating that one).

One aspect of the club will be color, and it’s use in needlepoint. Each of the color schemes I use will be explored in two of the projects. You’ll not only see the scheme in use, you’ll learn about it and get ideas for how to make this type of color scheme on your own.

Now to the choices:

Little Bargello Treasures – An eclectic mix of Bargello projects, including cupcakes, items for personal accessories, and other shapes filled with Bargello. The emphasis in this will be on different types of Bargello patterns.

Exploring Threads – These will be designs of various kinds in 3″ round ornaments. The emphasis here will be on learning about different types of threads, including some traditionally not used for needlepoint. And on picking the right thread (and stitch) to depict many types of items. The designs will be in rounds, but not holiday-oriented. The 3″ round can be used in many of the Lee and Stirling items, so you can finish them yourself.

Stitches and Quilt Blocks — The endlessly fascinating world of needlepoint stitches will be explored using quilt blocks for each of the programs. Quilt blocks have the advantage of requiring little compensation, so you can learn the stitch, and are an easy way to explore color.

The poll wasn’t working, so I removed the poll. Just let me know in the comments.

Design Celtic Knotwork for Stitching on your Computer

Janet Perry — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:15:31 +0000

Celtic knotwork and interlacing is so lovely and complex. It always makes for lovely designs. But charting it from scratch can be tedious and time-consuming. Trolling around the web Thursday I came upon a totally cool product — a program of knotwork already charted on a grid.

That means from your computer you can just type and create the pattern. You can find (and buy) the product, Charted Grid Style Set, just past halfway at Highland Creative Stamps. While there take a look at their other sets which create knotwork in other crafts and media. Right below it there is another charted font, this one for diagonal or rectangular grids. This could be used as well as long as you use rectangular-shaped stitches.

If you want to see examples (other than the one at the beginning of the article) made from patterns created from this font, look at their companion site, The Celtic Knot Font. The picture is of machine embroidery, but think how cool this would be in needlepoint! Or what about this amazing needlepoint box top by Maria Lee, below?

There you can find examples and links to companies selling charts based on this work, tutorials both on using the software and on designing knots, a gallery of designs, and a network of people designing with the software. I’m enchanted.

I’ve already bought mine.

Orna Willis – Sale & Giveaway

Janet Perry — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:03:34 +0000

This news is so big I had to share it right away, Orna Willis is having a sale. She’s calling it a Mishmash sale and everything is at a really deep discount.

Designs available include:

Taltul, now $8
Gibor, now $18
A Summer Drink, now $14
Kanya Cuff, now $14 (pictured above)
To Life, now $14
Magen and Marom, now $10
A Year in Cards, now $12
Window in the Old City, now $20
Hod and Hadar, now $10
Making Memories, now $20 (this includes the instruction book and one album, she only has four albums left.

Please note that this sale only covers the instruction books, not kits.

And if your fingers aren’tg itching already to get shopping she is also having a giveaway of an Ultrasuede needlepouch, pictured above. To enter, just leave a comment on her blog. The winner will be announced Monday.

Blackwork Accessories Class

Janet Perry — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:02:37 +0000

Learn how to create shading in Blackwork with this checkbook cover

Blackwork can be done on any countable ground, linen, needlepoint canvas, or evenweave fabric. It’s historic, easy and fresh.

In my new on-line class, beginning, August 1 (that’s in less than 2 weeks), you’ll learn Blackwork, whether on fabric or canvas, while making three charming accessories: a change purse, pictured above, a checkbook cover, and a photo album inset.

The class is done via email and Yahoo group, so you can take it at your own pace. You’ll pick your own fabric and thread, so the finished projects will be unique. In the Yahoo group there will be several bonus patterns created for the class.

In the class you’ll learn:

history of Blackwork
how to select the correct thread for Blackwork
methods for stitching Blackwork on different types of grounds
techniques for using overdyed and hand-dyed threads
three methods to transfer designs
shading
different types of fill patterns
Blackwork borders

The class is only $20. Participants will get all lessons, bonus patterns, and instructions in the Yahoo group and an opportunity to buy discounted ebook versions of my book, Blackwork Beauties, packed with more projects and patterns.

You can sign up for the class today using the button below:

Missoni Bargello Pillow – High Fashion Inspirations

Janet Perry — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:47:06 +0000

The knitwear of the Italian fashion house Missoni, is always one that is a wonderful springboard to needlepoint. Because they design knits and are renowned for their zigzag patterns and bold color choices, often you can use high fashion pieces as the starting point for needlepoint, especially for Bargello.

My recent free pattern for The Caron Collection is a wallet insert with colors taken from a Missoni pillow that used a similar zigzag pattern.

Although I’m too swamped to stitch it now, this Missoni purse from 2004 is a Bargello pattern that is easy to do.

It’s a shallow scallop pattern. The purse, a clutch bag, uses many different colors. Instead of trying to reproduce it exactly, I would pick 10-12 solid colors in one thread, I’m thinking Silk & Ivory or wool, and put them into a paper bag.

For each new row, pick out a color from the bag. Put it back when you have finished the row and pick another color. If you pick the same color, put it back and pick again.

Otherwise anything goes.

Once I get caught up, I’m going to do it as an insert to a Stirling tote in my stash.

The result will be something as unique as you are and for a fraction the price of the original.

Amy Wolfson – Designer Profile

Janet Perry — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:34:12 +0000

Originally posted 2004-07-17 22:12:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

1. How did you get the idea for Rhapsody and Romance?

Though I am not a quilter, I love the color patterns quilters achieve using fabric. I worked to at find a way of adapting a quilting pattern intoneedlepoint.

2. Part of what I love about stitching these is the way they are so geometric. How did you figure out the lines of the curves you wanted to do?

I first had to decide what size blocks I was going to use in the design. I first decided that each column would be 6 canvas threads wide and that I would need 20 of them. I then decided on the four different lengths. Thus, I came up with blocks measuring 3×6; 6×6; 9×6; and 12×6 canvas threads.

I then decided on the 10 skeins of Watercolours each having different degrees of dark and light. Five of the skeins had little variegation of color and were used for the flat stitches. The other 5 had greater variegation and were used for the pattern stitches creating the mottledeffect of quilting fabric.

The curves are created by working several color paths, from the top of the canvas, diagonally back and forth to the bottom. Then work the partial ones that ended at the margins.

3. Another thing which is so fun (and unusual) is the way the colors in the threads create a pattern of color. But I have always found it difficult to do things like that with Watercolours. What did you do to find this progression?

I use Watercolours for a lot of my designs because of its subtleness.

I think my construction sequence of the pattern stitches creates the smooth progression of color.

Example: When I work cross stitches at the same time, I will complete each one before going on to the next one. This keeps the colors closer together. If I were to complete all the half crosses first and then go back, the color difference between the first half
cross and its completion would be greater thus creating a mishmash of color.

4. Are there more patterns like this coming?

As far as Rhapsody and Romance, nothing is on the horizon. I actually did Romance as a companion piece to Rhapsody due to many requests. BUT, I have another piece called Bouquet. It is also done with a lettered and numbered grid. The grid measures 14 squares wide by 14 squares long. Each square measures 12 canvas threads by 12 canvas threads. I have included charts for 42 new pattern stitches. It may be worked on either congress cloth or 18 ct. canvas. This is a great piece to use up your stash of left over
threads. I give suggestions for what threads are good to use.

This will not be available for purchase until January 2005. It is being piloted in October by Arizona’s Saguaro Stitchers.

5. Amybear’s Adventure seems to take the ideas in these two pieces and expand them into a more individual design, can you let our readers know more about how they can use this book as a springboard to their own designs?

I am REALLY excited about this workbook and it is available now. This book reaches the beginning stitcher and challenges the advanced one. I have included all the stitches from both Rhapsody and Romance and written step by step instructions to create an original design. For those who don’t feel brave enough to work their own, I have stitched a model that can be reproduced. For the intermediate stitcher, I have supplied a set of design
templates. Stitchers select a template, and go to the back of the book to choose the stitches patterns they will use to complete the design. For the challenged stitcher, I have included pages that have labeled blocks (same size blocks as used in Rhapsody and
Romance) that may be cut out and manipulated into a design template, then glued in place. The stitcher then goes to the back of the book and selects the stitches to complete the design. I have also included graph paper with the same size block for the stitcher who has a stitch pattern idea of their own. This can be drawn on the gird. This is another “stash” project. Bring your stash and trade with others. This is a GREAT workshop or sit-and-stitch party. Also at the back of the book, I have included the designs that were completed by my pilot group. They really had a great time!!!

Ruth Dilts – Needlepoint Designer Extraordinaire

Janet Perry — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:53:17 +0000

Sara, from The Scarlet Quince has a phenominal interview with Ruth Dilts on her blog. They have a lovely selection of Ruth’s charts in their on-line store and have a special going on. It is of Sunrise, pictured above, available as a chart or as a complete kit, based on your selection of Watercolours. It’s on page 3 of the Rith Dilts charts at the shop.

You may know Ruth from her wonderful books, Needlepoint 101 and Needlepoint 202, the best books out there on stitch guides. You may have also stitched some of her wonderful charted canvas designs, available from Rainbow Gallery (find them by looking for needlepoint and the term “Ruth Dilts” on the search page) and on her own site. She has a series I just love of quilt blocks and my favorite of all is her Alexanderia ball, with its lovely plaid (pictured above).

I love the many stitches and techniques (especially Bargello) shown off in so many of her pieces. Every time I look at her designs, I see another one I want to do.

Quilt Square free needlepoint chart by Ruth Dilts from Rainbow Gallery

You can get a taste of Ruth’s work in Quilt Square, pictured above, a free needlepoint design from Rainbow Galery.

Tiny Treasures – Product Review

Janet Perry — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:53:56 +0000

You want to be more spontaneous in your needlepoint. You’d like to feel comfortable picking color schemes, mixing threads, and trying new ideas. But when it comes down to it, you seem always to pick the same colors and the same threads.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a way to venture out in exploring colors and threads that didn’t involve using an expensive hand painted canvas needlepoint from your stash?

Ideally it would be something easy and small to stitch. Something charted to save on costs, something that has lots of options, and something with more than one design.

I think I found it ins The Caron Collection’s chart pack, Tiny Treasures.

I bought it to stitch something to try out Sundberry’s mini box, and I was delighted to find that it is so much more. The chart pack has eight little designs, all geometrics, ranging in difficulty from something that could be a first project to ones with five different stitches. Even these could be done by a beginner.

The projects are small, under 2″ square, and use from 2 to 6 threads. None of them use much thread, so they are perfect for scrap bag or stash projects. Are you thinking about a color scheme for a larger project and wondering if it will work?

Try one of these projects. You can test it out by making something that only takes a few hours to stitch. And you’ll know if it works.

The instructions are clear, most only taking a page. The diagrams are large. There’s plenty of options for doing your own variations. I like it that the threads for all the projects are summarized on one page, but that such a variety of threads is used that I can feel good about making my own color and thread choices.

This is a great project pack, one that should be in your stash.

Joy of Counted Canvas

Janet Perry — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:49:50 +0000

Get on over to Mary Corbet’s site where she has a delightful guest post by Sara Leigh Merrey about counted canvaswork. It’s simply delightful and you’ll love the close up pictures of the projects as Sara tells her tale.

Then you can follow more of her stitching adventures in her blog, Confessions of a Remedial Stitcher, and see her on-line store, The Scarlet Thread.

On her blog she’s stitching Florentine Fancywork, an ANG Correspondence Course. ANG’s CyberPointers chapter is currently having registrations (through August 22, 2010) for this lovely project. You have to be an ANG and chapter member to take the class.

And if you want more charted canvas, check out charted favorites Laura Perin, Orna Willis, and DebBee’s Designs, the many Jean Hilton projects at Stitches from the Heart and the inventive designs at Needle Delights.

Free Needlepoint Chart – QR Code

Janet Perry — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:51:44 +0000

Originally posted 2008-02-14 08:15:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

For almost as long as I’ve been doing needlepoint, I have loved geometric patterns which aren’t really abstract but are some kind of code. I like them so much I even have my Personal Plaid mini-sock which is, in effect, a code based on a name and a date.

This morning, while surfing the Web I came across QR Codes, which are the successor to bar codes. But they do so much more. There is a project to encode Wikipedia articles as QR Codes, people have made QR code scarves, cakes and even needlepoint.

I found a free QR Code generator and encoded the basic information about this site. That’s the tiny QR Code you see above. Here’s a link to a simpler QR code for