finishing Archive

Originally posted 2009-06-29 06:35:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter Log cabins in various forms are one of the most popular quilt patterns. I’ve used the often in my own design work, but I hadn’t thought of them as the basis for finishing. Log cabin quilts are based on a central block, usually small, but it doesn’t have to be, with strips of fabric, increasing in length, swirling around it. Why not use a small piece of needlepoint as that central block. We love to stitch smaller items and this way, if you have a fabric stash as well, you can choose your other fabrics from them. Whip Up has a great post about making a Log Cabin pillow. The instructions are detailed and easy to modify for needlepoint. The foundation block which inspires the piece isn’t a bit of fabric, it’s the needlepoint. Follow her instructions for picking fabrics, cutting

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Are you looking for a way to make ornaments that look sophisticated, use your stash threads but that can be finished quickly? Look no further than 14-count plastic canvas and the wealth of quilt designs. This Spoolies Plastic Canvas Needlepoint Quilt Ornament is a perfect introduction to this much-overlooked material and to the wealth of great quilt designs. It’s part of the Plastic Canvas Blog Hop. My grandmother was a seamstress and I remember loving all the wooden spools of brightly colored thread at her home. This quilt reminds me of her. It’s based on a free quilt pattern from Humble Bee Buzzings. I lightened both the spool ends and the background. 14-count plastic canvas is easily found at most craft shops. It comes in 8.5 x 11 inch sheets usually in white and clear. Either can be used although clear works slightly better for the front and white for

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Originally posted 2009-11-23 07:01:57. Republished by Blog Post PromoterAbout a month before Christmas is not the best time to start thinking about making Christmas gifts. But, judging from my email, many of you are procrastinators, just like me. I went into my usual panic (even though I’m in remarkably good shape at the moment) and got thinking about what to look for to make needlepoint into gifts. In no particular order, here are some ideas: needlepoint bookends Get a set of inexpensive metal bookends and some 14 mesh plastic canvas. Stitch the canvas to be about 1″ bigger than the bookend on the sides and top. Make two of these. Cut two more pieces the same size, but don’t stitch them. Spray paint the bookends another color if desired. Stitch one stitched and one unstitched piece of canvas together and slip the bookend in. Photo Albums Look for albums with

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Originally posted 2010-01-17 07:41:17. Republished by Blog Post PromoterFinishing needlepoint pillows (or making any pillows for that matter) should be a simple task. It meets my admittedly low bar for sewing — all straight seams, no zippers. But all too often they don’t turn out well. My friend Kristin at Craft Leftovers has been working on redecorating her apartment with many projects she’s doing herself. She recently turned to the question of pillows and has a fantastic post about stuffing pillows so they won’t be lumpy. Read it and take her hard-won advice

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Originally posted 2011-01-27 07:01:13. Republished by Blog Post PromoterMarlene assked earlier this week about how to finish a coaster. It’s not hard to do, so let’s talk about how to do it. Begin by selecting the size for the coasters. Square coasters are vastly easier to make than round coasters (I’ll put some notes about that in a bit). Coasters generally are 3 or 4 inches square, so plan on that for the finished size of the stitching. Stitches, Threads, & Coasters Because coasters get sone wear, you will want to use stitches that won’t snag. Because you will be putting something directly on the stitches, you will also want stitches that are flat and not bumpy. This is not the place for smyrna crosses, padding, or exposed canvas. Every thread you use MUST be colorfast. Glasses are often wet on the bottom or sweat and this moisture will cause

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Originally posted 2010-11-07 07:29:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter Do you have some rounds of needlepoint sitting around stitched but not made into anything? One idea I’ve thought about often is using them to make pincushions. On the craft blog, Creations by Kara, there are great instructions on using an old tunafish can to make a pincushion (pictured above). As you can see she used fabric for the top, but needlepoint would work just as nicely. The critical thing here is the size of the needlepoint (a 9.5″ circle), including 1/2″ of unstitched canvas. Put your gathering stitches 1/4″ inch from the edge and use a REALLY strong thread like heavy linen or perle cotton. Otherwise the instructions should be followed. You could also do this with smaller cans, like small cat food cans to make a group of dainty pieces. They will also make great gifts for sewing friends!

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I love small needlepoint pieces but I am constantly frustrated by finding ways to finish them. That’s why I love this clever idea from Gingerbread Snowflakes. You can create charming pressed tin frames using tooling foil, tacky glue and tools you have around the house. Designed for ATCs (Artist Trading Cards), this will work for any small piece of needlepoint. You can make each one unique and hang your work in small groups or make them into nicely finished ornaments. If you are doing this with a piece on interlock canvas, just cut the canvas close to the edge of the stitching. If you are using mono canvas, you could cut about three canvas threads from the edge if the piece will get light use. If it will have heavier use, finish the edges. These frames are so clever & so distinctive, you’ll want to make dozens. Get the illustrated

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Wouldn’t you love to have a couple of easy, unique needlepoint projects in your back pocket that you could make as special gifts? Wouldn’t it make you happy if you could finish them yourself and make each one perfect for the receiver? You can with these two delightful Initial Needlepoint Gifts. In this two-lesson mini-class you’ll learn everything you need to create both the Initial Ornament and the Big Initial Boxtop, including how to finish them. This email class will teach you: how to enlarge a letter for needlepoint how to transfer it to canvas how to create a great design and background how to pick an alphabet suitable for needlepoint how to finish an ornament and boxtop This class is an email class beginning May 5, 2013. Because it arrives in your mail, you can take it at your own pace. Because you pick the threads and colors, it’s

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I saw the vintage pincushion base from Sudberry House and I thought pincushion. Cheryl Schaeffer saw this same piece and thought “Chair!” The chair you see is just one of five delightful miniature needlepoint chairs she’s making. This one is the Beach Chair. There is also a Halloween Chair, a Pink & Blue Chair, Santa’s Chair, and, yet-to-be-completed, The Wild Chair. Each of the chairs uses Sudberry’s pincushion as the base and all can be used as pincushions. In the current issue of Needlepoint Now you can get the stitch guide for Santa’s Chair

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Originally posted 2011-03-12 07:21:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter Susan Thompson has done a wonderful job of finishing many items for me over the years. Her lovely blog, Sukylady’s Studio, has instructions on her method to finish small ornaments. There are lots of photos showing the steps to take to finish a small two-sided needlepoint ornament. The Attic Window ornament pictured above is only one-sided (the back is Ultrasuede) and was finished by Susan. It’s lovely. These instructions are wonderful and would work for many small flat-sided items. It’s so rare to find finishing instructions that use needlepoint for the example, this is GREATLY appreciated

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Originally posted 2011-03-06 07:16:06. Republished by Blog Post PromoterMany people find lacing the back of needlework essential to keep the stitching taut when framed. But finding good information on how to do it has always been a struggle for me. This outstanding lavishly illustrated lacing tutorial from Plays with Needles shows you how to lace step-by-step. Although she is lacing fabric, the process is the same for needlepoint. Thanks to Denise at Craft Gossip for pointing this out

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Originally posted 2007-12-20 08:31:14. Republished by Blog Post Promoter I just wanted to take a minute to show you how lovely the address book looks finished with the Scrap Bag Needlepoint Bargello on it. I’m so happy with the results. The Scrap Bag idea looks so fun in this small space. One cool thing about this vintage address book is that it has a padded board to make the needlepoint puffy. It’s about 1/4″ smaller than the opening all around and you insert it under the needlepoint once two sides have been tucked into the cover. Although I rarely see items with this these days, it’s a simple idea you can do yourself. You could cut a pieces of acid-free foamcore, use quilt batting with a fabric cover over cardboard, or even just some mat board or cardboard. One good thing about doing this is that it makes the whole

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Do you live in San Francisco’s East or North Bay, Solano County, or Sacramento? Have you been wanting to learn needlepoint but couldn’t find a warm, inviting place to learn without all the stuffiness of the “needlepoint police?” Sandy Grossman-Morris and I have teamed up to create this exclusive needlepoint class for beginners, starting March 2, 2013. The design is the adorable ice cream cone seen here, created exclusively for the class. The class kit is included in the fee and has everything you need to stitch the canvas: computer-printed canvas all threads stretcher bars tacks needle Even if you have never tried needlepoint before you’ll learn everything you need to know, including 2 kinds of Tent Stitches and five decorative stitches. You’ll have a chance to use four kinds of threads and you’ll get samples of many more. The class is three lessons, one month apart. They will be

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Today I’m delighted to welcome Heather Gray of Modern Needleworks as our guest for a designer profile. Heather’s kit and work are shown throughout the interview and are available at her Etsy shop. What inspired you to start needlepointing? I started to cross stitch as soon as I was old enough to hold a needle. I transitioned to needlepoint in my early twenties. (I’m 39… at least for another month). I have always been inspired my grandmother. She could do/make anything… sewing, quilting, crochet, applique… you name it. She kept me a lot when I was young and I learned so much from her. She never used a pattern, or if she did use a pattern it was one she developed or made. She was an artist long before what she was doing was considered art. She is now 95 and is still making things! I live across the street

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It my be cold, or gloomy, or both where you are but your spirits will brighten immediately when you read about all the wonderful new needlepoint products coming out in the next month or two. Many shops attend the TNNA Market at the beginning of February so now is a perfect time to order items of interest from them so that you can be among the first to get them. Hand-painted Canvas Susan Roberts has a new 30″ tall nutcracker. This one, Herr Dresselmeyer, is perfect for ballet or nutcracker lovers. He’s on 13-mesh canvas. She also has a lovely sunface design I could easily see on a porch swing. Kelly Clark has added a Halloween series to her line of pears. She also has new stockings & stocking toppers. My favorite of these is a topper with ornaments in girly colors. Finally she has a new full-color catalog, with

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