Nuts about Needlepoint » pillows

Bargello Pillows eBook Now Available

Janet Perry — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:25:27 +0000

Althea at Bargello Needlepoint has a new book out, Flawless Bargello Throw Pillows. It gives you step-by-step instructions, including planning worksheets, for making pillows covered in Bargello.

You’ll even learn how to finish them easily.

The book is in ebook format and is on special through July for $19.99.

You can order it here.

What Can I Do with a Plaid?

Janet Perry — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 14:43:50 +0000

Why not use a birthday plaid as the background for a monogram?

One of the biggest challenges in needlepoint is the question of what do do with the finished stitching. While the stitching is the joy, sometimes it’s discouraging to look at the huge pile of needlepoint left stitched but waiting to be turned into something and loved. Maybe we should call it “The Island of Unloved Needlepoint.”

Birthday plaids and tartans are so much fun, it’s a shame not to make one just because you don’t know what to do with it. Some of my recent commissions give an idea of some of the wonderful things you can do with a stitched plaid.

The boxtop above uses a birthday plaid as the background for a simple monogram. The colors chosen match the room where it will live. Birthday plaids can be done in any colors and are great for this purpose.

You could use this idea for a great baby present. Do it in the nursery’s colors or in a traditional baby palette of pastels.

What about a belt?

This is the chart for a belt to be stitched in tartan. Tartan belts can often be seen and many (but not all) tartans work in this narrow space.

Stitch it in perle cotton and finish it as a belt for a unique gift.

The rage for tartan in the 1800′s made lots of tartan-embellished items to appear. Look at some of them for more ideas for stitched plaids. Then visit Needlepoint Plaids to order your tartan or birthday plaid. My experience in creating stitched plaids will create a wonderful result.

Finishing Pillows

Janet Perry — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:41:17 +0000

Finishing 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. Related posts:Great Finishing Idea — Log Cabin Pillows Bargello Pillows eBook Now Available Pimp my Needlepoint – Stitcher’s Magnets Tips for Finishing an Embroidery Project Focus on Finishing – Web Site Review Related posts: