Nuts about Needlepoint » classes

Change in Education Needed

Janet Perry — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:14:00 +0000

Originally posted 2010-05-13 07:54:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Needlepoint stitched by Janet Perry

One thing has stayed consistent in to 40 years I’ve been doing needlepoint. And it’s not the canvas. It’s that needlepoint education sucks.

Originally I thought that I was the problem. My mom’s an artist and a tinkerer, and so we always figured out how to do it ourselves. So I took that into needlepoint and bought books and played. I didn’t take a class until I’d been stitching for a decade or more.

But I was always dissatisfied, both with the books and, mostly, with the classes I took. The books never seemed to tell me what I wanted to know and the classes, while the projects might be lovely rarely taught me the techniques I wanted at the price I could afford.

Even with the Internet this hasn’t changed much. If we want needlepoint to grow, be popular, and change the world, we need to embrace the Internet and change what we do and teach. I’ve come up with some guiding principles for needlepoint education.

First, needlepoint education needs to be targeted. It needs to teach you something specific you can go out and use on another project. A project-based class is fine for a treat, but if you learn many things you can use, that’s even better.

Second, needlepoint education needs to be achievable. The most exciting project in the world isn’t worth it if it doesn’t get done. The project should be small enough that I can both learn and see my progress. If I can use it, that’s even better.

Third, needlepoint education needs to be affordable. The materials shouldn’t cost the moon, the canvas should be inexpensive. I know that point differs for everyone, but what is your point? I rarely take classes that are more than $30, unless I adore the piece. And my DH keeps me from going to expensive classes. But what are you willing to pay? If the class fee is $30, how much is too much for materials?

Fourth, needlepoint education needs to explain things. When we aren’t face to face, the teacher has to be willing to explain things different ways. That can be hard to do, but if the student can do it, with the extra explanation, that’s worth it.

Finally, needlepoint education needs to be fun. The project should look like something fun to stitch, you should be able to pick things you like and go for it.

I’m struggling with defining what I see and what seems to be lacking. I’m trying to design a class right now and can’t find the proper balance. So I’d like to know what you think. What do you want? How much are you willing to pay? How do you want it delivered? What’s been good and bad in the classes you’ve taken? Let me know, no names please, and have at it. If you want to express your opinion privately, send me an email.

Do You Know Someone Who Wants to Learn Needlepoint?

Janet Perry — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:58:02 +0000

Often people think needlepoint is hard to do, not very creative, and very boring. We know the truth — it’s easy, endlessly creative, and a great stress reliever.

Do you know someone who wants to learn needlepoint? Maybe it’s someone in your family. Maybe it’s a co-worker who looks at your work and wishes she could do it herself.

I can help. I have a free beginning needlepoint course that is sent through email. Called “Right from the Beginning,” it teaches you about the different types of needlepoint, ten stitches, the tools, and everything you need to get started.

Over 1500 people have taken the course so far. Just sign up on the linked page to get started.

And if you are a beginner, several of the classes I have comping up are ones that will expand your knowledge of stitches and threads. Just contact me (using the link in the masthead) for more information.

Want to Learn how to Stitch Faces?

Janet Perry — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:41:32 +0000

I think stitching skin and faces is probably the most challenging thing a stitcher can do. And, like many stitchers, I used to be afraid of it.

But I’ve learned how to do it and create realistic and beautifully shaded faces.

Now I’d like to share this process with you in my upcoming “Shading the Face” cyberclass I’m doing with Art Needlepoint.

In this three-lesson class using the canvas pictured here, you’ll learn everything you need to know to make the complex shading of a face work in needlepoint.

Best of all, the class is free with the purchase of the kitted canvas.

Stitch Guide Classic – Raymond Crawford’s Chinese Letters

Janet Perry — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 14:18:45 +0000

Originally posted 2008-02-12 06:30:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I’ve stitched an awful lot of canvases in my time, but the Chinese Letter canvases from Raymond Crawford remain among my favorites.

Why?

They come in two sizes of canvas (14 and 18), they have a huge variety of background colors, and there are lots of different characters form which to choose.

So, literally, there is something for everyone here. I’ve made nine of them and eight of those are collected into two classic stitch guides, both available to shops from either Raymond or me.

I also love these because stitching them is such a wonderful way to learn more stitches and learn about needlepoint. And I’ve put that into the guides.Chinese Letters I covers stitches in four families, box (pictured), cross, diagonal, and straight. These families are the basis for the majority of needlepoint stitches. Each of the four samplers has four stitches, one for each quadrant, so a beginner has plenty of time to master the stitch.

Chinese Letters II uses a single stitch for each of the samplers and has four variations of the stitch. The book begins with discussion of how a stitch can be varied and explains how each variation came about. Although this book is slightly more advanced, beginners can still use it. Experienced stitchers will love all the ideas it sparks. I was rereading it earlier this week and got so many good ideas for my current projects.But wait, as the commercials say, there’s more!

I’ve also packed the books with lots of extra reference material about needlepoint.

In Chinese Letters there are short articles about scale in needlepoint (and how to scale a pattern or stitch), compensation, using a stitch dictionary, and using thread with directional light.

In Chinese Letters II besides the introductory essay on stitch variations, there are essays about stripes in needlepoint (with lots of stitch diagrams). a long discussion of borders, and a in-depth discussion of how to “read” a needlepoint canvas and pick appropriate stitches.

These two are among my favorites and I wanted to share them with you.

NAN Assembly Classes for 2012

Janet Perry — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:00:50 +0000

NAN (National Academy of Needlearts) has announced their schedule for their popular Assembly for 2012. Held annually at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, in 2012 it will be from February 29 until March 4.

Open to anyone, the Assembly features top flight teachers, a merchandise night, and two banquets. You can learn about it and register on NAN’s Assembly page.

Some of the teachers who are scheduled to be there include: Toni Gerdes, Carlene Hardwick, Shay Pendray, Marni Ritter, an Gail Sirna.

You can see a list of the 2 and 4 day classes here, but you can see pictures of the projects from all the classes in their ” target=”_blank”>Flickr pool.

Want to Learn (or Learn More) about Needlepoint? Try CyberPointers

Janet Perry — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 14:00:38 +0000

Originally posted 2010-02-19 07:00:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I am almost as much a needlepoint technique junkie as I am a thread junkie. So this year’s President’s Challenge for CyberPointers is right up my alley. Each moth a different technique is going to be highlighted. The different techniques have all kinds of support existing and planned for them, including SIGs (Special Interest Groups), web pages, projects, instruction, and galleries of inspiring needlework.

Each group has a leader and each group is full of people who are either experienced with the technique or who want to learn. Some of the techniques we are exploring include: Hilton Stitches, Hardanger, Surface Embroidery on Canvas and Bargello.

While ultimately there will be public information on our website about each technique, right now all the fun is in the members-only SIGs.

I’ll talk about Bargello, since I’m leading that group. It started with some of our members posting pictures of their finished Bargello. One project, Wild Rose from ANG’s Chapter Project Book, caught everyone’s eye, and we will be doing it as a group project starting in April. CPB projects are available only to chapter members as a project or program, so this is a perfect excuse to do this rare project. In the meantime, we will be doing Pat Mazu’s charming Bargello heart which was in Needlepointers in March 2008.

The picture is my colors for the heart. One of Pat’s goals for the project is to get people using colors they don’t normally use. These days my color palette tends to be bright, so I’m excited about how the muted colors pictured above will work out, I can’t wait to get started.

We will be stitching these projects together, sharing ideas and colors, and learning from each other.

If you have been wanting to explore any of these techniques, join CyberPointers and become part of them today.

Learn How to Shade with ANY Thread

Janet Perry — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:36:31 +0000

Most people think the only way to create shaded needlepoint is to use stranded threads and a technique called needleblending.

But this just isn’t true.

You can create beautifully shaded needlepoint with any thread, using this innovative technique of single strand shading.

Ombre, the fiber art piece pictured above has tons of subtle shading between the colors. This piece, on a 14 mesh canvas from Art Needlepoint is the focus of my free class beginning Sept 1.

The piece is stitched using Anchor Tapestry wool. All you need to do to join the class is buy the kit.

Please note: If you are looking for the final Japanese pattern post, it is going to be delayed. Bingley, one of the kittens, fell off a dresser during the night on Sunday, landed wrong and broke his hip. Monday evening and yesterday we’ve been dealing with that, so I’m kind of behind. He’s going to require surgery and is current;y in a puppy crate (so he won’t try to climb) in my studio.

Give the Gift of Needlepoint

Janet Perry — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:44:18 +0000

Originally posted 2009-11-14 07:45:06. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

One of the nicest things you can do for someone is to share something you love, by teaching them. We love needlepoint, but all too often beginners are intimidated or the cost of classes (in time or money is too high). But still we want to share the joy we take from needlepoint and get them started easily.

That’s why I created the popular course, Right from the Beginning. It’s free, comes weekly in your email, and includes a stitch sampler (pictured above) and a small Bargello project to get your started. Hundreds of stitchers have taken this class already.

You can sign up for the class easily and the lessons start right away.

But what if you want this to be part of a Christmas present, maybe including a beginning canvas and some threads? Then you can take advantage of my special offer. Email me at napaneedlepoint (at) gmail (dot) com and give me the email and the starting date. I’ll add them for you and send them a welcome email.

Calloway Gardens 2012 Classes

Janet Perry — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 14:43:00 +0000

At Calloway in 2012, you can take a class for this delightful bear!

Calloway Gardens has just posted the class list for their 2012 Needlework Retreat. The descriptions of the classes, including this charming Joan Thomasson bear, are really detailed and make you want to take them all!

Many popular teachers come to Calloway to teach and, you’ll find, among the classes projects that have been taught recently at National Seminars (I saw more than one that is on the list for ANG this fall). They also have classes in other techniques besides needlepoint, including Japanese, embroidery, cross stitch samplers, and embroidery.

Forms are available on the site for registration and for exhibiting.

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.