needlepoint club Archive

Color is an endlessly fascinating subject, the stuff of books, classes, and discussion. All too often though, these resources come up short when the question of color in needlepoint comes up. The past two years my needlepoint color clubs (both still available here) have explored color in various ways. The first year, Color, Thread, & Quilts, explored the basic color schemes. The second, Color through the Ages, took cues form typical color palettes of various times & places. I have gotten requests for a third year of color clubs. I have some ideas, but what I’d really like to know is what are your biggest questions, problems, and concerns about color in needlepoint and what would you like to know. Please leave your ideas in the comments box, or contact me. The club will be announced next month and will start in April

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My big problem with most needlepoint clubs is that they are just too expensive. Once you buy the canvas and the threads and the instruction each month, you’ve spent lots of money. For me to do that I have to love the project. Really love it. I wanted to create needlepoint clubs that were different. They had to: Be economical, so you could use your stash as much as possible Teach more than just the project, so you’ll learn about color, design, threads, or Bargello. Often with information based on extensive research outside needlepoint. Give you the tools you need to create your own unique projects. The clubs are suitable for stitchers of all levels and they have resulted in many wonderful projects from club members. You can join any one of them and energize your needlepoint. The clubs currently in process are Mittens & Mini-socks Bargello Club – Bargello

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Ever since I began stitching, I’ve wished there was a series of lessons that would teach me in-depth the things I always find myself asking about needlepoint. Things like: threads in-depth: how to read a label, cut a skein, or understand their construction color: what it is, how to create color schemes, and how to use it — and not in paint, in thread stitches & how to use them to create dimension and depth In other words, I wanted knowledge and understanding that I could put to use on not just the canvas for a class or a stitch guide, but on whatever canvas I tackle next. When I started stitching in 1970 this information didn’t exist. The most forward-thinking stitchers and teachers weren’t thinking about it then. Even today this knowledge is given in measured doses at great cost. And often you’re left feeling as if you don’t

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Today, April 7, 2012 is the absolutely last day you can sign up for the 2012 Bargello Club, Mittens & Mini-socks. Registrations close at midnight, Pacific Daylight Time. This is going to be an exciting club for lovers of Bargello, with patterns form all kinds of sources, both new and old. On these ornament-sized pieces you’ll be able to try all kinds of wonderful Bargello techniques while making unique ornaments or gifts. Each month, on the 7th, you’ll receive a PDF of a new Bargello pattern, this is April’s, along with a stitch suitable for stitching a cuff. That’s 12 Bargello patterns and 12 new stitches. Every pattern in the club is suitable for making either a mini-sock ornament or an ornament-sized mitten (you’ll get the templates for both). I’m planning a series of six of each. The mini-socks will be in flower colors (this one is faded violets), while

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The colors might not be traditional, but you’ll love the patterns in my fantastic new Bargello Club, Mittens & Mini-socks. Each month, on the 7th, you’ll receive a PDF of a new Bargello pattern, this is April’s, along with a stitch suitable for stitching a cuff. That’s 12 Bargello patterns and 12 new stitches. Every pattern in the club is suitable for making either a mini-sock ornament or an ornament-sized mitten (you’ll get the templates for both). I’m planning a series of six of each. The mini-socks will be in flower colors (this one is faded violets), while the mittens will be in sky colors. Each month’s project pack will be sent via email and will include charts, diagrams, templates and instructions. You’ll love how they are so flexible. They can reflect all kinds of themes but are not specific to any holiday. My collection of mini-socks, I have dozens,

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Today is the last day to sign up for this year’s color club, Color through the Ages. Through charted Twinchies (2″square needlepoint) based on quilt designs, club members will explore color schemes typical not just of ancient times, but of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Twentieth Century, along with others. In each month’s packet you will get: Extensive information about color and this color scheme Information about the quilt block or setting Charted Twinchie with thread list Information, including stitching tips for three different threads There are three options for the club, available as a monthly subscription or with an annual payment. Only the basic program is open to new members. Basic, patterns as PDFs only Basic Package includes the PDFs of each month’s program. It is $7.50 per month. Use the PayPal button below to register. Basic Subscription Threads, patterns and thread samples No longer available. Deluxe,

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What could be more fun and faster than making Bargello ornaments. In this club you have a choice of making either a mitten or a mini-sock each month. The PDF pattern will be emailed to you each month, beginning April 7, and will include: Patterns for both the Bargello pattern and a stitch for the “cuff” Templates for both the mitten and the mini-sock Background information useful for stitching this and other projects You can make them in a wide mixture of colors (my collection hangs on our stair rails at Christmas) or you can coordinate the colors. They are so much fun because they are big enough to give you a good idea of the pattern, but small enough to be finished quickly. And you’ll love how they are wintry, but not too holiday-specific. Not only do they make great hanging decorations, you can use them as distinctive packaging

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Time is almost up to join the fantastic Color through Time needlepoint club. The first project will ship on March 15. After that no more registrations will be accepted. Only the basic program is open to new members. Basic, patterns as PDFs only Basic Package includes the PDFs of each month’s program. It is $7.50 per month. Use the PayPal button below to register. Basic Subscription Threads, patterns and thread samples No longer available. Deluxe, pattern, threads & canvas No longer available. Remember these prices are good only for shipment to US addresses. If you want to do them and live outside the US, or if you prefer to pay by check, contact me. Please Note: Each lesson in this club has three parts: color, where you’ll learn about color in this time and place, quilts, the charted quilt project with a list of the threads I used, and threads,

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Going from the earth and mineral colors that predominated the palettes of Ancient Egypt and Greece, the High Middle Ages seem to burst in a world of color and light. I have adored the bright, rich blues of medieval prayer books, or Books of Hours, since I first saw one in a reproduction in High School. A picture from Jean de Berry Book of Hours, it’s the monthly scene for June, is below. Those colors are the inspiration for this Twinchy. It captures the bright colors with the blue and red, the lightness of the palette with the blue-violet, the slightly yellow white of vellum and parchment, and the gold that is so much a part of illuminated manuscripts. It’s just one of the twelve color palettes I’ll be exploring in Color through the Ages my exciting new color and thread club beginning March 1, 2012. Each month you’ll get

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Many of you have asked to see what the Twinchie projects for Color through the Ages will look like. This year’s needlepoint club is going to go beyond the traditional color schemes to look at color combinations that refer to a specific time, place, or object. Through charted Twinchies (2″square needlepoint) based on quilt designs, club members will explore color schemes typical not just of ancient times, but of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Twentieth Century, along with others. Pictured here are two of the completed Twinchies, Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece. I’ll post a couple more sneaks late this month. Both societies used similar color palettes based on minerals. In these packets you’ll learn about mineral colors, why “dirt” isn’t just one color, why blue is so prized, and more. In each month’s packet you will get: Extensive information about color and this color scheme Information about

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Color can be so evocative of a time or a place. Think of the combination of deep ultramarine blue, gold, linen white and rusty red. Ancient Egypt, right? Or what about the terra cotta, black, and golden yellow of Greek pots? This year’s needlepoint club, Color through the Ages, is going to go beyond the traditional color schemes to look at color combinations that refer to a specific time, place, or object. Through charted Twinchies (2″square needlepoint) based on quilt designs, club members will explore color schemes typical not just of ancient times, but of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Twentieth Century, along with others. Each month you’ll get a PDF instruction packet with the chart, information about the color scheme and something about color of the time, and information about three different threads. A continuation of 2011′s popular Color, Thread, and Quilts Club, you’ll have a chance

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Today is the last day to sign up for my stash busting club — the Easiest Needlepoint Club Ever. The special price of $30 for a whole year of delightful projects designed to help you use your stash of threads ends at midnight Pacific. Each month, beginning tomorrow, you’ll get emailed to you a PDF of a great stash-busting project, usually including finishing instructions, so you can create unique projects such as the two shown here. Even better, participants will have a chance to order finishing items, threads for backgrounds, and selections of scrap bag threads at special prices. If you live outside the US, this club is great because all projects are sent to you electronically — no long waits for the mail, no customs hassling, no extra payments for international shipping. I love using up my stash and I think you will too. Click on the button below

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Because of the upcoming Stash Busting Needlepoint Club, I’ve been getting questions about what these projects might be. I thought I’d take today’s post to explain a little bit about my philosophy for making (and designing) stash busting projects. My motivation for learning to use my stash had its origins in many things. First I love quilts and I’m particularly fond of of quilts that “make do” by using up little scraps of fabric. I thought these would translate well to needlepoint, as indeed they do (all pictures come from my Scrap Bag Needlepoint book, available in mid-November as an ebook). Then there was my husband asking me to shop my stash first. This took care of many things, but I still had odds and ends of thread. Finally there was a realization that when we buy threads for projects we always end up with leftovers. I wanted to make

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Time is running out to become a part of my Stash Busting Club which begins on November 1 and goes for 12 months. It’s the easiest needlepoint club ever because each monthly project is sent to you via email and includes easy finishing instructions. Best of all, it’s designed to help you use up all those odds and ends of thread in your stash. “Making do” by using your stash is an honored tradition in the quilt world. Let’s honor it in the needlepoint world to. You’ll love the exciting projects. And for club participants there will be special offers, bonus patterns, and lots more. Until November 1, the cost for the club is only $30 and you can buy it via PayPal using the button below (if you don’t want to use PayPal, leave a comment or contact me using the contact link in the masthead above). After November

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Sometimes I feel as if I’m surrounded by bad news. There are health problems, money problems, job problems, no job problems. And that’s just my friends and family. If I look outside of myself the Post Office is going broke, we heading into another recession (did we ever leave the first), we’re going into election season (I hate political commercials), and baseball season (and the gentle background to my stitching) is ending. All in all, I feel as if we all need a mood lightener and one that won’t rely on the Post Office or make me go out and buy things I don’t need. So I’m debuting the Stash Busters Needlepoint Club. It’s a one-year club that will begin November 1, 2011 and run for one year. Each month you’ll get a new project designed to use up thread in your stash. In each packet you’ll get the pattern,

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