Nuts about Needlepoint » markets, products, & reviews

Pig Tail Silk – Thread Review

Janet Perry — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:02:10 +0000

This Lee Needle Arts kimono is a showcase for many threads, including Planet Earth's Pig Tail Silk.

Planet Earth has come out with a new single strand silk for 18 mesh, Pig Tail Silk. I’ve used it recently in both this Lee kimono (left flower) and in my painted-stitches Christmas Tree.

It’s just a lovely silk. About the same thickness as Impressions, it is 100% silk, coming in 27 yard skeins.

A lovely, soft thread, I think it covers better than Impressions, giving full, instead of light, coverage. But because it is a thin thread stitched areas are slightly flatter than those stitched with Watercolours (right flower).

This vintage painted stitches canvas uses Pig Tail Silk for the Scotch & Diagonal Gobelin Stitches

While I would not use it for straight stitches on 18 mesh, straight stitches would work well on Congress Cloth. I found longer diagonal stitches on 18 covered well, something I often find lacking in Impressions. The red areas in the striped patch use Pig Tail.

The finish is similar to Impressions as well, a slightly fuzzy, matte texture.

I really enjoyed this thread because it was so easy to use. But stitchers who are allergic to wool will also like it because now there is a great all-silk alternative to Impressions and Gumnuts’ Poppies.

I can’t wait to use it for more projects.

Empress Elite – Thread Review

Janet Perry — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:56:29 +0000

This Petei mini-sock uses Empress Elite for the carrots

Empress Elite is a luxury blended thread from The Pure Palette. If you are a knitter you know that “luxury blend” is code for silk and cashmere. Indeed, Empress Elite uses those two threads, along with Merino Wool to make an incredibly soft thread, perfect for 18 mesh canvas.

Two-ply but used as a single strand,this thread is a delight. It’s hand-dyed so there are slight (in my skein very slight) variations in color. It is available in either 20 yard skeins or 1/2 ounce hanks.

There are 108 colors (The color chart is available on-line). At TNNA I saw a couple of canvases stitched entirely in Empress Elite and they were lovely. The thread gives a nice tight stitch and could easily be used instead of any other wool on 18 mesh.

In this mini-sock I used it for the carrots. Because I wanted them padded and I was in a hurry, I used Empress Elite for the padding. Her I found the weakness of the soft hand. It just isn’t stiff enough to be used to give lift to covering stitches.

Even so, I just loved this thread. Now I’m looking for other places to use it.

Aurora Yarns Needlepoint Threads – Product Review

Janet Perry — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:13:51 +0000

Originally posted 2010-09-28 07:09:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

You may know of Aurora as a maker of lovely hand-dyed yarns for knitting, but did you know they make wonderful threads for needlepoint as well? I recently had an opportunity to try these threads in some projects and I’m really pleased with them.

Yu can see two of them in the photo above. The white is Zephyr, their crewel wool. The burgundy is their lovely 4mm silk ribbon.

Zephyr is a lovely soft crewel wool. There are several lovely hand-dyed shades of this thread. I tried them in this project but they aren’t pictured. The color I tried had several shades of soft blue. The runs of color were shorter than in many other hand-dyes and the contrast in value was greater. In stitching this has the effect of adding more variation. When using this thread be sure that it contrasts in color with other parts of the piece, otherwise the strong variation in value will make other elements disappear. This is why I didn’t end up using it for the kimono, it just didn’t contrast enough with the mask (the focal point).

The mustache is stitched using the silk ribbon.The color was Kalidescope and it is a delightful riot of colors. Instead of just being varied across the width of the ribbon, the colors are dripped and dropped on, making it look painted. Although you can’t be seen here, this makes for wonderfully unusual effects. These ribbons would work wonderfully for realistic leaves and flowers, or for a focal point on a geometric piece.

I haven’t yet tried Tuxedo, another silk ribbon. Unlike more familiar silk ribbons, this is woven in a tube and is thicker. It is also ribbed (think grosgrain ribbon). It is also more matte. I think it would be best used on larger mesh canvas or for couching.

Aurora makes lovely hand-dyed threads, they are worth seeking out.

Please note: These threads were provided to me free of charge for testing purposes.

Kreinik’s New Naturals

Janet Perry — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:13:50 +0000

This Petei mini-sock uses Kreinik's naturals metallics throughout.

Kreinik’s line of “naturals” in metallics came back recently, with a smaller number of colors that have been changed slightly.

I used the extensively in this Petei mini-sock from my stash. They are used for all the metallics.

Only one color, 4006 Rose Hip was retained from the original series. As you can see it’s a soft pink, that’s still very metallic. If the other pinks in the Kreinik line are too bright or to modern for your stitching, look to this shade — it’s great.

The other colors are muted neutrals.

On the mini-sock, the darker brown/gold is 4202 Susky Meadow, kind of a dark Hot Chocolate color that will mix well with either gold or silver. The lighter color is 4203 Cattail, a slightly greenish gold. It’s a real chameleon color, looking green, gold, or brown depending on the context. It should be4 considered for many applications.

I didn’t use 4204 Storm Cloud (gunmetal), 4205 Ironwood (sliver), 4201 Sugar Cane (light green) in this piece.

You can read about them all on Kreinik’s site.

Tomorrow I’ll look at Empress Elite from The Pure Palette, and Thursday at Duchess Silk from Gloriana both of which were also used here.

Threads Days at Nuts about Needlepoint

Janet Perry — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:45:12 +0000

Being laid up with a cold last week and having lots of new threads to play with, I did a whole bunch of stitching. That means this week,tomorrow through Friday and next week, Tuesday through Friday, I’ll be reviewing these threads. My thread reviews are more than just descriptions of the threads. I use the threads in my own stitching and let you know, and see, just how the behave. Some of the threads we’ll review include a mohair from The Thread Gatherers, new silks from Gloriana and Planet Earth, a new fiber from Dream House, and a great post from Barbara Elmore on a new thread from Sundance. I’m so excited to share these with you. Related posts: Kreinik’s Holographic Threads – Product Review Needlepoint Rugs — Threads Dragonfly Lotus Hand-Spun Threads – Thread Review Making Nuts about Needlepoint More Useful Aurora Yarns Needlepoint Threads – Product Review Related posts:

Shakespeare’s Peddler – Web Site Review

Janet Perry — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:26:43 +0000

Originally posted 2002-02-20 17:51:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Theresa Venette has one of my favorite sites, Shakespeare’s Peddler . Not only does she have an on-line needlework shop, but here site is a treasure trove of information for stitchers of all kinds.

In her shop she has, fabrics on special, features a lovely kit each month and includes a free chart with every purchase. She has a frequent buyer program and monthly specials. Right now, in March, she has a spring cleaning sale on several counts and colors of
fabrics. If you are a cross stitcher looking for the latest charts, check out Theresa’s Basket — new charts stay there for two months. Older charts are listed under “Charts and Designers.” She carries just about the best selection of hand-dyed evenweave fabrics I’ve seen and a wide variety of threads, especially hand-dyes. She also has wonderful scissors and accessories.

But what I love best about her site is the wonderful store of articles and information you’ll find here. There is a section on needlework groups which includes information about rounds robins, teaching kids to stitch and starting a needlework group among others.

A section on stitching and framing includes the best articles on the Web about issues concerning framing needlework. In this section you will also find articles on silk gauze, a wonderful system for dealing with UFO’s (UnFinished Objects) and a very comprehensive listing of sampler motifs and their meanings.

Just for Fun is the last section and it has articles such as New Year’s Resolutions for Stitchers, email abbreviations (do you know what a WIP is?) as well as stitcher’s humor.

This site is a wonderful and fun resource for stitchers.

Vist the TNNA Show On-line

Janet Perry — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:26:42 +0000

The World of Needlepoint, the site for TNNA’s Needlepoint Group, has put up a delightful gallery of pictures from the recent Winter Market in Phoenix. Go to this page and scroll down a bit to find the gallery. In it you’ll find lots of wonderful pictures from the show. There are pictures of each table from the Needlepoint Gallery, where designers show off their newest , including several of the pieces I wrote about. Check it out. Related posts: New Products at On-line Needlework Show On-line Needlework Show Now Open! On-Line Needlework Show Is Open! Virtual Show – Woodlawn in Pictures On-line Needlework Show Related posts:

Merry Easter Eggs – book review

Janet Perry — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:11:35 +0000

Originally posted 2006-02-18 14:51:18. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Carolyn Hedge Baird. 2004.

Whimsical and bursting with ideas, Carolyn Hedge Baird has written a book of stitch ideas
which covers much more than just Easter Eggs. It contains “ideas for borders and stripes,
backgrounds, details, threads, finishing, and displaying your needlepoint eggs!”

The book can roughly be divided into four sections; introduction, stitch suggestions, stitch
dictionary and additional techniques. Each section is packed with ideas.

The introduction is short and includes an introduction (and a great story about the Easter
Raccoon (who now lives at my house, I think), an introduction, some thoughts about
needlepointing, and a wonderful set of outlines of Easter eggs (for designing your own).

The second section is called Easter Needlepoint. It is divided by types of objects (straw
hats, bunnies, etc.) and lists stitch and thread suggestions for all parts of the object.
Needing to stitch some dots? This section includes suggestions for evenly spaced dots,
random dots, dots over 4 threads, and dotted areas. Along with some stitch diagrams,
there are list of stitches for all these areas, as well as hints and comments. Blank pages
and graph paper are included throughout this section to record your own choices.

The largest section of the book is the stitch dictionary. It is divided into sections including
tiny and small stitches, backgrounds, stitches for details, laid fillings and more. The
sections begin with a listing of stitches in them and then each stitch is diagrammed, and
many have additional information. In the tiny stitches section, for example, she has a great
description of Chottie’s Plaid. Once again idea, blank pages, graph paper and clip art are
interspersed throughout the section.

Specialized techniques, finishing and display information make up the last section of the
book. This included information which often is not seen in needlepoint books with
sections on silk ribbon embroidery, wired ribbon, and beading as well as finishing and
display information.

I love this book and find myself turning to it often for ideas, but I would add a small word
of caution. For people who have difficulty reading or who don’t like densely packed
information on a page, Baird’s style could be difficult. Her typeface can be hard to read
(especially in small sizes) and with clip art, text and diagrams on a page, it can be difficult
for some people to see what is most important.

But these are small problems with a book which is joyous, fun and full of ideas, even if you
never stitch and Easter Egg.

More New from TNNA

Janet Perry — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:51:10 +0000

There are several new accessories that debuted at TNNA. Probably the hit of the show was Pischke Pillows. from the makers of the the popular Pischke Pockets. Using ten-mesh canvas with your choice of three designs, the kit comes with the same sturdy fabrics as the totes, grosgrain ribbon, and threads. The pillows are made amazingly easily and the three designs will work in almost any setting, even outdoors.

Rainbow Gallery has brought out new acrylic laying tools. Each is a unique design. The laying tool is a BLT with an acrylic handle and removable cover.

DMC has a lovely “designer” accessory collection with storage for your project, stitch bows, and a needle holder in a matching print.

Krienik has add four new Stitch-A-Pen kits including three hearts designs and a wedding pen.

Tuitto showed and interesting line of luggage and cases. They are soft, with tons of pockets, four wheels, and a PVC frame on either side. They use an ergonomic design and were very popular among shopowners. They come in up to 12 colors (depending on the piece).

Lee Needle Arts has an iPad case. They have also expanded the bags that can use the removable inserts. Bags with BR and now, I think, BG inserts can use the removable inserts. Anne Brinkley has brought back those lovely porcelain and crystal boxes. I have some of them I stitched ages ago and I’m excited about being able to get more.

Do you have tons of thread hanging around? Is lots of it in uncut skeins? Then you’l love Clover’s new Basket Frames. Available in two sizes in three shapes, they are cardboard frames that make your basket sturdy. Wrap your thread or ribbon around the frame. Then you can add embellishments if you like. These are great because they are much easier to do than traditional baskets and because they allow you to use soft threads and ribbons to make a great basket.

BagSmith has decorated wooden tubes that contain six needles. Several types of needles and design styles are available.

Two great new books are coming out. June McKnight’s new book is called Bling, Glitz, and Glamour for Needlepoint. It’s dedicated to embellishments and, from the models, it looks great. Sharon G’s second book will be out in the spring. It’s dedicated to borders and has over 20.

brown paper packages – New Colors

Janet Perry — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:34:03 +0000

Originally posted 2010-08-12 07:09:14. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I’m late in getting you the details of new colors in Silk & Ivory and Trio from brown paper packages. As you can see from the picture above, it was worth it.

The four colors on the left are four new shades in their wonderful series of “almost whites.” Petal is the palest of the Pink Cocktail family. Glacier is the extremely pale blue, and is lighter than Blue Yonder, another wonderful “almost white.” Posie, is the extremely pale violet is lighter than Phlox, a light-filled pale violet. Pearl, the final color in this group, is the lightest member of what I call the “Luxury Seafood” family of salmon, shrimp, crab, and lobster. This is my favorite color family of these threads and I’m so excited.

Why should you be excited about these colors? Just as decorators have a bazillion shades of white picking the correct extremely pale color for your background can do wonders. Just a hint of color can complement or amplify the colors in your piece. Your eyes might look at them and say “white,” but what you will think is “how wonderful that piece looks!” And all because you used an almost white for the background.

The color on the left came out earlier in the years. They are straw a pale yellow, and three new members of the “heavy metal” family, from light to dark, pewter, smoky quartz, and onyx. The other color in this family is pearl gray, one of their earliest colors.

With 224 colors in the line now, available in both threads, most of the color families now have five shades, and there are several with more. If you like Silk & Ivory for Bargello, this is wonderful news. If you haven’t tried it for Bargello, do it for your next project, it’s my favorite thread for this technique.