Nuts about Needlepoint » product reviews

Painter’s Palette – Thread Review

Janet Perry — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:59:27 +0000

Tentakulum is a German company hand-dyeing many different threads in colors inspired by different painters. Each is named for the painter (last names for the men, first for the women). The line is distributed in the US by YLI.

There is a huge variety of threads in this line. In the small piece pictured above, each patch used a different color of a different thread. These included two different Au Ver A Soie silks, Shimmer Blend Ribbon Floss, and matte cotton. In total in the line there are eight silks (including ribbon), four cottons, crewel wool, two metallics, and two rayon threads. You can see a complete listing on their colours page, near the bottom. Click on any thread name to get the most recent batch of colors for that thread.

Each color is named for a painter. Some of then are reflective of colors present in most of their work. An example of this is Klimt, which is a combination of golds. Others are typical of a period, such as the blues of Picasso. Still others, such as Van Gogh, are typical of a particular painting (Sunflowers in that case). To be quite honest in some cases I don’t know why a thread is named for one artist rather than another, but it still is an interesting approach to color.

This star was stitched in the same color of thread, Klee, in two different threads. While you can see that the palette is similar, the matte cotton is significantly darker than the silk. The same thing can happen not only from thread to thread, but from dye lot to dye lot. The bright green in the patchwork is Rousseau, but if you look at the colors page, you will see the current batch of Rousseau is much lighter. This is true for most threads I tested in two dye lots or threads.

I love the idea behind The Painter’s Palette threads. I like that these threads capture colors from different artists. However, I think they will only work well in geometric, patchwork, or abstract pieces. With just about every color I tried, the colors were varied enough that they would be hard to incorporate in hand painted canvas needlepoint.

The inconsistency in dye lots is another problem. If you buy everything you need for a project at once, you will be able to match. But hoard your thread, even for a short time and you won’t even come close to matching. Without dye lot numbers on the packages, you can’t even ask about matches. This limits the line’s usefulness severely.

Given that, I would say these threads are an outstanding choice for learning about new threads and for doing geometric pieces. They will also work well for accent threads, stash projects and geometrics.

Dazzling Ornaments – Stitcher’s Tools

Janet Perry — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:02:38 +0000

Originally posted 2009-06-25 05:31:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I tend to think there is too little beauty in our everyday world. Not in nature, but in the things we uses everyday. Why use a folded up piece of paper, when you could use a bookmark which is letterpressed. Why eat off a paper towel when a plate can be lovely and you have to do dishes anyway?
This is part of the philosophy behind Dazzling Ornaments and the wonderful stitcher’s accessories made by Wawanna. I have been trying out three of them, and I just love them.
Each is embellished or made from beads and all are both useful and beautiful. I’ll begin with the laying tool. Each is made from tapered wood, painted and varnished. Some of them have faux finishes as well. At the top is an ornament, usually a bead.
I just love wooden laying tools. They come to a point, but not one so dangerous as to poke you. They are light, but thicker than metal laying tools, so I find them easy to hold and manipulate.
They come in a range of 12 color families, with a wide variety of finishes and colors in each.
Dazzling Ornaments beaded accessories come in sets or as single tools. They include chatelaines, scissors fobs, stitch markers, and earrings. Have a scissors fob set. It has two pieces. The fob is about 6” long with a charm and two beaded ends. There is a lobster claw clasp big enough for most traditional embroidery scissors.
The other part of the set is an all-purpose needleworker’s tool called a Little Helper and is ingenious. There is a tapestry needle at one end, so it can be a stitch marker or used for frog stitching. The other end has a hook, so it can hang from any hole on the canvas and a small, covered rare earth magnet, so you can park your needle. There are also two split rings along the length, one with a needle threader already attached. The other is for you top use for your favorite threader or other tool.

Wawanna is always coming up with new ideas. Her latest is Dazzling Drops. These are embellished thread drops. I use thread drops all the time when I open skeins of thread and it has always bothered me that thedy are so plain. With drawn decoration, two different shapes and scalloped edges, these add beauty to that unadorned area of your life as well. They come 20 to a package.

Bizzi Creations Box – Product Review

Janet Perry — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:58:11 +0000

Originally posted 2006-03-18 06:42:43. Republished by Blog Post PromoterBizzi Creations (http://www.bizzicreations.com/) has recently come out with a line of lovely wooden boxes. Because of their deep openings they work well for needlepoint. The boxes come in four sizes. 4×4 and 1.25 squares, 4×6 rectangles, and a rectangular box with three 1.25 squares. The boxes come in a variety of colors from classic (black and white). to bright (pink, yellow and lime), and new neutrals (dark blue and red). They are beautifully finished inside and out with finished particle board to hold the needlepoint in place. Unlike many other boxes on the market, the Bizzi Creations box includes a variety of items to insure your needlework looks perfect inside the box. Want to protect the needlework from spills? There’s a piece of glass included. Finishing thinner fabrics (like punchneedle or cross stitch) several pieces of cardboard are included to make a tight fit. From start to finish this box reflects thought, care, and quality. It’s one of the best around. Related posts:Patches’n Planks – Product Review Tapis-tree Bags – Product review Ashland Sky Bags – Product Review WhimZi Frames – Product Review Puffin & Company – Product Review Related posts:

Tiny Treasures – Product Review

Janet Perry — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:53:56 +0000

You want to be more spontaneous in your needlepoint. You’d like to feel comfortable picking color schemes, mixing threads, and trying new ideas. But when it comes down to it, you seem always to pick the same colors and the same threads.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a way to venture out in exploring colors and threads that didn’t involve using an expensive hand painted canvas needlepoint from your stash?

Ideally it would be something easy and small to stitch. Something charted to save on costs, something that has lots of options, and something with more than one design.

I think I found it ins The Caron Collection’s chart pack, Tiny Treasures.

I bought it to stitch something to try out Sundberry’s mini box, and I was delighted to find that it is so much more. The chart pack has eight little designs, all geometrics, ranging in difficulty from something that could be a first project to ones with five different stitches. Even these could be done by a beginner.

The projects are small, under 2″ square, and use from 2 to 6 threads. None of them use much thread, so they are perfect for scrap bag or stash projects. Are you thinking about a color scheme for a larger project and wondering if it will work?

Try one of these projects. You can test it out by making something that only takes a few hours to stitch. And you’ll know if it works.

The instructions are clear, most only taking a page. The diagrams are large. There’s plenty of options for doing your own variations. I like it that the threads for all the projects are summarized on one page, but that such a variety of threads is used that I can feel good about making my own color and thread choices.

This is a great project pack, one that should be in your stash.

Overdyed Vineyard Silk from Threadworx – Thread Review

Janet Perry — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:49:36 +0000

The semi-solid blue thread in the photo about is Threadworx’ overdyed Vineyard Silk. It is, quite simply, a lovely thread.

Vineyard Silk is generally recommended for mesh sizes larger than 18 mesh, but I had no problem at all with it on this 18 canvas. I don’t know that it would be great in a solid block of Basketweave, but with textured stitches, there is no problem.

The thread seems slightly softer than non-overdyed Vineyard Silk, but not hugely so. The thread keeps plenty of the directional light (looking different shades with different stitch direction) to add luster and sheen to the piece.

This thread comes in over 20 semi-solid colors, all the threads being different shades of one color. I call these threads semi-solid because they can work to give more energy to a solid area. Imagine using this thread to stitch some blue jeans for example.

Lots of stitchers are afraid to use silk. If you have had bad experiences with silk before or if you have never tried silk, this thread is an outstanding choice. Since it is single ply, you can just cut the skein and go, it doesn’t ravel, has lots of loft so you can use it on many mesh sizes and is easy to use. A great all-purpose silk.

Overdyed Au Ver a Soie from Threadworx – Thread Review

Janet Perry — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:41:15 +0000

The pattern for this ornament is a free one from The Caron Collection

Early this year Threadworx came out with a line of overdyed silk, using as its base the Soie d’Alger from Au Ver A Soie.

The turquoise on the ornament above is one of the 20 initial colors, all of them semi-solids like this one.

While this isn’t my favorite silk thread, I found Threadworx easier to use than AVAS’ own threads. The only reason for this that I can think of is that European and American laws about dyes are different. It was just lovely to use.

However, there are limitations to the use of this thread. Because they can affect the amount of thread you buy, you need to be aware of them. Soie d’Alger is a seven-strand thread. If you are stitching on 13 or 14 mesh, this is a perfect size. If you are stitching on 18 mesh, however, this presents a problem. You will want to use four strands for most stitches.

That leaves you with an annoying three strands. Because of the way Threadworx dyes, you can probably color match. My suggestion is that you reverse the direction of two of the strands. Then you can combine two of the leftover strands with two leftovers from another thread. You will get a more overall distribution of color.

Because the skein size is small (5.5 yards), you need to be careful about amounts. The ornament here, where I didn’t reverse strands and didn’t use the three extra strands, took an entire skein. Be sure to buy enough thread for your project.

This skein of thread was provided to me free of charge for testing purposes.

Silk Gauze – Try It You’ll Like It!

Janet Perry — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:26:58 +0000

Originally posted 2009-05-22 08:32:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I have always been afraid to use silk gauze. First there’s the eye thing — I don’t do well with magnifiers. Second there’s the mesh size thing, I tend not to like things which are that delicate and small.

But Kreinik has taken silk gauze out of this world and into the world of basic needlepoint with silk gauze in 18 and 20 mesh. It comes mounted or unmounted. Since retail is 3 or 4 times the cost of canvas, I like the mounted best. You can order on-line through Kreinik’s excellent on-line mall or your LNS can order it for you.

During my vacation I had a chance to make the piece pictured above on 18 mesh silk gauze and it was tons of fun. I can’t wait to make more.

Silk gauze is often not sold by the inch, the way canvas is, but is sold in precut sizes mounted in mat board. This is because the silk is expensive and the mat board provides the unworked margin. I also found that the mat board is it’s own frame, so the project was very portable.

Silk gauze also has a couple of other important characteristics, you need to consider when using it. The threads are pretty much translucent, so they can almost disappear against the background as you stitch. I found having something solid and dark as a backdrop worked best. The printed skirt I was wearing wasn’t good, but the dark carpet was.

You can see from the picture of my stitching just how transparent it is, the thread ends on the back can be seen easily.

The threads are also thinner than mono canvas, more like the size of interlock or a bit thinner. This could mean that you need to use slightly thicker threads, but I found I didn’t.

You also need to stitch with a looser tension. This is for several reasons. First off, the mat board isn’t that sturdy, so it’s pretty easy to bend or even to have the gauze come off. Second, silk gauze is woven like interlock canvas, so there isn’t “give” in the intersections. Pull too hard and you will have a mess.

I loved using it and I loved the results. My mind is bursting with possibilities for using this ground and I’m going to be trying some experiments over the next couple of months.

FAS-Stitch Pendant

Janet Perry — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:41:44 +0000

Originally posted 2007-02-22 06:51:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Imagine a sleekly elegant pendant hanging from a sterling choker or leather cord. Sound good?

Now imagine that pendant being made from needlepoint. Sound too good to be true?

It was until late last year, when FAS-Stitch came on the scene. They sell stunning needlepoint pendants, frame, earring, and cufflinks, put into a brushed aluminum frames.

You can buy these pieces from FAS-Stitch in one of three ways:

1. Finishing only: You buy your own canvas and buy the finishing from them. Once your piece is stitched, put it into the postage-paid envelope and send it to them. Two weeks later your finished piece is returned in a lovely gift box.

2. Finishing and kit: This has the finishing with a computer-printed canvas and threads for stitching it. These kits also include a second outlined canvas. The finishing for the first piece is included in the initial cost. Finishing is done the same way. The bonus kit includes an order form for the finishing (and the cost).

3. Finishing and outline kit: These kits do not have the colored canvas, instead they have an outlined canvas which you can stitch is threads or colors of your choice. They also include 18 cards of Rainbow Gallery Mandarin Floss. Same deal with finishing.

I am so pleased with the results. The pendant is dramatic and beautiful People don’t realize that it’s needlepoint. My DD, who is artistic, but not a needlepoint sort of person, loves hers. It arrived on Valentine’s Day too, which made it a perfect gift.

Tapis-tree Bags – Product review

Janet Perry — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:26:35 +0000

Originally posted 2006-03-18 07:32:47. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Tapis-tree (http://www.tapis-tree.com), Carolyn Barrani’s needlework company, has
created one of the most innovative ideas I’ve seen in self-finishing. Carolyn makes velvet
bags, boots, and Christmas stockings, with ribbon trim which can hold finished
needlepoint. The velvet items are sold with hand-painted canvases to match.

Stitch the canvas, block and trim. Insert it into the opening, blindstitch the edges and
your are done.

There are two small bags, square and rectangular, four sizes of tote bags, along with
stockings and boots for Christmas. The array of canvases available for the bags and totes
includes a variety of stained glass designs, mosaic initials, single flowers (very cool) and
mosaic vegetables. All are painted beautifully and are easy to stitch. If you are looking for
a scrap bag project, the mosaic designs feature a background which can be done in
several threads in the same color.

The velvet bags and totes come in over 15 different colors. Denim has newly been added
to the line of bags.

The Christmas stockings provide a wonderful solution for stitchers looking for timeless
and elegant religious designs. The canvases are small and are inserted into lovely
stockings. Attached to the stocking is a velvet name tag. Finished the same way, you
supply the canvas and thread to customize the stocking. This is one stocking you could
start two weeks before Christmas and expect to have a finished heirloom in time for
Christmas morning.

I love these bags and stockings. Carolyn has created a real winner here combining great
design and self-finishing into one lovely package.

Kreinik’s Holographic Threads – Product Review

Janet Perry — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:53:26 +0000

As a needlepointer, I am always looking for ways to create new effects in my stitching. One of my favorite ways is to use different threads. Like many of you I was very excited when Kreinik announced their holographic threads in January. They became popular right off the bat. I decided to give them a real workout in my testing so that you would have the best information possible when using them.

Construction

In order to make holographic threads, mylar which has a holographic texture is sliced into very, very thin strips. The more of these strips there are, the more the thread has the “holographic” texture. This means the ribbon, which is all holographic strips, has more of this look than the braids.

Holographic threads have a different texture than non-holographic metallics. They are rougher and more brittle. I found in stitching that bits of thread that had broken would stand up in my stitching. It doesn’t mar your ability to stitch, but it would be good to keep scissors handy to clip these bits off.

Even though the strands are brittle, the thread is not, you will always need to cut the thread from the spool and stretch it gently.

Stitches

Another characteristic of holographic threads is that they are more holographic as the stitches lengthen. In the mini=sock pictured above you can see that the holographic effect is minimal in the Basketweave hearts and stronger in the longer stitches, both the Diagonal Gobelin stripes and the Straight Gobelin zigzag. When using these threads, plan accordingly.

The coverage with these threads is fantastic. I left several of the stripes and hearts partially unstitched so that you could see that the colors do not show through. That’s a great feature.

Color

Kreinik has brought out 16 colors in their holographic line, and I used the all of them in this piece. What I discovered was interesting and really useful for stitchers. The holographic effect is muted by the darkness of the color. While it is still there in dark colors, such as brown or burgundy, it isn’t obvious. This means that a holographic thread does not have to overwhelm the other textures in the piece. If you want a bold effect, pick bright, loud colors. If you want it to blend in with the other threads in the piece, pick small stitches and darker colors.

Light

The lighting conditions where you view any piece with holographic threads makes an enormous difference in the effect. This is a characteristic of all holographic threads, and not of just Kreinik’s. At night under artificial light the sparkle is very subdued. Outside, in bright sunlight, everything was very sparkly. Inside in daylight, the effect was still there, but wasn’t so overwhelming. Keep the final product and lighting conditions in mind when you use the holographic threads so you won’t be disappointed.

Holographic Ribbon vs. Braid

ribbon on left. braid on right

Because of it’s construction, the holographic ribbons have more of the mylar film than the braids. Looking at the spools, the braid’s base (i.e. non-metallic) thread is obvious. In the picture above, I have stitched two squares of Basketweave. The one on the left uses ribbon, the one on the right uses the same color in Tapestry (#12) braid.

In sunlight I didn’t see much difference between the two other than the differences from the thread construction. Last night, under artificial light the braid was slightly darker and had a more metallic and less holographic sheen. The base thread essentially disappears, as it does in all the other Kreinik threads I’ve used. That’s fantastic!

In choosing which holographic thread to use, I would pick entirely by the stitches to be done. If you will be using longer stitches, even if they are mixed with Tent Stitch, I’d pick the ribbon, the seamless look is great. Otherwise the braids are great

Comparison to Rainbow Gallery’s Holographic Fyre Werks

Rainbow Gallery’s Holo Fyre Werks is also a holographic metallic ribbon. It is slightly wider than the 1/16″ ribbon. It comes in 19 colors, some of which are unique to this thread. There is an on-line color card.

Both threads behave similarly and feel about the same. Thinking about the color range, Rainbow Gallery has a wider selection of metallics (i.e. gold and silver) while Kreinik has a better selection of medium value colors. The two threads are interchangable except for color.

Conclusion

I am really excited about the possibilities of these threads. They are fun to use and have a wonderful range of possibilities. Try some, you’ll find they are great.

FTC Note: The FTC now requires that I disclose the origin of products I review. The Kreinik threads were provided to me free of charge as part of their Designer Program and not for purposes of review. The Rainbow Gallery thread is from my stash as is the In Good Company stocking.