Nuts about Needlepoint

New Stitch Map – Petei People Robot

Janet Perry — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:35:26 +0000

Robots are a ton of fun and my idea notebook has many of them cut and pasted in it, but I have mostly been disappointed in the ones I find in needlepoint.

That was until I found this delightful robot from Petei. It’s one of her Petei People (504) and I stitched it as an ornament for my son.

One of the things I love about her canvases is how much texture and detail you can get in such small spaces and with relatively few stitches and techniques.

I have a Stitch Map now available for it giving all threads and stitches, with instruction in a compact two-page guide.

It’s now available to order on my Stitch Guide site. It’s $2 for the PDF (immediate download) and $5 for it to be printed and mailed in the US (international sites have extra postage).

Stitches & Quilt Blocks — Next Year’s Club

Janet Perry — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:03:00 +0000

I finally got around to counting up the votes for this (I’m a charter member of the procrastinator’s club) and the winner for a club theme for next year is stitches and quilt blocks.

I’m excited because quilts always inspire me and this is such a wonderful way to learn new stitches. Best of all, with mostly square sides or true diagonals, compensation is really easy.

It will also give us a wonderful way to explore colors through the projects. I’m going off to do some hard-core designing. And I also need to know your opinion for how you would like to see these packaged. There are three options, which I’ll list from most to least expensive.

painted canvas – you will get a painted canvas in a specific color scheme. The lesson will tell you exactly the threads/colors to buy
line-drawn canvas – you will get line-drawn canvas so you can pick your own threads. Sometimes you will need to color parts of the canvas yourself.
counted canvas – you will get a blank piece of canvas and a map that will tell you how big each patch in the design needs to be. You may draw it on the canvas or just count. Sometimes you will need to color parts of the canvas yourself.

I’m hoping to have more details, including prices, and a sign-up sheet by mid-October.

Lots of people also wanted to explore threads so there will be offerings along those lines as well. Several threads will be used in the monthly projects, there will be some cyberclasses and I’m also planning on putting together some thread exploration packs with threads, canvas, and a small project.

UPDATE ON PRICES: I have figured out some preliminary prices

painted canvas: $22 per month
line-drawn canvas: $15 per month
charted canvas: $12.50 per month

Please remember these prices are approximate and should only be used for comparisons.

Beadpoint – Book Review

Janet Perry — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:24:01 +0000

Originally posted 2003-03-09 22:36:13. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Beadpoint: Beautiful Bead Stitching on Canvas, Anna Benson, Sterling Publications, 2002, $27.95, ISBN: 0-48725-08939

A couple of weeks ago I was at a shop which specializes in seed beads, Out on a Whim. As I looked at their wall of seed beads I kept thinking how cool it would be to do needlepoint using them. And as if God had just heard my prayers, the next day I found this brand new book on just that subject.

Beadpoint is a wonderful introduction to the idea of doing a piece of needlepoint entirely in beads. Benson is clearly aware of both the possibilities and restrictions of the medium. Her book has tons of pictures in the introductory chapters showing you exactly how to attach the beads (even what it looks like on the back), the color and luster choices in seed beads and even very clear explanations of the different types of beads.

She is aware of what works and what doesn’t for needlepoint with beads and gives you good advice. If you follow her suggestions for choices of beads, you will do successful project from the start.

She has also worked out, which is a huge help in trying this technique, which type of bead fits on which canvas. So if, for example, all you can find is No. 11 seed beads (the most common type), you will know to use 14 interlock canvas.

Beading on canvas was extremely popular in Victorian days, especially in conjunction with wool backgrounds, and one of the projects is similar in feel. But virtually all the projects have a bright contemporary style which makes them not your Grandmother’s
needlepoint. There are button covers, ornaments of various kinds (I love the vest the best), a wonderful beaded collar for a dress, mirror backs, box tops, and a lovely Japanese-inspired picture. The projects really give a clear picture of the possibilities.

Each project is accompanied by a clear photo of the finished project, a chart in color, and a material list which often has the colors of beads pictured so you can match your beads to the photos. Instructions are very complete and include information about finishing, which is important in such a new application of needlepoint.

In venturing into new territory for needlepoint, this is a great book, and in creating wonderful contemporary designs, Benson has done a marvelous job on all counts.

Now with those tapestry point beading needles, I’m ready to go!

Tartans and Needlepoint – A Clarification

Janet Perry — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:24:00 +0000

The actual tartan registry showing woven samples from The Scottish Registry of Tartans

There is talk going around the internet yet again, that it is illegal to chart Scottish tartans except for personal use. I have done extensive research and corresponded with the Official Tartan Registry in the UK about this.

Quite simply, this assertion in untrue except in limited cases.

Many tartans pre-date copyright restrictions and still others are old enough to have passed out of copyright into the public domain. This means, quite simply, that they can be used freely by anyone at any time for any purpose.

You might be asking yourself, what technically does this mean. Copyright was created as a way for authors to protect their work from unauthorized printing. It also has a definite lifetime. If something is older than that lifetime, for example a Jane Austen novel, it no longer is protected by copyright and anyone can print it. That’s when something goes into the public domain.

To see how this works in practice, think about the Royal Stewart tartan. You can find it (and this is just the first page of Google results) as a kilt, a tie, a leash, a dog bed, tennis shoes, and a hot water bottle cover. All this is perfectly legal, as would be a needlepoint interpretation of the same tartan, whether for sale or for personal use.

Some tartans, however, were created by specific companies or for specific purposes and are restricted in their use. This plaid, the Barbour tartan, is restricted. It says so clearly on the site and explains the limits on its use. It is used for the lining of jackets made by this company. If I wanted to make a needlepoint adaptation of this tartan, I would have to seek permission from the company, just as I would need to to adapt and sell needlepoint of an artist’s work.

But restricted tartans are in the minority. Any already-created or custom tartan you buy from Napa Needlepoint and my site, Needlepoint Plaids, can be sold.

It’s unfortunate that there is this misunderstanding of what is very clear.

Cross Stitch & the Olympics

Janet Perry — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:31:06 +0000

Originally posted 2008-08-15 08:00:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

You may think, unless you are an athlete or have kids who are athletes, that this is a glamorous life.

It’s not. There is lots of practice, lots of stress, and lots of boring travel.

What these people need is a hobby.

And what better hobby than needlework. In China, according to this article in China Daily, cross stitch has become the hobby of choice for many of the country’s female Olympians.

It’s a great article. I wish more of our athletes would take up needlework as well.

Product and Book Review Month

Janet Perry — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:31:05 +0000

There are so many wonderful needlepoint things I have to tell you about, I’m going to devote at least two posts every week this month to reviews. Threads, kits, projects, books, and finishing items — you’ll find a wonderful variety of reviews here. Each individual review will appear under the categories of “product reviews” or “book reviews,” depending on the item. Those categories are under “markets, products & reviews”in the bars at the top of the page. If there is a category for a specific item, you’ll also find the post there. Tomorrow find the first review of DebBee’s Designs needlepoint pendants. Related posts:A Brief Word about Product Reviews The Embroidery Stitch Bible – book review Book Review Now On-line Dimensions Needlepoint Bracelets – Product Review Lani Enterprises – Web Site Review Related posts:

Summary of Free Patterns

Janet Perry — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:31:22 +0000

I hope you liked this free patterns month. There was lots of stitchy goodness here as well as plenty of inspiring patterns ands projects for you to stitch.

Here’s a summary of what we saw:

If all these weren’t enough there are plenty of other ways to find posts about free patterns on Nuts about Needlepoint. The easiest way is to use the categories, found in the dark gray boxes at the top of every page. Every post that has a free pattern, mine or not, will be in the category, free patterns, found under design types. Come Stitch with Me (under Community) has longer free projects.

You can also find free projects, along with lots of other stuff, under technique categories, beginners, charts, and specific design types.

Have fun stitching!

“A” is for . . .

Janet Perry — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:34:32 +0000

Originally posted 2006-07-16 22:09:54. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I had this “A” canvas hanging around the stash for years and years. I think I bought it at a Guild Auction (a great place to get canvases and projects). I suspect it was part of a class, and judging by the drawing on the canvas, the flowers, leaves and such were supposed to be ribbon embroidery.

But I decided to make it as a quick present for my DD, who has a birthday coming up. And since the flowers were circles, I decided to make the whole thing Mary Englebreit-ish.

I use Spring II in Baby Alisha for the background, black Splendor for the outline (oblique continental) and threads from the scrap bag for everything else. I only took me about three hours total to do.

I’m getting a frame later this morning and framing it for her. I just love it!

Although it was Saturday, not Sunday, it’s been a stressful week, finishing needlepoint for people I love has made it easier. And it’s making my stash smaller.

Free Pattern – Seize the Day

Janet Perry — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:34:31 +0000

I love this free design of Star’s in so many ways. The saying, “Seize the day” in Latin, is one it is always good to remember. I love the look of the lettering and the cracked marble. The leaves on the lower left are Acanthus leaves.

Although Star explains in her post why she put them there. I also like them here because they remind me of the abundance of God’s grace and of creation. Here’s why. I used to live in a house with Acanthus planted all along the driveway. In northern California they grow very well. Being big and flashy they were a nice driveway plant. But they also attracted snails, seemingly billions of them. Now snails are also really common in Northern California and the bane of many gardeners.

But here I had my own personal snail traps. Except for the holes in the leaves, and with leaves that big who cares, it was such a perfect combination. I had lovely plants to look at, the snails had food, and we all were happy with God and His World.

So seize the day and do this needlepoint!

Back in Action

Janet Perry — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:27:46 +0000

Originally posted 2009-01-12 22:38:57. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

You may have been wondering why you haven’t heard from me for a few days.

The simple answer is that I moved and it’s taken me until now to get my computer connected.

I did some posts in advance which took me through until Friday, thinking, silly me, that if I was moving on Tuesday surely I would be back in action by Saturday.

HA!

The new house didn’t close until Friday. No worries, even though I was living from a paper bag and at a hotel whose beds were harder than some floors, I could get to the web to check my email now and again.

We moved Friday and the cable guy came to hook up the Internet. On Friday night I tried to hook up the router but had no signal. That’s because the cable modem wasn’t hooked up to the network running through the walls.

My DS finally, through trial and error got it hooked up, but if this is the fastest speed we have a problem (that’s one of tomorrow’s issues).

So by Saturday night we had Internet connection and my computer was set up but the wireless thingy which makes my Mac work with a wireless router said there was no Internet.

Apparently that side of the studio is just too far, but the diagonally opposite corner is OK.

So that’s where I sit, with the computer set up on a folding table.

It could be worse. And since we’ll be painting in here and narrowing the doorway so I can get a door and close it on the mess, the fact that the nice desk my DH gave me is now an expensive thread storage unit is only a minor problem.

And did I mention the chandelier in the middle of the room?

This room was supposed to be the dining room and has a honking big light fixture in the middle of it, made of iron and only five feet from the ground. I bashed my head on it Saturday night so badly it still hurts there and have had to resort to putting two empty boxes in the middle of the room to keep away from it.

They are so decorative.

Back with some real posts tomorrow but I wanted to bring you up-to-date.