Comments on: Needlepoint, Fancy Stitches, and “Too Much of a Good Thing Is . . .” http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/needlepoint-fancy-stitches-and-too-much-of-a-good-thing-is/ An encyclopedia of needlepoint and thread information for all stitchers. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:58:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Carol http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/needlepoint-fancy-stitches-and-too-much-of-a-good-thing-is//comment-page-1#comment-7765 Carol Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:38:47 +0000 http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/?p=2385#comment-7765 I can understand the line of thinking that perhaps needlepoint has strayed too far from its origins, and that there can be "too much of a good thing," but I personally believe that using specialty stitches has several benefits. 1) It allows each stitcher to personalize each piece to their owns tastes 2) It can stretch the skills of the stitcher--the opportunity to learn something new, try something different, challenge the conventional way of looking at something 3) It makes the finished pieces (in my mind anyway), much more interesting to look at 4) It provides an opportunity to use all those cool threads now available on the market. While I believe that plain old tent stitch has its place, I have to admit that I have NEVER done a piece in just tent stitch--I started out doing charted needlepoint from Jean Hilton and Susan Portra. The painted canvases I have in my stash will all be done with specialty stitches and heavy texture. My brain just doesn't see them any other way. Carol I can understand the line of thinking that perhaps needlepoint has strayed too far from its origins, and that there can be “too much of a good thing,” but I personally believe that using specialty stitches has several benefits.

1) It allows each stitcher to personalize each piece to their owns tastes
2) It can stretch the skills of the stitcher–the opportunity to learn something new, try something different, challenge the conventional way of looking at something
3) It makes the finished pieces (in my mind anyway), much more interesting to look at
4) It provides an opportunity to use all those cool threads now available on the market.

While I believe that plain old tent stitch has its place, I have to admit that I have NEVER done a piece in just tent stitch–I started out doing charted needlepoint from Jean Hilton and Susan Portra. The painted canvases I have in my stash will all be done with specialty stitches and heavy texture. My brain just doesn’t see them any other way.

Carol

]]> By: marianne http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/needlepoint-fancy-stitches-and-too-much-of-a-good-thing-is//comment-page-1#comment-7756 marianne Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:10:46 +0000 http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/?p=2385#comment-7756 I wave in the distance and nod, nod, nod agreement. Thanks Janet, you always say things more directly and clearly than I do but you never would have thought to include Snow White! That is pure Me. I wave in the distance and nod, nod, nod agreement. Thanks Janet, you always say things more directly and clearly than I do but you never would have thought to include Snow White! That is pure Me.

]]> By: Susan Pejovich http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/needlepoint-fancy-stitches-and-too-much-of-a-good-thing-is//comment-page-1#comment-7746 Susan Pejovich Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:36:02 +0000 http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/?p=2385#comment-7746 I agree with the idea of not getting so caught up in stitch variety, maximizing the number of complex stitches, adding exotic fibers, textures and beads (yee-gad),so that the patterns and harmony of the design are likely to be overwhelmed. That said, I heard or read recently (maybe Jo I. Christensens' Needlepoint Book) that there are three main variables: stitch, color, and texture. And that it should work out OK if the variation is limited to two of the three variables. Then go to town (up to a point) on the other two. I am working on Maggie Lanes' "Patchwork Kimono" which demands quite a bit of variety (by definition)and heeding this two-out-of-three-variables advice seems to be keeping the whole thing "in check" rather than stitches run amuck! I will be diligent in making sure all this work doesn't just turn into a big mess. As always, this website and Janets' blog is the first thing I check after email. cheers susan I agree with the idea of not getting so caught up in stitch variety, maximizing the number of complex stitches, adding exotic fibers, textures and beads (yee-gad),so that the patterns and harmony of the design are likely to be overwhelmed. That said, I heard or read recently (maybe Jo I. Christensens’ Needlepoint Book) that there are three main variables: stitch, color, and texture. And that it should work out OK if the variation is limited to two of the three variables. Then go to town (up to a point) on the other two.
I am working on Maggie Lanes’ “Patchwork Kimono” which demands quite a bit of variety (by definition)and heeding this two-out-of-three-variables advice seems to be keeping the whole thing “in check” rather than stitches run amuck!
I will be diligent in making sure all this work doesn’t just turn into a big mess.
As always, this website and Janets’ blog is the first thing I check after email.
cheers
susan

]]> By: Joyce Shannon http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/needlepoint-fancy-stitches-and-too-much-of-a-good-thing-is//comment-page-1#comment-7742 Joyce Shannon Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:44:51 +0000 http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/?p=2385#comment-7742 Amen. Sometimes we get so bogged down or frustrated with learning something new or trying a new thread that we lose all enjoyment from the piece. I just did a simple cross stitch piece and enjoyed watching the design - as designed - emerge on the cloth. Simple, easy, but gave my mind the freedom to wonder how that area could be done in another way, how I could get an ornament out of the design elements in this area, ussing a needlepoint stitch or different thread. Maybe boring cross stitch but relaxing and easy. A good way to wind down after a long day. Amen. Sometimes we get so bogged down or frustrated with learning something new or trying a new thread that we lose all enjoyment from the piece. I just did a simple cross stitch piece and enjoyed watching the design – as designed – emerge on the cloth. Simple, easy, but gave my mind the freedom to wonder how that area could be done in another way, how I could get an ornament out of the design elements in this area, ussing a needlepoint stitch or different thread. Maybe boring cross stitch but relaxing and easy. A good way to wind down after a long day.

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