The knitwear of the Italian fashion house Missoni, is always one that is a wonderful springboard to needlepoint. Because they design knits and are renowned for their zigzag patterns and bold color choices, often you can use high fashion pieces as the starting point for needlepoint, especially for Bargello.
My recent free pattern for The Caron Collection is a wallet insert with colors taken from a Missoni pillow that used a similar zigzag pattern.
Although I’m too swamped to stitch it now, this Missoni purse from 2004 is a Bargello pattern that is easy to do.
It’s a shallow scallop pattern. The purse, a clutch bag, uses many different colors. Instead of trying to reproduce it exactly, I would pick 10-12 solid colors in one thread, I’m thinking Silk & Ivory or wool, and put them into a paper bag.
For each new row, pick out a color from the bag. Put it back when you have finished the row and pick another color. If you pick the same color, put it back and pick again.
Otherwise anything goes.
Once I get caught up, I’m going to do it as an insert to a Stirling tote in my stash.
The result will be something as unique as you are and for a fraction the price of the original.
Related posts:
- Bargello Mirror or Luggage Tag
- A Different Sort of Needlepoint Bargello – Patterned Satin Stitch
- The Pink of Perfection
- Bargello Theme & Variations
- Make a Bold Initial Bargello Boxtop!
Go here to read the rest:
Missoni Bargello Pillow – High Fashion Inspirations
Stitched in honor of 50 years in business.
Yesterday we learned about some types of images that work for custom needlepoint in Part One of Sandy’s post. Today, we’ll learn about two other types of images. Tomorrow, you’ll see mt choices for this projects.
Artwork: Children’s artwork is generally perfect for placing on canvas. Children usually like to use many bright colors and objects are simple (great for fun stitches and fabulous fibers). A family drawn in crayon, placed on canvas and stitched, has more lasting emotional value than a professional portrait any day of the week. Collages, paintings, and other artwork by adults, that is pleasing to the eye will most likely work on canvas. Store Logos, Ranch Brands and Pennsylvania Hex Signs are awesome on canvas. When choosing artwork, look at the original piece and imagine it in needlepoint stitches. Will an overall continental be best or do you see yourself using all sorts of stitches? If there is a body of water, will Janet’s Water Stitch be just the thing to bring it to life? I suggest taking the original artwork to your LNS (Local Needlepoint Shop) and spending some time making a list of fibers that might work on the canvas. Don’t forget to consider adding elements such as ribbons, buttons and beads to your project, when appropriate. Note: Artwork that has large areas of Darkly Mottle not be suitable, if you want to stitch the details that may not be visually apparent.
Finally, please don’t send a tiny little copy of some artwork and ask me to enlarge it to some huge size. . . . I won’t do it, because you would not be happy with the results. Blur, blur, blur! FYI: I cannot accept any artwork that is copyrighted, unless you happen to own the copyright.
It’s a fact, Jack: Artwork that is copied at 100% or Digital Photos in JPEG, TIFF or PDF Formats, saved on a CD, DVD, Flash Drive or sent via e-mail work well. Many copy shops (FedEx Kinkos, for instance) will copy your artwork and save it to your own flash drive at no cost. I return all media with the order. You can submit original artwork, also. PLEASE NOTE: I can only take orders from Needle Art Shops, however, I am happy to work with you during the process of creating your Custom Needlepoint Canvas. Be sure to give your contact information to your LNS when you discuss the ideas for your order.
In the words of Duane Michals, Photographer, “Trust that little voice in your head that says ‘Wouldn’t it be interesting if…’ And then do it.”
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX: How about having a pet’s face on a Holiday ornament? A pillow top from a photo of a vacation house? A long, narrow pillow featuring a single long stemmed rose from the garden.
In the next part of this series, I’ll be discussing what I can do to enhance or improve what you’ve chosen to put onto the canvas. In the meantime, start looking at your photos and artwork through fresh eyes. The possibilities for your very own Custom Needlepoint Canvas are endless!
From My Little Corner of The World,
Sandy
Please visit me!
website: www.sandygrossman-morris.com
blog: sandygrossman-morris.blogspot.com
For more information about her custom designs, please visit: http://www.sandygrossman-morris.com/sandygrosman-morris.com/Custom_Needlepoint_Designs_by_Sandy_Grossman-Morris.html
Related posts:
- CReaTiNG CuSToM NeeDLePoiNT CaNVaSeS (Part One)
- Why a Custom Stitch Guide?
- Why are Hand-Painted Canvases So Expensive?
- Creating a Personal Plaid
- Creating a Simple Design
More here:
CReaTiNG CuSToM NeeDLePoiNT CaNVaSeS (Part Two)
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.
Related posts:
- From Molehill to Mountain – Book Review
- Stitch Notebook – Product Review
- Threadworx Journal – product review
- 3-in-1 Color Tool – Product Review
- Product Review – Backgrounds CD
Originally posted here:
Tiny Treasures – Product Review
While Mae West may have said “Too much of a good thing is wonderful.” She was wrong. I’m definitely of the “Less is More School.” It’s a good rule in dress (think fashion victim), in food (think overly fussy restaurant dishes), and even in music (Too many notes, Mr. Mozart!).
And it’s especially true when it comes to needlepoint.
When you pile on too many threads, colors, and stitches on one canvas, you get a mess. You get what Gay Ann Rogers call “goop.” She explains it in detail in her post, but essentially it is Mary Shipp’s 1,2, 3 rule.
You rank the different aspects of the design so that there is a majority of one (3), a minimum of the other (1), and the middle amount of the third (2). For Gay Ann, the three aspects are line, color, and texture. For me they are stitch, color, and texture.
Whatever you call it, this ranking is important. It gives direction to the person viewing the piece. The needlepoint doesn’t have six things shouting “Look at me!” making it the visual equivalent of all those windows in the AT&T wireless commercial.
It creates balance and makes your needlepoint, as a work of art, look better. By taking away some things, you create a design that has more.
Taking the Craftsman Trees tile pictured above, let’s analyze it. Color is the smallest aspect of the piece. It’s mostly green, with only small bits of the other colors. The greens are mostly similar in value as well, further narrowing the colors. They are also mostly blue-greens, another narrowing.
Stitches are the focal point, with many variations of Cashmere Stitch used.
Texture is in the middle. While many threads are used, they all have a similar matte texture. Think how it wouldn’t look as good if one tree was stitched in shiny rayon, or semi-transparent Flair.
Taken together the piece is balanced.
If you are interested in the chart pack either as a PDF or in print, let me know.
Related posts:
- Stitching Order & Focal Points in Needlepoint
- Changing Colors
- Substitutions in the Abstract Needlepoint
- New Ways with Backgrounds – Tent Stitch
- Salvaging Stitching Disasters in the Making
See the original post:
1,2,3 It’s Easy! Balance in Needlepoint
I’ve been planning my on-line education offerings for the next few months and I’m really excited about them. My plan is to make each one focused on learning a particular aspect of needlepoint. Each one will use a lovely computer-printed canvas. This means that not only will you be learning the technique or stitch but you will be putting it in context on the kind of canvases you see in shops.
At the end you’ll have a lovely finished piece that you can use as a reference, give as a gift or keep for yourself. The projects and instructions are easy enough that beginning stitchers can take the class.
Each class will be announced here when it is open for registration. You can also sign-up for the email list on Needlepoint Stitch Guides.
Kimono from Patt & Lee Designs
October 2010 – Overdye Kimono – An Introduction to Overydyed Threads. This class will use three different overdyed and hand-dyed threads to help you learn to use them on canvases with both Tent & Decorative Stitches
Eyeglass Case from Sandy Grossman-Morris
December 2010 – Silk Ribbon, Embellishments & Padding – Learn Easy techniques to add sparkle & dimension to your needlepoint
Cellphone or iPod Case from Sandy Grossman-Morris
February 2011 – Textured Stitches & Threads – Learn some easy stitches in this charming stitch and thread sampler
Bat Cat canvas from Patt & Lee Designs
April 2011 – Texture in Tent Stitch – Learn ways to use different threads and Tent Stitch to show texture
Lighthouse Ornament from Sandy Grossman-Morris
June 2011 – New Techniques for Overdyed Threads – More easy techniques for using overdyes on canvas to mimic stucco, stone walls, skies, sand, and water. You’ll love how these techniques will make your needlepoint look
All classes will be distributed as PDFs and sent via email. A Yahoo group is set up for each class for supplemental material and discussion.
I have some other longer projects in the works and will let you know about them soon.
Related posts:
- Lighting the Way – Sneak Peek
- Threads Kimono Cyberclass Now Open
- Textured Stitch Cyberclass
- Needlepoint Notecards from Sandy Grossman-Morris
- I Made the Front Page!
Read this article:
Sneak Peek – Cyberclasses, Sept 2010 – June 2011
Order stitch guides like this from my new site.
There’s no doubt about it, stitchers love stitch guides. Our appetite for them is almost insatiable. Talk to any designer and they will tell you shopowners ask about stitch guides all the time.
If a designer has none, they wonder why not. If a designer has some, they want more. And we, as stitchers want them and want them at an affordable price.
Today marks the opening of my new on-line shop, Needlepoint Stitch Guides. Here you will find stitch guides for many popular designers, available both as PDFs (for you to print) or as printed guides). You can order directly from the shop and have your guides as soon as the same day. Talk about immediate stitchy gratification.
It’s the largest on-line shop dedicated to needlepoint stitch guides and related products.
There’s lots more to the site. You’ll find reference information about stitch guides and using them, order forms for my popular custom stitch guides and quick stitch help, and lots more. The site is easy to navigate with guides classified by designer and by subject.
Guides are available for canvases by some of today’s most popular designers including, Melissa Shirley, Kelly Clark, and Raymond Crawford. And for one stop shopping, some designers will allow you to order the canvas at the same time.
There are special products designed to help you make the most of your needlepoint. Background Stitch Guides are stitch and thread suggestions to make your needlepoint shine. Custom versions of them are available at the same low price. Thread Maps help you with a complete listing of threads and areas. Some shops charge up to $50 to pull threads, but with this service you get my expert eye at a low cost. Technique Sheets are specialized sheets (not canvas specific) showing you how to create an effect or do a technique on painted canvas.
I’m committed to sharing my knowledge with you so that your needlepoint can be exciting and beautiful. More products will be added just as fast as I can get them written, so stop back often to see what’s new.
Visit Needlepoint Stitch Guides today and keep stitching!
Related posts:
- Needlepoint Stitch Guides Now Available
- Stitch Guides from Barbara Bergsten
- Announcing Needlepoint Plaids Site
- Dyed and Gone to Heaven – Caron Collection Web Site Review
- Anna Marie Winter’s Outstanding Technique Site – Web Site Review
Read the original here:
Needlepoint Stitch Guides Site Now Open!
Perhaps you’ve been sitting on the fence wondering about taking the new threads kimono class. Maybe you’ve been thinking the threads are too obscure and you won’t use them. Maybe you are thinking you don’t know enough needlepoint. Maybe you are afraid it will be too hard to use many of the threads.
Cast away your doubts and fears, this class is for you!
The threads are all ones you can buy in your local shop (I did) and are by many familiar manufacturers such as Rainbow Gallery, Caron Collection, and Threadworx. If you shop doesn’t carry a particular thread, they should be able to order it.
In order to showcase the threads and to give you a good feel for them, the stitches are easy. Except for one of the background choices, they are all variations of Tent Stitch. If you know how to do basic needlepoint, you know enough to take this class.
Threads are one of my great passions and through trial, error, and study, I have learned lots about them. This class is a chance for you to learn my tips for stitching with many kinds of threads, for learning how to substitute threads with ease and for learning more about threads and how they are made. It’s an exciting journey, come make it with me.
At the risk of sounding trite — Don’t delay, sign up today!
Those who prefer not to pay via PayPal should contact me.
Related posts:
- Threads Kimono Cyberclass Now Open
- Textured Stitch Cyberclass
- Resolutions to Learn Needlepoint
- Hand-dyeing Threads
- From Molehill to Mountain – Book Review
More:
Threads Kimono – Still Room
pattern from 2010 Bargello Challenge
has just undergone a major redesign to make it easier to find patterns and to learn about both Bargello & needlepoint. It’s a great site and you should spend plenty of time there.
This year Althea, the site’s owner, has been trying to stitch a new Bargello pattern everyday in the 2010 Bargello Challenge. With half the year gone, she has an impressive array of patterns stitched. These she has classified in useful pages, like the Bargello Diamond Designs that give a brief descrption of this type of design and then show all of the designs in this category in clickable thumbnails. Click on one and you’ll find a page with a bigger picture, information about the source and some other information about the design.
Besides this amazing resource and record of her project, there is also a store with her ebook of ornaments, links to buy printed books, fun merchandise, and several free downloads.
Two other areas of reference information classified by subject provide a comprehensive index to her blog material. They are Bargello Boot Camp and Needlepoint How-to. Both are great places for exploration.
This is one of the cleanest designed and useful needlepoint sites I’ve seen in a very long time.
Related posts:
- Bargello Ornament Book Now Available
- Bargello Blast-off
- Bargello and Mid-Century Modern Design
- Bargello Blast-off
- Christmas Gift in Bargello
Read more from the original source:
Redesigned & Updated Bargello Site
