finishing needlepoint

Needlepoint Quilt Block Gift Tags – New Free Pattern

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

needlepoint twinchie patchwork quilt block gift tags, free needlepoint project by needlepoint expert janet m. perry

Get these free gift tag patterns at My 365 magazine's site.

These four almost Twinchie (34 stitches square) quilt blocks are really quick to stitch and can be finished quickly to make simple ornaments or gift tags.

They are stitched in colors to compliment the overdyed canvas colors, but any scrap of mono canvas will do.

I just love the bright bold look.

The patterns for the quartet are free and can be found in My 365‘s holiday issue, out today. The beautiful magazine is on-line and free.

As a part of the issue, I’m participating in a giveaway of my books. Visit the site to learn how to enter.

BTW to turn any of these into a true Twinchie, just add a one row “binding” in Continental as a border.

Related posts:

  1. Pinwheel Quilt Block Pin Cushion – Free Project
  2. Mosaic Stitch Necklace – Free Pattern from Ziva Needlepoint
  3. Make the Tag the Gift with this Needlepoint
  4. Magazine Alert & Needlepoint Gift Ideas
  5. Scrap Bag Diamonds – Free Stash Buster Needlepoint Pattern

Link:
Needlepoint Quilt Block Gift Tags – New Free Pattern

Finishing Elements Tutorials from DMC

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Tassels and Twisted Cord are two basic elements of finishing. It’s simply fantastic if you can make your own.

Not only can they add lovely custom touches to items you finish yourself, by supplying them, you can also get a bit more control in what the final product may look like. When you make your own, you can incorporate so many different threads to get a unique look.

DMC has posted two wonderful tutorials on their blog. They have lots of photos and step-by-step instructions. Visit them to learn how to:

make a basic tassel
make twisted cord

Related posts:

  1. Sandy’s Finishing Touches – Book Review
  2. Finishing 101 – Needlepoint Book Review
  3. Finishing a Mini-sock
  4. How to Make Twisted Cord
  5. Finishing the Small Ornament

Read more:
Finishing Elements Tutorials from DMC

Eye Candy for Some Quick to Make Needlepointed Gifts

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in accessories,Nuts About Needlepoint


Over at the blog Pin Pals you can find some great quick to make (and finish) ideas for Christmas gifts.

Because they don’t have finished edges interlock is best to use here, but don’t you just love the needlepoint barrette pictured here?

And, when you go visit, you’ll just love the Needlepoint Inchy Bookmarks. You could even use these ideas as a springboard for projects for your kids to make.

If you don’t want to make them yourself, the bloggers also have an Etsy shop.

Thanks to Denise at Craft Gossip for pointing this out.

Related posts:

  1. Innovative Quick DIY Finish
  2. Make a Quick Bracelet from Stash Threads & Plastic Canvas
  3. Use Free Designs to Make Great Gifts
  4. Princely Collection Bookmark – 12 Days of Needlepoint Gifts
  5. Etsy Store for A Dragon’s Tale Now Open

Link:
Eye Candy for Some Quick to Make Needlepointed Gifts

Spiff up Your iPhone

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in accessories,Nuts About Needlepoint

DIY iPhone cover

Isn’t this too cute?

Leesedesign is making a DIY iPhone cover. It fits the iPhone 4G and has holes drilled in it so you can stitch a cover. It’s being sold through a company in Korea.

The kit comes with the cover, three shades of floss, and some charts. The cover is woven, like mono canvas, but is, I think, vinyl. It comes in six colors (white, black, pink, orange, lime, and blue). There is a great description with tons of photos on-line. You’ll see the colors about halfway down and below that are nine charts you can use to stitch it. The size of the cover is 36×69.

It’s so adorable, I ordered it immediately and then realized I have an iPod Touch 4G, not an iPhone. I hope it will fit anyway.

The cost is $18 with $4 for shipping to the US and you can order it on the product description page.

Thanks and a tip of the hat to Denise from Craft Gossip.

Related posts:

  1. A Needlepoint iPhone?
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  4. Lots of Free Needlepoint Patterns
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More:
Spiff up Your iPhone

New Self-finishing from Lee Needle Arts

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in accessories,Nuts About Needlepoint

Colonial Needle has released four new products in their line of Lee Needle Arts self-finishing items.

They include an iPad Cover in black or red. It has a large area for needlework and uses the same elastic corners their ebook reader uses (my reviews of this product is tomorrow).

It comes in black and red.

Next is the same additional insert for their bags. It looks as if it’s the one used for Leigh’s popular Fash-Inserts.

There is a great alligator belt in white, red and black that uses the popular 3″ round/

Possibly my favorite is the two-insert nylon tote. It’s navy, a great color, and not only does it have places for two pieces of needlepoint, it opens wider than their other totes. It comes with two inserts so that you can change the look. It comes in black, brown, red & navy. One is on it’s way to me.

Related posts:

  1. New Needlepoint at Dallas Market – Guest Post
  2. Finishing Up at TNNA
  3. Lee Needle Arts – Hand Painted Canvas Needlepoint & Accessories
  4. Needlepoint Market News – June 2011 (Part 1)
  5. What Can I Do with a Belt Canvas?

Read the original post:
New Self-finishing from Lee Needle Arts

How to Finish an Open Item (Such as a Mini-sock)

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Stitching & finishing bySusan Thompson

.

My friend Susan does an amazing job of finishing and has recently started a blog. She showed, in an illustrated tutorial, her method for finishing an open ornament.

Her model uses a hat, pictured here, but this is exactly the technique you would use for mini-socks, bells, full-size stockings, mittens, or any object you want to be open and lined, but not stiff like a purse or box.

Thanks, Susan!

Related posts:

  1. Finishing a Mini-sock
  2. Bargello Odd Number Mini-Sock
  3. Finishing a Mini Sock
  4. Pine Trees Mini-Sock
  5. Byzantine – March Learn-a-Stitch Mini-Sock

See the original post here:
How to Finish an Open Item (Such as a Mini-sock)

Finish your Carrots – Don’t Eat Them!

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

On Sudukc’s delightful blog, she has been stitching on orange canvas, a series of carrots. They are being stitched from some of the delightful Cross-Eyed Cricket charts.

As an aside, because these charts are whole stitch, they are fantastic to do as needlepoint.

Anyhow, Sue has finished stitching the series and now has posted detailed instructions (with lots of photos) on how she finished them.

Now you probably aren’t stitching 30 carrots and are wondering why this is such a great post. The method of finishing an ornament as a flat shape is a great, no-sew method for making ornaments. In addition because “carrot’ isn’t a shape you normally find, the post shows you how to cut and shape the board to get a great result.

This is so good and so helpful!

Related posts:

  1. Innovative Quick DIY Finish
  2. Finish Needlepoint as a Pillow Ornament
  3. Step-by-step — Finish a Self-finishing Bag
  4. Finishing the Small Ornament
  5. Let’s Get . . . Finishing

Continued here:
Finish your Carrots – Don’t Eat Them!

Gallery of Inventive Needlepoint Finishing

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Thanks to the great folks at Pocket Full of Stitches, we have a lovely gallery of inventive needlepoint finishes photographed at the recent Dallas Needlework Market.

I’m always perplexed at how to finish my needlepoint, so I am so grateful for these many wonderful ideas.

Related posts:

  1. Shay Pendray’s Inventive Needlework – book review
  2. Finishing the Mermaid
  3. The Joys of Self-finishing
  4. Finishing 101 – Needlepoint Book Review
  5. Timeless Totes Self-finishing Clutch – Product Review

Read the rest here:
Gallery of Inventive Needlepoint Finishing

Cute Idea for Plastic Canvas

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in accessories,Nuts About Needlepoint

I saw this Friday on Must Have Cute. If your know video games, these are Fire Flowers made on plastic canvas using floss. They are then cut out and glued to a simple hair clip. They are available, I think, on Etsy.

But isn’t this a fantastic (and easy) finishing idea. If you use 14-count plastic canvas, they’ll look delicate and you won’t have to buy any special thread.

Next week, I’ll have a post on a book that’s a great source for small motifs that would be perfect here.

This could be a delightful Easter present!

Related posts:

  1. Plastic Canvas Podcast
  2. Got Some Leftover Plastic Canvas and Need a Fast Gift?
  3. Another Plastic Canvas Alert
  4. Two Great Plastic Canvas Patterns
  5. Great Plastic Canvas

Link:
Cute Idea for Plastic Canvas

Needlepoint New Products – March 2010

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in accessories,Halloween,Nuts About Needlepoint

I just found out about lots of great new needlepoint products I wanted to share with you.

Charted Needlepoint

DeBee’s Design has more charts available in the Glitz & Glamour and Diamond Delights series. Harlequin Opal is done on black canvas and features a rainbow of brights. Diamond Delights 8 features the colors of the Southwest in large motifs in defined area against a colored and shadesd background.

Brenda E. Kocher has a delightful small project to learn Or Nue, a technique of shaded gold well-suited to canvas. The project features a tiny egg done in this technique on a decorative background.

Cleopatra’s Eyes is designed by Kurdy Biggs and is based on kaleidescope images. It combines several innovative stitches and thread. You can also enhance the design with beads and crystals. It’s a very complex piece.

Canvases

CBK Needlepoint Collection has two new brick covers from Designs by Karen, a dragonfly and one with geckos and ferns. Painted Pony has a delightful Grand Canyon Angel. The canyon takes up most of the skirt and would be a lovely place to show off some great threads.

Melissa Prince Designs has a collection of elegant special occasion bags, with both the front and back as painted canvas. They also include the hardware and a chain strap in silver and antique silver. Carol Gantz of Associated Talents has collaborated with DMC on a series of Store Front Bakery canvases that feature Memory Thread. A free stitch guide that include instructions on using this thread is available.

Dream House has a great watermelon canvas that has big and little watermelon slices in bright colors. I think it has a very Charley Harper feel and would be a great summer project.

Kelly Clark has several new canvases including a new spring topiary (a pair in a decorative border), and Jack Skuleton, a small skeleton all dressed up for a night on the town. It’s just too cute! She also has a series of small bats that are only 6″ inches wide and very cute.

Voila has a clever new idea — key fob kits. Called, Fab Fobs, the kits are self-finishing. In the bag you’ll find a hand-ainted canvas, coordinating grosgrain ribbon for the back, key fob hardware and instructions. Everything is packed in an adorable organza bag so they make a perfect gift.

Cross Stitch designer Anna Lee Waite is now offering hand-painted needlepoint. I saw a charming patchwork heart that was delightful.

Threads, Finishing, & More

Weeks Dye Works introduced four new colors of floss last month: River Rock (grayed-brown), Capri (lovely blue-green), Daylily (yellow-orange), and Charlotte’s Pink (wonderful but somewhat soft pink).

EdMar has introduced a new bright white to their line of rayon threads. It’s shades whiter than their previous white and, according to the company, virtually colorless compared to standard white.

Divine Threads, a maker of overdyed rayon threads has added four new colors to their line that include two pinks: sea shell and old rose, a blue, delphinium, and a green, pine.

Gloriana has also added new colors to their Florimell (Au Ver a Soie): a series of fantastic browns: Fawn, Hazelnut, Antique Black, and Havana Brown.

Crescent Colours has new colors in both floss and silk. The new floss colors are Blue Corn (a bright blue), Hazelnut (greenish-gold) and Chopped Chives (slightly blued green). The new silk colors are Berry Cobbler (think of blueberry juice from a cobbler), Biscotti (dark ecru), and Pecan Pie (brownish gold).

Gentle Art has four lovely soft colors available in both Simply Shaker Cotton Floss and Simply Wool. They are Baked Clay, Trade Wind, Faded Rose, and Honeydew. All four a pale and soft almost Shabby Chic colors that have a feminine vintage feel. They also have two new limited edition colors: crocus (blue) and Bermuda Grass (green).

Lee has come out with some great new bags, including a nylon laptop bag (available in olive and black) and a lightweight nylon tite with two zippered outer pockets. They also have leather biker bags in two sizes complete with chain straps and studs around the area for the needlepoint.

Finally our prayers go out to the folks at Kreinik and to the Kreinik family. Patriarch and company co-founder Jerry Kreinik died earlier this week. Although I never met him, our needlepoint world is far richer for the pioneering things he did.

Related posts:

  1. New Needlepoint Products – August 2010
  2. New Needlepoint Products – April 2010
  3. New in Needlepoint – June 2010
  4. February 2010 New Needlepoint Products
  5. New Needlepoint Products – August 2009

Read more from the original source:
Needlepoint New Products – March 2010

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