history

Originally posted 2008-01-15 08:06:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

June McKnight, self-published, 2008.

I learned to stitch Bargello, as did many others, from Elsa William’s wonderful book. It’s long been out of print and I have never found a beginner’s book on Bargello to match it. That is until now.

June has created the perfect Bargello book for beginners. It’s small enough to fit into your project bag, has incredibly clear charts and diagrams, lots of good instruction, and, best of all, leaves you to exercise your own creativity.

The book begins with a preface, which covers the basics of Bargello. Canvas, colors, theads are covered along with useful hints for coverage and calculating yarn needs.
She also covers how to make the stitch for Bargello, the history and some explanation of the names.

The heart of the book is the many patterns. There are 40 in the book, all named. The patterns are divided into four groups. The first is “Easy Tracking Row Patterns.” These are single row patterns, simple to establish, but still very lovely.

Next are “Complex Tracking Row Patterns.” These patterns are also single row patterns, but they are more difficult. Some, like Frantic, have lots of movement. Others, like Marvelous, have stitches of different lengths.

Next come “Medallions.” These patterns are not in rows, but create shapes which are then filled in. This chapter begins with a short introduction describing medallions and how to stitch them. Some of these patterns are classic ones, like Pomegranite. Others, like Pink Diamond, are a fresh take on Bargello.

The final chapter is “Advanced Variations.” The patterns in this section are more difficult. Some, like Baby Scallops, are small. Others, like Alligater Teeth, are quite large. Both line and medallion patterns are included in this section.

A good beginner’s book on Bargello should get you started on Bargello (which is unbelievably easy) but have enough meat in it that you find inspiration for projects long after you stop being a beginner. June’s book fulfills this goal superbly.

Now where’s some blank canvas?

See the rest here:
Book Review – The Best Bargello Book

Stretching Old Canvas

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

A few weeks ago a reader wrote to me with a question. She had found some vintage needlepoint and had taken it to a shop to be stretched and mounted onto stretcher bars. It wasn’t done very tightly and she wondered about the quality of the canvas and if low quality had anything to do with the problems.

Since I work on painted canvases this old all the time, I knew age wasn’t entirely the problem. However older canvases do have some differences. This is what I told her:

There are many factors that affect the quality of a needlepoint canvas. The three biggest ones are: weave, fiber length, and age. I suspect all three were working in the canvases you brought in.

1. Weave: Interlock canvas is always of lower quality than mono or penelope canvas, If you took one piece of each and examined it, you would see that the Interlock had thinner threads and weighed less than the mono. Even the best quality of interlock won’t be as high quality as mono. All interlock canvas is woven with shorter fibers than mono canvas and that contributes to its lower quality.

2. Fiber length: The technical term for this in cotton is staple length. In all cotton cloth, the longer the fibers, the higher quality the cloth. If you look at Zweigart orange line (their deluxe mono) you can see that the threads are thick and smooth. For this canvas they use a fairly long staple cotton.

But there are lower quality mono canvases (though I don’t see them often anymore) which have thinner threads and are lighter in weight. They are also kind of frizzy if you look at the holes, a sure sign of shorter fibers.

3. Age: The sizing that makes canvas stiff softens with age, being stretched, and with stitching. If your canvas was old, or had been stretched before, it will be softer.

HOWEVER, none of this should have made it impossible to stretch to a workable tightness, it’s just a bit harder to do. I regularly stitch vintage (20+ years) canvas and have no problems. Interlock will not stretch as tight as mono, especially if it is old, but you could mitigate this somewhat by using Evertite stretcher bars, where you can increase the tension.

If a person isn’t willing to stretch the canvas properly (diagonally opposite, starting at the center of each side), you will get a bad result with any canvas, old or new, no matter the quality.

See original here:
Stretching Old Canvas

The Importance of Scrapbook Organization Whilst Working on Your Life’s History

in Scrapbooking

Whilst Scrapbooking Your Life’s History normally comes about due to attending a history class at school and being asked in your history class to look into your family history. Those that love…

Original post:
The Importance of Scrapbook Organization Whilst Working on Your Life’s History

Jane Zimmerman — Great Teacher, Great Site

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Originally posted 2008-11-08 14:21:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

She doesn’t know it, but Jane Zimmerman was one of the first needlepoint people I heard about when I moved to California in 1980. My house was, providentially for me, just up the street from a needlepoint store called The Crewel World. Jane taught there for many years.

I remember seeing her stunningly gorgeous teaching pieces on display and wishing I had time and money to take them.

Besides being a whiz at stitching, Jane has an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of needlework. I know how much research and detective work this had to encompass because everytime I try it, my eyes cross.

Now she has opened a wonderful website so we can share he knowledge, and enjoy her books and designs.

Jane no longer travels to teach but she is doing Cyberclasses, with one currently available through the Shining Needle Society. You can also buy kits and projects through the site (specials are on the What’s new page).

Are you looking for comprehensive stitch dictionaries? She has the first two volumes of her encyclopedia available to order on the site, with two more volumes still to come.

But where she really shines is in the information she is so generously sharing with the needlework community. She’s beginning her Needlework History with sections on Medieval Or Nué and Medieval Embroidery.

And she will be adding sections on needlework techniques and stitches in the next year. Currently the technique section has some great articles about doing Or Nué today.

And, for a change of pace, it you want to laugh go to Tickle My Fancy and look at the section on over the top grooming. I laughed till I cried.

Thanks, Jane for a great site!

Link:
Jane Zimmerman — Great Teacher, Great Site

Blackwork Accessories Cyberclass Now Open

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in accessories,Nuts About Needlepoint

blackwork crazy quilt fill pattern change purse class designed by Janet Perry for Counted Wishes

One of three projects in this class

Explore the traditional needleart of Blackwork while making three charming accessories in my next cyberclass. Each project teaches you different types of patterns and techniques while creating small, useful items you can finish yourself.

The Change Purse, stitching pictured above, uses “crazy” patchwork to look at three types of Blackwork patterns. The Photo Album creates a variety of Blackwork borders in an unusual offset pattern. The Checkbook Cover looks at shading in Blackwork by filling patterns. The first, non-stitching lesson covers the history of Blackwork, basic techniques ans specialized tips for stitching blackwork when using overdyed threads.

Stitched on 18 count Aida or canvas using either solid or overdyed flower thread and a metallic, you can customize the project to suit your tastes. In addition to the projects, you’ll also learn about the history of Blackwork, how to choose threads for great results, and how to understand Blackwork charts and patterns. It’s a great introduction to this historic form of needlework.

The four lesson class is only $20. You can register by clicking on the button above. The class is held as part of Counted Wishes and begins August 1.

As a special bonus, attendees to the class will be able to buy my book, Blackwork Beauties as an ebook at a special price.

Read the original here:
Blackwork Accessories Cyberclass Now Open

MOL Chart Available

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Originally posted 2008-06-10 05:29:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

John Young who commented about the Railroad coasters post, has made his chart of the logo for MOL (a container shipping company) available.

This history of this little guy is fascinating and worth reading about.

It is free for you to use for any non-commercial purpose.

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MOL Chart Available

Make It Yourself?

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in accessories,Nuts About Needlepoint

Originally posted 2008-02-07 14:31:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

My daughter just sent me a link to this needlepoint tote bag which is on sale at Gump’s.In terms of needlepoint that you or I would do, it’s pretty simple. In terms of price, it’s pretty good. It’s wool, with leather handles and is just under $200. If you made the exact same tote, in wool, and had it finished, it would cost close to that.BUT . . .Think how much better you could do yourself. Get some canvas, I’d do 12 or 10 mesh; it goes fast. Draw a simple pattern on it, and use your scrap wool, in a limited color range, to make something fantastic. Show off your skills and make a real statement.And be on the cutting edge of style!I think I need to do this.

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