kreinik

beer coaster free needlepoint stitch guide by needlepoint expert janet m. perry
You can get a new free needlepoint stitch guide from me at the Kreinik Thread Blog.

This beer glass coaster is stitched in a variety of Kreinik threads, including one of the Candy Glass colors and new Easter grass (beer and glass respectively).

It also features a whole lot of Kreinik embellishments, adapted to needlepoint, including red tape shapes, iron-on ribbon, micro-beads, and hot fix crystals.

It’s a ton of fun to stitch.

Read the rest here:
Free Stitch Guide – A Toast to Metallics

How to Use a Laying Tool Video

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Needle Nook of La Jolla is creating a video library for needlepoint and the first entry is fantastic.

David McCaskill shows how to use a laying tool. If you’ve never had a chance to see David in person watch this to get a look at his delightful personality.

I learned to use a laying from David many years ago when he lived in northern California, so I highly recommend this.

See the article here:
How to Use a Laying Tool Video

Candy Metallics from Kreinik – Thread Review

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Canvas from Needlepoint for Fun

Adding (or using) metallics for candy is a neat effect, but all too often the colors have been either too matte or too metallic, so I often end up discarding the idea.

That is until now. In January Kreinik introduced nine candy colors, a set of bright colors with more than a dash of clear shiny strands that glisten like hard candy or like cellophane-wrapped treats.

The threads come in #4, #8, #12 (used in test), and #16 so they will work for a variety of needlecrafts. There are nine threads in this collection white, orange, green, blue-violet, yellow, gold, pink, yellow-orange, and red. All have similar construction with the iridescent clear strands contributing to the finish. This quality is very apparent in some colors, such as the red, and more subtle in others, like the gold. Even so, it adds a lovely texture to each of these threads.

The white is particularly nice. Being a pure, bright white with sparkle, it would be a great choice for snow.

The texture of the thread is similar to other Kreinik braids. It isn’t too stiff so it’s diifcult to use, nor is it so soft that the needle comes unthreaded.

As you can see by my test model, these colors work beautifully together, as well as in conjunction with a more shiny metallic. The dark heart in the center was stitched with a new shade of holographic metallic. My current project uses the gold for beer in conjunction with lots of other whiter and cream metallics for the head.

These are wonderful colors in a finish badly needed in metallics. I think you’ll love them.

Please note: These threads were provided to me as a registered designer for Kreinik.

Originally posted here:
Candy Metallics from Kreinik – Thread Review

Using up the Metallic Stash

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Originally posted 2009-01-25 08:36:08. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

needlepoint christmas ornament using metallic thread

I feel as if I had to do a needlepoint intervention on myself.

I have a problem, a metallics problem. I would never say I love lots of bling in my needlepoint, so my use of metallics has been restrained. A little bit here, a little bit there.

But that probably the source, never enough metallics to use up a spool, but lots of different colors to get. Last week I couldn’t get the drawer with the #12 Kreinik open, it was too full.

Clearly if I am going to reduce the stash I would have to intervene and use up those metallics.

The little mini-sock about (from eBay) is the first piece. Except for the outlines and the pink, it’s stitch completely in metallic.

I wouldn’t have stitched it that way if I didn’t have the problem. But I really like the way it turned out. The blue I used for the background stripes is just lovely (but I used it all up). The texture contrast between the more matte violet and white) and the glittery darker blue is just great. And I love the way the red is a chameleon, looking shiny against the white, but almost matte against the darker blue.

I just have a bit of outline to finish and then onto the next stash intervention, this ornament from Bongo (the second from the left in the top row). The only metallic will be the gold, but I think I’m going to use Crystal Braid from Rainbow Gallery for the background and the color will use up some of my stash of Neon Rays, Frosty Rays, and Flair.

Should look pretty cool when I’m done.

Read the rest here:
Using up the Metallic Stash

Needlepoint & Tours

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Victoria C Frank was at the recent TNNA show and spoke with several people about her needlepoint retreat/tour business.

I wanted to let you know about them because they sound wonderful. Not only are the locations great and the accommodations first class, there is lot of value added to each trip.

For example, November’s trip to Arizona includes a day at the annual gathering of Navajo weavers, a trip to SEdona (with a stop along the way). The needlepoint is a Leigh canvas taught by Suzanne Howren & Beth Robertson.

A trip to Portugal focusing on Arraiolas is planned. And she also will plan custom tours.

Now to talk my DH into it.

See original here:
Needlepoint & Tours

Kreinik – a Great Source for Free Patterns

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Kreinik‘s threads are so popular with stitchers (and many other people) and the free pattern section of their website has a ton of wonderful patterns on it for you to use to explore their threads.

The index page (the link above), organizes the patterns by category, with some patterns highlighted each month. Needlepoint has its own section, as does Plastic Canvas. When you click on a category, you go to a summery pages (or the first of several) that show a thumbnail of each project. Click on the “more info” link below the picture and you’ll go to the page for the project. These will have a larger picture, a material list, and instructions. At the bottom of the page there are instructions for printing the project out.

Grear Sruff!

Continued here:
Kreinik – a Great Source for Free Patterns

#16 now Available in Holographic Colors

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Kreinik just announced that the holographic colors are now available in #16 braid. It’s perfect for blending with other threads and for cross stitch.

#16 joins #4, #8, #12, blending filament, and 1/16″ ribbon in this popular line.

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Here is the original post:
#16 now Available in Holographic Colors

Silk Gauze – Try It You’ll Like It!

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Originally posted 2009-05-22 08:32:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

bargello needlepoint heart on silk gauze, designed by Janet Perry

I have always been afraid to use silk gauze. First there’s the eye thing — I don’t do well with magnifiers. Second there’s the mesh size thing, I tend not to like things which are that delicate and small.

But Kreinik has taken silk gauze out of this world and into the world of basic needlepoint with silk gauze in 18 and 20 mesh. It comes mounted or unmounted. Since retail is 3 or 4 times the cost of canvas, I like the mounted best. You can order on-line through Kreinik’s excellent on-line mall or your LNS can order it for you.

During my vacation I had a chance to make the piece pictured above on 18 mesh silk gauze and it was tons of fun. I can’t wait to make more.

Silk gauze is often not sold by the inch, the way canvas is, but is sold in precut sizes mounted in mat board. This is because the silk is expensive and the mat board provides the unworked margin. I also found that the mat board is it’s own frame, so the project was very portable.

Silk gauze also has a couple of other important characteristics, you need to consider when using it. The threads are pretty much translucent, so they can almost disappear against the background as you stitch. I found having something solid and dark as a backdrop worked best. The printed skirt I was wearing wasn’t good, but the dark carpet was.

You can see from the picture of my stitching just how transparent it is, the thread ends on the back can be seen easily.

The threads are also thinner than mono canvas, more like the size of interlock or a bit thinner. This could mean that you need to use slightly thicker threads, but I found I didn’t.

You also need to stitch with a looser tension. This is for several reasons. First off, the mat board isn’t that sturdy, so it’s pretty easy to bend or even to have the gauze come off. Second, silk gauze is woven like interlock canvas, so there isn’t “give” in the intersections. Pull too hard and you will have a mess.

I loved using it and I loved the results. My mind is bursting with possibilities for using this ground and I’m going to be trying some experiments over the next couple of months.

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Originally posted here:
Silk Gauze – Try It You’ll Like It!