project

If you like Bargello, you probably buy lots of old books. There were tons of them published in the 70′s, and relatively few since then.

Because the designs are timeless, this isn’t really a problem. Just update the colors and you’re good to go.

But are you?

Today we expect our patterns to be nicely charted out for us on graph paper. We can see how long the stitches are, we can see in symbols how the pattern moves.

While many older books have charted patterns, many do not. Still others have hand-drawn charts. This column will help you make the best use of these older books.
If the book has charts with printed symbols, just go ahead and use it. Though produced with different tools, they are the same as the charts we create today. Often, because they are larger, they may be easier to see.

Handle hand-drawn charts (on paper with a grid) exactly the same way. Before we all had computers, many books, especially self-published ones, had hand-drawn charts. If they are a bit hard for you to follow, rechart them for your own use.

Other hand-drawn charts don’t use symbols in each square but draw lines for each stitch instead. I find these the most maddening of all. Remember that each line is a stitch. I will often rechart these.

Still others have sketches that aren’t on grids at all. Barbara Snook’s books, my favorite Bargello books, are like this. Happily she does put on the length of the stitch and the size of the step. Although I have stitched a few pieces directly from her sketches, those patterns were very small. For larger patterns, I’d chart the design out myself.

Many books, including Elsa Williams Bargello, have no charts at all. THey do haVe close up pictures of the patterns. Using your knowledge of Bargello for the size of the step and length of the stitches, you can figure out the pattern.

For vintage patterns that are line patterns, i.e. no open or closed shapes, you can skip the charting step and just stitch your pattern in the middle of the area for your project.

Don’t be afraid of vintage Bargello books — they have great stuff in them!

Read the original here:
Bargello Books OLd & New

What to Do about UFO’s

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

We all have them UFO’s or UnFinished Objects. We challenge ourselves to finish them, we enter contests, our guild chapters have challenges, contests, and prizes.

I’m as bad as all of you.

But SPUN, the Society for the Prevention of Unfinished Needlepoint is here to help. They were founded in 2009 by Mary Smull “to eliminate the worldwide phenomenon of unfinished needlepoint.”

The site describes their origins this way:

Formed in 2009 by artist Mary Smull, SPUN has a short history, but an exciting one. The idea was born when Smull’s 96 year-old grandmother gave her the gift of a partially finished embroidered tablecloth. Smull was stricken to discover that the object still inspired feelings of guilt for her grandmother, who had begun the tablecloth in the 1960s and never completed it. Worse yet, Smull herself began to feel guilty, for she was also not completing the tablecloth. Figuring that the experience could not be particular to her or her grandmother, she launched into an exploration of the phenomenon of unfinished textile objects.

Smull finishes the canvases in white thread. “This strategy meant that the needlepoint was “finished” structurally while maintaining a visual record of the stitches the original maker completed before abandoning the project. The resultant compositions are a curious combination of the original design of the needlepoint project, an anonymous maker’s accomplishment (or lack thereof), and Smull’s intervention.” (from the SPUN site)

In SPUN’s Gallery, you can see completed works, showing the unfinished needlepoint both as it was received and as it was finished. There is also a gallery of unfinished works, showing pictures of uncompleted needlepoint.

I’m motivated to go finish a piece this weekend, are you?

Thanks to Renee at Pepita for finding this great site.

Organizing WIPs, UFOs, and Unstitched Canvases

Original post:
What to Do about UFO’s

DMC Color Variations – Thread Review

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

needlepoint hawaiian quilt from Keri Designs stitched by needlepoint expert janet me perry using DMC color variations threads

This Hawaiian quilt by Keri Designs uses DMC Color Variations for the fruit and the borders.

At the recent TNNA Market DMC released 24 new colors in their Color Variations line. They are available in both #5 perle and floss. They bring the number of colors in the line to 60.

I have used the perle before, but this little piece was my first chance to use the floss.

A note about the new colors. There is a wonderful variety of colors, here. There are semi-solids or shades of a single hue in several colors, including three greens, two gold,the wonderful red seen in the border, three great blues (including a pale one that would be great for skies), and a violet. Some of these are very subtle, but others have almost as much variation as DMC’s variegated colors.

They are designed to be used like the many popular lines of overdyed and hand-dyed thread and they make great substitutions for them However, as you can see from the piece I stitched (a Keri Designs Hawaiian quilt), the color transitions are more sudden than in many hand-dyes. The color runs seem to be a bit shorted as well.

What this means is that those transitional colors that are the mixtures of two adjacent colors in a hand-dye are absent here. This makes the colors clearer, and the transitions sharper. Using these threads you won’t find your color diluted by these shades. However if you like that transition or want those intermediate shades, these threads won’t work for you.

For me, it really depends on the project. IN this piece I used floss for the breadfruit, both on its own (center fruit) and combined with a fine metallic (corner fruit). As you can see one color predominates, but the floss worked will in both applications. The perle was used for the border. Here you can see the length of the color run and how sudden the transition can be.

One note, the floss uses DMC’s newer wrappers. They are one long piece. They are different, but they do make it much easier to use the skeins as pull skeins.

I liked both these threads and I expect to be using them much more often in my work.

There are also some new shades that are combinations of analogous colors. I particularly like the three “berry” shades that are combinations of red-violet/pink and violet. The light, medium, and dark shades could make an interesting combination. Others of this type include a vivid autumn leaves shade and a wonderful combo of dark browns and grays that would be perfect for bark.

But perhaps I was most taken with the three true multi-colors. All of them have lots more white than is often seen in overdyed thread and this gives them an appealing lightness. Purple Pansy combines, white with two shades of violet and yellow. Very Merry is a Christmas combination with red being more an accent than an equal partner. My favorite is Cotton Candy, a great combination of pink, blue, and white that would be so perfect for baby presents.

Please note: These threads were provided to me as part of DMC’s designer program. I was not compensated for this review.

More here:
DMC Color Variations – Thread Review

Celtic Art in Cross Stitch – book review

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Originally posted 2003-09-18 06:56:49. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Celtic Art in Cross Stitch Barbara Hammet

I just love Barbara’s two other books of cross stitch designs (Art Nouveau and William Morris), so I was delighted to see this new books. The book opens with a very good introduction about Celtic Art which looks at it from the point of view of design style and elements.

This is followed by ten chapters of projects related to each other by theme and color. For example, the chapter on La Tene (one of the earliest forms of Celtic art) consists of table linens including a beautiful tablecloth, napkins and coasters. In the instructions there is also information on varying these designs to make table toppers and runners.

For each project there is a full color picture of the completed stitching, a material list, a full-color chart and stitching instructions. A nice touch is the color chart which provides color numbers for the project for DMC, Anchor and Madeira threads. The number of skeins needed is also noted. This is so much simpler than having a conversion chart in the back of the book.

And if all these wonderful projects aren’t enough to get you excited, the book also has a fantastic Celtic Motif Library; 53 full color charts of borders, animals, geometrics and knotwork. Although charted in color, these designs can be combined and changed to suit your needs. In the notes at the beginning of the section, the patterns are divided into categories which show how they are related and each design is identified with a note about its source and some suggestions for using it.

The book ends with a chapter on materials and finishing.

Celtic design is one of the most evocative styles I have seen. But lovely as it is, it can be hard to adapt to needlework. Books like this outstanding one, which provide a wealth of designs and projects feed both the soul and the needle.

Read the original here:
Celtic Art in Cross Stitch – book review

More New from TNNA

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Books,Nuts About Needlepoint

There are several new accessories that debuted at TNNA. Probably the hit of the show was Pischke Pillows. from the makers of the the popular Pischke Pockets. Using ten-mesh canvas with your choice of three designs, the kit comes with the same sturdy fabrics as the totes, grosgrain ribbon, and threads. The pillows are made amazingly easily and the three designs will work in almost any setting, even outdoors.

Rainbow Gallery has brought out new acrylic laying tools. Each is a unique design. The laying tool is a BLT with an acrylic handle and removable cover.

DMC has a lovely “designer” accessory collection with storage for your project, stitch bows, and a needle holder in a matching print.

Krienik has add four new Stitch-A-Pen kits including three hearts designs and a wedding pen.

Tuitto showed and interesting line of luggage and cases. They are soft, with tons of pockets, four wheels, and a PVC frame on either side. They use an ergonomic design and were very popular among shopowners. They come in up to 12 colors (depending on the piece).

Lee Needle Arts has an iPad case. They have also expanded the bags that can use the removable inserts. Bags with BR and now, I think, BG inserts can use the removable inserts. Anne Brinkley has brought back those lovely porcelain and crystal boxes. I have some of them I stitched ages ago and I’m excited about being able to get more.

Do you have tons of thread hanging around? Is lots of it in uncut skeins? Then you’l love Clover’s new Basket Frames. Available in two sizes in three shapes, they are cardboard frames that make your basket sturdy. Wrap your thread or ribbon around the frame. Then you can add embellishments if you like. These are great because they are much easier to do than traditional baskets and because they allow you to use soft threads and ribbons to make a great basket.

BagSmith has decorated wooden tubes that contain six needles. Several types of needles and design styles are available.

Two great new books are coming out. June McKnight’s new book is called Bling, Glitz, and Glamour for Needlepoint. It’s dedicated to embellishments and, from the models, it looks great. Sharon G’s second book will be out in the spring. It’s dedicated to borders and has over 20.

Free Embroidery Patterns

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Originally posted 2008-10-23 06:52:13. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

With the renewed interest in free embroidery (embroidery on a on-counted ground or fabric), you can find lots of pretty cool free patterns intended to transfer onto a piece of fabric.

But you can just as easily transfer them onto apiece of needlepoint canvas and use them as a line-drawing for your needlepoint.

Today we are going to talk about what to look for when you want to do this and tomorrow we will begin a step-by-step tutorial on how to go from a free pattern on the Web to a finished needlepoint.

When you look at embroidery transfer designs, what you see are the lines of the design which will be covered with stitching. Most free embroidery of this type relies on the fabric to covey the design and so they have lots of open spaces.

This is good for us as needlepointers because we will fill those areas up with stitches.
Tip #1 Look for designs with open areas which aren’t filled with lots of lines to be covered.

But (isn’t there always a but), in free embroidery other details, like facial expression are conveyed with lines and other details as well.

Here is where you have a problem. When you embroider on cloth you can stick a stitch anywhere, it can be any angle, it can stop or start anyplace. But with needlepoint you are stuck with the grid. The bigger the wholes, the fewer details you can convey. So a design with too many little details will lose them when changed to needlepoint.

It’s like looking at a scene through a screen as opposed to through a window. With the screen you can see everything, yes, but you lose detail. Needlepoint canvas is the screen.

In conclusion I thought today I would share with you some free embroidery sites where you can download new and vintage embroidery patterns.

If you want to play along with the tutorial, check back tomorrow to see the Arts & Crafts design I picked from this site. But you can pick one which suits your style and your mood and stitch away.

Check the designs out at these sites:
Embroidery Patterns – This Flickr album has many charming designs, many looking like children’s book illustrations.
TipNut – has a listing of all kinds of embroidery projects. Click on the link to find the particular project and then look through the article to find the pattern. Many of these are vintage and vintage style.
Meggiecat – has links to lots of great vintage patterns.
Needle n’Thread – Scroll down past the text ads to find many lovely patterns, often in traditional, Victorian, and Arts & Crafts styles.
Doe-c-doe – Every Thursday she showcases vintage embroidery and embroidery patterns. I’ve found lots of good things here.
Vintage Transfer Designs – Lots of great retro and vintage transfers.
Antique Pattern Library – This site is harder to use. It’s a list of vintage embroidery publiations available to download on the Web.

I’m sure you will find something to suit your fancy here. We’ll start the project tomorrow!

Read this article:
Free Embroidery Patterns

Marble Waves – New Colors & Kit

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Originally posted 2008-09-17 06:47:06. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Su has a second post on Marble Waves up. It’s in a lovely soft colorway of green and eggplant. It also has a tiered border which sets off the piece nicely. This combination of colors will soon be available as kits from Su.

I was working on doing my own Marble Waves, but gave it up last night in total frustration. I don’t read charts very well (an eye problem makes it hard to count), I’m in a state of total exhaustion from getting the house ready (it went on the market yesterday, you can see it here) an I had had an immensely frustrating day, pretty much from start to finish. So when my corners wouldn’t match and I realized it was going to be a parallelogram instead of a square, I gave up.

But I love it so much I’m going to stitch it again and do it right this time.

Visit link:
Marble Waves – New Colors & Kit

ANG SOTM Update

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

ang 2012 stitch of the month, january, stitched by needlepoint expert janet m. perry

The picture here is of my first patch in the 2012 Stitch of the Month (SOTM) from ANG. I am using all stash threads in my favorite color, Teal. Throughout the year I’ll be sharing my progress with you.

I’m committed to being thrifty in my needlepoint purchases, so I try to use what I have on hand. I love this because it means I need to exercise my creativity and make something my own. I always find inspiration in how using scarce resources can make something beautiful by thinking of my beloved Amish and scrap bag quilts. In these quilts using what is on hand makes quilts of great beauty.

While I don’t aspire to those heights, I do want my needlepoint to be beautiful as well as thrifty.

Starting from the teal threads I pulled from my stash I did some other things to make changes.

Since I didn’t have any opal canvas, I made a unique canvas of my own. Using a natural sponge and Martha Stewart Pearl Craft Paint in Jet Stream, I sponge painted the entire piece of canvas. This will create a textured light teal background that is, easy to do and very interesting.

A teal heart will look odd, so I turned it into a rectangle. But I kept the small heart on the inside and I may even make it the focal point by stitching it in another color. The new shape meant I had to extend lines. It also meant that the shapes near the bottom of the heart were too large, so I added some additional lines. Those spaces will most likely have SOTM‘s from previous years in them.

The first area is stitched. I used Dragonfly Lotus Panda Threads, a hand-dyed and hand-spun silk/wool blend. It isn’t super shiny like Panache, but I love it’s subtle look. The color is Teal Shadow.

Watch for more next month. If you are stitching this project, check out the ANG Yahoo group, they are assembling information about the different thread and color combinations.

Read the original:
ANG SOTM Update

Dyed and Gone to Heaven – Caron Collection Web Site Review

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Originally posted 2009-05-26 06:40:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Have you been to the Caron Collection site, Dyed and Gone to Heaven lately?

No?

Then go visit this superb, redesigned site. I am so completely impressed with its style I can’t recommend it enough.

The Caron Collection really embraced the possibilities of the Internet when they first did their site more than 10 years ago. It has tons of information, galleries, profiles, and free patterns of the finest quality.

But it wasn’t easy to navigate and often I found myself wondering where certain information could be found.

The new site showcases the information and products in a newspaper-like format. There are stories, with links, pointing you to new, larger, and greatly improved on-line color cards. The latest designer profile is summarized with a column and free projects as well as new products are showcased.

Across the top are buttons to the various parts of the site. These include information about products, each of the major divisions of information and two types of retail outlets. One is a shop locator for brick and mortar shops. The other is a list of mail order and on-line sources for those who do not have a convenient shop close by.

The free patterns have new larger pictures as well, so it’s very easy to find the project you want. There is a gallery of work by many talented people. And clicking on archives gets you to a nicely organizes text list of what it available.

You may only think of The Caron Collection when you think of threads, but the other areas of their line are now easy to find. Click on hand painted canvases to get a gallery page of the pieces, each listed with a thumbnail, name, and dimensions. Click on designs to learn about booklets. (There are several there I’ve been seeking.)

And if you can’t find what you are looking for, there is a search box, which uses Google to search this site (or the Web) to find what you need. The results come back in the familiar Google format so they are easy to use.

I’m so impressed and so happy, this is going to be a favorite stop.

Continue reading here:
Dyed and Gone to Heaven – Caron Collection Web Site Review

Stitch Journal from Thread Candy Studio – Product Review

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Thread Candy Studio debuted a purse-sized stitch journal last month. Each page is about 5�4 making it small enough to carry around. That’s its strength, but also one of its weaknesses. For those with large handwriting many of the pages and lines are too small to record information.

The book attempts to be a place to hold lots of useful information for stitchers of all kinds. The first section is project notes with a lined page and a table page for about 12 projects. The table has columns for stitch, effect thread, and thread size. A dozen stitches can be recorded. This is plenty for most small to medium projects.

After this there is a wish list section with pages divided into need and wish list. Having this in the same place as other inventories and plans makes it easy to keep track of what’s needed. At the end of this section there are sever pages without labels that can be ised for additional notes or lists.

Following this is a thread section where you can inventory your threads. The first several pages have marked columns for thread name, color, size, need/have. The vast majority of pages have unmarked columns. While this is very useful, I can’t really see anyone but those with the smallest stashes using this for inventory, there just aren’t enough pages.

The next section, design, has pages printed with grids, so stitches can be recorded. These are big enough to sketch a stitch but not enough for a pattern of any size.

The final section is for your project diary with two pages for each project, including a blank lined page and an open area marked “notes” which looks like a good space for a picture.

While there is lots packed into this little book, my main complaint is that the size limits its usefulness. While some people will find the small pages difficult to write on, but the desire to include everything and the small size mean that it can only hold a limited amount of stuff.

But at under $8, you can probably afford multiples. The book comes with three choices of cover color and can be ordered directly from Thread Candy Studio.

Go here to see the original:
Stitch Journal from Thread Candy Studio – Product Review

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