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needlepoint ornament stitched with overdyed vineyard silk and filomell silk

The semi-solid blue thread in the photo about is Threadworx’ overdyed Vineyard Silk. It is, quite simply, a lovely thread.

Vineyard Silk is generally recommended for mesh sizes larger than 18 mesh, but I had no problem at all with it on this 18 canvas. I don’t know that it would be great in a solid block of Basketweave, but with textured stitches, there is no problem.

The thread seems slightly softer than non-overdyed Vineyard Silk, but not hugely so. The thread keeps plenty of the directional light (looking different shades with different stitch direction) to add luster and sheen to the piece.

This thread comes in over 20 semi-solid colors, all the threads being different shades of one color. I call these threads semi-solid because they can work to give more energy to a solid area. Imagine using this thread to stitch some blue jeans for example.

Lots of stitchers are afraid to use silk. If you have had bad experiences with silk before or if you have never tried silk, this thread is an outstanding choice. Since it is single ply, you can just cut the skein and go, it doesn’t ravel, has lots of loft so you can use it on many mesh sizes and is easy to use. A great all-purpose silk.

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Overdyed Vineyard Silk from Threadworx – Thread Review

Needlepoint Resolutions

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Originally posted 2009-01-14 06:12:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Every year I make some New Year’s Resolutions about needlepoint.

Sometimes they are vague, like this year’s one to reduce the thread stash. Sometimes they are very concrete, like the year I wanted to do 100 needlepoint projects.

Most of the time I fail. Sometimes miserably, like the year I was supposed to finish 3 UFOs and finish none. Sometimes only by a hair, like the year I did 96 needlepoints instead of 100.

But making resolutions is fun, it gives us goals, it can direct our stitching, and sometimes it can be materially rewarding as many guilds have annual challenges.

In any case, what’s your needlepoint resolution?

Is there a project you intend to finish? A technique you want to learn? An organization goal?

I’ve come clean with mine – to reduce the thread stash by 10-25%, but leave a comment and let me know yours.

So far I’m not doing too badly. I’ve managed to use up at least one thread on every project I have done and I’m planning to do some other things (namely these vintage star ornaments) to use up a bunch more thread.

One lucky reader who provides a resolution will get a prize to be awarded Jan 30.

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Needlepoint Resolutions

A Clarification on Tartans

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Recently I was accused of illegally charting and selling tartans illegally. I want to publicly say that this accusation is completely and totally false.

I did extensive research and even went and asked the folks at the tartan registry about it.

Here’s the full story. When you make a tartan you can take the plaid you have created and have it registered by the Tartan Registry. This is kind of like recording a copyright for a book. The folks at the Registry require information like the sett (weaving pattern), name, and restrictions on use. If it’s sufficiently different from other tartan, it will be registered.

In addition to new tartans, there are hundreds of older tartans that are registered but are old enough to be in the Public Domain, which means anyone can use them freely.

There are also hundreds of modern tartans that are registered but not restricted, so that they can also be used freely by anyone.

Restricted tartans are a very small sub-class of tartans. Usually they are ones created by a company or school that is closely associated with the company. It’s kind of like a logo in how it can be used.

Every tartan that is available on Needlepoint Plaids as well as every tartan I chart as a custom chart is freely available for use or sale.

I just wanted to take a moment to make this clear.

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A Clarification on Tartans

Give the Gift of Stitching – 12 Days of Needlepoint Gifts

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Originally posted 2008-12-24 06:04:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

It’s Christmas Eve. If you’re lucky you have your shopping done. If you’re unlucky you still have some people who need gifts.

Why not give them something special?

Give them the gift of your time and the gift of a craft which is relaxing, creative, and always fascinating — give them the gift of needlepoint!

I have a friend who took up needlepoint over the summer, but you could do the same thing as a gift.

Put together in a box or project bag a card announcing the gift of a first project and needlepoint lessons, a package of needles, a threader, and some scissors.

Then after Christmas, and from your stash, you pick out a canvas, threads, and stretcher bars. If more threads need to be bought, buy them together.

Use this piece to teach her needlepoint.

My friend is going great guns on her first piece (a companion dog to my Jack Russell) and, while it isn’t replacing knitting for her) she is really enjoying it.

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Give the Gift of Stitching – 12 Days of Needlepoint Gifts

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

What Can I Do with a Plaid?

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in accessories,Nuts About Needlepoint

adrian's birthday plaid finished as a boxtop

Why not use a birthday plaid as the background for a monogram?

One of the biggest challenges in needlepoint is the question of what do do with the finished stitching. While the stitching is the joy, sometimes it’s discouraging to look at the huge pile of needlepoint left stitched but waiting to be turned into something and loved. Maybe we should call it “The Island of Unloved Needlepoint.”

Birthday plaids and tartans are so much fun, it’s a shame not to make one just because you don’t know what to do with it. Some of my recent commissions give an idea of some of the wonderful things you can do with a stitched plaid.

The boxtop above uses a birthday plaid as the background for a simple monogram. The colors chosen match the room where it will live. Birthday plaids can be done in any colors and are great for this purpose.

You could use this idea for a great baby present. Do it in the nursery’s colors or in a traditional baby palette of pastels.

What about a belt?

This is the chart for a belt to be stitched in tartan. Tartan belts can often be seen and many (but not all) tartans work in this narrow space.

Stitch it in perle cotton and finish it as a belt for a unique gift.

The rage for tartan in the 1800’s made lots of tartan-embellished items to appear. Look at some of them for more ideas for stitched plaids. Then visit Needlepoint Plaids to order your tartan or birthday plaid. My experience in creating stitched plaids will create a wonderful result.

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What Can I Do with a Plaid?

Fast, FAST Needlepoint – Plastic Canvas Pendants

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in accessories,Jewelry,Nuts About Needlepoint

needlepoint pendants from plastic canvas from Crafty Pod

Make a quick gift with these pendants, designed by Crafty Pod

Are you looking for something fashionable, in any colors you like, and made of needlepoint as a gift or for something for yourself? How about these charming little geometric pendants?

You use scraps of embroidery floss and 10 mesh plastic canvas. The shape can be rectangular, square, or diamond-shaped. The pattern can be any geometric you like.

Once complete embellish it with buttons or other items, add a jump ring and string it onto a necklace. And your done!

Sister Diane of CraftyPod developed this design and shares it with us in this tutorial, including detailed finishing instructions

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Fast, FAST Needlepoint – Plastic Canvas Pendants

The Project that Never Was

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Originally posted 2009-06-08 06:40:51. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I discovered Bargello shortly after learning to needlepoint. I saw Elsa Williams book and was hooked. But you know how they say “Your eyes are bigger than your stomach?” Well, my needlepoint ambitions were always bigger than my time or sometimes my knowledge.

So I wasn’t even 15 & I decided to make Bargello seat cushions for my Mom’s dining room chairs, all six of them. similar colors but each with a different pattern in dark green, rust, and cream.

I bought canvas and wool for one. My dad hacked up a portable blackboard we had in the basement into a frame where we could lace on the canvas.

Although I knew boo about needlepoint back then, I did know I needed a frame for something that large and that I needed to buy all the yarn at once.

I picked my pattern and started. I got about 4 square inches done.

Never any more.

Chair cushions are BIG!

It’s still a dream project.

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The Project that Never Was

Thread News at TNNA

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Two exciting threads are being introduced this weekend at TNNA.

Threadworx is introducing an overdyed Vineyard Merino. It looks as if it’s coming in the same colors as their overdyed Vineyard Silk.

I love Vineyard Merino (you should try it if you haven’t yet), so I’m really excited.

In addition, brown paper packages is coming out with Stardust, their first thread with sparkle. They will premiere with four holiday colors.

I’ll let you know more about them as I get new details.

In addition, thirteen new colors of Waterlilies will be released this month. They are:

Sticks and Stones (26)
Karakum (261)
Salt and Pepper (263)
Oyster (264)
Quicksilver (265)
Wisteria (267)
Sahara Sunrise (268)
Bubblegum (269)
Easter Egg (270)
Daffodil (274)
Tequila Sunrise (275)
Hot Peppers (276)
Chianti (277)

These colors are also available in Watercolours and Wildflowers.

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Thread News at TNNA

From Molehill to Mountain – Book Review

by NutsAboutNeedlepoint

in Nuts About Needlepoint

Originally posted 2004-01-14 14:57:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Pamela H. Gardner

In the more than thirty years I have been doing needlepoint, I have seen few projects which pack as much learning into them as this quilt sampler. And I have seen even fewer books which present materials and options as clearly and completely as this one.

“Molehill” is a study in both stitch variation and color. Each of the six blocks covers variations of one or two stitches, with 7 or eight variations used to represent the different fabrics in the block. Each block also uses a different color scheme. By working each of the blocks, the stitcher will not only learn many stitches, but will also cover a complete color course.

Three different color options are presented in the book. One is based on a solid color of floss and uses all floss for the design. Helpful charts present shade number for each color and the instructions outline how to find complements, triads and analogous color schemes from this chart. The second and third options use overdyed threads, one using a skein which has many colors and one with a skein which has only shades of one color.

Since color planning can be very difficult, the book has charts for you to use in planning your color scheme, color pictures of many completed projects, and suggestions for color schemes. By working through these instructions step by step, the stitcher can create a
needlepoint showing great color sophistication and use what is learned in other projects.

Each chapter covering a patch begins with a picture of three stitches samples showing some of the many color options. The next section talks about the basic stitch family which will be varied in the block. A section n the kind of color scheme used for the block follows. Stitching instructions follow with tips on how to work this stitch, a chart of the entire block and specific instructions and diagrams of each of the stitches. Specific instructions for the two overdyed color options are clearly marked in the instructions by different typestyles.

The book also includes three different border options of varying complexity. Since planning borders can be difficult, this level of detail and attention will be welcome to most stitchers. Since many borders are also difficult to stitch, the fact that these border vary in their level of difficulty will also be most welcome.

The opening chapter of the book not only present the basic information about color and creating a color scheme for the project, it also covers in great detail how to prepare the canvas for stitching. Using this thorough level of preparation on every project will make stitching easier and more successful.

Ever since I got the book I have been thinking about what colors to use for my project. It’s is beautiful, complex and challenging without being beyond the level of an intermediate stitcher. I look at my baskets of thread and try to decide which will be best —
Tahiti, Blue Spruce, all floss? I think the biggest problem is trying to decide.

For a limited time From Molehill to Mountain is available at a special introductory price of $40 plus shipping and handling. You can get details about how to order form the website:
http://home.att.net/~sheepiedesigns. This site also has outstanding previews of the book and shows stitched samples of many different color schemes for the project.

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Originally posted here:
From Molehill to Mountain – Book Review

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