I had to cut out portions of Rhapsody to get enough of the purple color to span the top wide area. I used the lighter white portions on both smaller side areas below.
Again, I swapped out French Knots for cross stitches. The 1×2 alternating cross stitches fit nicely in the area with the top cross pointing towards the center as has been done throughout this design.
This is my progress after stitching during my EGA Brandywine’s Quarterly meeting, ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter Stitch-in, and football.
I’ll save the background for another Stitch-in.
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Article, Sunflower Heart by Judyann Designs
Here’s the finished Sunflower Heart by Judyann Needle Art Canvas Design (Ginny Stapleton’s stitch guide is in the July/August 2025 issue of Needle Pointers). I used her stitches and my threads.
I used the thicker stabilizer with 1/2″ padding and magazine board covered with a fabric from Walmart but there is no brand name. So, I used Google Lens to search the bar code. Instantly, it’s identified as Fabric Editions Create It Texture Twilight Fabric Creative Cuts Fat Quarter Cotton (18″ x 21″) in blue, with a texture twilight pattern. Amazing what the internet can identify.
The cording is a bronze Metallic Soft Twist Trim Cord 1/8″ by Access Commodites. For attaching it, I found Bijoux, MMT425, Pyrite in my stash. I put a note in the cording package to use that Bijoux again. I used one strand and pulled pretty good without the thread breaking. The bronze color goes well with the beads and contrasts enough from the yellow. The thickness of the cording helped me round out the edge. I was surprised that I got the two ends to mesh as well as I did. Perhaps the thicker stabilizer helped.
I am very happy with the finishing!
Something bright as we experience near record cold temps at night – single digits! Mid 20s for highs. So, the last batch of snow hasn’t melted yet which is atypical for us in Philadelphia. I’m enjoying my time indoors!
It’s snowing here today and across a large part of the US according to the news. Luckily, we can stay indoors – no appointments ot plans this week except for a friend’s birthday dinner on Thursday. Fingers crossed we’ll make it there. In the meantime, football, TV, reading, and needlepoint will keep me happily occupied. In honor of our snow . . .
Here I used a wintery fabric with white, silver, and gold snowflakes for this Christmas Ball. I centered a large white snowflake on the back.
Working on a smaller piece isn’t easier! The ornament wasn’t exactly round to start with. I’d basketweaved aound the outer edge and had already stitched the outer gold ring thinking the cording would cover any irregularities but the cording is thin. One pucker is showing. I do like the loop which was stitched through the basketweave. I like the basketweave showing around the edge. But, the edges are a tad wavy. Overall, this one is ok but not as good as others. From the front, to most people, it’ll look just fine!
Stay safe all and hope you enjoy some time for stitching.
A snowy long weekend allowed me time to do some finishing work.
I’d had no luck finding fabric at any Michael’s recently. Initially, when JoAnn’s closed, it looked like Michael’s were stepping it up on the fabrics. But, they didn’t restock. So, when I found fat quarters (18″ x 21″) at Walmart awhile ago, I grabbed a few solid colors including the purple (solid pansy) on the back of this one. It’s a pink canvas but the one long light thread that was couched in the piece is a light purple.
My preferred finishing process is a stabilizer (tacked into place on the canvas with invisible thread) and one layer of felt glued onto magazine board. Then, I attach a loop to the stabilizer side. And, both sides are.attached to each other with cording sewed in place.
It’s taking awhile to get through the 4 pieces I’d piled up because we’ve watched a great show on BritBox called Riot Women and lots of football games. Since there are 4 pieces, I progressed in stages across each one until I got to attaching the cording. My fingers need to rest between each one.
I finished Peace, 3rd in The Cabochon Series by Susan Portra first.
Here’s my four finished cabochons on the banister.
In the background, currently, two Dawn Donnelly pieces flank my owl which Bill loves! And, the owl has a buddy (gifted to Bill many years ago from the ladies in his Binks office)! I rotate among different pieces on the staircase.
The two small ornaments are my grandmother’s which I realize I have not blogged about – yet.
Just about everyone that I know has been shown how to make cording! This past week was my Needlework and Fiber Guild of Media.
This past Tuesday, I demonstrated the 2 color candy cane, Herringbone, and 4 color candy cane methods described in the instructions. Sally brought enough thread to cord a tree (like a ‘yarn bomb’ – google it if you’re not familiar with the term). I’d love to see a yarn bomb in person. Anyway, . . .
In preparation for the evening, I had to practice the 4 color method. Between Bill, a table, and tape I got it done. It’s too complicated to do routinely and 2 colors are fine. But, we had a nice turn out at the meeting and 4 other people had cord makers. So we broke into groups and practiced.
Prices of the Kreinik Custom Corder vary at different sites online so shop around. Or, you can put a pencil at one end and hand twist the pencil. You can also use a hand drill.
I’ve gathered quite a selection of samples of cording.
According to my sister (6 years older), my grandmother made this quilt when I was born. Does that me vintage too? No, that makes my sister ‘vintage’ but not me! She can date it because she remembers our Dad delivering library books (2nd job) in our station wagon and I would be wrapped in blankets and topped by this quilt riding in one of the library boxes in the back! That continued with my brother when he was born six years later. We loved delivering books with Dad! Car seats weren’t invented then (I’m still not considered ‘vintage’).
Apparently, it remained in Dad’s vehicles for years and used while watching the ring of fire and fireworks and/or picnicking at Conesus Lake. I can’t remember the quilt but do remember the book deliveries and stopping for a half moon cookie (half black and white chocolate icing). I remember fireworks and the ring of fire but not picnicking. Oddly enough, I remember our picnic basket but not actually ever picnicking.
The quilt was hand pieced then zig zag stitched for speed. It’s hard to believe it’s been through so much and still looks great hanging on my sister’s wall!
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Razzle Dazzle by Ann Strite-Kurz
At the January 3rd Saturday Stitch-in with a few members of my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter, Linda M helped several of us select our own colorways for Razzle Dazzle by Ann Strite-Kurz. Linda has already started stitching and that helps to have an understanding of where the threads will be in relation to the others.
I selected an eggshell canvas and fall colors based on Watercolours 123 Spice. I’m waiting on my DMC #8 Pearl before getting the thread photo.
After putting my canvas on 18″ x 18″ Evertite bars, I realized that I didn’t have a project bag large enough to hold it. So, I recalled that I had purchased a large sheet of vinyl (from Joann’s) and knew I had used very little of it and am likely to use very little of it.
I cut it so that one of the creases would be at the very bottom and one ended up at the very top for a slight flap by chance. But there is a crease on each side that I didn’t bother trying to get rid of. I read that you can place parchment paper on top of the vinyl and iron on low heat. But it’ll be fine like this. I am going to work in the well anyway because Linda says 18″ square bars make it a little tight for ending threads around the edge.
It was a perfect width of vinyl leaving me still enough for whatever else I might need it for in the future. The bag doesn’t have a handle but this size project doesn’t need to travel. I will need my comfy chair, light, and quiet because counting will be so important for Razzle Dazzle.
Nothing fancy was used to make the bag, just clear packing tape to close the sides. Here is the ‘Rough and Ready’ Bag.
At ANG’s 2025 Seminar in New Orleans, the local ANG Streetcar chapter had a table with a partially stitched Dorothy Lesher piece and this ornament. Because the canvas is marked CB6, I know the proper orientation but still not the designer. Any ideas?
Since it is a small 2.5″ round, I am following the 1-3-5 rule which I learned from Mary Shipp and have heard Ellen Johnson of Serendipity discuss as well. I selected one stitch (Nobuko), three thread types (polyester blends, metallic, and silk/wool bends), and 5 colors (red, blue, green, gold, and white). Specifically, a red Silk Lame Braid for 18 count SL08, a blue Entice E212, a green Impressions 5081, and a white Impressions 0057 (all in my stash).
I knew I wanted to switch directions on the Nobuko for the left and right sides but couldn’t decide on what to do in the middle. So, I decided to use an Upright Nobuko. I started with over 1, over 3, alternating and realized that was an upright Mosaic. So, I went to my books and found this unnamed straight stitch in Desert Island Stitches Volume 1, page 55. Perfect. I have dubbed it the Upright Nobuko Variation.
The areas are small and having to leave the gold grid open made maintaining the pattern a little tricky but doable.
The gold thread used to outline the shapes is from some kit in a baggie that’s labeled Color Twist Dark Gold. The finisher (me) prefers an outer border of basketweave. I used Kreinik #8 Braid 002J. It’s looser but should make finishing easier. The outer circle of cord is couched into place with one strand of Kreinik Japan Thread 002J.
I see a couple places that could use a stitch along the edge. Then, off to the finisher!
Filed under: Uncategorized
This was one of my Christmas presents and I got the threads at Fireside Stitchery on Saturday. They don’t have Gold Rush 14 but my stash had a purple that should work just as well.
Once I got home with the threads, I pulled out my stash of Watercolours and found 088 Mountain Meadow that should substitute for the Overture V114 which is a retired color consisting of greens, yellows, and peaches. Mountain Meadow also has some pinks which I can cut out or nor depending on where it is going.
The Cabochons are my travel counted pieces. This is my home counted piece to work on when I need a break from my Project Runway adaptation piece. But, I also need to get Florentine Fancywork done before March which is when we start Razzle Dazzle.
Since this is bargello, I am using a brown canvas that will not show as much “dandruff” or canvas showing through if full coverage is not as complete as expected.
The bars Toni suggested were 14,” x 16″. My canvas stash had 14″ x 17″ and I had those bars available. The design size will be 6.5″ x 8.5″. Now, I have too much space on each side to end threads. So, I moved it down an inch. Still plenty of room and easier to reach.
Before I started the fun part of stitching this, I am going to work on Project Runway. It’s already January 5th!
And, there are two pieces that need finishing, one of which is a Cabochon. My rule is each one must be finished before starting the next. And, I broke that rule by starting Hope. So, I’ll get back on track with finishing before starting this piece.
Oops! I was missing Rainbow Tweed RT66 and was going to figure out what to use when I got there but I just found it in a bag of threads I inherited from Mary’s stash (member of Needlework and Fiber Guild of Media)! Thanks Mary.
It’s rather appropriate that the first of the Cabochons by Susan Portra to start in 2026 is Hope since I am hopeful that I will complete the series this year. It’s actually the 4th in the series (still missing 11 and 12 if anyone has a lead on how to get them).
Hope is supposed to be on a gray canvas using Rhapsody R04. My canvas is called pewter, a type of gray that looks great with this Rhapsody. Although my card of Rhapsody is not numbered, it goes great with Neon Rays N08 which is in Susan’s original colorway. I am switching out Anchor Floss and Pearl #5 for DMC threads.
The basting of the outline was done last night. I did get the top row of 26 cross stitches in at our ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter Stitch-in today but I was convinced to rip them out because I had not done that many and they had not been done according to the instructions. The top stitches of the cross stitches are supposed to point to the center. I had spent too much time shopping and talking to restitch them there. And, I had forgotten to get my unstitched starting photo.
So, this was my progress during the Saturday night football games.
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