The background worked up quickly at Saturday’s ANG Main Line Stitchers Stitch-in because there are once again long laid threads with couching stitches. I love how the long laid threads lie on the true diagonal while the couching stitches are spread out and move on an oblique angle.
Previously, I mentioned that I disliked working with Tiara so much because it seperates terribly that I switched to Kreinik. However, I had recently learned that purple glue sticks are acid-free and safe for archival use. So after cutting the thread, I lightly applied the glue to both ends. It improves the thread enough to work with but it’s still tricky and can catch on the canvas if you’re not careful. When I anchor the thread on the back into other stitches, I can leave a tail and cut the glue end off anyway.
Later that night and the following day, the bugle beads and Cabochons were applied.
I’ve done what I said I wasn’t going to do. I completed stitching an ornament without finishing the previous one. So, now I have two to finish. I know why I procrastinated. The shape of the previous one is difficult (5-armed star). But, I will persevere!
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Razzle Dazzle by Ann Strite-Kurz
I am caught up with Ribbon 1 of Razzle Dazzle by Ann Strite-Kurz in both the fall and aqua colorways. Each of the first 3 steps became quite easy after doing them 14 more times.
Step 4 did get easier and I didn’t have to do the double running technique. I worked it similarly to the way as Ann diagrammed it but worked it on the opposite diagonal path.
It’s quite apparent that I am selecting different values of thread colors between the fall and aqua versions. It’s quite interesting to see these develop.
There is plenty of time to work on Ribbon 2 before our next ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter meeting on September 14. But, I will not be taking these to Stitch-in tomorrow since they are too big.
ROY G BIV with Kathy Rees is very colorful featuring the primary and secondary colors. It drew some attention at the Central Jersey Chapter. Everyone also enjoyed hearing about Magical Colors by Jennifer Riefenberg, my Show & Tell piece.
After taking the half-done photo and before the Stitch-in, I got started on the second half. A couple of patterns require some more concentration that are best done at home such as Byzantine.
CJC has a 5-hour meeting/Stitch-in with a break for lunch. So, it’s worth the drive (1 hour and 15 minutes each way) to spend time stitching and chatting with a good group of people. The rest of ROY G BIV was finished during our usual Svengoolie Saturday night movie and Sunday golf.
Kathy provided an extra line-drawn canvas for a second colorway. But more on that another time and how I will finish this has yet to be determined.
I was reminded about Teal-licious in Any Colorway, a Needle Pointers article in the July/August 2026 issue that I put together from input and photos from four ANG members. Sue C brought her issue to today’s Central Jersey Chapter meeting/Stitch-in and commented how much she enjoyed the article.
And, Janice M was there and was pleased with the article too. Her brown colorway kicked off my idea to find other colorways. A search on Facebook identified a pistachio green colorway by Karen B and a red, white, and black colorway by Dawn T.
Dawn wasn’t quite done so I waited. There was no deadline to publish the article and it was worth the wait. Once Dawn’s was ready and one month before I was due to submit the article, Barbara B-R shared her purple colorway at a meeting Show & Tell that I was attending.
Not only was I was thrilled to get photos of their four colorways, but each stitcher knew what threads they used, and shared wonderful thoughts about the design, selecting threads, and personal experiences with stitching.
To read the full article and see the four colorways, you must be a member of ANG. If you’re not a member of ANG, the American Needlepoint Guild (needlepoint.org), it’s easy to join. There are many free designs exclusively available to members, including Teal-licious by Freda Murfin.
Halfway done with Kathy Rees, ROY G BIV’s piece. Besides the 7 primary and secondary colors, we were given 2 extra blues and an extra green for accents. Fun, easy to stitch, and a nice break from Razzle Dazzle. It’s also small enough to go on the road to ANG’s Central Jersey Chapter Stitch-in tomorrow.
Filed under: Branch Weaving, Brandywine Chapter, Embroidery Guild of America
Who knew branch weaving is a thing?!? I did not know about it until our EGA Brandywine Chapter meeting last month. Kathy A and Karen S are leading us through September.
An internet search reveals there are plenty of examples of branch weaving. Most don’t say what they do with the finished branches. One said hang it on your wall. Mine is not wall worthy! Some examples are quite complicated and pretty. As far as mine goes, I will stick it in the ground in the back yard.
Thanks to Patrick for gathering branches, we had plenty to choose from. Kathy and Karen supplied the yarn. I brought a couple of large eye needles.
Mine returned to this month’s meeting and I was the only one who brought their finished piece! The weaved area is about 5″ x 7″. It was also my Show & Tell for the Needlework and Fiber Guild of Media where it went over well.
I’ll need to sharpen the end (somehow) and stick it in the ground in the backyard. I guess I will do some whittling tomorrow!
This month, we were introduced to Chicken Scratch but more on that another time.
I wasn’t able to whittle the end (no proper tool in the house). So, we dug a little hole and filled it back in with the dirt. It joins our menagerie including a hummingbird and frog can be seen nearby. We’ve had a good rain and my garden sculpture of weaving survived.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Razzle Dazzle by Ann Strite-Kurz
Due to being at ANG Seminar and working on an article for the Timeless Treasures from the Archives in Needle Pointers, I am behind on Razzle Dazzle. Linda M is talking about Ribbon 2 tonight.
There are 4 steps in Ribbon 1 and each step takes a good amount of time 45 minutes to an hour. I rarely time my stitching but I was curious. Do you keep track of stitching time?
The paths for Steps 1 and 2 were easy to remember and stitch. Step 3 path was tougher to remember and I periodically looked at the instructions but they made sense. Step 4 is the toughest and I switched to a double running technique that she also discusses because it took less thinking for me! I have plenty (6) more opportunities to give the original path another try.
Initially, I was going to do each Step across both colorways before moving to the next step. However, repeating the first step 8 times got a tad boring although I felt like I was moving efficiently.
I was only able to finish one of four Ribbon 1 areas in each colorway before our Monday meeting leaving some catch up work to do on Ribbon 1 and all of Ribbon 2 to work on before next month.
It looks lacy to me.
The Expo! at the ANG Seminar in Denver lasted all day although a few teachers couldn’t open their tables until after 5 pm because they were teaching.
The first table to greet you was the very friendly and active VA chapter, Hampton Roads Sandpipers. They had charted ANG’s approved logo in 2 sizes. This is a 2.5″ round on a 5″ 18 count canvas. It came with a length of silver Kreinik for the needle. They were also selling 5″ 3D printed stretcher bars so I had to get the ornament to try the bars!
They fit together ok but not as flush at each joint as the wooden ones. When you press the tacks in, there seems to be a very resistant top layer and once that is penetrated, the tack is firmly in place. I’ll be sticking with wood ones.
In general, I am not a big shopper and Expo! is no different. That’s all I bought but enjoyed looking. I was tempted by some kitted Michele Roberts egg kits but I decided to pass. My back had spasms that prevented me from returning in the evening. Luckily, the inflatable pillow made sitting on the chair in the classroom the next day possible.
Let me also plug the Seminar Campaign fundraiser which I did donate to based on the 14 seminars that I attended to get in a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to A Stitching Shop (I didn’t win). There will be another drawing at the end of August. Read all about it at https://www.needlepoint.org/page/2026SeminarCampaign and consider donating.
Back to Faith from The Cabochons Series by Susan Portra at my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter Stitch-in Saturday. Over the last 2 months I got working on our Santa canvas and so not much to report on this lately. Our Bring the Joy Santa designed by Marjorie Sarnat is done and heading to the framer. It looks great. The photo will be released by Fireside Stitchery on social media once it’s framed and then will hang in the store. In the meantime, I know 2 people have requested the threads and stitch guide and maybe a third. It was a chapter project discussed montly at our meetings over the past (almost) year! But, I digress.
I’ve been replacing French Knots with cross stitches or onlong cross stitches depending on the configuration. But, they didn’t work out so I laid a long length of Petite Very Velvet and couched it. The silver Fyre Werks is picking up the mint green from the Petite Very Velvet more in the photo than in person. Photographing needlework is really difficult.
The large side areas and beads/Cabochons are all that’s left to do on Faith. August 22 is the next ANG Main Line Stitchers Stitch-in.
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