Filed under: All That Simmers by Sundance Beads, ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter
Kristen, from ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter, is leading All That Shimmers using the stitch guide by Sundance Beads. We got a discount ordering for a group through The West in Arizona. The kits came with the beads and ribbons, not the threads. Kristen stitched this in advance of the chapter.
It’s not a large piece at 7″ x 5″. Sundance shows it displayed as a 5×7, but I think the balance of stitches will be better displayed as 7×5. We’ll see.
I didn’t take a photo of all the stuff (threads, beads, metallic accents, raffia, and ribbons) that goes on the canvas prior to getting started, and I didn’t get a photo prior to stitching the borders! I was delayed because I switched to all Kreinik #12 Braid thanks to my stash and Linda’s!
You may notice that I’m working in the well, as Kristen suggested, because there’s only about an inch and a quarter around the design. That makes ending threads too difficult.
I’m only going to share photos of the fun beads and metallic accents as I use them, which is why we selected this project.
For Ribbon 1, we use Size 11 beads and MA005 Gold Coil.
I rediagrammed the pattern for the overdyed blue and ecru threads by shifting it slightly because I didn’t like where the metallic accents fell. It is now symmetrical, and that makes me happy!
Then, I also revised the suggested stitch surrounding the bead from a 3×4 rectangle to a hexagon that nicely nestles the metallic accent. Rather than using a Silk Lame Braid as called for, I’m using a Kreinik Braid #8 that matches the color Kreinik used in the border.
To aid centering the accent in the hexagon, I went down into the adjacent hole from where I came up. I used a doubled length of Sulky Invisible thread that started out with 2,200 yards. I doubt I’m below 2,000 yards yet – a lifetime supply!
Appropriately, I finished Ribbon 1 at today’s ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter Stitch-in.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, ANG Needle Pointer's Article, Five Vases with Curly Bamboo, Vases, Sharon G
I can’t find what should have been my final post about Vases with Curly Bamboo by Sharon G showing mine framed and letting you know that Linda M, Beth T, and I from ANG Main Line Stitchers submitted our canvases to Needle Pointers for The Tale of Two Stitchers (in this case three) series of articles.
The article discusses the roundness and light reflection. During our meeting discussions, we focused more on the degree of coverage based on a stitch guide and threads from Sharon G (my canvas) and Amy Bunger (Linda). Beth used a combination of those stitches or selected her own stitches after hearing and seeing the discussion.
From class notes and Sharon G’s stitch guide, it was clear that Sharon wanted the canvas to show through. In fact, Sharon G gave 2 Diamond Ray options for the Green vase. I did not use the alternative option with an even more open lacy look. The Burgundy and Blue vases both used single strands of silk floss in between the canvas threads which allows the coloring of the canvas to show through. The Gold vase has the fullest coverage and is the only one of the 5 vases to use 2 colors of thread to enhance the shading. The Cinnamon vase uses the most multi-step composite stitch pattern of the five vases.
When Linda asked Amy Bunger about her approach to this canvas, said, “My approach to designing a stitch guide for any canvas is to attempt to keep the mood, depth and flow of the original design. This design shows a more formal mood in the vases and border with just a touch of whimsy in the curly bamboo. It was easy to determine which areas of design should come forward versus recede and where I should keep a balanced upright appearance versus a slanted or diamond pattern.” Amy’s stitch guide allowed even more of the shading of the vases to show through especially on three of the vases (Green, Burgundy, and Gold). The composite stitch used on the Blue vase was more open than the Cinnamon vase composite stitch which has the fullest coverage.
From the unstitched canvas, you see the light source coming from the upper left corner. The T stitch and the very light blue silk floss for the background selected by Sharon G reinforces the issue of the light source. She said, “I chose a very delicate almost invisible stitch for the background. I thought of a few others, but did not want to detract from the vases. In my mind, simple equals elegant. I think the very light blue can represent the vases resting on a window ledge.”
For the border, Sharon G introduced black within her multiple rows. From the ANG Stitch of the Month 2005 – October, we know Sharon G’s view on borders, “I love to contain my designs in an elegant border made up of a combination of stitches. This allows a bit of containment for the design. For framed pieces, a border allows the eye to be drawn to the needlework, rather than to the frame.” Beth and Linda followed the coloring of the painting. However, Beth selected a more textured look with all threads and while Linda used beads and thread to complete the border.
If you are a member of ANG, you can see the other 2 canvases in the article published in the Needle Pointers Jan/Feb 2021 issue. Better late than never – right!
If you’re not a member of ANG, you should be – go to needlepoint.org and join. Then, join a local chapter (find one listed by state under Chapters), Cyberpointers (Cyberpointers.org), or both.
Beginning on May 2 for 5 days, I am leading the Cyberpointers meeting program, A Stash Sampler. Hope you join us for the program, discussions, or both.
Our ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter’s first Stitch-in for 2024 was Saturday. We had a nice turnout with 9 people in person and one on Zoom for a couple of hours. We lucked out with the weather-mild and sunny!
Beth brought her framed Southwestern Pots. It was really framed beautifully. She’ll bring it to our March meeting when Kristen will bring hers too. I helped Beth get back on track with A Spring Sampler. Lori and Patrick are coming along nicely with theirs.
I worked on the borders for Imperial Topaz by Sue Reed. I did change 3 strands of Splendor to 1 strand of Silk Lame Braid Petite so I could see more of the Kreinik Braid that stretches corner to corner. And, I skipped the small upright stitches over 2 to see more of the Braid.
I finished the border Monday but got sidetracked and forgot to post this. I’m very happy with how this turned out. Thanks again to Linda for leading us through the project and picking threads which is key to getting the motifs to show.
As a reminder, Needlepoint Now sells reprints, which are available for $3 at https://www.needlepointnow.com/product-category/project-reprints/.
Note: Gifted canvas to friends, Mona and Kirk. It goes with the color scheme in their living room! Glad it found a home.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Imperial Topaz by Sue Reed
Our ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter’s Stitch-in was Saturday. Several of us were all ready for Christmas and enjoyed an afternoon of stitching.
I never like to count much at a Stitch-in. So, I stitched the corners boxes in the evenings prior to the meeting.
I also stitched the large crosses and couched according to the instructions for the zigzag appearance. The zigzag is evident because Linda guided us through the thread selection. The contrast between the crosses and the top stitches was essential for the pattern to be seen.
That left the thread blending gobelin rows to fill in, which was easy to do and talk. I got 2 corners done during the Stitch-in and the other 2 last evening while watching TV.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, ANG Stitch of the Month, 2011
Heather, from my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter, has been leading the chapter through the stitches used in Ro Pace’s, A Flower From Italy, Stitch of the Month in 2011.
Last month, she discussed the Chilly Hollow stitch. This is the original from ANG’s website:
Once I understood it, I decided to try alternating colors with each stitch rather than in each quadrant. Getting the stitches to lay nicely took 2 attempts.
I used red and white DMC Pearl #8 for the stitch and the cording and got a tighter cord this time. I used the Kreinik cord maker for each color but then twisted them together by hand. Bill was my vice again.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Imperial Topaz by Sue Reed
Linda, from Main Line Stitchers chapter, has been leading this project presenting a short explanation of the next section. These areas employed a simple thread blending formula that used 3 values to make 5. Many times in shading, you can’t find 5 gradual color differences within a particular color. Fortunately, this is very effective.
Serendipity, the Stitch used, overlaps on one canvas thread, which I think helps make it appear as a gradual color change.
All ready for tomorrow’s meeting and the next section. Three more areas to go!
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, ANG Stitch of the Month, 2008
I forgot to post the stitched final piece for ANG Stitch of the Month 2008, Circles by Lois Kershner. My ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter did this earlier this year, and I decided to finish mine as a lid for the wicker basket I made in a class with several other members of our chapter.
To make sure the lid wouldn’t sink into the basket, I added a ring of tent stitches around the border in the light blue (800) Pearl Cotton #5 used elsewhere in the piece. That is what the cording is made from, too. Bill served as my vice, and I twisted by hand. It’s still not as tight as Kelly Starke’s drill method, but it’s good. Here’s the front. I added a padding of a thick wool felt.
The back has the pretty fabric that I picked up at NJ Needle Fest in October. I picked it up for the back of the jellyfish ornament, but I have plenty for both with more leftover.
Here it sits on the basket.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, ANG Stitch of the Month, 2011
I held off posting this until the traditional start of the holiday season, the day after Thanksgiving!
At our October ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter meeting, Heather discussed the Waffle and Amadeus. I’d already made the Waffle into an ornament.
The Amadeus is only tricky where the two join together for the first 5 stitches in the North, South, East, and West. I have to pull the thread off to the side, find the hole, and then pull it taut.
I worked the Amadeus motif using Kreinik #12 Braid 421 Azalea and 5982 Forest Green with DMC #8 Blanc for the Alternating Continental background. A large gold bead filled in the center using a cross stitch through the bead to hold it upright without wobbling. The cording is DMC #5 666 red and 701 green (6 strands each).
A couple of people in my chapter wanted to see what I had learned from my finishing class. So, I brought everything to our October Stitch-in (wow-a month ago tomorrow). Most everything fits appropriately in my lovely A Place for Everything, a ByAnnie and by Linda bag. The tools are in another holder. I found my glue gun and brought it. I bought a Mighty Travel Iron by Dritz. My big iron is too big for these ornaments. A few bottled waters (Evian, which is easy to find, and Ocean, which we had in the fridge) are soft enough to use in the iron. The last time I bought a gallon of distilled water, it leaked. I got 1/8″ thick foam board from Ebay before learning that the Framing Dept at Michael’s have the thin boards. The 3/8″ board is out in the aisle. Thanks to Michael’s for their 40% off coupons, I got a nice price on Friskar’s nip scissors. Lots to bring.
I finished the Amadeus into a diamond. And, it was done in about 3 hours. I am getting faster.
I forgot I’d brought along a 3″, 4″, and 5″ circle template from mommymadethat (.com) for any rounds. Molly has some great templates (free) on her website. But, Nanda’s circle was very round. So, marking the shape with a pencil worked out fine.
The cording with Kreinik didn’t turn out nearly as tight as with the drill. I did sew it into place to reinforce the top at the loop and went around adding a couple of stitches to connect the cording to the front and back on each side.
No Black Friday shopping here. We’re busy at home cleaning, resting, decorating, resting, and more decorating over the course of today while listening to holiday music and will be all ready for Christmas!
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Imperial Topaz by Sue Reed
I did get good contrast between the threads so that you can see the pattern in the couching which are the 4 areas surrounding the center large rectangle. It was easy stitching, but you do have to count correctly. I’m ready for the next area. I am looking forward to my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter meeting on Monday’s night to get Linda’s tips on the next area.
I got the 3 designs from Dawn, a portion of a larger From Dawn to Dusk done on Cashel linen or Lugana, framed by Jim at Repenning Fine Arts in Audubon, NJ. It needed a custom cut mat, which he said wasn’t easy, but he did a fine job. I need more wall space!
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