We are fortunate to have several new members in our ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter. In the last newsletter, I mentioned the Hearts for Hospice program we stitched for in 2018 and was asked what I was talking about.
I’d been including free heart resources and sharing them in our newsletter periodically in case people want to stitch more of them. So, I gathered all the information together and sent it to my chapter. And, it dawned on me that it might be a great resource to share with everyone now. Maybe you have some stash and want a smaller, easier project to keep you occupied during these difficult days. Perhaps you can make a heart for the ANG Greater Kansas City chapter, an upcoming ANG auction, or for a friend to lift their spirits.
The ANG Greater Kansas City Chapter began a Hearts for Hospice program several years ago. A heart, placed on the resident’s door, notifies passers by of the death of a loved one. The heart is then taken home by a family member as a remembrance of the care their loved one received while at the center (multiple facilities may benefit).
In 2018, I came up with a design and provided stitch suggestions from Father B’s 21st Century Book of Stitches. The instructions got published in the Needle Pointer’s article, Caring Hearts, in Needle Pointer’s Jan/Feb 2019, Volume 47, No. 1, pages 22-29. ANG members need to log in to open digital versions of all issues (dating back to 2017). Go to https://www.needlepoint.org/page/NeedlePointers, scroll down to Click Here.
In the same issue on page 21, an article discusses the hospice program and how to contact them. And, they mention that Heart of Hearts designed by Barbara Richardson is available in the Needlepoint Now Jan/Feb 2019 issue which I stitched in blue threads from my stash (https://www.needlepointnow.com/product/january-february-2019/). There is another one done recently in that same design using an overdyed thread from Colour Complements (https://colourcomplements.com/2020/03/hearts-for-hospice-needlepoint-colour-complements.html).
Later, the instructions for my bargello heart were published in Needle Pointer’s Jul/Aug/Sept 2019, Volume 47, No. 4, pages 30-32.
Then, I stitched a variation of the bargello heart.
I haven’t gone back to the hearts since stitching those but there are lots more to choose from. Check out all these resources!
There are 12 wonderful, free heart designs at https://www.rainbowgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DDPScan_04_14_16001.pdf. They are 3½” x 3½” and that’s just big enough for the Hearts for Hospice program. It also looks like they are open patterns which will work up quickly and would even look nice on a metallic canvas.
Here are more free patterns for small hearts from the National Academy of Needlearts at: https://needleart.org/publications/free-patterns/hearts/ They also offer an excellent introduction to needlepoint piece at: https://needleart.org/publications/free-patterns/free-kente-patterns/
Lorraine (Colour Complements) has a wonderful line of hand-dyed threads and blogs regularly. She shared a couple of hearts designed by Sue Dulle that you can download for free. The hearts use threads from Colour Complements. Very pretty. https://colourcomplements.com/2019/11/hearts-for-hospice-needlepoint-colour-complements-embroidery-threads.html and at https://colourcomplements.com/2019/12/hospice-hearts-hand-dyed-threads-colour-complements.html
The Enriched Stitch, a needlepoint store in Wilton, CT has provided a free stitch guide for this heart at http://astheneedleturns.com/rhodes-heart-stitch-along-with-suzie/ which you can do with any variety of colors and threads.
There is an ANG Correspondence Course, Hearts of Gold, with Michele Roberts available at https://www.needlepoint.org/page/2020HeartsofGold. I obtained the booklet when ANG Cyberpointers offered it and am really glad I did. This is an extensive resource with so much more than just designs for hearts or teaching bargello patterns. This also covers:
- Adding non-Bargello stitches.
- How to achieve color separation through tints and shades of gold and light refraction.
- Regular and consistent patterns, twilled, graduated, and staggered patterns.
- Combining different patterns laterally, even if twilled or graduated.
- Exposed and covered burden work.
- Instructions on finishing and how to do beaded cording.
Free from DMC, there’s a bargello heart (https://www.dmc.com/us/bargello-heart-pattern-9007135.html) and a beauty should have you an expert in French Knots by the time you are done (uses just 2 colors but blended into each randomly). https://www.dmc.com/us/love-dots-pattern-9007137.html Both are great stash busters!
Hopefully, we can stay healthy (remain inside and isolated as much as possible), move/stretch (try seated stretches with Mike at https://youtu.be/ZTXfdk0G4Y4), be productive (clean/organize even if just an hour a day), manage stress and anxiety (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html), get rest, and get a lot of stitching done.
This design is Heart of Hearts by Barbara Richardson from Needlepoint Now Jan/Feb 2019 issue in my thread choices. I’m stitching it for the ANG Greater Kansas City Needlepoint Guild’s Hearts for Hospice project.
I started stitching this on the Stitcher’s Escapes Cruise to Bermuda and finished it over the weekend. It’s easy stitching and travels well. Threads include: Rainbow Tweed RT59, Splendor S860 and S861, Burmilana 3910, and Gloriana Nightshadow Blue Med 202W4.
Back in October 2018, I stitched these hearts and shortly thereafter, I was asked by Needle Pointers if they could publish directions for Crescent Journey. But, I hadn’t written them up yet and I was/am working on alternate colorways. Instead, I suggested the heart design instructions that I’d written up for my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter members as we worked to support the Greater Kansas City Needlepoint Guild (GKCNG) Chapter’s Hearts for Hospice project.
Now, those instructions have been published and are in the article, Caring Hearts, in Needle Pointer’s Jan/Feb 2019, Volume 47, No. 1. As it turned out they were publishing an article about GKCNG’s efforts. So, this made a nice companion article. Coincidentally, Barbara Richardson has a lovely heart design published in Needlepoint Now Jan/Feb 2019, Volume XXI, No. 1. So, there are plenty of options to stitch. I do hope that others can stitch a heart and support GKCNG’s cause. Any questions about their project can be sent to Sue at HeartsForHospiceGKCNG@gmail.com
Here’s another heart that I will call Broken Heart for two reasons. At this time of year, I always remember the wonderful people, family and friends, that are no longer here to share in the holidays. So many good times bringing bittersweet emotions.
I made up stitches as I went along. There are 2 halves of a heart on each side pointing outward which is why I named it, Broken Heart. I’m still using Planet Earth Silk threads from Coffee Cups included here are Midnight 102, Port V171, Burgundy 170, and Lettuce V052.
Best wishes to all of you this holiday season as you go about visiting folks and making new memories!
For this heart, I used all Planet Earth Silk left over from the Cups canvas that our chapter, ANG Main Line Stitchers, recently finished. One strand covers great on the Bargello pattern. Colors used include: Pyrenees 121, Embers 011, Citron 067, Bok Choy 051, Persimmon 157, Sizzle 008, Burgundy 170, Sunburst V302, Port V171, and Lettuce V052. V is for variegated and would be more evident in larger areas.
The Outline stitch and diamonds are all done in Planet Earth Silk Midnight 102.
I got the idea for this heart from Nan’s Afghan Scrap Bag Needlepoint on Nuts about Needlepoint’s blog.
I had to alter the diamonds to fit this heart but the idea was to fill the centers with the last of the threads from the other 2 red hearts including Rainbow Tweed RT53, Splendor S994 and S953, ThreadworX Expressions 234, and The Thread Gatherer Sheep’s Silk English Meadow SPS 084. But, I needed another thread with some contrast and added Gloriana Lorikeet Slate Green 051W3.
The outline was stitched with DMC Perle #5 902 for back stitches and for the whipped stitching. The diamonds are stitched with 2 strands of Felicity’s Garden 034 Dubbonet Cocktail.
This is a great stash buster and wonderful way to use up smaller amounts of threads.
Here’s another heart that I finished on vacation. For this one, I used Felicity’s Garden 034 Dubbonet Cocktail, ThreadworX Expressions 234, Rainbow Tweed RT53, and Splendor S994. The outline was stitched with DMC Perle #5 902 for back stitches and Felicity’s Garden 034 for whipped stitching.
And, I finished the second heart last night during what turned out to be the last game of the World Series. Quite an exciting series. I couldn’t stitch anything very complicated so I could pay attention to the games. Congratulations to the Sox!
For this heart, I used Felicity’s Garden, DMC Perle #5 902, Splendor S823, Splendor S953, The Thread Gatherer Sheep’s Silk English Meadow SPS084 (the overdyed thread in eyelets along the dividing lines). The outline was stitched with 1 strand of Felicity’s Garden 034 in the chain stitch.
My husband likes the first one best and I like the second one better. Which one do you prefer?
Filed under: ANG Seminar 2018, Designing Geometric Sampler with Kathy Rees, Hearts of Hospice
One member of my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter suggested that we stitch hearts for a Hearts For Hospice begun by the ANG Greater Kansas City Needlepoint chapter. They provide hearts to area hospice organizations.
“When a resident passes away, a heart is placed on the door which notifies those passing by to be respectful of others who are mourning the death of a loved one. The heart is then taken home by a family member as a remembrance of the care their loved one received while at the center.”
So, our chapter will stitch some hearts for them. We are using some threads that members from the 90s reviewed in our newsletters. I have 10 thread bags ready. Between Linda’s and my stash, we came up with 2 blue, 2 purple, 3 wine, and 3 magenta colorways. Each bag has 10 threads including a Perle #5, 2 silk floss, a wool and wool blend, cotton/rayon blend, rayon, and a rayon ribbon. One of our new members picked up a bunch of Wonder Twist in a grab bag-so we’ll each get a skein. Wonder Twist is a 100% nylon thread like perle by Beau Geste Inc which has been discontinued but still can be found online.
Stop by Starbucks at 218 Lancaster Ave at 7 PM tomorrow for our October 8th meeting. We’re also meeting there on the 4th Saturdays from 10 AM – 2 PM (October-March) for Stitch-in Time.
For this heart, I used Spring II which is now known as Threadworx Expressions (50/50 cotton/rayon blend) and Wonder Twist. I augmented those threads with Silk Lame Braid For 18 count SL151, Kreinik #8 Braid 051HL, and Kreinik Cord 051C.
The heart is about 4&1/2″ x 4&1/2″.
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