We are more than half done on one of the counted projects with my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter which is ANG’s Stitch of the Month (SOTM) from 1999, Barbara’s Patchwork.
The Byzantine stitch over 2 threads is the main pattern but there is an Eyelet added for interest. I chose Kreinik #12 Braid 421 for some sparkle.
I decided to remove the light Color A floss on the top and bottom edges of Areas B and D. Instead, I used the same Kreinik just used in Area G.
Due to the coronavirus, our chapter will meet via Zoom at our normal day and time. It’s nice that the ANG Area representative wants to join us and introduce herself in person as it were.
I think Show and Tell will take awhile because we’ve all been stitching so much. Then, we’ll be discussing the rest of the sections of Barbara’s Patchwork and see where everyone is with Crescent Journey. If time allows, I have a discussion planned about thread and stitch selections for a canvas other than the Vases canvas to see how it translates online. In case Zoom is our only option for a while, I better figure out how best to use it.
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.
We are moving right along on one of the counted projects with my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter which is ANG’s Stitch of the Month (SOTM) from 1999, Barbara’s Patchwork.
Area F is described as a patterned Bargello design. It’s certainly not a conventional Bargello pattern with stitches over 4 canvas threads. But, what’s in a name.
Please join us March 9 (always the second Monday of the month from 7-9 pm) at Starbucks in Wayne, PA (218 Lancaster Ave). We will show some of Toni Minieri and Amy Bunger’s DVD on Back to Basics. Then, after Show and Tell, we’ll be discussing the next section of Barbara’s Patchwork and Crescent Journey. Even if you’re not stitching these pieces, there are interesting discussions about color choices and stitch selections.
There was a nice turn out for today’s Main Line Stitch-in with a surprise Show ‘n Tell from 3 members. I’m gathering photos of pieces to send to the graphic artist who will create our advertising postcard featuring a couple of pieces for our month-long exhibit at the Media Arts Council Gallery which will be starting July 11. It’s open to the public.
Today, I continued with the Woven stitch using 2 strands of Bijoux Tiger Eye MMT482 on the Blanton’s canvas. The open stitch and thin thread allows the colors of the canvas to show through. Since I really didn’t understand the white areas, I am happy that they are much less apparent. Next month, Saturday March 28, I should finish the glass bottle.
Please join us any fourth Saturday of the month from 11 am – 3 pm at Starbucks in Wayne, PA (218 Lancaster Ave).
One of the counted projects for my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter is ANG’s Stitch of the Month (SOTM) from 1999, Barbara’s Patchwork. Somehow I forgot to post Area D but it’s appropriate to post in the Rhodes Hearts in February. And, the upper right Area E finished out the inner square and created balance within the area by being dense like the lower left Area C while the upper left Area B and lower right Area D are more open.
Please join us February 9 (always the second Monday of the month from 7-9 pm) at Starbucks in Wayne, PA (218 Lancaster Ave). After Show and Tell, we’ll be discussing the next section of Barbara’s Patchwork, Crescent Journey, and Vases. Even if you’re not stitching these pieces, there are interesting discussions about color choices and stitch selections.
Despite heavy rain several ANG Main Line Stitchers showed up for today’s Stitch-in. I had gotten several good suggestions for open stitches at my chapter meeting. Jane at Chilly Hollow had left a comment also suggesting a thin metallic in an open stitch.
So, I went with Woven using 2 strands of Bijoux Tiger Eye MMT482. This Bijoux has some gold and some reddish areas throughout the thread (that isn’t coming through in the photo). I’m using 2 strands and the colors don’t always line up. It’s really turning out well. Looks justs like a deep bourbon colored liquid in a glass bottle.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Vases with Curly Bamboo by Sharon G
Several members of my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter have now joined several of us who took a class with Sharon G for her painted canvas, Vases with Curly Bamboo, at Nimble Needle of NJ a few years ago (2012). Original class members have Sharon G’s stitch guide and I’m using her recommended stitches (with a slight alteration of the beads near the black tassel).
Now, we have stitch guides by Amy Bunger and Tony Minieri to learn how different stitch guide writers approach the same painted canvas. These will be discussed every other month (December, February, etc) to give people a chance to stitch a vase before discussing the next one. The last session will review the background and border. We are not copying the stitch guides. Each person has their own or can take notes regarding the other stitch guides.
My first vase was finally done by March 2017. The little bits done on the other vases was done in class. I’m done with Vase 2. After stitching the Diamond straight stitch pattern, I had to get out the magnifying glass to see where to fill in the 2 strands of Bijoux 415 (really tough to get a photo to show the sparkle but 2 stitches fall between the beads on the diagonal). Then, I could see where to put the burgandy Sundance beads 460A. There are two rows of beads on the top rim. Sharon recommended two rows for the lower band near the tassel but I alternated beads on the diagonal with black Kreinik #4 Braid 005 because the cord of the tassel needed to appear to go around the vase. The tassel was supposed to be long stitches that ray out from the top but I couldn’t get that to gather how I wanted. So, I made some shorter stitches to fill in the bottom sides and long ones in the center. The two strings of 5 beads each lay across the long threads nicely looking like they are gathered.
Close up photo.
I’m looking forward to see what others have done with the burgundy vase.
Yesterday, I made great progress on the blue vase at our Saturday Stitch-in (4th Saturday of the month).
Please join us any second Monday of the month from 7-9 pm at Starbucks in Wayne, PA (218 Lancaster Ave).
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, ANG Stitch of the Month, 1999
One of the counted projects for my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter is ANG’s Stitch of the Month (SOTM) from 1999, Barbara’s Patchwork. Everyone’s is looking great.
Unlike Area B, most of Area C is covered but there are some open areas. So, watching where threads start and end is important. I started the base, Elongated Cross stitch, in Area A near the upper left corner with a 30” thread so that I would not need to start again. That long length of thread will not get stressed (excess wear) because they are such large crosses. My only change was from two plies to one ply for the last 4 elongated crosses (those that are vertically oriented located between the irregular Smyrna stitches).
Please join us December 9 (always the second Monday of the month from 7-9 pm) at Starbucks in Wayne, PA (218 Lancaster Ave).
One of the counted projects for my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter is ANG’s Stitch of the Month (SOTM) from 1999, Barbara’s Patchwork. There a nice variety of colors going on.
This is the next area, a composite pattern looking like a patch of flowers to me. It was a little tricky to stitch without threads showing through. I either passed the thread through the outline or started and ended within the motif.
And, one more person signed up for my Crescent Journey! And, one woman is stitching on a black canvas. This month will reveal everyone’s center motif with 6 stitches.
We’ve got the projector and speaker going again and are watching Tony Minieri and Amy Bunger Back to Basics DVDs alternating months with discussing Vases, a Sharon G painted canvas. Doing both was just too much in 2 hours. This month, we are starting Part 3 and will take 20 minutes to look at The Canvas, Compensation, and 3 Filling Patterns (Burden, Double Burden, and a Composite Couching Pattern).
Please join us November 11 (always the second Monday of the month from 7-9 pm) at Starbucks in Wayne, PA (218 Lancaster Ave).
One of my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter members asked about a thread substitution for Trebizond in Crescent Journey.
You wouldn’t want to use anything stranded (although as soon as I say it, I wonder what would happen except take a lot longer to stitch).
So, I decided to see how they work with the main stitches.
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Vineyard Silk Classic (gray) top
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DMC Perle #5 (brown)
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DMC Perle #8 (white)
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Trebizond (white) bottom
Here are my stitched samples.
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