We are off and running with the Ort Box. Directions were graciously provided directly from Marilyn Owen. And, Karen Milano at Nimble Needle gave us a very nice discount for INTERLOCKING canvas by the yard (of plain white 14 count, metallic silver and metallic gold 14 count, and plain white 18 count). Thanks to both!! Then, I cut it up & taped the edges for everyone in advance.
However, I didn’t fully read the directions (there is a lot to make such a small box) & didn’t see that the metallic interlocking canvas will be harder to put together. But, a couple of us are electing to give it the old college try, including myself. Some pros & cons of 14 count vs 18 count: the 14 count will be a slightly larger box & require thicker threads such as DMC #5 Perle Cotton as opposed to the smaller 18 count box that calls for DMC #8 Perle Cotton & Floss.
The directions for the blackwork go up to row 3 then you are to repeat directions for rows 1 & 2 alternating. So, diagrams 8A & 9A are key. I used the grayed out stitches as reference for stitches just completed. Because I’ve never done blackwork before, I practiced first. And, I finally saw the pattern. If others struggle to get it, these are my tips:
Row 1 stops at stitch 25 (as pictured in 8A)
Row 3 stops at stitch 19 (as pictured in 10 but also 8A)
Row 5 stops at stitch 13 (as pictured in 8A – stopping for shorter row)
Row 7 stops at stitch 7 (as pictured in 8A – stopping for shorter row)
Row 9 is only stitch 1
The odd rows all stop with the stitch going down and to the right.
Row 2 stops at stitch 22 (as pictured in 9A)
Row 4 stops at stitch 16 (as pictured in 9A – stopping for shorter row)
Row 6 stops at stitch 10 (as pictured in 9A – stopping for shorter row)
Row 8 stops at stitch 4 (as pictured in 9A – stopping for shorter row)
The even rows all stop with the stitch going straight down.
I also put the rest of the rows into a diagram for my chapter members & photographed it row by row.
I used a red, white, & blue over dyed thread for Area 1 & Area 2 (on silver metallic canvas). I don’t have enough of the over dyed to do it for the blackwork. You really do need at least 7 feet for 14 count. So, I am weighing options! One way or another, I’m using my stash.
After replenishing my stock of Gold Rush 14 (WG84C), I was able to finish the sky. I have decided to to use Stitch Landscape, an iPad app, exclusively to select stitches for this piece.
Stitch Landscape is by Little Shoppe Canvas Company. And, the app is $10.99 at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stitch-landscape/id469541089?mt=8 (I have no financial connection to them or sadly, Apple). The landscape categories are clouds (28), flowers (27), grass (40), mountains (41), sand (30), shrubbery (18), sky (40), snow (27), soil (18), stone (18), tree (30), tree bark (12), & water (25). So, I think I should be able to find enough suitable stitches to finish this ornament which consists of sky, trees, & snow with 354 stitches to select from (the Description on iTunes says there are 370 stitches & within the hints section there could be more)! The diagrams are very clear at the smaller iPhone size. They do blur a tad when you open to the 2x size on iPad but not so horrible that you can’t look at it. And, the diagrams are easy to follow.
The Stitch Hints for sky are very helpful as they speak to what colors to select for the dynamics of the sky (fair weather, storm, time of day), coverage. For my sky, I reviewed the 40 patterns, narrowed down to 6 potential & selected pattern 23. It is difficult to pick this up on the stitched canvas. I have found that darker colors do not tend to display patterns as well as lighter ones. Here are 2 pictures to show that pattern I selected & to display the differences between the 1x & 2x for those you considering purchasing the app.
And, I love how the Gold Rush is dark black & blue with the sparkles when stitched. I still have to fill in some falling snow and I think you can see the slant of the stitch just enough to aid the impression of falling snow.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, ANG Stitch of the Month, 2010
I was remiss in getting my finished “Promise of Mystery” designed by Sue Reed to the framers until late 2011. It got stuck in a corner & I forgot about it. But, I got it back shortly before Christmas! It is in a simple frame with an inner silver border & outer black border.
It was fun watching the piece develop over the year-long project. I think that the ANG Stitch of the Month is a wonderful resource with clear & thorough instructions (https://www.needlepoint.org/page/SOTM). AND, it goes back to 1998!! It is a member-only feature of ANG except for the 1998 design, Norwich Delight by Beth Robertson. By allowing that design to remain available to the public, it really promotes the mission of ANG which is:
The American Needlepoint Guild provides a stimulating and challenging environment through nationwide educational programs, a national publication, and Seminars & Exhibitions in which members: develop creative potential, serve public and professional constituencies, support faculty members in the joint pursuit of excellence in teaching and research, and promote intercultural understanding through the needle arts.
While this is the only one I’ve done (to date), I really appreciate the many designers over the years & the behind the scenes work that goes into the Stitch of the Month year after year!! I’m very happy that it is finally completed & hanging. Yes, I found a spot for it!!
Since posting this in 2011, I have stitched several other of the Stitch of the Month designs and have contributed my own design to the pieces. Crescent Journey joined the others in 2023!
While I have enjoyed this design for many years, I am now gifting this piece to my hairdresser, Carol. With limited wall space, I’ve got to make room for newer pieces! I’ve taken a better photo. It still doesn’t reflect the sparkle from the Kreinik and beads.
Our Mainline Stitchers Chapter of ANG did a Holiday Santa Exchange (steal) again this year at our Dec meeting. And, I got a beautiful ornament to stitch.
I don’t know the designer & I can’t tell by the mark in the lower left corner. If anyone knows, please leave comment & let me know.
The threads are now ready – I went through my stash yesterday. Next, I need to select stitches. Then, I can get started just as soon as I finish my small cross-stitch ones. It’s a lovely piece.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Christmas Ornaments, Kumihimo, Melita's Other Completed Pieces
Our theme for this year’s ANG Main Line Chapter meetings is “small”. In the fall, we’ll learn how to finish a small ornament using simple finishing techniques & a Japanese braiding technique called Kumihimo. Then, in the winter/spring, we’ll make an “Ort Box”, a small, collapsible container. Also, in spring, we’ll explore the world of “Marnie’s Miniatures” (one of our member’s is an award winner in miniatures). Lastly in the spring, we’ll have a small “tasting” of other Japanese craft techniques at the start of meetings when we work on the small ANG bear frame weights for the 2012 seminar.
On Sept 12, I’ll lead an introductory class in creating a simple 8-cord Kumihimo braid, a Japanese technique. I made braids using floss, DMC # 5 threads, Watercolour overdye threads, 1 mm hemp cording, 2 mm satin cording, & a combination of threads. And, I have 2 finished bracelets. The chapter will provide the Kumihimo disk, some hemp cording, and materials to finish one bracelet. The application of braiding to needlepoint can lie in creating a decorative matching braid to hang your piece of needlepoint, finishing the edging of an stitched piece, & couching onto a design. From left to right: (1) DMC # 3 (4 strands of white & 2 each of blue & white); (2) 1 mm Hemp cording (4 strands of red & 2 each of blue & white). Mine & my husband’s! I learned in about 20 minutes how to finish the bracelets at a cost of about $2 each with the wonderful folks at The Bead Garden in Havertown.
I wanted to explore textures & thicknesses. So, these are my results & comments about each. From left to right: (1) Blue braid: 2 colors of Silk & Ivory with 2 colors of Watercolours (2 strands each color) – you can just barely see the effect of the overdye but they wasn’t a lot of variation in the overdye thread to begin with; (2) Large red, white & blue braid: 3 colors of 2 mm satin cording (4 strands of red, 2 strands of blue & white) – too thick for a bracelet – better for a necklace; (3) Medium red, white & blue braid: 1 color Flair (4 strands), 1 color Frosty Rays (2 strands), 1 color Fyre Werks (2 strands) – it is surprisingly rough for how the soft threads feel separately so it not good for a bracelet & it stretches after being braided; (4) Very small red, white & blue braid: 3 colors of DMC floss (4 strands of white, 2 strands of red & blue) – it took a long time to stitch that small example so it is impractical to use on a large-scale but perhaps would have some application for miniature work.
On Oct 10, Carol from The Bead Garden will teach an advanced 12-cord Z-braid. She’ll share tips and show us a different way to start the braid. Carol has examples of various braid techniques. And, she has learned even from books written in Japanese! We’ll have enough hemp cording to distribute or they can use their own thread & have it ready for November’s finishing class. These are 2 of her braids using 12 cords & comments about each. From left to right: (1) Pink & black braid: 2 colors of wool/yarn (8 strands of pink, 4 strands of black) – the 3-dimensional effect is more obvious than in the smaller braid; (2) Pink & white braid: 2 colors of DMC #3 (4 strands each of mauve, pink, & white) – a little fancier braid than the simple one
Then, on Nov 14, Karen from Nimble Needle will teach us a simple finishing technique for the 2 & ½” ornament. If we bring a stitched design and about a 12” braid (which allows for a 2” loop), we’ll be able to leave with a completed ornament! I’m ready as you’ll see below. For this, I used: 2 colors of Petite Very Velvet (2 strands each of red & white), 1 color Frosty Rays (1 strand of red), 1 color Watercolours (3 strands of Cinnabar an overdye without a lot of variation in it & the same as I used for the deign of the ornament) – I just wanted a little sparkle & needed the 3-ply per cord of the Watercolours so that it would be a thick enough braid.
Main Line Stitchers (PA): Join us as we explore Japanese braiding, Kumihimo. We’ll begin with 8 cords in Sept, then 12 in Oct, & use some braid to finish a 2&1/2 inch ornament in Nov! Come join us at 7:15 pm on the 2nd Monday of each month at St. Luke’s Church (203 North Valley Road, Devon, PA) just 30 minutes from Center City Philadelphia & 10 minutes from King of Prussia. Contact us at: MainLineStitchersChapter@needlepoint.org for more information.
Please note, I have no financial connection to artists or companies mentioned in my blogs.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter
Lori, our current President from Main Line Stitchers, taught a jewelry beading class to a few of us today. Great class. Lots of fun. It was wonderful to start & finish a project in ONE sitting – that never happens with needlepoint!
We pre-selected either dark indigo, siam red (deep burgundy), or emerald green Swarovski crystals with either silver or gold accents.
This was the base we built first.
Then, we added a criss-cross embellishment that added the glitz & glamor!
Added a clasp & it was done.
Looked good in green with either silver or gold.
A few of the girls showing off our glitz!
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter
The Archivist from the Westtown School, is going to speak to our ANG Main Line Chapter about the Westtown samplers on April 11. She’ll bring her own computer and projector for the presentation & use the wall to project as we did at our other presentations this year.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Scissors Sheath Band Sampler
This weekend, I made 16 kits. Hopefully, weather will allow folks to come out for our ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter April & May meetings. All members in good standing coming to those meetings will get a kit to make a scissors sheath. I already handed out 12 magazines back in Nov & still have 8 more. I told folks to hold on to them for our spring project. They can use the band design that I made (previously blogged) or use the one that appeared in Sampler & Antique Needlework magazine (Summer 2009).
Come join us at 7:15 pm on the 2nd Mon of each month just 30 minutes from Center City Philadelphia & 10 minutes from King of Prussia. Or contact us at: MainLineStitchersChapter@needlepoint.org for more information.
The trivet is done & joins my coasters & napkin ring to complete the Pieces of Eight Project.
Well, I changed my mind quickly when I started outlining the disappearing octagons in green – it wasn’t right. So, I switched to red. And, I decided that before I got too far because this had to be ripped out.
Better in red:
The trivet is acrylic, apparently can withstand temps up to 350 degrees, & came from AllStitch (http://www.allstitch.net/product/hot-plate-trivet-acrylic-embroidery-blank-3952.cfm). They have quite a selection of acrylic embroidery blanks for tables, bathrooms, & personal items – cheap too. So, here it is, placed in the acrylic shell (bottom snaps into top):
And, the set:
As someone else said, I did get a lot out of this project – I did that by exploring wonderful alternatives for finishing needlepoint pieces. And, I feel a sense of accomplishment.
As a reminder, the directions for ‘Pieces of Eight’ by Gayle Bicknell are available at http://www.needlepointnow.com/pdf/nn_form_reprint_05_14_09.pdf. They are reprinted all in one issue for $18.
Neither I nor Main Line Stitchers have any financial interest in any of the companies mentioned.
Come join us at 7:15 pm on the 2nd Mon of each month just 30 minutes from Center City Philadelphia & 10 minutes from King of Prussia. Or contact us at: MainLineStitchersChapter@needlepoint.org for more information.
The 4 octagons are going into a trivet & is the last of the Pieces of Eight project which we began last year at ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter. This matches the coasters & napkin rings to make a nice set.
I finished the edges in a blanket stitch to match what I’d done with the coasters. But because I used the same color & stitch for the background, even the lighter weight thread is not sufficient to distinguish the main shape of the large octagon. So, I’m going to have to outline the larger octagons in a color – maybe green – ‘cuz I’m not ripping out!
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