Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Scissors Sheath Band Sampler
For our ANG Main Line Stitchers meeting in November, we gave each attending member a copy of Sampler & Antique Needlework magazine (Summer 2009) that I chose specifically because of the nice variety of items discussed. For one, there was a late 17th/early 18th century band sampler which discussed the European influence with the introduction of particular motifs and stitches. And, there was a Plimoth Scissors Sheath pattern which I thought would be great for a small spring project using stitches identified in the 17th/18th century sampler.
The scissors sheath is made on 20-count Confection Perforated Sewing Cards from Tokens and Trifles. However, they were out of stock until at least February. But rather than wait & find myself in a difficult position of having to scramble with little time, I started contacting retailers identified on the Tokens & Trifles website as being retailers. Well, I ended up contacting 3 stores still in operation who had a few packages in stock. So, I’d like to thank Lavinia from Counted Embroidery in Califon, NJ, Sue from The Log House in New Castle, PA, and Judy from Judy’s Stitchery Nook in Harlingen, TX all of whom were generous to give a discount on the packages. In addition, Sue sent along patterns for other ornaments in case our chapter members would be interested in doing any of them. So nice!! I also want to mention that Nordic Needle, who was selling back issues of the magazine, referred us to the publisher, Hoffman Media LLC, because we wanted 20 copies & we got a 40% discount when we told them we were an ANG Chapter!
Neither I nor Main Line Stitchers have any financial interest in any of the companies mentioned except to thank those retailers that gave us a discount. We appreciate it!
So, I last night I used stitches diagrammed in the 17th/18th century sampler to design a banded scissors sheath! I hope the chapter members like it. But, they can stitch the design provided (mostly back stitching) or design their own if they prefer. The stitches from the top band down are: Four-sided, Algerian-Eyelet, Diagonal Satin, Queen, Montenegrin, Cross for letters, Marking, Long & Short, Four-sided, & Surface Satin. Tonight, I picked out my colors. Of all the DMC floss I have, I only had 2 of the 5 colors. I can’t get more stash for a small project like this. So, I found others that are just as good. I’ll stitch at least one side to show in our next newsletter.
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.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, General comments, Needlework in Progress, Pieces of Eight
Looking again at my works in progress pile, it doesn’t look as big as I thought it would. Yet, there is work to do in everything you see. Since I like immediate gratification, I decided to work first on the 4 southwestern-colored octagons (top picture, middle left) from the Pieces of Eight project we did last year at our ANG Chapter.
And, it’s first because I want to give it (bottom picture) to my framer (Dan at The Framers Workshop in Philadelphia) who I’ll be seeing this weekend to drop off the 2010 SOTM for framing. I got lucky finding a 5″x5″ matte in the brown frame. I just added a few stitches along the edge & into the unstitched corners (a Byzantine filler).
I can’t remember who gave me the suggestion of “Four Corners” but thanks. That is the only place in America where 4 states touch. And, they are Utah, Colorado, New Mexicao, & Arizona.
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.
Filed under: ANG Stitch of the Month, 2010
Thanks to the Dec 26th snowstorm, I finished this in 2010! I love the finishing touch with the beads & how they bevel up just a tad.
There has been great discussions lately about what part of the piece folks prefer: starting, middle, or end. Each has good & bad points but I lean towards preferring starting. I love the designing & planning of threads. Many times I’m so anxious to get to the next piece that I don’t get the just completed piece finished (put in a frame, etc). Hopefully, we’ll be able to shovel out soon & go purchase a frame – don’t know where to put it yet!
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter
This was a Christmas present to my brother, John in 2007. It is Judy Dubrow’s Octagon Square Creation & was a project in Sept 2006 for our Mainline Stitchers ANG Chapter. I added the outer wide border to fill in the opening of the box. It looked manly enough for my brother & functional. It can hold whatever he wanted!
And, our Christmas Tree for 2010. This year I’ve got my needlepoint ornaments on it that I’ve blogged about over the last few days. Each year I select different ornaments. Merry Christmas everyone!!
Faced with 2010 running out of days, I decided to use straight stitches on the inner portion of the border. Initially, I stitched them at an angle like the outer border but it was too heavy-looking compared to the open black area (you’ll have to take my word for it because the picture really didn’t show it well enough to post). So, I slept on it, ripped it out, & switched directions to minimize the effect of stitching in that area. The threads kind of fill in the shaft between the canvas threads making the white stitches less prominent. And, it worked up quickly so I can get to the last border!!
Quite by several accidents, I find myself really liking this variation on the SOTM. I used a different color family for this portion of the outer border by accident than I think the directions called for. And, instead of stitching both inner & outer portions, I completed the outer portion first. The outer portion used even less couching than called for by alternating every other row – worked out perfectly: 4 in the longest thread, 3 in the next smaller, then 2, leaving 1 small cross stitch in the corners. I like how it looks in the darker thread with white showing through.
Filed under: ANG Stitch of the Month, 2010
October had a lot of couching which I found quite time-consuming. And, I think I got my Family A, B, & C out of order for this month but it looks fine. I see November has more couching as well. But, we are coming to the end soon!
As I’ve mentioned, for our ANG Chapter Project this year, we are doing samplers. Last night we had a sampler “Show & Tell” at our monthly meeting. Folks brought in a wide variety of samplers such as miniature, wedding, couching, stamped cross stitch, & historical ones. We didn’t stitch at all but had fun looking & talking about the individual histories of the dozen or so samplers people brought to share. Good time!
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Bookmark, Melita's Adaptations, Melita's Other Completed Pieces
For our ANG Chapter Project, we are doing samplers. I found 2 speakers from the Delaware Valley Historical Sampler Guild who gave excellent presentations & “Stitches for All Seasons”, a booklet with 7 different samplers on the Stoney Creek website.
It was a discontinued item & I didn’t find out until after the newsletter was sent. And, because Stoney Creek is not the designer, they could not make more copies. However, they were gracious enough to provide 6 of them at no charge & said, “Hope you enjoy them.” And, I went on eBay & found 7-8 more copies of the book.
I did not realize that the samplers in the book would be based on 28 or 32 ct (our group prefers 18 ct). So, I calculated the sizes if done on 18 ct (Summer Butterflies: 7&3/4 x 10&1/2, Spring Flowers: 7&3/4 x 10&2/3, Winter Wonderland: 7&2/3 x 11, Autumn Leaves: 7&3/4 x 11&1/8, Christmas Love: 7&3/4 x 11, Friendship: 6&2/3 x 13&1/8, Hearts & Waterlilies: 7&1/8 x 12&2/3). I reminded folks that the threads suggested would be thinner than what you’d need for 18 ct. Except for the Butterfly sampler, they should up nicely on 18 ct canvas. I have learned a lot! And, the threads recommended are also not longer available. They are mostly a DMC flower thread – never heard of it!! But, everyone seems willing & able to handle the adjustments. Phew!
I really liked the Hearts & Waterlilies Sampler but didn’t want to stitch the full sampler with so many other open projects. So, I selected the bands I liked best & placed them on 18 count Aida bookmark. I love it!
FYI: Stoney Creek is mainly a cross stitch store but not entirely. For example, there are 3 lovely pieces called Faith, Hope, & Love. And, Love (http://store.stoneycreek.com/love-p8646c20.aspx?Thread=True) was taught at the Stitching Jubilee seminar last year in Lancaster, PA and features several stitch techniques including Queen Stitch, Lazy Daisy, Twisted Straight Stitch, Rhodes Heart, Long Armed Cross Stitch Variation, Smyrna and Four-Way Tied. Faith features Long-Armed Cross Stitch, Smyrna, Rococo Variation, Four-Way Tied, Rhodes Butterfly, Long Tail Daisy Stitch and Star Stitch Variation. And, Hope features Leaf Stitch, Vaulting Fan Stitch, Large Angel Stitch and Star Stitch.” Thanks again Stoney Creek!
Filed under: ANG Stitch of the Month, 2010
I got Sept SOTM done! Coming along nicely. I like that turning the corner technique. Just hope I’ll find the instructions when next I need them. Actually, I’ll note that here!
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2010/feb.php
Melitastitches4fun's Blog 