Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Fibonacci Swirls by Olivia Hartshorn
My ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter is going to start Fibonacci Swirls by Olivia Hartshorn.
During covid lockdown, this grandmother living in Devon, UK, designed it. Luckily, someone in ANG must have contacted her because the instructions appear in Needle Pointers Mar/Apr 2022 issue. If you’re not a member of ANG, you can join (needlepoint.org) anytime and get access to all the old magazines online. Tons of great articles and projects.
ANG Central Jersey Chapter and Cyberpointers chapter have already done it and I’ve seen about 2 dozen different colorways. Linda M is leading this project for our chapter.
I’ve pulled 2 colorways. One is on Congress Cloth and the other is on 18 count canvas.
I will switch locations for two stitches and selecting a new one for one area.
The one for Congress Cloth is using The Thread Gatherer’s Sheep’s Silk Autumn Bouquet SPS099 (I have 3 skeins) and several Presencia Finca threads depending on what works best #8 #12 7720, #12 7726 (maybe double it), and DMC #8 738. For this one, I will cut the mat to fit the shape, and so no canvas will show. The Kreinik is 153V, a bold burgundy! The muted colors in the overdyed thread seem to become brighter by putting it with the brighter solids. I’m getting contrast! The original instructions call for 3 overdyed threads, but I want to try it with one. The threads should look familiar-they were posted as part of the Birthday Bonanza from Linda M!
For my colors going on the 18 count canvas, I’ll be using ecru canvas and plan on adding background stripes as was done by Linda W, a Cyberpointer. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. (Oscar Wilde)
Linda M and I found 3 Watercolour skeins in our stash from what Debra got from a friend of hers. One skein has the old handwritten name and dye lot. Linda helped me pair them up with Entice. I’m very happy!
As I was checking out, there were charms. I almost picked up a horseshoe and 4 leaf clover, but the green didn’t quite match. The threads remind me of a flower garden, and so I got the flower in a pot.
Linda M finally got to stitch some after helping Patrick, Lisa, Lori, Kathy P, Kristen, and me pick out threads! She was very helpful and patient. Looking forward to seeing these develop.
Filed under: All That Simmers by Sundance Beads, ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter
I had the stitching all done prior to our Stitch-in yesterday. I manipulated the overdyed so that the dark areas fell on the outer edge and the light portion of ThreadworX 1006 appeared in the full diamonds to emphasize the diamond motifs in Ribbon 2.
With a little push, the Silver Square (MA006) metallic accent fit perfectly into the bed of beads, which was then anchored into place with another bead. I used 2 strands of beading thread. Believe it or not, that’s the beading needle laying in the yellow area looking mangled! It started out straight.
I would have gotten it done during our Stitch-in, but since we were at Fireside Stitchery, I spent some time buzzing around the threads for my butterfly. I found some good ones, but that is for another post.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Laurel Burch Rainbow Butterfly by Danji, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson
I fell in love with this canvas at NJ Needle Fest a couple of years ago, and Linda had it in her stash and gave hers to me for my birthday! Thanks again, Linda. I’m finally getting to it. Kristen has the canvas, too, and we are going to stitch it for discussion at our ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter meetings. I introduced the canvas at our Monday night meeting earlier this month.
There is so much going on this 6.5″ wide x 4.5″ tall canvas that it is kind of tough to decide where to start. I joined Ellen Johnson’s Stitching Club where she has amassed a series of videos on “Evaluating Your Canvas”. I went through them and immediately knew that I was learning to read my canvas better.
I want this to be a flat ornament hanging at an angle like it is flying.
I decided the focal is the red and orange portions on the wings – not the whole butterfly as I thought initially. Those areas contrast in temperature (warmest) and are completely outlined in black compared to the transition area where red changes to purple (warmer to cooler) and which is partially outlined in black. The opening along the bottom takes you into the cooler portions of the lower part of the wings.
I also read up on butterflies. Butterflies have 4 wings – not 2 wings as I thought initially! The 2 top wings are the forewings and the 2 lower are the hindwings.
The body may be the entry point that takes you to the antennae, which leads you to the wings. It may be a focal point, too.
There is balance within the design. The right and left sides are symmetrical (alike on left and right sides) but there is also some asymmetrical balance between the larger forewings on the top and the smaller hindwings below because of the large flower motifs.
My research also found that there is texture to the butterfly’s wings – not smooth and flat as I initially thought. The wings are covered in tiny scales that possess a microscopic texture that can produce iridescent colors by reflective interference. That sounds like what we see when stitching alternating scotch or cashmere with silks.
Possible textured stitches include Rhodes, French Knots, couching, surface embroidery, beading, and sequins. Possible thread suggestions from members of my chapter included memory wire, Petite Facets, and fuzzy threads. Kristen expects hers will be so embellished it will be too heavy to fly!
For the body, possible ideas include stuffing beads inside Flair, chipping with goldwork (would look good but would tarnish), and padding with kid leather.
I’ll be selecting threads tomorrow at our chapter’s monthly Saturday Stitch-in and the first time at Fireside Stitchery!
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 with Curly Bamboo by 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.
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