Filed under: ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter, Ruby Razzle Dazzle by Ann Strite-Kurz
A few years ago, quite a few members of the ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter (NJNA) stitched Ruby Razzle Dazzle by Ann Strite-Kurz. They came up with some great colorways (https://njneedleartists.org/njna-workshops/sotm/2015-sotm-ruby-razzle-dazzle/).
I have had these instructions for a year or so. After reading Ann’s books and seeing Diane’s completed piece at the NJNA Holiday Luncheon in January, I decided to try the patterns. But I can’t commit to doing the whole piece – maybe sometime.
By choosing the shortest ribbon to work first as a stand-alone piece, I was able to test the waters. Ann explains her thought process and logic for stitch paths, which is much more detailed than in other counted designs. It’s like taking a design class from her.
I completely understood and followed the logic of the shifting direction of Smyrna stitches because I went into that in my Crescent Journey design.
Ann describes how she developed the variation for this diamond lattice from a Scotch Stitch. Then, she explained how she placed the pattern. Wow! This may be too much information for some stitchers, but I think it is fantastic and brings together the concepts described in her books.
However, her recommended path and pivot concept to conceal the traveling path on the lattice reminds me that I did not do well in organic chemistry whenever I had to go from one compound to another in over 10 steps. Seeing 5 or so steps was my limit. No threads show through. I never would have thought of her efficient stitch path.
While the sequence for filling in the units made sense, Ann made it sound like it could be done in 2 paths, but I needed 3. My threads weren’t long enough anyway. Still no threads showing through, though, which is good.
The blackwork pattern used 2 strands and was easy enough to follow. My canvas is pewter a light blue gray, but since this is such an open pattern, a more colorful canvas might be better.
The last step is also a blackwork pattern used a double running technique, which also made sense to me.
I used some different theads than recommended, such as Pearl #12 for the Smyrna stitches, because none of the Pearl #8 in my stash was the right color. I had a Petite Very Velvet. I went with one strand of Watercolours instead of a Pearl #5 and two strands of Weeks Dye Werks instead of 2 strands of DMC Floss.
I wonder what the next band will be doing?
Filed under: ANG CyberPointer's Chapter, ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter, Tumbling Stripes by Marilyn Owen
A few years ago, ANG Cyberpointers offered Tumbling Stripes by Marilyn Owen and has remained in my To Do pile since. Well, ANG New Jersey Needle Artists decided to kick off 2024 with that project. Several folks stitched different coloways, and we got to see them in person at yesterday’s Holiday Luncheon at The Grain House in Mendham, NJ. Jacqui will be leading us over the next few months.
Although the event lasted until 3:30 pm, Show & Tell and business was conducted in between courses so several people could leave a little early and beat the worst of the weather. Bill came up with me and hung out at the Library where the chapter meets (he’s familiar with the place) and got lunch across the street. We did encounter snow on leaving but then as we neared Philly, it turned to rain.
I especially enjoyed seeing that several folks finished Crescent Journey and a few more are getting them framed. I really am happy that so many NJNA members participated. We had 3 round tables of 10 per table. Very good to see and talk with everyone.
Our assignment for Tumbling Stripes is to gather threads and baste. The first thing that I did was review the Cyberpointers’ notes and their photos. I saw Gretchen from Cyberpointers stitched one as an ornament without the borders, which would be 86 canvas threads or almost 5″ on 18 count or 3.5″ on 24 count Congress Cloth. So, I went to my canvas stash and what should appear on the top of the pile, but a small piece of Congress Cloth just begging to be used. It measures 6.25″ x 7.25″. Away to my bars, I flew in a flash to find 8″ x 8″ Evertites awaiting a project. [My Christmas decorations are inspiring me!] You might think that’s not going to work, but you lose 1/2″ across the sides where you attach the canvas with tacks on Evertites. So, one side was fine. I don’t have 7″ Evertites and am not going to buy them. But, I can lace one side. That was something I learned from Kay Stanis in A Toast To Tiffany (an unfinished project). I didn’t note what thread to lace with. So, I doubled Londonderry Linen 80/3 which worked great.
Despite my references to the Jolly Old Elf, I didn’t want more Christmas ornaments. I wanted to think spring. I wanted to use yellow because Jacqui is leading this. She gave a great Zoom talk on the value of using yellow in designs.
So, I went dashing over to my threads. In a wink of an eye, I had pulled my coloway! Actually, that was more involved because:
1. I had to sort through a pile of threads. I wish I could be completely organized but it’s never going to happen.
2. I don’t have a lot of yellow threads. So, I am borrowing the yellow Splendor from the Christmas Colors Designer Collection. And, I have to use DMC Floche, a cotton thread. That’s good a good sheen to it.
3. I needed 3 values of blue and found that in a bunch of threads called Pearsall’s by Tristan Brooks. It’s a discontinued line of silk threads. There are 3 values of Azuline Blue, although the light and medium are very close. The last time I used Pearsall’s, I found it difficult to handle. I’ll have to thin out the Silk Lame Braid in order to use it on Congress Cloth, but the color is great.
Pulling threads from stash is usually challenging, which makes spending time organizing them a waste of time – right! ? ! Do you find stash useful or a hindrance?
The New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) chapter decided to do a birthday plaid as a name tag, but I made a reversible bookmark for Bill and I. Not only did I finish stitching Bill’s Birthday Plaid, but I was able to finish them while Bill was out golfing – all before Christmas!
I carefully cut windows out of 2 pieces of ultrasuede for each bookmark. Then, I glued them together. It’s not easy to cut even with a sharp blade on my x-acto knife.
Mine has one white side and one black side.
Bill’s is beige on both sides.
These were done and wrapped under the tree Christmas morning. It was a good year to get bookmarks because there were several books under the tree for both of us for the long winter hibernation! One book of mine is already done. I highly recommend A Thursday Murder Club Mystery series by Richard Osman.
The ANG New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) is participating in the Festival of Trees again this year. Sue, Rosie, Bill, and I enjoyed all the lovely trees in 2 large rooms on display at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge, NJ (190 Lord Stirling Rd). You can see them through Thursday, December 28 (except 22, 24, and 25th).
While we were there, a mother and son stopped to admire the NJNA tree, commenting on the beautiful needlepoint ornaments. There are lots of lovely ones.
I contributed 37 ornaments since they had a 5′ tree this year. A few of the stockings, banner, metal, and one of the Textured Treasures motif ornaments can be seen among others in this close up.
I want to share a couple of other trees that had some cute ornaments too.
A close-up of the Penn Jersey Basketry Guild ornaments shows a mini version of the basket I made for Circles but with a handle.
The kids at The Goddard School of Branchburg made string art ornaments by wrapping thread through slits on a disc. Simple and clever!
The Basking Ridge Garden Club tied fabric scraps around a Cinnamon stick and placed a variety of buttons on a round ornament. This could be a great seller at Linda’s quilt guild sale! No doubt scraps from a project would already be color coordinated. They would have to be only Christmas colors. I have a ton of buttons that I thought I had to have may now find themselves becoming an ornament!
That only scratches the surface of the wonderful displays. There are so many clever ideas.
Filed under: ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter, Elfin Stockings (Ornaments), Festival of Trees, Other People's Designs
Since posting this first in 2012 (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2012/12/25/set-of-12-stocking-ornaments/), I have found all the information about them. These came from my mother’s ornament collection, and she noted on the instructions “Rita made – 1984”. Thanks for noting that, Mom, and for holding onto the instructions!
The 12 Elfin Stockings were designed by Norden Crafts exclusively for Better Homes and Gardens Custom Design Collection (Product No. 27815). Norden Crafts were in IL but closed permanently, perhaps in 2017; but they have an Etsy store now.
There are 6 designs for these stockings done twice in a different color. The kit came with everything, including the finishing (a simple cotton backing). Mom did a nice job on these!
Filed under: ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter, Christmas Ornaments, Festival of Trees, Melita's Other Completed Pieces, Other People's Designs
The Festival of Trees (see yesterday’s post) became a great opportunity for me to finish 4 more Gold’n Cross Stitch 24 KT Gold Plated Ornament Kits including:
Candy Cane (XGC-361) with HO HO HO spelled out.
Reindeer Santa (GC-3661)
Teddy Bear/Beary Xmas (GC-3677)
Rocking Horse (GC-3673)
All those are still available on Etsy and others I don’t have, but I resisted getting more!
Here are the 4 new ones stitched:
These are the other Gold’n Cross Stitch ornaments I took for display: https://melitastitches4fun.com/2012/01/02/other-3-ornaments-finished/ and https://melitastitches4fun.com/2010/12/20/on-the-5th-day-of-christmas-6-gold-christmas-ornaments/
The ANG New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) is participating in the Festival of Trees again this year. It’s one of several trees on display at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge, NJ (190 Lord Stirling Rd) starting today Friday, December 1, through Thursday, December 28 (except 22, 24, and 25th).
NJNA chapter upgraded to a 5′ tree for their tree this year and needed more ornaments to fill it. I had already donated 2 individual ornaments but knew I had several sets of small ornaments that would help fill up the larger tree. So, I lent 3 sets of ornaments (35 more ornaments).
I made 8 sets of these, including one for myself, family members, and friends!
https://melitastitches4fun.com/2010/12/23/on-the-2nd-day-of-christmas-8-banner-christmas-ornaments/
The other sets are 15 Gold’n Cross Stitch ornaments that I made and 12 Elfin Stockings that my mother made (more on these another time).
The New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) chapter decided to do a birthday plaid. They handed out a template to make a name tag. But, I want to try and make it reversible. So, I will be making it into a bookmark. If it works out, I’ll do one for Bill too.
I decided on using the color wheel colors plus one row of black. I went to Nimble Needle in NJ who had the full line of colors in DMC Pearl Cotton #5. While I was there, Karen showed me how to use my DMC Color Card correctly! I had no idea that the colors are not available for all types of DMC threads. My card is probably older than hers but the grayed out boxes indicate 211 is available for all thread types including floss, #3 Pearl, both #5 Pearl (not sure why there are 2 listed – maybe skein and ball?), #8 Pearl, and #12 Pearl; 210 & 209 has all except #12; 3837 is available in floss only; and 327 is available in floss, #3, and one of the #5 Pearl. Thanks, Karen, now I know!
I read on Needlepoint Nation that the DMC red label is the “new” version of Perle Cotton. If the Perle has gold and black in the band around the threads, it’s older and a bit thicker. If it has a red band, it’s newer and not as thick. When the company was bought by an English company a few years ago, they changed to the red label. That label also has dye lots on them, so now you have to make sure you get the same one. Now that I read about it, I’ve noticed the red label for the first time. However, it doesn’t feel any different to me.
I worked it out on graph paper before stitching. I’m not sure why I did that, but someone mentioned they had at the meeting, so I did too. There are 5 rows for the month of May in red, 2 rows in orange, and 2 rows in yellow for the 22nd, then the year (I’ll make you count that part). This is the first pass. Front photo followed by back photo. I’ll cut the tails when I am ready to finish. Looks reversible so far.
Filed under: ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter, ANG Seminar 2019, Finishing Class with Kelly Starke, Thread and Stitch Manipulation with Cynthia Thomas
The church venue canceled (due to a congregation death) a few days before our finishing class with Kelly Starke, but Jacqui recovered by getting her craft room where she lives. Crisis averted, but organizing workshops takes resilience!
Since it was further away than the first place, I couldn’t hang with Rosie for the morning. I went armed with my Medusa Sea Jelly to keep me occupied. Although I didn’t sign up for the morning “round” class, Kelly asked me to sit in and listen since I was there anyway. So, I have plenty of Sea Jelly left to stitch for NJ Needle Fest.
Kelly has almost 70 videos on YouTube (not all on finishing)! I’ve seen the one she did for Layer of Leaves. It’s long at 3.5 hours but has some excellent tips. She goes over everything twice, finishing 2 ornaments in that time. Doing the finishing in 3 hours in person was more fun, and the time flew by. I peeked over people’s shoulders and took notes in the first session.
She had personal totes full of the tools we’d need! With 12 people in the class, she didn’t sit once. And, she had a helper, Robin. They were so organized and helpful. Kelly has “Mom” hearing! She didn’t miss anything.
Her handout has great pictures of each step. These are key points I want to remember:
Cut up to edge in triangles (point into canvas) using short scissors, quilting nip scissors. I won’t mind adding another pair of scissors to my finishing bag. For an irregular shape, start at the indented areas.
Figuring out where to cut seems like the hardest decisions of the day because you can’t uncut! Here is my bell before an after (with the foam board in place) some trimming to reduce bulk near the top center.
A square seems the easiest. Interestingly, Kelly thinks light bulbs are one of the tougher shapes.
Trace outline on 1/8″ thick foam board. Use 1/8″ scrap to mark inside around shape to make the board 1/8″ smaller. No photo copying of the stitched piece is required to make outlines. That will save some time that I have spent copying and cutting paper.
Bevel edge on side of foam board touching the canvas/fabric. I did the bevel on the wrong side and had to recut it.
Making cord using an electric cordless drill (has to be able to turn right and left) is going to make a tighter cord than the Kreinik cord maker. That is a problem I have had. But, I doubt that I will get a drill. I will probably try twisting with the Kreinik cord maker much more than I’ve done previously. Later that night Sue commented that putting a weight in the middle of the cord serves to make the reverse twist when cording with Kreinik Cord Maker according to their instructions. However, Kelly has a video showing her twisting the cord by hand. I’ll probably try that too.
I used Silk Lame Braid 13 count. That and Kreinik can be used but have a greater tendency to break. So, Kelly used Pearl Cotton mostly. My cord turned out great!
I think I still have a glue gun in the basement – hot glue dries fast but it’s messy and I really don’t have a good workspace. I may stay with Aleene’s Super Fabric Adhesive (supposed to be fast drying and permanent) or try Fabri-Tac (Kelly used it for gluing cording in place).
The cording is cut to a point to prevent twisting where the loop starts wrapping around the edges (unless where you want the cord can’t accommodate a lot of cord in which case you make a separate cord for the loop and merge in a different area which is what I did for my bell).
To be safe, stitch loop in place to reinforce glued area (that spot gets the most stress on an ornament). I do think high heat might compromise the glue but Kelly has been doing this for 20 years. Gluing the cord is much faster than stitching it. Glue isn’t touching any needlepoint at any time. And, Kelly has a video if you prefer to stitch the cording in place.
I highly recommend getting her to come to your chapter for a finishing class on rounds followed by irregular shapes. Each class was 3 hours with a lunch break. Set up and clean up time made for a long but productive day.
My Bells of Scotch originated from the Thread and Stitch Manipulation 2019 Seminar Class with Cynthia Thomas. We were supposed to take a stitch, make it smaller, larger, turn it, and combine it in different configurations. There are partial Scotch stitches, 2 Elongated Scotch stitches at the top, and Scotch stitches not on the diagonal. If I were to do this again, I would make the clapper all gold. The gold surrounding the bottom center motif isn’t prominent enough. I love the fabric I found for the back. If there are any campanologists reading this post, please comment!
Addendum: Michael’s might have 1/8″ thick foam board, but you have to ask for it at the Framing Dept. I ordered some from Ebay.
Filed under: ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter
The day spent at The Edwardian Needle was busy – helping people pick threads or substitute threads for Crescent Journey. A couple more people joined the group planning to stitch it in 2023 (ANG Stitch of the Month). The store was full of folks who came to sit and stitch. Very nice time.
From there I joined Sue C who was so gracious to offer her guest room to me and made a great dinner. Always enjoy Sue and Rosie’s company!
The following day, we (almost 30 members) attended and had a lovely luncheon at The Grain House in Bernards, NJ. The Board gave all members a thank you gift. Yes, that is a Trish Vine bag with a specially made tag for NJNA, cute embellishments from Sundance, and coordinating DMC floss. Very nice. I talked about Crescent Journey and showed all 5 colorways. I think a few more are interested now too!
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