For the piece with all the colors, I selected V1125 Emerald for the buttonhole border because it had only been used to outline the yellow Scotch stitches in two areas.
Once stitched, I carefully cut it up to the outer edge of the buttonhole stitches. It’s crucial to not cut your stitching thread. Only cut canvas threads. One trick to get as close as possible is to nudge the edge backwards towards the center.
Another suggestion is to slowly use sharp curved small scissors to cut the canvas as close to the stitching as possible. Then, smooth the buttonhole row back to being flat.
I did the same thing with the secondary colorway using the same green for the buttonhole border because I knew they would be displayed together. Does it even look like the same design to you?
I used a glue stick to attach a piece of magazine board on the back smaller than the outer edge of the buttonhole stitch and on top of that is a piece of beige ultrasuede that was cut up to the outer edge with a little glue sticknto hold it in place. Then, I used invisible thread doubled in the needle to attach the two sides. A few strips of Peel n Stick are attached to the ultrasuede and then to the sides of a tissue box.
I got it done Friday night and in time for Show and Tell at yesterday’s ANG Central Jersey Chapter meeting. I timed my lunch break to listen to Sue Reed’s tips and tricks talk. Even though I have heard it before, I learn something new. Another CJC member joined me to listen.
I’ve said before how different chapters are and how they are run. These ladies did Zoom during Covid but then returned to in person only which is nice. They meet monthly from 10 am – 3 pm for stitching, a meeting, Show and Tell, lunch, and more stitching. Definitely worth the hour and 20-30 minute drive. I try to make it at least quarterly.
Fortunately, I was able to show them my Spring Sampler purple pillow before it goes to Orlando for the EGA exhibit. I also showed off my skinny fall purse and Linda’s blue-green colorway. They really enjoyed seeing the samples in person and will do this as a Stitch of the Month project in 2027.
Drawing from the same colors of ThreadworX threads, I selected a secondary colorway of orange, purple, and green with a blue for some accent.
As I mentioned, I ran out of orange, purple, and green. What happens more times than not? There is a difference in dye lots. Can you see it?
But, I am not worried because I expected it and didn’t start in an area that I couldn’t finish with the first threads. If anything, it adds just enough variation to be interesting. Can you see differences now?
In the upper right and lower left, the orange areas are lighter and have more variation than in than the center, upper left, and lower right. And the purple is much lighter in the upper right and lower left areas and probably shows up better next to the dark blue. I really like that this happened.
There are multiple ways to overcome dye lot differences depending on the threads used. If it’s floss and you’re using multiple strands, use thread blending to incorporate the new dye lot and phase out the old one. You just don’t switch from one lot to the other. That’ll be obvious. Best way to avoid the issue is buy extra threads! But, I think that in a geometric, it becomes a happy accident or interesting variation.
The green is only needed for the finishing step. So, all is good and now to the finishing step.
Now that I’m not in a class setting, I can go through the instructions for Heart of the Matter by Wendy Moore from beginning to end rather than jumping all over the canvas. It’s something one must get used to in a class setting. But, I prefer the progression to be section by section.
So, I finished Area 1 except for the largest two outer crescents (as Wendy suggests) because they might get distrupted while working on the rest of the canvas. There are different threads in the kit that I haven’t used before which is fun. But, I don’t need to use Wonderfil Dazzle or Valdani #5 again. They both separate although using the glue stick makes them manageable. And Valdani doesn’t stay twisted easily.
The nearby yellow Area 4 was so close to being done, that I finished that one next. Reflections is a different thread for me and one that I like. The twist is easy to maintain and some sparkle shows up once or twice in an over 4 stitch. Reflections says it’s silk and nylon but feels more like cotton.
Lots more to do! Area 2, Area 3, and a border remain. But, I got my threads to finish ROY G BIV on Monday. So, that’s what I am going to next.
ROY G BIV with Kathy Rees is very colorful featuring the primary and secondary colors. It drew some attention at the Central Jersey Chapter. Everyone also enjoyed hearing about Magical Colors by Jennifer Riefenberg, my Show & Tell piece.
After taking the half-done photo and before the Stitch-in, I got started on the second half. A couple of patterns require some more concentration that are best done at home such as Byzantine.
CJC has a 5-hour meeting/Stitch-in with a break for lunch. So, it’s worth the drive (1 hour and 15 minutes each way) to spend time stitching and chatting with a good group of people. The rest of ROY G BIV was finished during our usual Svengoolie Saturday night movie and Sunday golf.
Kathy provided an extra line-drawn canvas for a second colorway. But more on that another time and how I will finish this has yet to be determined.
Halfway done with Kathy Rees, ROY G BIV’s piece. Besides the 7 primary and secondary colors, we were given 2 extra blues and an extra green for accents. Fun, easy to stitch, and a nice break from Razzle Dazzle. It’s also small enough to go on the road to ANG’s Central Jersey Chapter Stitch-in tomorrow.
The Expo! at the ANG Seminar in Denver lasted all day although a few teachers couldn’t open their tables until after 5 pm because they were teaching.
The first table to greet you was the very friendly and active VA chapter, Hampton Roads Sandpipers. They had charted ANG’s approved logo in 2 sizes. This is a 2.5″ round on a 5″ 18 count canvas. It came with a length of silver Kreinik for the needle. They were also selling 5″ 3D printed stretcher bars so I had to get the ornament to try the bars!
They fit together ok but not as flush at each joint as the wooden ones. When you press the tacks in, there seems to be a very resistant top layer and once that is penetrated, the tack is firmly in place. I’ll be sticking with wood ones.
In general, I am not a big shopper and Expo! is no different. That’s all I bought but enjoyed looking. I was tempted by some kitted Michele Roberts egg kits but I decided to pass. My back had spasms that prevented me from returning in the evening. Luckily, the inflatable pillow made sitting on the chair in the classroom the next day possible.
Let me also plug the Seminar Campaign fundraiser which I did donate to based on the 14 seminars that I attended to get in a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to A Stitching Shop (I didn’t win). There will be another drawing at the end of August. Read all about it at https://www.needlepoint.org/page/2026SeminarCampaign and consider donating.
One of the volunteers for the ANG Seminar Exhibit complimented me on my packaging of Shelly the Turtle. Because of the dimensionality of the piece, I wanted to protect it from shifting and getting crushed. So, I created a well for the frame to sit in. The base is foam board.
The piece is wrapped in tissue paper and placed it top side up inside the well. The two stacked rolled up magazines are taped in place on each of the four sides to accommodate the raised areas.
Another foam board is placed on top of the magazines for the lid. Bubble wrap corners are held in place by string but loose enough that they can slide off and be reused.
Then, written instructions are provided in case they won’t let me pack it! Twice Shelly has traveled and twice I was allowed to repack it. Once I drove it home and in Denver because I wanted to ship FedEx and ANG was only using UPS.
There will not be an exhibit next year in Nashville because it’s only a 4-day Seminar. I heard just under 100 pre-registered for next year (about 1/3). It’s the second time that was offered. Pre-registrees are allowed to register for classes one week before other ANG members. I saw pieces that I like and pre-registered. My top picks are the Aurora Borealis by Wendy Moore (3-day class) and the ornaments by Toni Gerdes (1-day class). Nashville is a very cool city and it’s in October (21-24). Save those dates!
Three days of Heart of the Matter with Wendy Moore went fast especially because we were having fun and getting alot done!
Here’s the way David from ANG Main Line Stitchers organized his threads. Very clever. He has another three ring binder for the instructions. I wonder if they would combine easily.
One heart is visible – can you find it? There are more to come. I caught up from skipping yesterday’s final section and cleaned up my spaghetti except for 2 threads. Some in class will be eating Italian for a week! Here’s my progress on Heart of the Matter with Wendy Moore.
We started with Chotties Plaid in our second day of Heart of the Matter with Wendy Moore. I elected not to place any horizontal stitches until my vertical ones are done.
I got started in the wrong square once but got back on track before too long. I didn’t get to the square motif we worked on at the end of the day and today’s spaghetti will have to wait thanks to a bad muscle spasm in my back. It started yesterday and came back this afternoon. Despite everything, it feels like I’ve got alot done for 2 days.
First, I want to thank Leticia at The Golden Thistle for donating my favorite needle threader. Somehow, it’s not in my travel tool tote! So, I really needed this.
Today, I started Heart of the Matter, a 3-day class with Wendy Moore. I haven’t taken a class with Wendy yet and this has some challenging stitches.
The kit is wonderful. Big! Two bags of thread – 37 different ones! That must be a record!! The red bag is for the first 2 days and the yellow bag for the third day. There are 3 completely new threads for me including Au Vera Soie metallic, Wonderfill Perle Cotton, and Wonderfill Dazzle (rayon). We got a glue stick for fraying threads such as Dazzle.
The needlecase Wendy gave us also has my favorite needle threader and plenty of needles. Wonderful.
Wendy provided empty thread cards for when we open a skein and have leftover threads. Amazing. It’s great that her husband helps her kit up doing a variety of tasks.
Part of coming to class is seeing what other things, tips, and tricks people have. Wendy tells us we’ll have alot of spaghetti. So, this set up from the woman behind me is clever and will help with spaghetti. I have 4 magnets in each corner.
The instruction booklet is 59 pages! At least it’s not double-sided.
Here’s my progress after Day 1. Actually looks like alot for one day.
I did clean up my 3 spaghetti strands before tomorrow’s class (didn’t bother to rephotograph).
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