Previously, I posted about the various laying tools in my arsenal (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/11/24/laying-tools/) that includes my Stitchers Best Friend manufactured by Rainbow Gallery.
That post was November 2024 and despite being right by my side, I haven’t used it. I was surprised to see they sell it in Size 20, 22, and 24.
Do you have one, use it regularly, and use it for what?
Just about everyone that I know has been shown how to make cording! This past week was my Needlework and Fiber Guild of Media.
This past Tuesday, I demonstrated the 2 color candy cane, Herringbone, and 4 color candy cane methods described in the instructions. Sally brought enough thread to cord a tree (like a ‘yarn bomb’ – google it if you’re not familiar with the term). I’d love to see a yarn bomb in person. Anyway, . . .
In preparation for the evening, I had to practice the 4 color method. Between Bill, a table, and tape I got it done. It’s too complicated to do routinely and 2 colors are fine. But, we had a nice turn out at the meeting and 4 other people had cord makers. So we broke into groups and practiced.
Prices of the Kreinik Custom Corder vary at different sites online so shop around. Or, you can put a pencil at one end and hand twist the pencil. You can also use a hand drill.
I’ve gathered quite a selection of samples of cording.
Filed under: Brandywine Chapter, Embroidery Guild of America, General comments, Needles, Tools, Zokins
Lots to share about my EGA Brandywine Guild meeting earlier this week!
Kathy A and Karen S had prepared pieces of blue cloth and scraps of various fabrics for us to select. The right side of photo are the pieces I took. There were 12 of us. There could have 12 more and still had fabric left over! They also purchased a Clover adjustable ring thimble with plate for everyone. A new tool. It feels comfortable. Looking forward to trying it.
You stitch boro like you stitch Sashiko. So, I can use my Sashiko needles! I have a 2 pack. They have large eye for easy threading. The shorter (almost 1″) needles are for smaller, decorative designs while the longer needles (a little over 1.5″) are for straight stitches and basting. So, I will use the long one.
And, we got to share in the two opportunity baskets that Sue S, our Chapter’s MAR Rep won at the EGA-MAR Regional Seminar in Gettysburg! One of the baskets was from the EGA Molly Pitcher Stitchers Chapter in Carlisle, PA who are celebrating their 40th anniversary as a chapter. Congratulations and thank you for your generous contribution – it was a huge basket! Between the two baskets everyone got multiple gems. Not pictured are three red kitchen towels that I took.
I wanted and needed the project bag for the blue fabrics since I had intended to work with my fabrics and still will. Karen R from Molly Pitcher Stitchers stitched a lovely design and finished in coordinating colors. The Mollies have stitched two of my designs, Overdyed Spools and A Spring Sampler. I visited them after Overdyed Spools was posted as a Petite Project. So, I really appreciate having something of theirs. The counting pins are cute and came from them too! These will be perfect to carry in my travel tool bag.
Here’s the arrangement of my fabrics ready to stitch into place. I used all the straight pins I own!
We have until September to stitch the small pieces onto the larger ones when we finish them into a cloth booklet (back to back with pages).
Filed under: Brandywine Chapter, Embroidery Guild of America, General comments, Tools
A few years ago, Patrick made and gave me a lovely porcupine quill laying tool. On Wednesday, he gave everyone at our Blue Santa Bead EGA Brandywine Guild outing a porcupine quill for us to make our own. Several of us found toppers to adorn them as he had done. I looked through almost all the drawers in the store and found several beads for my second quill. I didn’t have time to make it then.
I used the smallest black bead wire (No. 2) to attach the small bicone on top of the large black bead. I tied the bead wire off just below the large black bead.
The decorative black bead and the white one below it fit snugly on the end but I used the Super NEW GLUE to really secure them.
Patrick’s gift to me is on top and my new one is on the bottom.
Filed under: Brandywine Chapter, Chatelaines, Embroidery Guild of America, General comments, Scissors, Tools
Patrick led us through making chatelaines today at Blue Santa Beads in Media. I needed a special tutorial from my neighbor, Susan, after she figured it out while Patrick helped others. There were 10 of us there. He did an excellent job of getting us through this project. Getting rings on is not easy. I had 2 different sets of instruction and they still don’t make sense!
When I got home, I found scissors that have a protective leather sheath so that I won’t get stabbed when I wear it. It’s from ANG 2012 Seminar in Philadelphia celebrating the Guild’s 40th Ruby Anniversary. And, I placed the EGA Brandywine Guild strawberry on the other end. I can add 3 more tools. I haven’t decided what else to add.
I had cording and rings left over. It’s not long enough to hang around my neck. And, I don’t know what I’ll do with it yet. But, something will come along.
There was plenty of time to shop for beads for 2 other pieces that I’ll be posting about over the next few days.
During Friday’s reorganization, I gathered all my laying tools.
On the top is an African porcupine quill topped with a bead that was made by Patrick B. The middle row starting on the left has an extra Trolley Needle (went to Ebay; my other one is in my travel tool tote). Next is my fancy Celtic laying tool based on the Trolley Needle design that I use at home (it has a blunt end, and I’ve never come close to poking my eye with it). The “Stitcher’s Best Friend” (SBF) is third and has a nice angled tip, so I brought it upstairs to give it a try. The 4th is the “Best Laying Tool” (BLT), but not for me, although I will keep it in the basement cabinet because it says it’s an American style “Tekobari” with a really sharp tip which is needed doing goldwork.
On the bottom is a double end dental tool that I got as a free gift when daily drawings were held at ANG Seminars. It comes in handy for different things!
Since Saturday was ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter Stitch-in, I grabbed the Adjustable Stretcher Bars by Frank A Edmunds (they didn’t keep the canvas tight and easily got bumped out of shape) and my plastic hoops (I will use Morgan hoops or wooden ones wrapped in twill tape) and dropped them off for sale on Ebay.
I also threw in 1 of 2 Crafter’s Pride “Stitch A Ruler” because I plan to stitch a blackwork piece for 1 of them (I won’t need 2).
It may not be much to get rid of, but it’s some progress in a never-ending goal of getting organized.
Filed under: A Spring Sampler, Brandywine Chapter, Embroidery Guild of America, General comments, Needles, Tools
I found this bag at Target (https://www.target.com/p/solid-soft-satchel-handbag-a-new-day-8482-tan/-/A-91898942). It’s 10″ (H) x 15″ 
x 8″ (D) – perfect for the fall color skinny version of A Spring Sampler. Good price, too ($35). It will hold my battery pack, the Chapter’s eMeet speaker, Chapter business cards, travel tool kit, portable light, and curling iron. I am avoiding glue for this bag.
I needed the needle for leather from my Home Craft Repair kit of needles because the bag is made of polyurethane. I pinned the canvas in place and stitched through the inner lining, but it isn’t puckering too much, and I retained full access to the 2 cell phone pockets on the front inner side. Here’s the top edge attached.
The process of stitching the top in place made me think a thimble and a curved sharp needle would make the sides and bottom easier to stitch through the bag and hopefully not catch the lining. And, at this point, my hand needed a rest, and a trip to Joann’s was needed to get the sharp curved needles because I only have tapestry curved needles.
The curved sharp needles didn’t work well. Leverage was the problem. But, the package came with a small eye, very sharp straight needle. The real improvement came because of the Dritz thimble. What a difference that made.
An aside: In order to find the thimble when I need it again, I am putting the thimble in my Stitch pen/tool cup on top of That Purple Thang by Lynn Graves which I have not used much (if ever). If I get rid of it, I’ll need it!
I was able to pull the lining away on the sides and bottom and push the needle through the front of the polyurethane, angle the needle back to the surface further along the canvas like a running stitch. I didn’t care how far. Some stitches are longer than others but the trim will cover it.
Once all 4 sides were attached, I cut the canvas down to 7 canvas threads wide and attached the trim. I found a 1/2″ wide dark brown flat trim at Joann’s. And, Mandarin Floss M833 was a perfect color match. I decided to catch the polyurethane and canvas periodically as I attached the trim down the center using 2 strands. I pulled out my mini pliers and that helped too.
When Bill and I were in the store looking at different trims, he placed this trim on the needlepoint and folded it around a corner. Before I started, I worked out how to do that on all 4 corners with a short length first. I had to cinch the ends together to stop them from fraying (no glue) and taper them to hide the ends easier.
I went back around a second time with one strand to sew down the outer edge. It probably took me 12 hours altogether since starting this on Thursday. There was some cursing but no bleeding. I didn’t jab my fingers once! I was very careful. That leather needle would have hurt.
The most exciting part is that it’s even at 1.75″ above the bottom edge. It looks good and no glue!
Look at this amazing magnet. The white to part actually turns! It’s 2″ across and so strong. Accoutrement Designs has excellent magnets. Such good quality. Birthday gift to myself.
I’m using my new mug, Taking it one STITCH at a time, from Linda to help me get organized. This is only one of a few gifts for my birthday, which is one of the big ones as far as birthdays go! Thanks to Linda for thinking of me and for the fun new projects (subjects of future posts).
The mug clears up some table space next to where I stitch. The tall wooden holder outgrew my needs and would periodically tip over. But it’s great for holding my skinny tools and scissors. So, I put the wooden holder inside the mug and added the stuff that had been laying flat.
One of my goals is to get organized. It’s tough to get my mind around this, but taking one area at a time is like taking one stitch at a time – right!?! The rest of the table space still needs to be organized, so I am posting only the mug! But, I am going back to my table space now.
Melitastitches4fun's Blog 
Filed under: General comments, Tools
My stitching cup overfloweth!
Some stuff has to go.
Top of the list is this Thread Straightener. I can’t remember where I got but I have used it. The blue and white material is a dense foam and I can see where threads have been pulled through it. I don’t recall it working that great and my flat iron works really well. So, it’s going.
Gone is a large paper clip with a pompon perhaps was for a bookmark, an extra red pen, a red marker, and a pen with a supposedly erasable ink that never really worked great. Moving the glue stick to the basement tool bag opened up the whole cup allowing me to keep most of it! Yes, I have a stitching cup (thanks Linda) with frequently needed items, an upstairs handmade quilt tool caddy with often needed items (thanks again Linda, https://melitastitches4fun.com/2017/06/02/threads-tote-for-tools/), and a basement Find It Media caddy (can’t remember where it came from) with infrequently needed items.
Fess up, how many tool caddies do you have?