Whenever I go to see Santa at the mall, I always look at his beard – to me that makes all the difference. It’s got to be white & full just like this one! I wonder if my finishing Santa’s beard this tonight is causing the upcoming snow event?
I took the Metallic Ribbon Floss, stripped 2 thin strands, layed, & couched them between the segments of the beard. Perhaps I pulled too tight but I could see holes and/or some of the sketch & they are covered up now.
At the ANG Seminar in October 2010, I took this half-day class taught by Janet Zickler Casey called Santacicle. I love icicles & Santas – so, I gravitated to this project.
There isn’t a lot of stitching that I could get done in 1/2 day. Yet, Janet discussed how to stitch all the sections – so, it moved at quite a rapid pace. Some of the beard was done during class & then worked on when I first returned from class. Since then, I got distracted on other projects. There are some new threads for me to work with such as Metallic Ribbon Floss which is what I’m using now to cover the Perle Cotton on the beard . . .
The trivet is done & joins my coasters & napkin ring to complete the Pieces of Eight Project.
Well, I changed my mind quickly when I started outlining the disappearing octagons in green – it wasn’t right. So, I switched to red. And, I decided that before I got too far because this had to be ripped out.
Better in red:
The trivet is acrylic, apparently can withstand temps up to 350 degrees, & came from AllStitch (http://www.allstitch.net/product/hot-plate-trivet-acrylic-embroidery-blank-3952.cfm). They have quite a selection of acrylic embroidery blanks for tables, bathrooms, & personal items – cheap too. So, here it is, placed in the acrylic shell (bottom snaps into top):
And, the set:
As someone else said, I did get a lot out of this project – I did that by exploring wonderful alternatives for finishing needlepoint pieces. And, I feel a sense of accomplishment.
As a reminder, the directions for ‘Pieces of Eight’ by Gayle Bicknell are available at http://www.needlepointnow.com/pdf/nn_form_reprint_05_14_09.pdf. They are reprinted all in one issue for $18.
Neither I nor Main Line Stitchers have any financial interest in any of the companies mentioned.
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.
The 4 octagons are going into a trivet & is the last of the Pieces of Eight project which we began last year at ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter. This matches the coasters & napkin rings to make a nice set.
I finished the edges in a blanket stitch to match what I’d done with the coasters. But because I used the same color & stitch for the background, even the lighter weight thread is not sufficient to distinguish the main shape of the large octagon. So, I’m going to have to outline the larger octagons in a color – maybe green – ‘cuz I’m not ripping out!
Filed under: Baby pieces
Just in case someone notices on FB that these are completed, SURPRISE! I didn’t forget about the boys.
To personalize the one, I asked my friend, Traci, to send me a picture of the menorah they light for holidays.
It ended up being a tad bigger than it seemed on paper. So, I made the stars smaller. And, the tree of life probably could have been bigger.
Filed under: Pieces of Eight
Here are tips you can hand out to your ANG chapter members. I compiled them for my fellow Main Line Stitchers & they found them useful. This covers Octagons A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, M & N.
Octagon A
- Use a 30 inch thread to complete 1 unit or ½ of each heart (you really don’t want to stop in mid-unit).
- Could lay overdyed threads so all 4 match or could switch placement to create less of a pattern.
- Stitch 2 complete hearts that lie opposite each other rather than proceeding in a clockwise fashion (to work in more open holes).
- Push threads in towards the heart in order to find holes 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 & “come up outside” of previous stitches.
Octagon B
- Use a 20 inch thread to make 1 full Rhodes Stitch.
- Use two 75 inch or three 50 inch threads to make the Walneto (because 150 inches would be too cumbersome to work with).
- For the Walneto, before going down into hole 10, pass the needle along the canvas under the threads from bottom to top. (If not, you’ll end up with a square like a Waffle Stitch that will cover up your Rhodes stitch and you’ll have to pull it out like I did!!) Also can refer to “The Needlepoint Book” by Jo Ippolito Christensen (1999, pages 267-269).
Octagon C
- Use a 45 inch thread for beginning and ending the Waffle Stitch (stitches 1-22 and 47-62).
- Use a 25 inch thread for middle portions (stitches 23-46).
- Park needle and thread after stitching 1-22 until you are ready to complete stitches 47-62).
Octagon D
- Use a 27-30 inch thread to complete each Rhodes. Place 3 separated threads together.
Octagon E
- No tricky stitches as long as you pay attention.
Octagon F
- Rotate the directions in order to place the main spratshead correctly.
- Use a 12 inch thread for spokes of Woven Spider.
Octagon G
- Use a 50 inch thread to complete all the crosses.
- Work from the outside into the center of the eyelet.
Octagon H
- The star uses a lot of thread (I didn’t measure)
- Focus & pay attention to the schematic. Somehow, I was off but most wouldn’t notice & it wasn’t worth reworking.
Octagon I
- 4 to 6 threads of floss cover more of the canvas (than the 3 I used).
Octagon M
- Use 35″ thread to make the Waffle Variation.
- There are 2 errors including the 31 near the top left should be a 36 and the 79 neat the top right should be a 77.
Octagon N
- Nothing tricky here to making the Double Straight Cross
- You do have to pay attention to how the pattern of the Alternating Cashmere turns (I had to unstitch a few times).
Good luck everyone!!
If anyone is in the area 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. Contact us at: MainLineStitchersChapter@needlepoint.org for more information.
The coasters in the bottom left corner of my pending projects picture needed to be cut in a round shape. But, I didn’t want them fraying or looking unfinished. So, I decided to stitch up to the design in a blanket stitch. That also allowed me to cut right up to the edge.
These will go nicely with the napkin ring holders I finished previously: (https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2010/06/13/napkin-rings-pieces-of-eight/)
In case people ask, the coasters came from AC Moore and they come in different shapes:
Hexagon: http://www.acmoore.com/p-25204-acrylic-paper-weight-hexagon.aspx
Circle: http://www.acmoore.com/p-25213-acrylic-paper-weight-circle.aspx
Scallop: http://www.acmoore.com/p-25203-acrylic-paper-weight-scallop.aspx
Square: http://www.acmoore.com/p-25209-acrylic-paper-weight-square.aspx
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.
While at the 2010 ANG Seminar, I picked up this snowflake stocking to stitch for the 2011 auction. It was available to First-Timers such as myself. The money goes towards educational programs of the ANG Guild. So, I couldn’t help but take one & I’ve finished stitching it. I’ve been working on it off & on since October & decided this week was a great time to finish it. If Pat Thompson, 2011 Auction Chair, is reading this, mine is in the mail!
All you had to do was buy your own threads & the stitching was easy enough but I don’t care for the Tiara thread. I found it difficult to work with (snagged easily & it didn’t stay twisted). You could have used a combination of Tiara & Patina. The finished size is 4″ x 6″.
Filed under: Christmas Ornaments, Early Needlepoint, Melita's Other Completed Pieces
These were made by my Grandma (Mom’s side), Mom, & myself. No doubt there are more at my mother’s house but that’ll be for another time.
Grandma did this on plastic canvas (a little worn):
Grandma tried her hand at all sorts of crafts, including painting:
She was a great seamstress (sewed dance costumes for my mother & later for my mother’s dance pupils). These are cute felt mittens with a hair clip inside to grab something.
My Mom made these for everyone at my sister Anita’s wedding as favors.
I made these a kid – probably when I was in my teens.
And, this was an original design for my Pocono friend, Dottie.
Melitastitches4fun's Blog 