Filed under: Other People's Designs, Susan Portra, The Cabochons, Faith, Susan Portra, The Cabochons, Hope
I was hoping that by starting with Faith (a triangular shape) that Hope (a five-pointed star) would be easier. Hope had been stitched since May 21! Both are from Susan Portra’s Cabochon Series.
A pansy backing fabric (Waverly from Walmart) was used for both (not photographed here since it was also used for the ornament Peace). There was just enough of the DMC Pearl #5 340 to get 6 strands to make the cording for both. I’m not a big fan of fancy cording or thick cording because it distracts from the ornament.
Using the thinner stabilizer is easier because the sides pinch together easily. The only time thick cording is really needed is if you have a wide area to conceal between the front and back sides. And, you probably shouldn’t have a wide area to conceal if you contruct it properly to begin with (which is why I need more practice with the thicker stabilizer). Making the backing with magazine board a little larger than the front (2 mm) really helps. Outlining the front of the ornament to properly shape the back is better than using the outline used to shape the stabilizer because when you fold back the canvas, there will be some variation in the original shape (even if it’s slight). I prefer a running stitch around the edge pulled together and then lacing to make it really taut for the fabric side.
I attached the hang loop and the beginning of the edge cording to the inside of the stabilizer side. I love separating the loop cording from the edge cording because one long piece always makes the ornament twist when hanging. Make the cording long enough to cut away the loop portion is easy enough. Then, a few small dabs of Super NEW GLUE from Euro Tool Inc held the front and back together in the proper place. Using clips can pinch the needlepoint leaving an indent.
Stitching right to left with the front facing me using invisible thread went very easily on the triangular shaped ornament. I used one long strand doubled and slipped the needle through the loop so I wouldn’t be dropping the needle. That was a big help!
Following such a successful finishing endeavor gave me the confidence to tackle the star.
About the only thing that I did differently was that I used purple glue to hold the fabric on the inside edge of the mat board as I cinched it taut while lacing it in place. No glue is touching the fabric that is visible on the back. And, if the glue ever releases, it’s all sewn in place now anyway. The irregular shape did not make the running stitch feasible.
These two ornaments are the most similar in color. So, I will separate them on each end of the banister.
Looking forward to seeing which Cabochon is next to do.
The background of Faith from The Cabochons Series by Susan Portra worked up quickly at Saturday’s ANG Main Line Stitchers Stitch-in because there are once again long laid threads with couching stitches. I love how the long laid threads lie on the true diagonal while the couching stitches are spread out and move on an oblique angle.
Previously, I mentioned that I disliked working with Tiara so much because it seperates terribly that I switched to Kreinik. However, I had recently learned that purple glue sticks are acid-free and safe for archival use. So after cutting the thread, I lightly applied the glue to both ends. It improves the thread enough to work with but it’s still tricky and can catch on the canvas if you’re not careful. When I anchor the thread on the back into other stitches, I can leave a tail and cut the glue end off anyway.
Later that night and the following day, the bugle beads and Cabochons were applied.
I’ve done what I said I wasn’t going to do. I completed stitching an ornament without finishing the previous one. So, now I have two to finish. I know why I procrastinated. The shape of the previous one is difficult (5-armed star). But, I will persevere!
Back to Faith from The Cabochons Series by Susan Portra at my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter Stitch-in Saturday. Over the last 2 months I got working on our Santa canvas and so not much to report on this lately. Our Bring the Joy Santa designed by Marjorie Sarnat is done and heading to the framer. It looks great. The photo will be released by Fireside Stitchery on social media once it’s framed and then will hang in the store. In the meantime, I know 2 people have requested the threads and stitch guide and maybe a third. It was a chapter project discussed montly at our meetings over the past (almost) year! But, I digress.
I’ve been replacing French Knots with cross stitches or onlong cross stitches depending on the configuration. But, they didn’t work out so I laid a long length of Petite Very Velvet and couched it. The silver Fyre Werks is picking up the mint green from the Petite Very Velvet more in the photo than in person. Photographing needlework is really difficult.
The large side areas and beads/Cabochons are all that’s left to do on Faith. August 22 is the next ANG Main Line Stitchers Stitch-in.
Patty W, the editor of ANG Needle Pointers, asked me to review an article she was writing on a small painted canvas she had just stitched discussing her perspective on thread and stitch selections. It reminded me that I was doing the same thing for my posts regarding the canvas, Morning Glories by Lani. My first post shows the canvas and threads from my stash. It also discusses how I learned that these are Morning Glories (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/07/07/morning-glories-by-lani/). So, I asked Patty if she’d be interested in running this design in the magazine not as a stitch guide rather as a discussion of thought process.
After looking up what Morning Glory buds look like and going through The Needlepoint Book by Jo Ippolito Christensen, I selected the Raised Close Herringbone.
I know it’s not exactly the same but I’m not a botanist and the three dimensionality really hit the mark for me. Plus, the size and shape can vary which is very important.
For the rest of the story, you’ll have to be a member of ANG because the article appears in the current issue of Needle Pointers. It’s easy to join (needlepoint.org) and ANG has tons to offer.
I also want to give a shout out to Sue Parsons for her excellent finishing class held at Fireside Stitchery (July 2025). I really learned a lot and modifed my process based on what I learned.
I decided to tack the finished piece onto a self-adhesive felt fabric.
Here it is attached to an unfinished box top.
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Timeless Treasures From the Archives, Morning Glories by Lani, Other People's Designs
My issue arrived in the mail and the Timeless Treasures from the Archives article in the May/June 2026 issue of Needle Pointers Magazine explores butterflies. There is lots to explore from past articles by Margaret Kinsey, Debbie Rowley, and Linda Reinmiller.
I learned how to make my butterflies in Flowers Along a Rhode from Debbie Rowley’s Explore and Design class in 2024.
There is lots more to enjoy in this issue too. In particular, the Tale of Two (or Three) Stitchers included two people I know. Jacqui C of ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter and Sharon B of ANG Central Jersey Chapter. Sarah N of IL also joined to stitch Lazy Morning at the Bay by PLD Designs. It’s always interesting to see different interpretations of the same canvas.
And, my thoughts and process about selecting stitches and threads for Morning Glories by Lani is published in this issue.
If you’re not a member of ANG, the American Needlepoint Guild (needlepoint.org), it’s easy to join. There are many free designs exclusively available to members including access to all past issues (since 1980s) and yearly Stitch of the Month projects (since 1998).
Next up is Faith from The Cabochons Series by Susan Portra. It’s on a lovely Lavender canvas. Most of the thread colors are in Rhapsody. The blue Fyre Werks is the outlier but all work together nicely.
I got the center column of Rhapsody in before Saturday and added the outlines during our Stitch-in. I would have gotten more done except for having to remove my first outline row on the right side. It didn’t become apparent until I reached the bottom and was off by one canvas thread! Oh well. I was back on track soon enough and finished later that night watching a classic 1940 sci-fi horror film Dr. Cyclops presented by Svengoolie on MeTV, our usual Saturday night.
Part of my fascination with this series is seeing so much fit into a relatively small area and how everything fits together in a cohesive design.
Step 1 of filling in the background of Hope from The Cabochons Series by Susan Portra was the long strands laid on the true diagonal first one way and then the other. I only went wrong a couple of times and saw it quickly enough.
I wanted the long stitches laid before our Saturday ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter Stitch-in (in April) to be sure of the pattern. It took a couple of nights to get these in. The top ones were a little tricky even though they are on the true diagonal.
When I saw this photo, I thought it was the light that reflecting oddly. Can you see it? I didn’t see anything missing. So, I continued.
I got 2 tack down stitches in when I remembered how much I disliked Tiara. So, I went to my Kreinik gold drawer and found 102 looked so close to Tiara T101 that I decided to switch. I happened to have 2 full spools and one very full spool in #8 Braid. I won’t have to Hope that I’ll have enough. That made my day!
I got 3 rows of tacking stitches in when I saw it wasn’t the light that was an issue! I missed laying the threads in the opposite direction on the two right areas. That was easy enough to remedy.
Although I was ready to stitch, I didn’t get any done at that Stitch-in because I was working on our group Santa canvas. It’s looking good!
But, I did have time to work on it a few days later at a Stitch-in with my EGA Brandywine chapter and again during a couple of Zoom meetings over the last month. The tacking stitches took some time but it really turned out nicely. The color in the photo below is more accurate than what’s in the previous photo. Today was an overcast day when I got the photo.
I’ll use this ornament to demo finishing for my Needlework and Textile Guild of Media in June. I’ve got a couple of weeks to prepare.
Now, I’ll get the next Cabochon ornament on the bars for our May 22nd Saturday Stitch-in with ANG Main Line Stitchers. I’m excited to see what’s ahead.
Our double knock out yellow roses are the first to bloom in our backyard this year. Spring, flowers, and no air conditioning needed. Wonderful. And it makes me happy to get some work done in my Spring Lollipop Garden by Tamara Abdee.
I’ve added the pink Tulip although I need to pay more attention to what part of a marbled ribbon I cut.
The purple Lilac was the most complicated one yet. The three blue Forget Me Knots are quite cute. The two bluefish purple Hyacinths are not supposed to be symmetrical in order for them to be more realistic. I think the right one really nailed it but the left one is fine.
That’s it for the flowers. Next up is the Birch Tree and Nest.
Even with white board relecting the light, there are still shadows. Photographing needlework is tough!
Ta Da! Florentine Fancywork by Toni McKelley is finished. The bottom border was easy enough. I’d saved the sections of Watercolours to match all the other flowers and Rainbow Tweed for the small green stems (done in oblong crosses).
Rather than use the purple Splendor to outline the areas, I went to my favorite stash – Bijoux and found Amethyst MMT412. In order to get the full effect of any Bijoux, long stitches are needed but these were so long that they need to be couched. The construction of the thread creates ridges. I used either 2 or 4 strands laid and 1 to couch with.
From a distance, you don’t see that but the outline is apparent.
Love it!
With this done, I can return to and rotate through Magical Colors by Jennifer Riefenberg, Spring Lollipop Garden by Tamara Abdee, and Razzle Dazzle by Ann Strite-Kurz.
I’ve decided that I don’t care for the feel of Rainbow Gallery’s Rainbow Tweed. It’s 44% Cotton, 39% Wool, and 17% Acrylic. But, this is the end of it for this piece.
Toni McKelley called this area in Florentine Fancywork a God’s Eye Variation based on motifs from the 70s. I vaguely recall them after I googled them but didn’t know that’s what they were called.
Nearing the finish now! Exciting.
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