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).
In less than 2 weeks, I will be taking a finishing class with Sue Parsons of Westcoast Finishing at Fireside Stitchery. I just realized that I had finished all my round pieces. So, I went to my very limited (about 12) painted canvases stash. There was ONE round thanks to Linda who gave it to me for my birthday last year. It is a Lani canvas, 3″ diameter, and on 18 count canvas.
Ellen Johnson of Serendipity has a stitch guide formula that first has you identify all the parts of a painted canvas and that’s where I got stuck!! Besides recognizing these as flowers, I had no idea what type of flowers they represent. Also, the flesh colored things and the brown blobs with white veins confused me.
So, I reached out to the Serendipity community and enjoyed seeing the responses come in. I was reminded that if I don’t like the brown blobs, I could change them. Morning Glories with buds took the lead and one woman suggested I ask Lani and supplied her contact information. Within an hour of emailing Lani, stylized Morning Glories was confirmed.
Next, I selected possible threads from my stash.
In case you’re wondering, I laced 2 sides because I didn’t have any 7″ bars.
Now, to select stitches!
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