Filed under: 2024 Summer Stitch Camp, ANG Central Jersey Chapter, Making Coasters, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson
Sharon B, the President of ANG Central Jersey Chapter, requested that I demonstrate how I make a coaster with the cork bottom at the May meeting today.
Last month, members were given pre-cut round Craftex and cork with a self-adhesive side. They were given 18 count canvas but no particular design. Three members were ready to finish theirs and a half-dozen more listened and watched.
Besides the stitched piece and the piece of cork and Craftex that Sharon provided, scissors to cut canvas and any thread to attach the canvas to the Craftex is all that is needed (it won’t show). I brought a spool of white outdoor 100% poly thread by Coats & Clark. I also brought my lifetime spool of invisible thread but Janice M brought her spool of invisible thread that is big enough to be a lifetime supply for everyone in the chapter! I have never seen a spool so large.
I brought my Kreinik cord maker to add a cord between the top and bottom layers (which is optional but I like to do it). The threads typically match the one used in your design. I talked about attaching the cording by stitching and with glue. You need three times the circumference plus extra for starting and ending. Stitching is technically preferred but it is only a coaster! I brought the best glue I’ve found to date, Super NEW GLUE” by Euro Tool. My fingers even got stuck together – almost. It’s great glue.
The process is almost the same as I described here: https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/05/04/compensation-coaster/
As I told them, I almost never do finishing the same way twice. I demonstrated a round using my pink coaster (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/07/14/2024-summer-stitch-camp/).
This time, I tacked the Craftex on the back of the needlepoint with invisible thread in 5 places. Then, I used 2 strands of the outdoor thread and laced each tab to the Craftex crossing to the opposite side as I moved around to various tabs. I glued the last half dozen tabs. I wanted to show how quick and firm the glue dried.
I only showed how to cut the blue square (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/07/18/summer-stitch-camp-square-coaster/) and I finished it later that night.
That’s when I remembered one way I avoid a knot on the cording which would create an unwanted bump which isn’t good for a coaster that needs to be flat. I put a piece of Scotch tape on the end with the knot and cut through the tape. It worked great on my thicker blue cord.
And, I was able to nudge the 2 cords together so you almost can’t see it. Can you see where the ends overlap?
Here’s where.
The corners kind of stuck out but since I cut the cork to shape, it worked out just fine. I just traced the shape and then cut the cork.
I used glue to attach the cording along each edge and at the corners. It looks great!
Mine will be the pink one and the blue one will be Bill’s.
Filed under: General comments, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson, Spring Stitch Challenge, Tips
Ellen of Serendipity challenged us to stitch the Trellis Cross stitch in 2 different ways and compare results.
In this stitch sample, I used a pink Neon Rays+ as Step 1 for the large cross. For Step 2, I used dark purple DMC Perle #8 over the Neon Rays+ intersections. Then, on the top half, I filled in with blue and purple Kreinik Braid #8 which added too many colors, too much sparkle and left exposed canvas. If this was a painted canvas, exposed canvas might look better. On the bottom half, I used 4 strands of Splendor in a light purple. So, using 2 purples looks better to me. And, there is less exposed canvas which looks better too. Zooming in on the stitching shows more canvas than looking at it at a normal distance.
Here’s the photo with my old phone.
Here’s the photo with the new phone.
I don’t pretend to understand the specs they list but the new Samsung S25 Ultra has optical zoom vs the old digital zoom (S22+) which is what I have been using. They explain it at: https://www.samsung.com/uk/mobile-phone-buying-guide/samsung-galaxy-s25-camera-specs-explained/
Quite a difference in clarity!
I thought I could handle the transfers (Bill and I have to upgrade together) but it took maybe 2 hours on the phone (and I was following instructions quickly) and a short second phone call to complete both phones! I had a very helpful young lady on the first call. These phones better last for a long time. I don’t need to do that again any time soon. I might just reshoot some (all?) of my needlepoint pieces some rainy day.
Some explanations have come in from someone more technically savvy than I:
Optical zoom means they have added another lens so that the light is bent (in complicated ways) on its way to the camera sensor to provide the additional detail.
Each of the little circles on the back of my phone is a different camera and lens. The phones don’t really have “zoom”, but rather 2 to 5 separate cameras. My old phone only had 3 cameras. There are options for 0.6X, 1X, 2X, 3X, 5X, 10X, 30, and 100 magnification that the various cameras provide. As soon as I use my fingers to zoom between sizes, I go back to digital zoom. That would be better to do in Photoshop.
Wow. That’s so much great info!
Here’s I took a photo at 30X. The one with the new phone I already posted was at 2X or 3X. According to the megapixels I discovered in the details of the photo, this new 30X one has 10MP while the other one has 6MP and the old phone had 5MP. It should be even better. The lighting is different and my hand may not have been asked steady.
Filed under: Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson, Spring Stitch Challenge
Ellen at Serendipity is having a Spring Stitch Challenge. I’d stitched Day 1 through Day 4 stitches previously. So, I was sharing photos of the finished pieces instead of stitching 1″ samples to share. My blog is my stitch journal!
But, I didn’t have any pieces to share that used the Stardust stitch on Day 5. I came close in Rainbow Ribbons by Kam Wenzloff (Nov/Dec 2019 issue of Needlepoint Now) that used the Souffle Stitch. It’s 6 bands up from the bottom in my pillow.
So, I tried the Stardust Stitch. Compensation is tough! I tried it with Wildflowers, an overdyed thread, and Kreink (upper right corner), all solid Impressions with Kreinik (upper left), and two solids, Impressions and Perle #8 with Kreinik (bottom right). Then, just to see the differences, I did the Souffle in solid Impressions with Kreink (bottom left). Souffle is easier to compensate but not by much. They share the same basic pattern but the relationship to the previous row differs.
They would make good companion stitches in a piece where you want something similar but different. Both stitches are in Painted Canvas Embellishment: An Idea Book by Carole Lake and Michael Boren.
I added a basketweave border, a buttonhole edge, and cut it out (3.25″ square). I got some peel and stick black felt by Creatology given to me recently. I simply cut it to a 3. 25″ square and applied it to the stitching. I will use it as a bookmark for one of my stitch books. Craftex would have made it too thick for a bookmark.
Filed under: Arctic Inspirations Snippets Class, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson
Ellen of Serendipity Needleworks had a 3-hour Zoom class on thread and stitch choices for winter/snow scenes recently.
I went through my full-to-the brim white/off-white drawer looking for threads for snow scenes. Here’s a thread (can’t remember where I found it) that would definitely be couched to your canvas. I haven’t used it yet.
Here’s a thread that could be couched in place for a beard. Santa is always nearby with snow scenes. It looks like it would be great for anyone avoiding bullion knots.
YLI woukd be an alternative ribbon to Neon Rays+ or Kreinik (neither are included in a photo).
The PE Silk Opal (Cloud 097) has such a tiny amount of sparkle that I don’t find it’s very useful.
Nordic Gold isn’t worth the effort. It says it is very fine and easy-to-use, but it falls apart/unravels (for me anyway). Although this is not the best photo and I missed Flair too, I am not rephotographing.
Using Neon Rays N02, Petite Very Velvet V602, and Crystal Braid CR01, I stitched from left to right: Double Straight Cross Stitch, large Tied Double Cross, Slanted Beaty Stitch, small Tied Double Cross, Double Parisian Stitch, Diagonal Brick, and Burden Stitch. I hadn’t seen the Tied Double Crosses (different threads would be better) or a Diagonal Brick before (offset rather than rows would be nice to try too).
Filed under: 25 astitches in 25 Days, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson
This exploration of 25 stitches was fun. I discovered a couple of new ones.
Day 21. Downward Diamond Ray Stitch
If you don’t work this from the top down, forget about it. This Weeks Dye Works, 2141 Lagoon, has a nice variation for leaves on a tree.
Day 22. Framed Cashmere Stitch
This is a pretty stitch using Impressions 181 Ocean Breeze and Kreink #8 Braid 1432 making it sparkle. I especially like it in an offset variation.
Day 23. Patterned Three Stitches
I see a basket would look great in this stitch with Watercolours 234 Celestial Blue. But even more so in two colors of DMC Pearl #5. Alternating both colors while moving left to right allowed me to work up from clean holes, so that was easier. But compensation on the rectangle was tough. I’m quite sure the bottom edge is correct and more sure that the top edge is wrong. But, this is just practice. So, I am not worried about it. If I add a little green stem, I would have a flower in a basket. Thanks to one of the ladies in the Serendipity community who called it a hydrangea.
Day 24. Skip Tent Stitch
I do like this stitch on a painted canvas for a background. I used a couple of Copic markers to color the canvas.
The tent stitch is small, and so it recedes for a good background stitch. And the paint shows through. I used Watercolours 234 Celestial Blue, which has some color change but not a whole lot.
Day 25. Velvet Stitch
Another Turkeywork-like stitch. I don’t do much that uses Turkeywork, but it’s been educational to try these three methods over the last 25 days. Top left is Jump Through the Loop Turkey Work Stitch. The bottom left is Surrey Stitch. The bottom right is the Velvet Stitch.
There was a Zoom call today with some of the participants (77) who shared their progress. Lots of great color combinations. A couple of people did full squares of each stitch. More did partial samples. Some are taking longer to complete the process. There were a few that were so organized that they created a notebook to store diagrams, samples, and notes. My samples are mostly partial ones and stored in a zip lock bag, but that’s why I detail them on my blog.
The coolest one was from Deborah M, who used a geometric painted canvas with the different stitches in different areas. Very nicely color coordinated. Later, she shared a photo in the Serendipity community. I was able to get a better view of it and could see just enough to see it was an Eye Candy canvas, Juicy Fruit Puzzle. Doing 5 five rows of 5 stitches in a 1″ square was not where I wanted to spend my time, but I might have stitched the canvas she showed. I think I will be visiting this page for a future project when Ellen teaches different stitches.
Filed under: 25 astitches in 25 Days, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson
Day 16. Needlepoint Stem Stitch
DMC Pearl #5 for the outer portions and DMC Pearl #8 down the center.
Day 17. Simple Bargello Line Pattern
Here’s a bargello pattern (over 3 canvas threads not the usual 4) using Watercolours 197 Monsoon for a murky water.
Day 18. 5 x 3 Darning Stitch
Also Watercolours 197 Monsoon for another murky water. It would be better if the canvas had been painted.
Day 19. Milanese Stitch
It probably has less movement when done in all one color but still would seem too busy for most backgrounds.
Day 20. Surrey Stitch
You can’t be loopy and try this stitch! It feels more secure than Turkey work. Except for that one strand, it stands up nicely.
Filed under: 25 astitches in 25 Days, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson
Day 11. Old Florentine Stitch
DMC Pearl #3 for full coverage.
Day 12. Oriental Stitch
Here is Impressions 181 Ocean Breeze with Kreinik #8 Braid 1432 for water with movement and a little sparkle in the sunlight.
Day 13. Rice Stitch
Here’s a Giant Rice with Petite Very Velvet and Waterlilies framed by small Rice stitches using Waterlilies and Kreink #8 Braid.
Day 14. Tiny Diagonal Leaf
What a cute, delicate composite pattern. Here is Impressions 181 Ocean Breeze again, but with Kreinik #8 Braid 9732.
Day 15. Medallion Stitch
Another composite stitch pattern. All Watercolours Mediterranean with Kreinik #8 Braid 1432 and then a variation with Petite Very Velvet in the center surrounded by the same Watercolours and Kreinik.
Filed under: 25 astitches in 25 Days, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson
There’s been lots of participation among the members of the group that makes it more interesting. We see lots of variety without all the stitching.
Day 6. Horizontal Twill Stitch
Playing with an old skein of Watercolours Mediterranean (hand written label and lot number but no item number) for today’s Horizontal Twill Stitch. I see an ocean and my husband sees a sky.
Day 7. Greek Stitch
Good texture to the stitch. I think this would be a tough stitch to compensate.
Day 8. Daisy Stitch
I like how they can nestle up next to each other.
Someone posted a variation that nestles them even more closely. Randomly placed and different sizes would be good too.
Day 9. Eyelet Rows Stitch
You could make a single or double fence around the garden of Daisys.
Day 10. Irish Stitch
Looks like a large brick stitch.
Filed under: 25 astitches in 25 Days, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson
Ellen Johnson of Serendipity is encouraging members to participate in exploring 25 stitches over 25 days. I’ve got plenty of scraps of canvas for this challenge!
Day 1. Parisian Stitch
Here’s a variety of DMC perle threads on 18 count. If it was a colored canvas, #8 would allow some canvas to show which might be desirable, #5 allows very little to show, and #3 covers. Changing colors on rows is an option. Easy to compensate, especially good for backgrounds.
Day 2. Kalem Stitch
For the Kalem stitch, I used 1 strand of The Gentle Art Simply Wool with 2 strands of Soie d’Alger first 2 columns, 2 strands of Simply Wool in the 3rd column, and 3 strands of Soie d’Alger in the last 2 columns. You can clearly see the wool in the center as duller.
Day3. Checkerboard Mosaic Stitch
Here’s what 1 strand of Impressions 181 Ocean Breeze looks like. I worked the Mosaic stitches first and then filled in the tent stitches. It’s more striped than Checkerboard. Two different colors are needed to obtain the checkerboard appearance.
Day 4. Brick Stitch
One stand DMC #5 in 2 different paths. The top sample was stitched every other thread on each row. The bottom sample was stitched every thread on two rows. Coverage looks better on the bottom.
Day 5. Jump Through the Loop Turkey Work Stitch
I used a 12 stranded Soie d’Alger without stranding it in this small sample. It feels more secure than the way I’ve stitched it previously. I only did a small sample. It’s not one of my favorites but useful when you need something fluffy.
Filed under: 2024 Summer Stitch Camp, Serendipity - Stitching Club with Ellen Johnson
This yellow picture frame (4 and 3/4″ x 3 and 3/4″) has been in a drawer for years, along with 3 more. I’m glad I remembered them and could find them. It’s a Happeez product from Mayfair Lane. The back has a large sticky surface (after you remove the protective liner) that adheres to refrigerators, mirrors, glass, and more that apparently can be revived if needed.
These last 4 stitches complete the last 2 badges from Ellen Johnson’s Summer Stitch Camp. I knew these stitches wouldn’t be great for coasters, thus the frame. I just cut the canvas larger than the opening (no finishing edge) and layed it on top of the removable insert (intended to hold a photo). It slipped in easily, and I nudged it into place. It should stay put. I used Planet Earth Silk (Lettuce V052, a lovely variegated thread), DMC Perle #8, and Impressions.
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