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.
Here’s where I am up to on both ort boxes. These ort boxes have good lessons on how to have thread not show through canvas.
There are 2 sides each like this one.
And, love how my color wheel folding ort box is shaping up. The blackwork pattern is next.
Even for members not stitching the project, there are lessons to learn. This shows when and why to use locking or tacking stitches especially when traveling to the next motif.
Next month, everyone can give blackwork a try!
Filed under: Brandywine Chapter, Embroidery Guild of America, Strawberry Pincushion
Today, in the rain, Patrick and I were pleased that 10 members of our EGA Brandywine Chapter joined us for today’s project.
Patrick created the design which was distributed last month. Several had finished stitching it while others were still working on it.
Mine was the smallest (about 2 and 3/8″ x 2 and 3/4″). I used Lugana (28 count in an Angel Blush that is slightly pink) and stitched over one canvas thread.
Patrick led us through making it into a strawberry. He and JoAnne had stuffing. We also could have used walnut shells she brought! Patrick had a variety of colored felt and ribbons. He also had buttons we could have used. Here’s mine. It turned out great!
Filed under: ANG Needle Pointer's Timeless Treasures From the Archives
Besides the Hearts of ANG series discussed in the previous issue of Needle Pointers, many hearts have been featured over the years. Here’s my version of Spring Hearts and Ribbons Fantasy by Joan Scrutton. Read all about the one modification and the other heart projects from the 1980s in the May/June 2025 issue of Needle Pointers under Timeless Treasures from the Archives. You have to be a member of ANG and there are lots of reasons to join (https://www.needlepoint.org/page/MembershipOverview).
New photo using Samsung S25 Ultra with optical zoom (better than the one in the magazine).
I am caught up with last month’s suggested areas to complete. It’s always hard to figure out a pace when so many people are involved. At least two people are already to cut and assemble and others have paced themselves with stitching on other pieces.
I’ll post my next areas after our meeting. I still have some more to work ahead on the Folding Ort Box for the next ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter meeting on Monday May 12. Luckily, this weekend is The Truist Championship PGA Tour being held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Philadelphia.
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.
After Lori, from my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, taught us how to make a bracelet in 2011, I made the mistake of going to a Bead Expo. I bought natural, hand-faceted, rondelle gemstones in small (around 400), medium (around 100), and large (24) in each of these colors: Royal Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Ruby, and Emerald to make the bracelet in all these wonderful colors for Christmas presents. The gemstones did not work like the beads Lori supplied. So, they all went in a box and have been waiting for me to figure out what to do with them!
I tried using the gemstones on the earrings that I sent to NAN’s exhibit, but they didn’t work in that design either because none of my beading needles once threaded would fit through the small gemstones. So, I used regular seed beads in the NAN earrings. When I was in the jewelry aisle of Michael’s buying the lever-backs earring hook findings for the NAN earrings, these bead frames appeared to be something that I could work with. I just needed to string the gemstones.
Around this same time, I went to Blue Santa Beads for something and was looking around and found Griffin Bead Cord Perlseide Natural Silk. It’s thread with a needle attached. The needle is more of a wire (as long as it works, I don’t care what it’s called). The thread is 2 meters long. It comes in 4 weights, and I bought one card of the thinnest thread to test it. I did find out that the thread needs to be stretched before you use it. I must have stretched it too much because when I tied a knot in the middle of making the first earring, the thread broke, but not where the needle was connected. My knots were large, and the color of the thread didn’t match the beads, but I went ahead with the second earring, and it went better, but it just didn’t seem secure. So, I put the gemstones aside again until I could get back to Blue Santa Beads to buy the colors I needed to match the gemstones and one card of the larger sizes for the larger gemstones.
Fortunately, their bead teacher/jewelry designer was there, and Bill got talking with her. Next thing I know, she and he are going looking for something. Come to find out, he’s gotten her to make him a simple leather bracelet with a magnetic closure. We discussed the glue she used to connect the closure to the leather. She doesn’t like E6000 because it cracks over time. She uses “Super NEW GLUE” by Euro Tool in all her jewelry and it dries clear. I explained my issues, and she said to reinforce the knots with the glue. So, I bought one bottle. It’s in a dropper bottle. I use a toothpick to get even less of a drop. She also suggested lightly wetting the thread to stretch it and letting it dry before using it. You use the whole length from the non-needle end until you use it up. I don’t know how the thread is attached to the wire but it is.
This time, I successfully made the pair using about 140 of the small gemstones. It’s a start on using up those gemstones!
Old camera.
New camera.
I am surprised that about 70 of the small gemstones won’t fit onto the smallest bead cord. Yes, I tested all of them. That’s about 20% of what I purchased of the small blue sapphires.
Lesson 1: Don’t go crazy over something after just one class!
Lesson 2: Don’t give up! I am so happy with these earrings. Using these beads is actually what Goal #13 for 2025 was meant to accomplish. I’ve got more lots more beading to do.
Filed under: All That Simmers by Sundance Beads, ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter
I finished this in 2024 but never posted about the last area, the red poppy, in All That Shimmers. This was a painted canvas with a stitch guide by Sundance Beads done with my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter.
Kristen’s tip to place the running stitch along both sides of the red ribbon before gathering was very sensible. Doing the second edge after the bottom is gathered and in place has to be next to impossible. The red ribbon is called Christmas Red by BE Ribbons and appears to be available only at Sundance Beads (sundancedesignsonline). It comes in great colors. The green leaves are also BE Ribbons, Retro Ribbon Avocado. They are clearly different materials, but the website doesn’t provide details. I guess I would have to email them if I had questions about buying more ribbon.
The center was too large and I had to cinch it smaller so that the center of the flower didn’t disappear. The first three beads slipped through the metallic center, so I used 5-7 beads to show through. Thanks again to Kristen for leading us through this project and to Sundance Beads for making a stitch guide available.
This needed a deep box, but not really knowing where I’d put it, I didn’t take it to a framer. But, since I had such great results with Treasures of the Great Lakes, I decided to give this a go, too. There is a difference in that this is on monocanvas and slightly larger than 5″ x 7″. I found 6″ x 8″ is also a standard frame size in shadow boxes for medals (at Michael’s). That required additional borders (5 and 7 canvas threads wider) to be stitched. I used the Woven stitch in the four colors matching the original tent stitch outer borders with the same Kreinik #12 Braid. I found them in my stash and even had enough!
Then, I added a row of buttonhole over 2 canvas threads so that I could cut it exactly to fit the frame opening. Because I stitch on Evertites, it was exactly square when I took it off the bars.
And, it fit liked a charm. I did lace it to the interior back board provided just so it wouldn’t shift when it gets moved about. But, it doesn’t photograph well because of glare. In person, it looks really good. It’s standing upright as Sundance apparently intended it to be displayed. But, which way do you like it?
New camera in the Samsung S25 Ultra is making a big difference.
Filed under: ANG Seminar 2024, Treasures from the Great Lakes - Dawn Donnelly
I was worried about asking a framer to handle this, and so I contacted Meghan from my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter, who is a professional framer and now also a teacher. She gave me great guidance discussing lacing and pinning to foam board.
This shadow box frame was perfect at 11″ x 8.5″ and grey to pick up the color of the stones. Once it arrived (from Amazon in 2 days), I only had one option. There was no way to fit a second foam board in the frame or another layer of anything because the back is a foam board with a soft white felt back attached to the back. So, I attached the needlepoint to the foam board with small nails every 1/4″ piercing Congress Cloth threads as much as possible around each inner edge. I used three white pearl push pins they sent to hold it in place after I centered it. I was tempted to leave one in place near the large stone so it wouldn’t sag from the weight of the stone but I think the weight of the stone is dispersed across enough of the Congress Cloth that it won’t be an issue.
Then, I cut the Congress Cloth at the outer edge, which is about 2-3 threads from the nails. The pressure of the fasteners on each side is applying pressure as well.
The shadow box came with tempered glass which does have some glare depending on the lighting. Meghan did suggest that I could get a framer to order museum glass to fit this frame. But, where I have it hanging, there is no glare and I even got a decent photo.
Thanks, Meghan. I am thrilled with how it turned out!
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