After the “First Steps” samplers (July 2003), I began designing a piece to use the 31 stitches which I’d just learned & was finished stitching it by Jan 2004!
Because I’d wanted to stay with blocks like the samplers I had just finished, I thought of bricks in a fireplace. The selection & placement of stitches was somewhat complicated by certain stitches which have a raised effect. I wanted a balanced effect. And, the 3 shades of red enhanced the brick effect while the Byzantine stitch helped create depth.
The hardest part may have been deciding what to put on the mantle. I do have notes on this project. And someday, I’d to recreate the fireplace using the same layout with a different background, various objects sitting on the mantle, and with stitch selections in the fireplace appropriate for an intermediate & advanced stitcher.
I named it after Fireside Stitchery in Frazer, PA. And, my “Fireside Sampler” was finished just in time to become a housewarming gift for friends, Jim & Deb.
Filed under: First Steps
I took this basic course in 2003 to create 4 samplers (6”x6”). Nanette taught everything from preparing canvases to color terminology to 31 different stitches. Right from the start I was impressed by the packet of materials, the option to contact her by email, & her responsiveness when I did.
Then, I made my first visit to Fireside Stitchery for canvas & stretcher bars (glad I saved my AC Moore receipt b/c frames are different from bars). There, I was overwhelmed by the variety of threads. So, I stayed with DMC Cotton Perle which I knew I could get at my closer AC Moore. But, I knew I would return!
I read through the lesson, worked up the assignment, & sent it for review. Each set of Nanette’s comments were detailed & thorough! And, by lesson 3’s review, she had worked through improving my technique enough that she talked to me about how to use the stitches in future projects or alter stitches for different effects.
Both “First Steps” & Nanette made for a pleasurable introduction to ANG. I had begun the year-long course in November 2002 & was finished by July 2003. And, I was so enthralled by the course, I immediately began to design a piece using the 31 stitches – which you’ll see posted tomorrow night!
No doubt many of you will recognize this project:
All 4 block of "First Steps""
And, a little closer:
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3 - Block C
Lesson 4 - Block D
Filed under: Pooh Doing Nothing
“Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” Winnie the Pooh
After my husband, Bill, selected this piece (a sunglasses case designed by Barbara Russell) as a Christmas gift, the guys at Rittenhouse Needlepoint helped with thread selection. Because of the wear & tear it will get, they recommended using DMC Cotton Perle with the basketweave stitch. It had been so long since I used that stitch, I had to look it up to be sure how it differed from Continental (The Needlepoint Book by Jo Ippolito Christensen). There is no distortion & it is a durable stitch. It’s a nice change of pace from what I’ve been working on & practical! Good choice Bill – I love it & you were right – my sunglasses needed a nice case!
Filed under: Sun Flower with David McCaskill at Fireside Stitchery
Colorful background
Couching
Pale green in Daisy
Green petal outline
Petals #1 & #6
Petal #2
Petal #3
Petal #4
Petal #5
Petal #7
Petal #8
Petal #9
Petal #10
Petal #11
Petal #12
Filed under: 4-way Bargello class at Rittenhouse Needlepoint, Melita's Other Completed Pieces
My grandmother used to say that there are no errors in needlepoint – there are just things that make each piece uniquely your own! Well, I got watching TV and by the time I discovered “it”, it was too late to unstitch. And, most people (non-stitchers) won’t notice. Bargello does require concentration. This is a good size for a coaster. And, I know who likes this color. So, ‘someone’ will have to wait a couple of months!
Filed under: Love in My Heart
Several folks asked about the stitches I used & if I could share them. I decided if I could find anything, I’d be happy to share. Do I know my piles? In just a few minutes, I found what little there is in the way of charts in one of my piles that got put into a box when we got new carpeting. My husband hates my piles but is a tolerant guy – he knows I want to keep this stuff! I didn’t write down much & you can see that I was counting holes not threads!!
Rhodes Heart (modified to fit my piece) & Sprat's Head Heart from "Stitches To Go" By Suzanne Howren & Beth Robertson
Overall pattern, partial stitches sketched in place
Filed under: Love in My Heart
When I started this project, I only had the frame that I had purchased for $5. So, I had to make the design fit the frame. I decided to play with a few stitches that would work themselves into small hearts. I usually work it out on paper by hand. I have no computer stitch program – so, I have a big eraser & make several drafts before I get started.
It is stitched on a plastic canvas & DMC Cotton Perle from AC Moore because at the time I wasn’t aware of any specialty thread shops.
It was fun finding different stitches that worked:
And, using different thread combinations for the same stitch:
I don’t recall what stitches they were & I wasn’t writing anything down at that point. Maybe the 2 above are a heart-shaped Rhodes? And the one below a heart-shaped waffle stitch?
Hope you are loving what your stitching!
And, many thanks and all my love goes out to my husband, Bill, for all his support!
Filed under: General comments
I just figured out how to change my tagline! And, how to fix the clock – I’m not on UTC time now – who even knew there was a Coordinated Universal Time! There is a lot of functionality to blogging that I haven’t figured out yet but I’ll figure it out over time. I don’t want to cut into my stitching too much – especially after sitting a computer all day long.
Filed under: 4-way Bargello class at Rittenhouse Needlepoint
Taking a class in 1&1/2 hours isn’t a lot of time especially when it’s a 4-way bargello. But, Stephen at Rittenhouse Needlepoint made it work by designing a small enough piece to demonstrate the essentials. We had a variety of colors to select from – already bundled. The base row took the longest to stitch (& unstitch) requiring concentration. Turning the corner proves to be the next trickiest area. After a full day of work, I was very pleased with the instructions, materials, classmates, refreshments, & to get this much done during class:
After an evening of stitching, I still haven’t violated the miter!!
Filed under: ANG Stitch of the Month, 2010
I am laying a DMC Cotton Perle (310) in outer row to create a raised effect. It certainly isn’t dramatic & you can feel it more than you can see it. I like the little bit of shimmer in the Vineyard & was hoping for more on the outer row.
It’s only the second piece that I’ve charted on the canvas. Seemed confusing – until I was able to sit down & focus on it. I used a purple pen – or disappearing ink from a fabric store & then a pencil once I was sure I had gotten it right. The January stitch is working up quickly. It was a rainy Sunday here.
I finished the January STOM.
Melitastitches4fun's Blog 