Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, ANG Stitch of the Month, 2011
Heather, from my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter, has been leading the chapter through the stitches used in Ro Pace’s, A Flower From Italy, Stitch of the Month in 2011.
Last month, she discussed the Chilly Hollow stitch. This is the original from ANG’s website:
Once I understood it, I decided to try alternating colors with each stitch rather than in each quadrant. Getting the stitches to lay nicely took 2 attempts.
I used red and white DMC Pearl #8 for the stitch and the cording and got a tighter cord this time. I used the Kreinik cord maker for each color but then twisted them together by hand. Bill was my vice again.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, Imperial Topaz by Sue Reed
Linda, from Main Line Stitchers chapter, has been leading this project presenting a short explanation of the next section. These areas employed a simple thread blending formula that used 3 values to make 5. Many times in shading, you can’t find 5 gradual color differences within a particular color. Fortunately, this is very effective.
Serendipity, the Stitch used, overlaps on one canvas thread, which I think helps make it appear as a gradual color change.
All ready for tomorrow’s meeting and the next section. Three more areas to go!
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, ANG Stitch of the Month, 2008
I forgot to post the stitched final piece for ANG Stitch of the Month 2008, Circles by Lois Kershner. My ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter did this earlier this year, and I decided to finish mine as a lid for the wicker basket I made in a class with several other members of our chapter.
To make sure the lid wouldn’t sink into the basket, I added a ring of tent stitches around the border in the light blue (800) Pearl Cotton #5 used elsewhere in the piece. That is what the cording is made from, too. Bill served as my vice, and I twisted by hand. It’s still not as tight as Kelly Starke’s drill method, but it’s good. Here’s the front. I added a padding of a thick wool felt.
The back has the pretty fabric that I picked up at NJ Needle Fest in October. I picked it up for the back of the jellyfish ornament, but I have plenty for both with more leftover.
Here it sits on the basket.
Filed under: ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter, Elfin Stockings (Ornaments), Festival of Trees, Other People's Designs
Since posting this first in 2012 (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2012/12/25/set-of-12-stocking-ornaments/), I have found all the information about them. These came from my mother’s ornament collection, and she noted on the instructions “Rita made – 1984”. Thanks for noting that, Mom, and for holding onto the instructions!
The 12 Elfin Stockings were designed by Norden Crafts exclusively for Better Homes and Gardens Custom Design Collection (Product No. 27815). Norden Crafts were in IL but closed permanently, perhaps in 2017; but they have an Etsy store now.
There are 6 designs for these stockings done twice in a different color. The kit came with everything, including the finishing (a simple cotton backing). Mom did a nice job on these!
Filed under: Brandywine Chapter, Crewel Wreath by Lucy Edmison, Embroidery Guild of America
The Crewel Wreath by Lucy Edmison calls for Appleton wool, which appears to be the preferred wool for crewel. However, I don’t like Appleton wool. So, I went to my stash and found substitutes. I volunteered to stitch the EGA Petite Project for my Brandywine Chapter.
For the brown, I used Weeks Dye Works Crewl Collection, labeled Crewel Wool and Merino Wool (CW-1268 Molasses).
The green overdyed thread was identified by Therea A on Needlepoint Nation to be Needle Necessities Overdyed French wool, a discontinued thread line. But ThreadworX has photos of the threads online for informational purposes only. So, #34 is Utopian Green. The tag helped identify it.
I picked up white linen twill at Nimble Needle in NJ.
The gold trim Kreinik #16 Braid 017HL and unmarked red beads were also in my stash. I used a long enough strand of Kreinik to make the loop from the trim. Hopefully, that works with how I finish it!
There were 2 different pictures of the design on EGA’s website. One had a very round brown ring of chain stitches while the other had more of an intertwined look to it, which I tried to emulate. So, I made the ring of chain stitches as directed and then added the outshoots. I wrapped the chain and added a small French Knot to give some texture to the outshoots. It’s not like the photo but the instructions didn’t say what stitch was used. Oh well! Maybe I’ll try again when we have the program. I’ll have plenty of thread. It’s only a 2″ diameter.
Another finished ornament for 2023 and is ready for my EGA Brandywine Chapter Holiday party today. I have been getting a lot of practice this year. But I still need more. That hot glue is HOT, and I got a 1/2″ long but slender burn from it, which blistered up quickly. Put my left finger index finger right into the glue. Also, cut the gold thread for the hook accidentally. I should have thought that working on linen was like working with fabric, not canvas. I cut a tad too close to the edge (which you do with canvas), and Kelly Starke is correct in that you can’t hide those errors . . . at least not easily. I decided to go around the edge with 2 different cords to cover my issues. But, I also forgot to leave an opening to tuck the cording in. The glue works really well, but I managed. I am so glad I started with this ornament and not the Pomegranate Heart from EGA Seminar (because it’s on linen, not canvas).
Filed under: ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter, Christmas Ornaments, Festival of Trees, Melita's Other Completed Pieces, Other People's Designs
The Festival of Trees (see yesterday’s post) became a great opportunity for me to finish 4 more Gold’n Cross Stitch 24 KT Gold Plated Ornament Kits including:
Candy Cane (XGC-361) with HO HO HO spelled out.
Reindeer Santa (GC-3661)
Teddy Bear/Beary Xmas (GC-3677)
Rocking Horse (GC-3673)
All those are still available on Etsy and others I don’t have, but I resisted getting more!
Here are the 4 new ones stitched:
These are the other Gold’n Cross Stitch ornaments I took for display: https://melitastitches4fun.com/2012/01/02/other-3-ornaments-finished/ and https://melitastitches4fun.com/2010/12/20/on-the-5th-day-of-christmas-6-gold-christmas-ornaments/
The ANG New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) is participating in the Festival of Trees again this year. It’s one of several trees on display at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge, NJ (190 Lord Stirling Rd) starting today Friday, December 1, through Thursday, December 28 (except 22, 24, and 25th).
NJNA chapter upgraded to a 5′ tree for their tree this year and needed more ornaments to fill it. I had already donated 2 individual ornaments but knew I had several sets of small ornaments that would help fill up the larger tree. So, I lent 3 sets of ornaments (35 more ornaments).
I made 8 sets of these, including one for myself, family members, and friends!
https://melitastitches4fun.com/2010/12/23/on-the-2nd-day-of-christmas-8-banner-christmas-ornaments/
The other sets are 15 Gold’n Cross Stitch ornaments that I made and 12 Elfin Stockings that my mother made (more on these another time).
Filed under: Christmas Ornaments, Melita's Designs, Other People's Designs
Thanks to my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter Stitch-in on Saturday, Saturday night’s movie, and football on Sunday, here’s a couple of days’ work on the Christmas bulbs (7 count plastic canvas kit from last year). Three before the meeting, four during the meeting, and five after the meeting, which means half are done!
And, half of Bill’s Chottie’s Plaid bookmark is stitched. I’m curious about how much his plaid will differ from mine. The yellow band is the biggest difference (6 vs 2).
Filed under: Christmas Ornaments, Christmas Ornaments, Melita's Other Completed Pieces, Other People's Designs
My Christmas Crafttree sprung up in 2016 and again in 2018 (I described how I made it previously: https://melitastitches4fun.com/?s=Craftree&submit=Search).
Well, it finally makes a return in 2023 with my needlepoint ornaments. Even though I lent 35 needlepoint ornaments to the ANG NJ Needle Artists chapter for the Festive of Trees display (more on this another time), I filled this tree with 22 needlepoint ornaments, 3 snowflakes falling, and both Linda’s Santa (left) and my Santa (right) looking approvingly at the tree!
This year, our 3′ Christmas tree (from Brooks Drug Store in 1984 which was my first year as a pharmacist and our first Christmas together) that goes on a table holds the non-needlepoint abd some hand-crafted ornaments (beaded, ceramics, and crocheted) that we have collected over the years, been given, or inherited. It may be a small tree, but it still can hold up to 100 ornaments. I have about 65 ornaments and 20 icicles, not including the 2 dozen multi-colored tinsels. I usually alternate yearly between ornaments and icicles (with a few special ornaments).
We bought a “tall, skinny” tree one year from a catalog, but it was defective, and we returned it, believing that meant we were supposed to keep our little one! Forty years old next year? How’s that possible?
Our guard dog, Buddha, is named for our dear friend, Johhny G, who passed away way too early on this day in 1994 at 39 years of age.
We miss each and every one of our family and friends but have lots of fond memories!! Wishing he and others who have passed rest in peace.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, ANG Stitch of the Month, 2011
I held off posting this until the traditional start of the holiday season, the day after Thanksgiving!
At our October ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter meeting, Heather discussed the Waffle and Amadeus. I’d already made the Waffle into an ornament.
The Amadeus is only tricky where the two join together for the first 5 stitches in the North, South, East, and West. I have to pull the thread off to the side, find the hole, and then pull it taut.
I worked the Amadeus motif using Kreinik #12 Braid 421 Azalea and 5982 Forest Green with DMC #8 Blanc for the Alternating Continental background. A large gold bead filled in the center using a cross stitch through the bead to hold it upright without wobbling. The cording is DMC #5 666 red and 701 green (6 strands each).
A couple of people in my chapter wanted to see what I had learned from my finishing class. So, I brought everything to our October Stitch-in (wow-a month ago tomorrow). Most everything fits appropriately in my lovely A Place for Everything, a ByAnnie and by Linda bag. The tools are in another holder. I found my glue gun and brought it. I bought a Mighty Travel Iron by Dritz. My big iron is too big for these ornaments. A few bottled waters (Evian, which is easy to find, and Ocean, which we had in the fridge) are soft enough to use in the iron. The last time I bought a gallon of distilled water, it leaked. I got 1/8″ thick foam board from Ebay before learning that the Framing Dept at Michael’s have the thin boards. The 3/8″ board is out in the aisle. Thanks to Michael’s for their 40% off coupons, I got a nice price on Friskar’s nip scissors. Lots to bring.
I finished the Amadeus into a diamond. And, it was done in about 3 hours. I am getting faster.
I forgot I’d brought along a 3″, 4″, and 5″ circle template from mommymadethat (.com) for any rounds. Molly has some great templates (free) on her website. But, Nanda’s circle was very round. So, marking the shape with a pencil worked out fine.
The cording with Kreinik didn’t turn out nearly as tight as with the drill. I did sew it into place to reinforce the top at the loop and went around adding a couple of stitches to connect the cording to the front and back on each side.
No Black Friday shopping here. We’re busy at home cleaning, resting, decorating, resting, and more decorating over the course of today while listening to holiday music and will be all ready for Christmas!
