Not a fancy frame for the flag. Off-white mat and wood frame with a slight reddish tint in it. It’s not under glass.
But, getting a good photo is so tough. For this piece, my natural light works great for the color of the threads but reflects on the frame in a couple of places for an inconsistent look. Outside in the sun, the frame either reflected a lot or shows up as a dark brown. Outside in the shade, the reddish color in the wood shows up better but only on the upper edge and right side.
The framer is whoever does the work for Needle Me in Haverford, PA. Nicely done.
Needle Me offered a summer stitching contest and while I was there getting a piece framed, Marcie had one canvas left (the line drawn unstitched canvas is in the upper left corner of the image from her newsletter).
Please go to Needle Me (12 E Eagle Road in Havertown, PA) to vote for your favorites by September 28. I’m not going to tell which is mine until the results are announced.
Lotus Kimono by Lee (SPM 279) is a project that we discussed differences in two stitch guides at my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter. And, I’ve finished it!
At our Saturday Stitch-in Time in August, I finished the black seam lines using a variation of the Tramme (or Trame) stitch. I laid 2 long threads of Elegance E801 and selected a 1 x 3 cross stitch to go on top using one strand of Splendor S801. It appears that The Needlepoint Book by Jo Ippolito Christensen would have you stitch the crosses first and then run the long tramme stitch under them. I preferred an elongated cross stitch (not spaced apart from each other) to alternating gobelin stitches so you could not see there were 2 laid threads and because I seemed to pull too tight with the gobelin stitches which pulled the long laid thread out of the well towards the shared canvas thread.
For the center of the flowers, I matched the painted canvas by using the same threads as the large leaves in a simple basketweave stitch. Both the French knots and the beads suggested by the stitch guides seemed too prominent considering how lightly I had stitched most of the canvas.
The gold along the bottom and side sleeves was also a tramme of 2 long laid threads of Kreinik #12 Braid 002V and one strand of Kreinik #4 Braid 002V with gobelin stitches placed evenly apart. I didn’t have the same problem pulling the laid theads out of the well probably because the #12 Braid is a thicker thread than Elegance.
The Kreinik #12 Braid 002V was couched with Kreinik #4 Braid 002V all around the leaves and flowers.
Now, do I flat finish the kimono and mount it, get a custom cut mat, or hang it through the sleeves? So many options! Thoughts?
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, ANG Stitch of the Month, 1999, Crescent Journey, Melita's Designs, Vases with Curly Bamboo by Sharon G
September 9 (always the second Monday of the month from 7-9 pm) starts another year for our ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter. Please join us at Starbucks in Wayne, PA (218 Lancaster Ave). We’re excited about this year’s programs.
One of the counted projects is ANG’s Stitch of the Month (SOTM) from 1999, Barbara’s Patchwork. I selected threads that DMC calls Topaz (Color A) and Raspberry (Color B). We need each in light, medium, and dark values. I got an extra value of Topaz just because I might want it. We’re getting instructions each month. So, I’ll wait and see if I want to add a Kreinik for some sparkle. This will be a 5″ x 5″ design area.
The second counted project that 8 people signed up for is my design (6″ x 6″), Crescent Journey. Linda stitched a “Neutral” colorway as she proofread what I wrote up for directions as I stitched a “Beach” colorway. It’s a 43-page booklet with about 60 diagrams. Now, these folks are my first pilot class! One of the most interesting things we learned from this piece is how different values in different areas of the piece make the focal point change. The grayscale really helps show this. I’m excited to see how everyone’s choices of colors work. At least 3 people are changing some or all the threads. This too is a monthly project. I divided it into 12 parts.
The third project is a painted canvas, Vases with Curly Bamboo by Sharon G. It was from a class that several of us took with Sharon at Nimble Needle of NJ a few years ago (2012) and never finished. We have stitch guides to compare including those written by Sharon G, Amy Bunger, and Tony Minieri. This will be discussed every other month to give people a chance to stitch a vase before discussing the next one. The last month we’ll review the background and border. My first vase was done (March 2017) following the Sharon G stitch guide. The little bits done on the other vases was done in class. I’m so glad we’re going to get back to this canvas. Loved it then and still do. Even if everyone is not stitching this, we are learning how different stitch guide writers approach the same painted canvas. We are not copying the stitch guides. Each person has their own or can take notes regarding the other stitch guides.
Filed under: Uncategorized
This has been a very fun piece to stitch. And, I am done in time to post for Labor Day.
While stitching 247 squares did feel insurmountable at the start, breaking it into smaller sections helped. And, stitching other pieces in between kept this feeling fresh.
The border is a simple slanted gobelin 3 x 3 using Kreinik #8 Braid 002 (just a little more than 1 spool).
Thanks again to Mary Clark Donegan for writing the original book (it’s a great stitch dictionary), to Connie Camp with Nashville Needleworks for writing the supplement booklet (fully compensated squares made stitching this much easier), and all who serve in the military.
Filed under: Brandywine Chapter, Edward Scissorfish Scissors Holder, Embroidery Guild of America
Edward Scissorfish grew a lower face (on the sides/bottom) during our second class and an afternoon ballgame the following day (I forgot to post this earlier). After a break from beads for a couple of weeks, I went back to belly scales. Lots of them! Had my belly full of them.
Just a few more required for sewing up the seam of the belly. I’m ready for our third class tomorrow at Cleo’s (Busy Lizzy).
These stitches worked up very quickly probably because there was only one thread used per block except for the Scotch Variation in Block 17 (6th blue block from the right). I kept the colors close to each other on purpose.
As far as I can tell Woven Variation (Block 16, 6th blue block) is the only duplicated stitch. It’s also seen in Row 12 White (bottom), Block 10 (10th white block from the right).
Just the border left to go now!
Starting with the blue block on the right (#12) moving to the left (#19), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
12 – Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1105 (2 strands)
Splendor S1002 (2 strands) and Bella Lusso 540
13 – Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1106 (2 strands)
14 – Splendor S965
15 – Elegance E862
16 – Kreinik #12 Braid 051HL
17 – Pebbly Perle P58 and Splendor S858 (2 strands)
18 – Merino Wool 98L/45622
19 – Wildflowers 0076
Tahitian Treat was my piece at the 2019 ANG Seminar Exhibit. It’s an original design in the Non-professional category. And, I am pleased to say that it got an Honorable Mention ribbon.
The scores were: 81 out of 100 (design=21 out of 25, color=19 out of 25, workmanship/technique=15 out of 20, suitability=17 out of 20, finishing=9 out of 10; Note: The First Place design only scored 90 out of 100, the lowest scores for a First Place design that I can remember).
As usual, I got the judges critique. So, I waited to post until the critique and piece returned to Philadelphia. All very positive except for twisting threads – my nemesis! Excerpts:
The more that one explores Tahitian Treat, the more that can be discovered! While you were basically starting with a 12” grid, your piece does not look like a checkerboard.
The way that you created a path around the outside of the design encourages movement of the eye. Yet, your paths had some resting places that were a good idea and nicely stitched. The palette of colors that you chose to work with by using Watercolours Tahiti seems to work well in adding to the movement and balance in your piece.
Your choices for the stitches are also successful. As the direction of the area in which you are stitching changes, so, too, does the direction of the stitches themselves. This in turn offers a cohesive look to your piece. This is especially effective in the yellow-green areas in the outer ‘path’ and the dark blue surrounding the central diamond area. The range of values used is equally effective.
The challenge of working with any twisted thread, e.g., pearl cotton, is the need to be diligent in maintaining the twist of the thread. Your eyelets are consistent in maintaining the same-sized opening in each execution. Your threads are well laid in the dark blue area surrounding the central diamond. You have also determined the right number of threads to have in your needle when using floss.
Your stitch, thread, and color choices all work well in achieving an overall successful design. Thank you for sharing Tahitian Treat with us and we hope that we will see more from you in the future.
Filed under: ANG Seminar 2019, Thread and Stitch Manipulation with Cynthia Thomas
The Thread and Stitch Manipulation with Cynthia Thomas was a one day class. I decided to play with stitch patterns all day – some on paper and some on my computer. Lots of fun!
I learned how to make these diagrams in Excel from another of Cynthia’s classes 2 years ago!
Here’s a couple of my favorites:
Filed under: Uncategorized
Last night, after the first wave went in, I went into Expo! And, saw lots of bags coming out. This year’s buzz item was the ANG Lone Star Chapter’s booklet called Grab -n- Go Stitches with over 450 stitches.
It is designed like Stitches To Go and without any duplicates from that book. I’m very interested in the stitch type groupings: Stitches that read straight, stitches that read diagonal, stitches that read oblique, leaf stitches, laid fillings, blackwork, darning patterns, and lagniappe (a nice variety).
I was almost out the door when I passed by Michele Roberts table and there was Broad Stripes and Bright Stars. It has 269 stitches in the flag and 366 stitches in the glossary (one for every day of a leap year). Having purchased the original Patchwork of Peace book and having almost finished stitching piece based on the companion guide by Connie at Nashville Needle, I knew my husband would ask, “Why would you want that book?” And, he did! Well, I wanted to see how it was written, what stitches and threads were recommended, and it makes a great stitch dictionary. Who knows, maybe I will stitch another flag some day!
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