Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, General comments, Patchwork of Peace, Threads
It’s great to use reds and having no issues working with fewer thread options than I had with white. They fit in half of the Bohicket Bag.
I didn’t like the white showing through too much and there are a few stitch patterns open enough to want to color the canvas. Luckily, I had a perfect red Copic sketch marker (R29 Lipstick Red). So, I am going to cover just those blocks that wouldn’t be fully covered by stitches being very careful with the fine tip end not to touch the adjacent threads. The outer edge will be covered by a gold border but I have to be way more careful when I use the marker on the inner rows of the canvas.
Starting with the block on the right (#1) moving to the left (#11), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
1 – Bella Lusso 764 and Planet Earth 6 Ply Silk 1009 (2 strands)
2 – Au Ver A Soie 100/3 SMS499 (2 strands) and Splendor S1005 (2 strands)
3 – Kreinik #8 Braid 5505 and Planet Earth 6 Ply Silk 1009 (2 strands)
4 – Pepper Pot Silk 017 (1 ply) and Silk Lame Braid Petite SP08
5 – Needlepoint Inc Silk 502 (2 strands)
6 – Entice E239 and Splendor S820 (2 strands)
7 – Elegance E820 and Planet Earth 6 Ply Silk 1005 (2 strands)
8 – Pepper Pot Silk 018 (2 plys) and Kreinik #8 Braid 061
9 – Bella Lusso 764 and Planet Earth 6 Ply Silk 1005 (2 strands)
10 – Pepper Pot Silk 017 (1 ply) and Kreinik #8 Braid 003V
11 – Soie d’ Alger 4624 (2 strands) and Au Ver A Soie 100/3 499 (2 strands)
Back in October 2018, I stitched these hearts and shortly thereafter, I was asked by Needle Pointers if they could publish directions for Crescent Journey. But, I hadn’t written them up yet and I was/am working on alternate colorways. Instead, I suggested the heart design instructions that I’d written up for my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter members as we worked to support the Greater Kansas City Needlepoint Guild (GKCNG) Chapter’s Hearts for Hospice project.
Now, those instructions have been published and are in the article, Caring Hearts, in Needle Pointer’s Jan/Feb 2019, Volume 47, No. 1. As it turned out they were publishing an article about GKCNG’s efforts. So, this made a nice companion article. Coincidentally, Barbara Richardson has a lovely heart design published in Needlepoint Now Jan/Feb 2019, Volume XXI, No. 1. So, there are plenty of options to stitch. I do hope that others can stitch a heart and support GKCNG’s cause. Any questions about their project can be sent to Sue at HeartsForHospiceGKCNG@gmail.com
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, General comments, Threads, Threads and Beads
Two new threads for me are Vineyard Jewels and Colonial Persian.
I learned about them from a Rittenhouse Needlepoint’s newsletter:
- Vineyard Jewels is Wiltex’s new line of metallic thread. The 100% polyester thread comes on 8yd cards. The colors are as bright as Vineyard silk but think metallic braid. The thread size is between a Kreinik #8 and #12 so one strand would be good on 18 count (but also lighter coverage on 14 count) canvas. We currently have the entire line available so make sure to add some “Jewels” to your stash!
- If you haven’t tried using 100% wool thread because you think the colors aren’t vibrant enough, I have two words for you — “Colonial Persian”. This is not your mother’s wool thread. We now carry the entire 258 colors in the line and they are gorgeous! The virgin wool combined with the experience and talent of the dyer equals colors that really pop! Each card is 8 yards but since it’s 3-ply you’re really getting 24 yards if you stitch on 18 mesh canvas. So check out this new line for belts or bags where its strength and durability will be especially useful!
I also read more about them on Janet Perry’s Nut About Needlepoint blog:
- https://nuts-about-needlepoint.com/vineyard-jewels-thread-review/
- https://nuts-about-needlepoint.com/colonial-persian-yarn-thread-review/
I picked up a skein of each at Rittenhouse to test them for myself and to share results with my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter. Unfortunately, I didn’t care for either. The Vineyard Jewels doesn’t feel or lay as nicely as Kreinik. The thread size is closer to #12 or slightly larger. Coverage wasn’t that great even on the diagonal. And, Colonial Persian wears and is too “hairy” for me although would be good for certain projects where that effect is desirable. Coverage with one strand (of the 3-plys) on the diagonal is good but not vertically. And, using 2 plys vertically would be too bulky for 18 count.
Join us tomorrow Monday, March 11 at 7 PM in the conference room at Starbucks in Wayne (218 Lancaster Ave).
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, General comments, Patchwork of Peace, Threads
The white rows are completed! There are 24 threads used in the 90 different blocks.
Looking at the blocks up close allows you to see the different textures. But, from afar, you can only see the change in color from very white to white to ecru.
Starting with the block on the right (#1) moving to the left (#19), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
1 – Elegance E800 and Soie Perlee SPS694
2 – Bella Lusso 001 and Treasure Braid Petite PB10
3 – Gloriana 261 (2 strands) and Gloriana 0057 (2 strands)
4 – Impressions 100 and DMC Floche Blanc (2 strands)
5 – Pashmina 000 (2 strands)
6 – Subtlety Y899 and Silk Lame Braid Petite SP100
7 – DMC Floche Blanc and Sparkle Braid SK06
8 – DMC Perle #8 Ecru, DMC Perle #12 Ecru, and Burmilana 3845
9 – Soie Cristale 0057 (2 strands) and Impressions 118
10 – Soie Perlee SPS694
11 – Au Ver A Soie 100/3 Blanc (2 strands), Elegance E800, and Kreinik #4 Braid 032C
12 – Designer’s Dream D02 (2 strands) and Pashmina 261 (2 strands)
13 – DMC Perle #8 B5200, DMC Floche Blanc, and Treasure Braid Petite PB10
14 – Burmilana 3845 (2 strands) and Gloriana 261 (2 strands)
15 – Wildflowers 100 and DMC Floche Blanc (2 strands)
16 – Elegance E800 and Gloriana 261 (2 strands)
17 – Soie Cristale 0057 (2 strands)
18 – Kreinik #8 Braid 102, Subtlety Y899, and Wildflowers 000
19 – Wildflowers 100 and DMC Floche Blanc
There was some thread left over from the Floche Star Ornament and I had this small photo ornament (opening of 1 & 3/4″ diameter) just waiting for something.
I drew a circle on the canvas as large as the paper with the fake photo that came in the face of the ornament.
Sandra Arthur’s Shapes of Needlepoint, Series I, includes stitches for circles and the Milanese Pinwheel stitch is the largest at 22 x 22 canvas threads.
For the red background, I intentionally rotated the canvas to stitch acute triangles of basketweave using DMC Perle Cotton #5 (321) in different directions to add some interest. I learned that is called directional rotation from teacher/designer Diane Hermann.
Using a frame ornament like this, you can’t have thick thread near the edges or fold back the edges to secure them because it won’t close completely. So, I used 4 strands of Kreinik Silk Mori (1114) a Diagonal Weave stitch (see Painted Canvas Embellishment: An Idea Book by Carole Lake and Michael Boren.
I cut close up to where I had stitched without cutting the stitching. The ornament is not going to get opened up often to worry about finishing the edges any better. That made finishing really easy and inexpensive (it’s a $3 frame ornament from Big Lots).
Filed under: ANG Keystone Garden Chapter, Christmas Ornaments, Floche Star Ornament, Melita's Other Completed Pieces
I didn’t see the stitches over 5 canvas threads in the top and bottom of the centers until I’d stitched 2 diamonds!
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, General comments, Threads, Threads and Beads
When I saw Karen at Nimble Needle had a Silk Luster Leaf Exercise Kit at the 2018 New Jersey Needle Festival, I didn’t know why I needed it but now I do. This works right in with a thread project that I started in October for my ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter.
Access Commodities has an instructional booklet on their website to go with the kit. The kit contains Trebizond TRA734, Soie d’Alger 2125, Soie de Paris SDP2125, Soie Gobelins SGS2125, Au Ver A Soie 100/3 SMS325, and Soie Perlee SPS325. Threads are all green. First, I made the outline using my “Purple Pen” with disappearing ink. I had carefully cut out the stem and the veins from a paper copy and used it like a stencil. That looked good. So, I used my ZIG Fabricolor green marker that I got in a previous class. Easy! The threads are green and I’ll be sure to cover the lines anyway.
Both the slipperier the thread and the more strands needed (3 or 4) for proper coverage made it harder to lay the threads. Working with Soie d’ Alger was the easiest. I’ll probably finish the leaf on a long wrapped wire and place in a bowl of artificial flowers.
Join us Monday, February 11 at 7 PM in the conference room at Starbucks in Wayne (218 Lancaster Ave). I’ll be sharing 2 new threads.
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, General comments, Patchwork of Peace, Threads
The part I like best about stitching this piece is having so many small areas to stitch which allows me to experiment with different thread combinations within a single square and I’m getting to stitch patterns I’ve never stitched before.
So far, my two favorite combinations are the first square on the right in the bottom row I just finished (Grounding):
and third row from the top fourth square in from the right (Escalator):
Starting with the block on the right (#1) moving to the left (#19), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
1 – Soie Perlee SPS694 and Au Ver A Soie 100/3 Blanc
2 – DMC Perle #8 B5200, Treasure Braid Petite PB10 (2 strands), and Wildflowers 000
3 – Designer’s Dream D02 and Soie Cristale 0057 (2 strands)
4 – Wildflowers 118 and Silk Lame Braid Petite SP100
5 – Soie Perlee SPS694 and Pashmina 261
6 – Elegance E800 and Sparkle Braid SK06
7 – Wildflowers 000
8 – Wildflowers 100 and DMC Floche Blanc
9 – Soie Cristale 0057 (2 strands)
10 – Pashmina 261 and Kreinik #8 Braid 102
11 – Bella Lusso 001
12 – Wildflowers 000 and DMC Perle #12 B5200
13 – Gloriana 261, Elegance E800, and Sparkle Braid SK06
14 – DMC Perle #8 B5200
15 – Wildflowers 118 and Soie Cristale 0057 (2 strands)
16 – Subtlety Y899
17 – Designer’s Dream D02 and Silk Lame Braid Petite SP100
18 – Burmilana 3845 and Bella Lusso 001
19 – DMC Floche Blanc
I finished my 12″ square design from the class with Kathy Rees (it goes to the framer, then to exhibit at Seminar, then it’ll get posted on my blog). There are still enough threads to stitch another small design. But, it’s not enough threads to warrent storage in my Bohicket Road bag. So, I moved my white/ecru threads into it. Fantastic bag! And, it made organizing fun.
Row 10 white stitched:
Yesterday, Linda and I made a trip to Rittenhouse Needlepoint for some threads. I enjoyed helping Linda find silk threads to replace cotton floss for a project of hers. The subtle variations in color are endless. Luckily, Rittenhouse has a variety of silks to choose from and we are lucky to be so close to the store.
I picked up 2 skeins of new threads they stock now but that’ll be the subject of another post.
What I want share here are the demo samples of what we’ll learn during Sandy Arthur’s classes on beads and ribbons the first weekend in April. We’re (Linda and I) not taking the third class on hairdos. Nor are we following her to Stitch-Stash in Rehoboth, DE for a lovely red, white, and blue basket although the condensed pilot class regarding “Conventional Techniques Using Unconventional Resources” sounds intriguing. There is probably room in all classes if you are interested-just call the store (s). And, here’s a link to Sandy’s blog: sandyarthur.blogspot.com or http://sandyarthur.blogspot.com/2019/01/face-2-face-appearances-time-for-us-to.html?m=1
This will be my first classes with Sandy and I’m sure I’m going to enjoy them as Sandy is just a fantastic lady and she knows beads and ribbons!!
Melitastitches4fun's Blog 
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, General comments, Patchwork of Peace, Threads
Entice is not my favorite thread mainly because it frays badly. I will only use it once per row. In the 10th block from the right, I was using it for the bottom large oblong x but found it was too bulky. So, I thinned the thread down by pulling out 2 rayon strands and 1 polyester strand leaving 3 rayon and 3 polyester strands. I’ve also removed strands from Silk Lame Braid for 18 count which is a combination of silk, rayon, and metalized polyester and is a thread that I much prefer to use. Silk Lame Braid Petite is a similar combination but different percentages, thinner, and also just as nice of a thread to use.
Starting with the block on the right (#1) moving to the left (#11), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
1 – Elegance E820
2 – Planet Earth 6 Ply Silk 1005 (2 strands)
3 – Bella Lusso 764 and Kreinik #8 Braid 061
4 – Pepper Pot Silk 018 (1 ply) and Kreinik #8 Braid 061
5 – Pepper Pot Silk 017 (2 plys) and Needlepoint Inc Silk 503 (3 strands)
6 – Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1009 and Kreinik #8 Braid 5505
7 – Needlepoint Inc Silk 502 (2 strands) and Silk Lame Braid Petite SP08
8 – Elegance E820
9 – Au Ver A Soie 100/3 499 (2 strands) and Soie d’ Alger 4624 (2 strands)
10 – Entice E239 and Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1005
11 – Bella Lusso 764