How to Cope without Wooden Stretcher Bars

Needle Works in Austin, Texas has decided to address the difficulty of getting stretcher bars by using 3-D printed versions.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1582063297258238&set=a.708268907971019

These are plastic but it's easy to push in thumbtacks or staples.  Once you finish your project, yank out the staples/tacks and put them away.  These are the same width as regular stretcher bars.  Just like the wooden version, you can reuse them over and over again.  NWKS says they are sturdy and available in white, teal blue or beige plastic.  The shop is working to have the size printed on them, too.  They also say you can mix them with wooden stretcher bars in case you have a pair of 9 inchers but need 7 inchers for that 7x9 inch canvas.  You cannot mix the 3-D printed bars with mini stretcher bars, though.  The 3-D ones are the width of regular stretcher bars.  They cost between $6-8 for a pair of two.

These are not online yet but call or email the shop to order.  Kudos to the folks in Texas for coming up with a unique solution to the shortage of traditional wooden stretcher bars.

https://theneedleworks.com/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 29, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Adding Embellishment to a Canvas

The Instagram account Sophie Stitches and Styles shows off her latest finish, a canvas from Plum Stitchery called "Celestial Menagerie Pillow."  Sophie very cleverly adds touches of specialty stitches here and there to highlight her favorite parts of this mostly tent stitched cutie.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DVEz01tAaL6/?img_index=1

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 25, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

My Beading Heart (Nancy Cucci)

Brenda's Needlepoint Studio worked another Nancy Cucci chart, this one called "My Beading Heart."  It's very pretty and like all Nancy's designs, has lots of beads and sparkle that don't show up in photographs.  Brenda also learned how to cover white canvas with paint while working this, a useful skill!

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2026/02/heart-my-beading-22426.html

You can find the instructions in the January/February 2010 issue of Needlepoint Now magazine.  It's out of stock at the magazine's website but you can find copies on eBay or perhaps borrow one from a friend if you didn't subscribe back then.

https://www.needlepointnow.com/product/jan-feb-2010/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 25, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Jeannie's Windmills (Pat Mazu)

Melita worked Pat Mazu's 'Jeannie's Windmills" from ANG's chapter project book and had it made into a cute project book.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/02/21/2013-2014-chapter-book-project-jeannies-windmills-project-bag-by-pat-mazu/

ANG's chapter project books are sent to chapter presidents for free to use as chapter projects, just another benefit from joining the American Needlepoint Guild (ANG).

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 22, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Create a Tiny Christmas Light

Colleen at The Wool and The Floss has a really clever way of making a dimensional Christmas bulb for this cute moose canvas.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1468994904890148

For those without a Facebook account, Colleen uses Flair, ties a knot in the end, then she goes down through the painted Christmas bulb, leaving the knot on the top.  Next, she creates a second knot with a French knot.  These two knots are padding.  The third step is to do satin stitches over the knots.  Then she ties off because she plans an open stitch background, so each Christmas tree light tangled around the antlers needs to be started/stopped right there, instead of dragging the Flair to another light bulb.  That would show though the open stitch background.

Smart!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 17, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.