July 2008 Chilly Hollow Newsletter Article

Everyone has heard of Harry Potter these days. Whether you are a fan of the books or not, you probably know someone who loves the series. So I thought I'd look for Harry Potter designs. I found help here at this blog discussion about HP and cross stitch. And the second link is a shop that advertises Harry Potter needlepoint canvases in stock although there are no pictures.

http://www.tangledthread.com/stitching-harry-potter/

http://www.barbarasuebrodie.com/needlepoint.html

Probably due to copyright reasons, I didn't find any needlepoint canvas photos but in the world of knitting, there are many "illusion" patterns all about Harry and his world. Illusion knit patterns are designs that are abstract from one view but that turn into a pattern from another view. I bet one could needlepoint these charted designs but I haven't tried it myself.

Here's an illusion Hedwig washrag (that's Harry's pet owl).

http://www.freshislefibers.com/Patterns/Hedwigillusioncloth/Hedwig%20Illusion.pdf

I found quite a few designs which chart the various Hogwarts School houses and their symbols:

Ravenclaw scarf

http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/features/crafts/knitting/ravenclawillusionscarf

Gryffindor symbol charted

http://gallery.the-leaky-cauldron.org/default/fullpic/209866

Hogwarts crest charted

http://gallery.the-leaky-cauldron.org/default/fullpic/209868

sock pattern gryffindor crest for sale

http://www.freshislefibers.com/shop/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=220

There are a great many fantasy needlepoint canvases of wizards. You may enjoy Raymond Crawford's Wizard of Oz inspired designs.

http://www.raymondcrawford.com/designs/oz/index.html

Want to do a set of Wizard of Oz standups? Petei has a wonderful series of canvases that look great made up. I particularly like the Emerald City and the Toto canvases.

http://www.petei.com/line_list/line_wiz_oz.htm

How about a Wizard of Oz box? This is from Julia's Needlepoint.

http://www.bristlythistle.com/childrens.html

Trubey has a series of three wizards who look like something right out of the Arabian Nights.

http://www.needlepoint.org/WhatIs/2005/504np.php

This silly canvas has two smokers--a dragon and a wizard. You may also enjoy the discussion of fractional XSs if you aren't familiar with cross stitch but would like to turn a XS wizard pattern into needlepoint.

http://www.needlework-tips-and-techniques.com/fractional-stitches.html

And Michaelene Love of Sunrunner Designs has a whole series of wizards right out of a fairy tale.

http://home.att.net/~michaelenelovedesigns/MLDWeb_PAGE11.htm

But if you need something quick and easy, how about Jolly Red's little wizard?

http://www.stitch1knit1.com/shop/jolly_red_childrens_tapestry_kits_wizard_needlepoint.html

This should keep us busy stitching a fantasy world in needlepoint.

Jane/Chilly Hollow

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow