The Discontinued Blues

The photo above is my loot from an emergency run to Needlewoman East over the weekend.  They were having their Christmas sale and I really really really needed to stock up on the above metallics (which knocked my stash credits from 96 back down to 77, by the way). What you see (from left to right) are the Naturals line from Kreinik:  Green Tea #4001, Spiced Chai #4002, Ginseng Gold #4003,  Earl Grey #4004, Sugar Cube #4005 and Rosehip #4006.  These are also called the Tea Threads as all the names are inspired by tea.  I happen to love Spiced Chai and probably will also use Sugar Cube 4005 (which is a muted silver in real life) on O'jishi.
http://www.kreinik.com/articles/color_cht.html

The reason I was in such a panic about buying these is that they are being discontinued by Kreinik.  I got a note from Anne Stradal of ABS Designs last week telling me Kreinik was letting folks know they are discontinuing these threads because the raw material that makes them is no longer available.  She wanted to give me a heads up since she knows I'm writing a stitch guide for O'jishi and using one of the doomed threads.  (Thanks, Anne!)

Turns out I need not have hoarded these threads.  I got a nice note from Doug Kreinik (in response to my pathetic whining email to the company) that he's been working for the last two months to find substitutes and shortly will have samples of replacements to test.  I would imagine that the shops will have the new versions of these threads before they run out of the old in most cases.  Keep your fingers crossed that he can match them very closely!

However, the Discontinued Blues are a problem most stitchers come up against at least occasionally.  If you belong to the American Needlepoint Guild's email list, you'll see periodic messages from folks asking what thread is a good substitute for something that is no longer made.  What do you do in those instances?  Of course asking the ANG email list is a great first step.  We stitchers will always search our stash looking for that discontinued color or the thread from the 1980s that is no longer made or maybe we remember what a thread you've never heard of is like so we can suggest a modern replacement.

Another place to go is The Thread Thesaurus by Ann Caswell, Suzanne Howren and Beth Robertson.  This invaluable resource lists over 350 threads and is an excellent guide to finding a substitute.  I highly recommend this book for any threadaholic, and anyone who has to do a lot of mail ordering of threads.  There is an updated edition so you might get the original at a good price.  Both will be very useful when it comes to finding out about threads and finding substitutions for something you can't get.
http://www.needlenookoflajolla.com/whatsnew/books.html

Now that stitch guides are available for a great many canvases, this problem of discontinued threads is likely to grow as threads become unavailable for many reasons, often out of the blue.  I hope stitch guide writers will list DMC or Kreinik equivalents for many of their threads so that folks can look for a match easily.  It is easy to call your local shop and say you need a silk that is about the color of DMC #whatever.

If you don't want to buy a book you'll use only occasionally, try looking at online thread conversion lists.  Here is a page listing quite a few.

http://www.cameoroze.com/101/too_convert.htm

Use your favorite search engine to find "conversion chart Splendor DMC" or whatever to see what else you can find.  Note that these charts are not perfect.  Often there is not an exact equivalent of a thread in another line, but at least you can get close.

And if all else fails, ask your fellow stitchers.  We are always willing to help.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Anne Jerlow Revisited

Today we go back in time to 2006-2007 when I stitched two canvases of geishas for the Baltimore ANG Seminar Auction.  Remember these?

These two canvases are by Anne Jerlow.  They are outlined canvases, unpainted except for the black hair, so that you can use any color or stitches on the designs.  At the time I stitched these, painted canvases by the late Anne Jerlow were hard to find, but today I am happy to announce that Tapestry Fair has opened a website of their designs, which include many of Anne Jerlow's canvases.  You can visit the new site in the link below.  Note that any Anne Jerlow design starts with AJ in the numbering system.  Sadly, not all of Anne's works are reproduced by Tapestry Fair.   I hope they can obtain rights to more of her gorgeous canvases one day so that some of the elaborate kimono patterns are available once again.

http://www.tapestryfair.com/

But for now if you wish to stitch the geishas, either the group or singles, you can.  They are listed in the Oriental section on the second page.  (Just click Next at the bottom of any page to see more of that section.)  Note the new "Japanese paper doll" geisha pattern which is tempting me right now....

Peggi, thanks for letting me know that at least some of Anne Jerlow's pieces are now available.  I'll keep hoping for more some day!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow 

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Review: Spiders and More!

I finally made time to watch the eighth (and latest) DVD in Amy Bunger's "How'd You Do That?" series of programs about needlepoint stitching this Thanksgiving.  Amy's webmaster Robin sent me this DVD and #7 (The Ins and Outs of Needle Weaving) a few weeks ago to review for Blog readers.  Many thanks to both Robin and Amy!

This DVD has Kelly Clark on it but not in a teaching role.  Amy does all the teaching this time.  Her topics cover raised spider stitches, ribbed woven stem stitch, ribbon roses and stitches like Jessicas, Waffle Stitches and Herringbone Strap Stitch that end by being woven under previous stitches.  I thought I understood raised spider stitches until I watched this DVD and discovered all the variations possible!

Like all her DVDs, this one has great close-ups of the stitches being taught and lots of examples of finished pieces to look at.  Again, like all of Amy's DVDs, the finished canvases are credited at the end by designer and stitcher in case you fall in love with a design.

Amy covers round, oval, donut, and crescent shapes covered by raised spider techniques.  She shows you mistakes to watch for and explains how to do various raised spider stitches if you are left-handed instead of right-handed.  She talks about various padding materials you can use to create even more dimensional raised spiders.  You will see a great many examples of finished stitching (shells, wagon wheels, olives, buttons, flowers and even horns on sheep) that use the techniques she teaches, and you will learn just how and where to anchor your stitches so that you don't distort your canvas by these techniques.  It's a very thorough examination of spider and woven stitches that even tells you how to compensate when the thread you want to use is very thin or very thick.

This DVD is an excellent follow-up to DVD #7's needleweaving lessons.  I would recommend buying both of them if you are interested in learning everything possible about woven stitches of all kinds.  Still, this is a somewhat esoteric technique.  These two DVDs don't have the mass appeal that earlier DVDs that talk about stitching clothing, or hair or fur do.  On the other hand, I learned a great deal about woven stitches and where to use them that I did not know before I watched the program.  And if you purchase both #7 and #8, you will have just two places to learn about woven stitches instead of having to look up the techniques in dozens of places.  That's probably why I never realized that there are so many variations on raised spiders:  I'd never seen them all in one place before.

This is a qualified Buy, as it is an important resource on spider stitches that can be used in lots of areas on embellished needlepoint pieces, but perhaps not the DVD you should buy if you can only afford one or two of Amy's.  I'd also recommend buying both #7 and #8 if you are really interested in these types of stitches.

If you want to see the entire list of Amy Bunger DVDs available, check her website.
http://www.amybunger.com/DVDs.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Black Friday Sales

Today's Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and the day when many stores have fabulous sales to lure Christmas shoppers.  There are a few sales going on specific to this day in the world of needlepoint and a few other good sales I've stumbled across that will be there tomorrow and into the future.  You should definitely check your local shop's calendar to see when they will close for the Christmas/New Year holiday and if they are having a sale this time of year.

Needle Bug in Montgomery, Alabama has a 25% off sale until noon today. Note they are collecting toys to distribute and contribute if you can.  If you aren't in the area, browse the daily shop news postings to read about the needlepoint the shop owner saw at the National Cathedral.
http://theneedlebug.com/

First up, this shop has a great many books for sale at half price, including all the Stitches for Effect series and Ruth Dilts' Needlepoint 101 and Needlepoint 202.  (By the way, they also have a consignment area where you can pick up good bargains.)
http://www.sfstitch.net/sale.html

Lani's Needlepoint is having a sale on all their canvases of little porcelain bowls.  I think most of them are on this page.
http://www.lanisneedlepoint.com/newdesigns_1.aspx

Needlenook of La Jolla has a limited selection of Christmas stocking canvases on sale at half off.
http://www.needlenookoflajolla.com/storedir/products.php?cat=192

Needlepoint Heaven has a few canvases on sale if you buy your threads there, too.  Note the faux alligator handbags with canvas inserts at a really good price.
http://www.needlepointheaven.com/needlepoint-sale.html

Past Times Needlepoint has three pages of sale items and will ship free if you spend over $50.
http://www.pasttimesneedlepoint.com/display.asp?ProductStatus=13

I haven't done business with all of the above (but have no commercial relationship with any of these shops), so buyer beware.  By the way, the canvas shown above is from Ruth Schmuff.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/details.php?pid=10425&nFirstCatId=17&cname=578&pname=Born+to+Shop

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Vertical Hesitation Stitch

The next section of O'jishi I want to tackle is his jaw.  In the photo above, you will see the jaw section underway.  I'm using a stitch called Vertical Hesitation Stitch, which I found on Ruth Schmuff's Stitches CD, Volume One.  This stitch dictionary, created in collaboration with Kathy Holicky, is on three CDs, each with 300 stitch diagrams (except Backgrounds has 481 patterns), each purchased separately.  You can buy one of the CDs or all of them, as you wish.  I don't know if more are planned but I've found them useful and full of stitches I've not seen many other places, so I hope so.

Anyone who needs a stitch diagram to print out or for a stitch guide can find the jpeg they want and print it or use it on places like Blog.  Just remember to give copyright credit where it belongs.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/products.php?catid=56&firstcid=6


Here is Ruth and Kathy's original diagram for Vertical Hesitation Stitch.

I tried stitching vertically as the diagram says but found it easier to lay the diagram on its side, lay O'jishi on his side, and stitch the two repeat rows over and over, working from left to right (then back again to fill in the second type of slants).

VERTICAL HESITATION STITCH 

from Stitches CD Volume 1 © Ruth Schmuff

I used four threads for the jaw, all silk flosses and all stitched with just two plies as I wanted the paint between the stitches to add depth and shading.  The burnt orange is Kreinik's Soie d'Alger #2635T, the dark brown Gloriana's Coffee Bean #166, the cream Needle Necessities' Empress Silk #C240, and the gold Gloriana's Lacquered Gold #045.

When I start the right side of the jaw, I'll turn O'jishi to the other side and also turn my chart so that the single row diagram showing just every other stitch is on top, not the bottom.  That way the slants will be correct and I can compensate in the lower cream jaw area so that the two slants meet in the center.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Today's Thanksgiving in the States, a holiday when we eat too much, watch parades and football on TV, and if we are very lucky--spend time with those we love.

It's also the day before Black Friday, which is the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season in the United States (hence the Canvas of the Day showing a city cowgirl picking up a pair of diamond earrings for her Best Friend Forever at Tiffany's jewelry store on Rodeo Drive--that's their signature color shopping bag in her hand).

In honor of the day, I direct you to Barefoot Needlepoint Designs' turkey canvas.  The finishing is amazing!
http://barefootneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2009/11/turkey.html

Several needlework bloggers have posted Thanks on their sites.  I can't express my thankfulness nearly as well as they did, so go visit Denise and Linda's blog and wish Linda's knee heals quickly after surgery (she managed to schedule a kitchen renovation about the same time as her knee surgery--pray for her!!!).
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2009/11/thankfulness.html

Then head over to the Spinster Stitcher, who is funny and charming and has a better dog than me.  (Sorry, guys.  You aren't as cute as Stewey, no way.)
http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2009/11/thankful.html

If you are not celebrating, why not visit Odette in South Africa?  She has posted fascinating photographs of a Chinese masked dancer she saw perform when she was in Beijing.  O'jishi is a Japanese Noh Theatre mask but the idea's the same.
http://hangingbyathread-odette.blogspot.com/2009/11/chinese-masked-dancer.html

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  See you tomorrow with some new stitching that isn't background!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Playing the Variation Game

As I worked up O'jishi's background--which is 99% done--I have been thinking about a possible border and stitches for the mask, I've also been thinking about whether to fill the empty line between the alternating cashmere pairs with tent stitches.  And if I stitch over that empty row, what thread should I use?

I got a private email from Marj the other day.  She was impressed by my idea of making a border around O'jishi using my background stitch in a different and contrasting thread like the coral red Watercolours.  She'd never heard of doing such a thing and said she'd never have thought of it in a million years.  But for me, coming up with this stuff is second nature now.

I might have seen someone switch colors instead of stitches for a border before (I don't remember doing so but I scour each stitching magazine and online photos of finished pieces for such ideas), but it is now my habit to play the Variation Game when I am thinking about stitches.
The Variation Game is just wondering what will happen if I change threads to mix thread textures?  Or add beads, or omit them and use French knots or Colonial knots instead?  What happens if I drop part of the stitch, or add another step? What will happen if I stitch this stitch in a different order? What if I let the steps in the stitch fade away to nothing (ala Marnie Ritter)?  What if I use the same stitch but a different color to make a border?   What if?  What if?  What if?

It's a fun exercise for me and it allows me to analyze a stitch to see how to create something new from it.  In O'jishi's case, I decided after playing Variations I would add a bit of sparkle to the dark brown shaded areas by filling in the empty line with tent stitches done in the milk-chocolate-mixed-with-silver metallic thread from Kreinik called Spiced Chai #4002 (size #4 braid).  I plan to leave the lighter brown stitch centers empty.  In this way I hope to make the dark shadow more solid and leave the lighter background more insubstantial.

In this close-up photo you can see some of the tent stitches filled in above O'jishi's head.  I've started to work down the left hand side between finishing more regular alternating cashmere pairs stitches in the background.  I'm following the dark paint exactly.  If a dark shadow area ends in the middle of a tent row, I end my metallic stitch at the same spot.

You may be able to tell from the photo that my size #4 Kreinik braid doesn't completely cover the thread intersections.  This is a 13 count canvas.  If I wanted complete coverage, I would use the #12 tapestry braid size which is larger than #8 braid and smaller than #16--in other words, the perfect size for #13-14 canvas tent stitches!  But remember, I want light coverage so the fact that some of the canvas color shows next to the metallic thread is perfectly ok with me.

Before I forget, here is Kreinik's size/color card.  It lists their metallic colors and shows which colors are available in which sizes.  Bookmark this page if you haven't already.  It's very useful but also hard to find on the Kreinik website.
http://www.kreinik.com/articles/color_cht.html

I could have used a copper or a gold or silver metallic for these tent stitches, or used the same light tan Mandarin floss and the same darker brown Splendor silk that I used for the main body of the stitch, or used beads in a row, or left the tent stitch row empty and just scattered beads here and there on the background.  There are a lot of possibilities and playing the Variation Game helps me come up with ideas.

Then I just sort through the possibilities and decide which I think will look best.  The Variation Game may not be for you, but it's an easy game to play and it'll give you many, many ideas for your canvases, especially if you happen to be stuck on an area.

Thanks to Marj for asking about how I came up with my border idea and reminding me to tell you all about the Variation Game.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Canvas of the Month: Little Pilgrim Girl (Bonnie)

November's Canvas of the Month is from Melissa Shirley. It is a 4x5 inch design on 18 count canvas of a little Pilgrim girl carrying a pumpkin in a pie tin. It is part of a set of six Thanksgiving-themed designs which you can see on her What's New page right under the new Halloween designs.
http://www.melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?bsn=1

This isn't the first time Melissa Shirley has designed a piece of a little girl carrying a pumpkin in a pie tin. One of her Victorian Halloween vintage postcard designs has many of the same elements.
http://www.theneedleworks.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=&products_id=1330

Below are Bonnie's stitch ideas for this Canvas of the Month. Jane's ideas are in the earlier blog posting.

****************************

I think the main idea on the canvas, especially for the girl in the middle – is keep it simple – lots of cotton threads.  We are giving thanks for the simple things in life like sharing a meal with family and friends!

Starting at the bottom and working around the frame and the background:  Acorns – a skip tent for the top with French knots in between, or all French knots in a floss or slightly overdye floss, bottom in a simple vertical satin.  The dots in between a Smyrna cross or plain cross-stitch if that is too bulky.

Background of bottom – basketweave in an overdye cotton with the plies reversed so color ends up mottled not striped.  Row between bottom and ground, vertical satin stitch in floss or a strand of PC laid horizontally all the way across and couched horizontally with perle cotton.

Leaves –leaf stitch in an overdye silk or if can't find a good match pick a couple colors of silk and do some leaves in one color and some in another.   Leaf veins a single satin stitch in silk or stem stitch if can't get satin stitch where needed, branches a whipped stem stitch in a perle cotton or floss for texture.

Frame – double woven basket stitch with a fiber that looks like a rough basket – maybe a perle cotton or a linen or ….

Background – try to find a darning pattern with a leaf image or create one, done in a #12 PC or 2 strands of floss so very light.

Ground – basketweave in overdye floss, maybe a few very small French knots thrown in here and there to make clumps of dirt, or randomly cross a few of the tent stitches for the same idea.

Then to the main feature the girl and her pumpkin!

Pumpkin – horizontal satin stitch in silk, carefully laid.  Make sure follow ribs of pumpkin.  Stem tent in a perle cotton for texture.  Plate is all tent stitch since the main show is the pumpkin not the plate!

Face, hands – tent stitch in strandable silk

Hair – stem stitch or long and short following direction of hair in a cotton overdye with only a slight color change

Skirt and Top – upright cross in two to three shades of linen, or if not available, cotton floss, shading as needed

Apron – reverse basketweave or Hungarian stitch done in cotton floss or perle cotton (depends on what used for skirt and top, don't use same for both), ribbon done in an overdye with same stitch

Collar and cuffs – something with a diagonal feel like diagonal mosaic or scotch stitch same thread as apron

Hat – Nobuko or woven plait in direction to match angle of hat.  Again same thread as apron – adding a strand to the middle section as stitching to give that raised look or if using perle cotton try using a different size in middle section.

Shoes – tent stitch over two if room so different then the ground, but not too noticeable, in a suede.  Or if not enough space, just tent stitch.

 ********************

Thanks, Bonnie.  It is always a delight to do blog entries with you!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Canvas of the Month: Little Pilgrim Girl (Jane)

November's Canvas of the Month is from Melissa Shirley.  It is a 4x5 inch design on 18 count canvas of a little Pilgrim girl carrying a pumpkin in a pie tin.  It is part of a set of six Thanksgiving-themed designs which you can see on her What's New page right under the new Halloween designs.

http://www.melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?bsn=1

This isn't the first time Melissa Shirley has designed a piece of a little girl carrying a pumpkin in a pie tin.  One of her Victorian Halloween vintage postcard designs has some of the same elements.

http://www.theneedleworks.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=&products_id=1330

Below are Jane's stitch ideas for this Canvas of the Month. Bonnie's ideas will be published next.

****************************

When I looked at this piece, it seemed to need a very traditional treatment.  Thanksgiving is a holiday that celebrates family and the harvest and all the wonderful things in our lives we are grateful for.  If that isn't tradition, I don't know what is!  That doesn't mean this has to be a boring piece, though.  I think the first thing I would do is find a darning stitch of an acorn shape to use in the background behind the little girl.  If you can't find anything suitable, copy the row of acorns at the base of this design, then scatter them in the background in tent stitches using a slightly darker pumpkin color than the background paint. I would suggest finding a thread that matches the background color, then a slightly darker color.  You can put the acorns in rows or just scatter them around.  I'd scatter them myself.  Once you have acorns, tent stitch the lighter pumpkin color.  

Now move to the golden arch and tent stitch it with the correct color.  If you can find a silk/wool blend to match the color, it would look lovely.  The leaves need to be stitched in long and short stitch using the right colors.  I would use silk flosses for them.  Then stem stitch the stems of the leaves in whatever black DMC floss you have at hand.

Tent stitch the gray ground the little girl stands on, then do a single thin border row in the same pale pumpkin color you used for the background.  Again, use tent stitches for this tiny border.  If you are sick of tent, use tall and skinny cross stitches two threads high but only one thread wide.  

For the acorn border base, use the darker orange thread from the leaves to tent stitch the dark orange background behind the acorns.  Use a gold metallic in a tiny cross stitch over the dots between each acorn.  Now stitch the dark brown tops of the acorns in cross stitches, using the same dark brown you chose for her dress (next section).  The light part of the acorn proper should be stitched in your pale pumpkin background thread.  Use one tent stitch for the acorn base and do long horizontal stitches for the acorn proper.  

Tent stitch the little girl's brown gown in three shades of a thread that is not very shiny.  Try using something like Petite Very Velvet or Vineyards Silk that will look like a glowing wool outfit.   Her dress is not fancy but you do want texture and warmth there.

Tent stitch her hands and face and features, matching the colors to any silks you have.  I love how silk gives skin a glow.  Use the black DMC cotton floss from the leave stems for her eyelashes, using one ply to lay down little stitches to match the painting on the canvas.

Give her either French knot curls in wool or try using packed stem stitch if you prefer less curly hair.  Use cotton or silk  floss for the hair if you don't use wool.

Tent stitch the pumpkin pie tin in the same gray thread you used for the ground she stands on.  You will also need to tent stitch the crimped edge in shades of yellow that you used for the leaves.  

The pumpkin itself should be in three shades of silk floss, using slanted diagonal long stitches on the right and left side and then a straight horizontal stitch for the middle section.  Top off the pumpkin with a stem done in stem stitch and make your leaf at the base using lazy daisy stitches done on top and/or beside each other.  It's ok if the green paint underneath shows.  That will give the base of the stem dimension.

Tent stitch the tiny black shoe (Petite Very Velvet in black or a wool thread that looks like felt when stitched), then use white silk for the little stocking and then the apron string that goes behind her back (also tent).

Now for the fun part - the cap, cape, cuffs and apron.  For these you will need silk flosses in white and pale gray, and also need the silk flosses you used for the leaves.  Start with the ribbon hem of her apron and using the shades of yellow, stitch the area with Interlocking Goblein.  Compensate carefully at the top and bottom of the area as you don't want the band's top or bottom to be jagged.

Tent stitch the little bit of the apron below the yellow hem band, matching the white and gray shading with your silks.

Stitch the cuffs in the same Interlocking Goblein stitch.  You may want to use an outline stitch for the gray area below the front cuff instead of trying to use Interlocking Goblein there also.

Use Interlocking Goblein stitch for the cap except for the ruffle around the edge.  If you want you can substitute padded satin stitches instead of Interlocking Goblein but the shading will be harder if you do.  However, you can always add a few gray stitches with a sharp needle on top of the padded satin stitches if you like.  You can also put them on top of the Interlocking Goblein to show the shade lines of the cap if you prefer.  

For the broad Pilgrim collar, do vertical long stitches at the top nearest the next.  The next indented area should be done in horiontal long stitches.  Then finish the broad bottom of the collar with Interlocking Goblein. 

Now tent stitch the cap's ruffled edge with only 3-4 plies of your white silk. When you are finished, go back with 2-3 plies and do detached buttonhole right along the very edge, just covering those white tent stitches.  That will give the cap a little eyelet-looking ruffle.

The final step is to stitch the apron above the yellow hem band.  Use Interlocking Goblein again, although you may wish to once again add gray stem stitches among the very edge of the apron in front instead of switching colors.

If you really want something a bit fancier (although true Pilgrims would not wear fancy aprons), try Damask Stitch (from Stitches for Effect, page 27) to give the apron a bit of texture.  If you use fewer plies, the gray shading will show through.  If you completely cover in Damask Stitch, you will need to stitch the whole apron in white, then put in shade lines using your gray thread in stem stitches in the right places.

This will make a lovely Thanksgiving ornament for years to come, no matter how you stitch it.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Some Progress

O'jishi's background is about 75% finished.  I am trying to get as much done as possible during the holiday season as by now the alternating cashmere pairs are second nature. I got a lot of stitching time in before holiday chores took priority this weekend.

Hope everyone isn't as busy as me and that any holiday preparations you are doing go quickly and easily.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Not My Fault

I got a hilarious email from Judie of Thistle Needleworks/Alex Paras Needlework yesterday.  She just finished designing this painted canvas kit which is called Chilly Santa and posted a photo on her Alex Paras website.  Almost immediately she was asked if it was based on Chilly Hollow!  LOL

No, this is not my fault.  I don't resemble Chilly Santa in any way, shape, or form (although I do have gold wire rimmed glasses, come to think about it).
http://store.apneedlearts.com/chsaex.html

When I quit laughing, I asked Judie about her use of DMC memory thread for the gold glasses and the white beard, specifically if she had any tips for using it.

She replied, "I found it very easy to work with -- this is the second piece I have used it on. The gold held up very well, but I have found that the threads that are wound around the copper core wire sometime fray a bit. Others have recommended dipping the ends in FrayCheck but I found that all I had to do was snip off the unraveled ends."

Thanks for the memory thread advice, Judie, and for the laugh.  Now I guess I'd better be cautious about eating everything in sight over Thanksgiving and Christmas or I might actually be mistaken for Chilly Santa later on!
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

If You Have Been Really, Really Good

I just got Vikki Clayton's Hand Dyed Fibers newsletter and found something mentioned there for those who have been really good this year--a needlework casket.  A very expensive one, but it is lovely.
http://www.hand-dyedfibers.com/oscnuked/modules.php?name=catalog&file=product_info&products_id=3393&osCsid=057d6e08d7055f4257759d3071bac8f2

or Tiny URL
http://preview.tinyurl.com/yka4k3z

Click on the link at the bottom of the above article for a lot of photos, but note that Vikki only has two of these in stock right now.

I think this box is gorgeous.  It would be spectacular with all the wooden panels covered in stitching, wouldn't it?  I suspect this is more suitable for counted thread stitchers than it is for NPrs, but since many of us do both types of needle arts, I had to mention it.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

The Locking L Stitch in Close-Up

I have about 40% of O'jishi's background done at this point, which is boring for you to watch and boring for me to stitch. However, I am mulling over other parts of the canvas, like what to stitch next, how and with what thread while I work the background, so I am not just working the background--I'm thinking! But you would be bored so I have other things to talk about here to keep you coming back.
I've not been happy with my posting about how to tie off the Alternating Cashmere Pairs in this background when you need to end a length of thread and start another.  So let's talk about this a bit more, ok?  In the extreme close-up photo above you see that I haven't done as good a job with the laying tool as I might have.  I'll stroke that twisted stitch with my needle and since there are only two plies, it'll probably straighten out.   This might not work for many plies, but for 2 plies only I ought to be able to fix the twisted stitch by stroking it carefully without pulling out that area and restitching it.

If you look carefully at the photo in the area just under the lowest alternating cashmere pairs, you'll see that I have finished one of the pairs and started another with the first tent stitch.  Two threads to the right and up another two threads you'll see what is called the Locking L Stitch or just plain L Stitch.  It's also called a pinhead stitch.  As far as I can find out, this is a stitch from Japanese Embroidery used to start/stop threads.  I believe Shay Pendray, who was a very experienced Japanese Embroidery student, first started using this in her needlepoint and taught many students to use this stitch.  Its use has spread.  (It is mentioned on Amy Bunger's needle weaving DVD I just reviewed, for instance.)  Most really good stitchers I know use it at least occasionally when they need to secure a thread.

What you do is take two little stitches, each over one thread, to make an L shape, then run the loose end under the thread on the back side.  This helps keep threads (particularly silks) from wiggling out from the back side.  It is also used to start stitching.

You put your Locking L stitch in an area that will be covered later by stitching.  As you can see, the longer stitches of the cashmere block will cover the little stitches.

As you know, I like to do light coverage stitches in my needlepoint.   When you do light coverage stitches, there isn't much thread on the front.  (Duh.)  But there also isn't much on the back side to anchor threads under.  In my experience, if you don't do the Locking L stitch when doing light coverage stitches, you will need a more solid area somewhere nearby to run your tail of thread through on the back.  If there isn't something to hold that thread tail, whether it be a nearby section of dense tent stitches or a Locking L stitch, the threads will start to wiggle loose and you will have to retighten them.

In the photo above, if I decide to use the coral shaded stitches as a border, I could tie off there.  My one ply of Watercolours is thick enough on the back to hold the tails of stitches close to it.  But since I don't know if I'll use that as a border, and there is a ton of background not close to the edge, I am using the Locking L stitch to make sure I don't have threads wiggling out from under the back side.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Bargello Christmas Ornaments for the Tardy

I got a note from Liz Morrow yesterday that her latest bargello design for sale is a set of Christmas ornaments.  If you are a bargello fiend, or you just need a quick ornament to stitch for the holidays, you won't go wrong with her designs.  I myself particularly like the mini stocking pattern.
http://lizartblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/bargello-christmas-ornaments.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Review: The Ins and Outs of Needle Weaving

I've had trouble finding the time to watch the review copies of the two new Amy Bunger DVDs that Amy's staff sent me.  I'm sorry you had to wait to hear about them, but this is a very busy time of year with Thanksgiving next week and Christmas only another month away.  Eeeeeeekkkkk!

The first DVD is called "The Ins and Outs of Needle Weaving", and it is #7 in the How'd You Do That? series.  This is a collaborative lesson by Amy Bunger and Kelly Clark of Kelly Clark Designs.  Amy teaches attached and detached needle weaving on the first half of the DVD, then Kelly finishes up with lessons on making woven baskets, scarves and flowers on NP canvas in the second half.

Actually, the techniques taught build on each other.  Once you understand Amy's needle weaving, the more difficult techniques Kelly teaches aren't too hard.

If you remember Cape Cod Dogs, you'll know that I've already done some detached needle weaving.  However, I still found Amy's lessons about this technique very useful as she talks about how to have a needle woven piece attached to the canvas on three sides, attached on two sides, or only attached on one side.  She throws in lots of advice how to solve any problems you are likely to run into while attempting needle weaving.  Normally I don't have any trouble teaching myself techniques from a book but needle weaving is a lot easier to understand if you can watch it being done.

Ditto making woven baskets, faux knit scarves, and woven picot flower petals!  Kelly's techniques used to create this items on NP canvas were totally new to me, but the concepts are clearly laid out on the DVD.  She explains how she makes the basket itself using a beading wire foundation, then how to do a handle or rolled lip.  There is even information about making flowers look as if they spill from your woven basket.  Woven scarves are done slightly differently but as long as one is patient, this is not difficult.  Kelly makes sure she tells you how to handle problems with twisted threads and how to anchor your basket or basket handle securely.  The only thing that I wish was explained better is Kelly's technique of making a weaving loom from popsicle sticks and tape.  It is mentioned at the end of the DVD without any further hints on how this loom is assembled.

Would I recommend this DVD?  If you are interested in needle weaving techniques to create a more dimensional canvas, the answer is YES.  Written instructions on this technique are hard to come by, as I know from my research when I was stitching Cape Cod Dogs and wanted to have a detached and woven ear for the main dog on that canvas.  You will learn everything you need to know about needle weaving from this DVD.  There are plenty of examples of finished pieces to admire and all of the needle weaving techniques demonstrated are in close up so you can see what you have to do clearly.

This is also a great DVD to have in a chapter library or to jointly buy with your stitching friends.  The techniques are not ones you'll use every day, but if you ever want to do needle weaving, this is the best resource I've seen.

If you are not familiar with Kelly's hand painted canvases or want to see a woven basket example, here is her website.
http://www.kellyclarkneedlepoint.com/node/76

If you want to see the entire list of Amy Bunger DVDs available, check her website.
http://www.amybunger.com/DVDs.html

I will review Amy's DVD #8, "Spiders and More" next.  But maybe not until after Thanksgiving!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Interview with Margaret Condy

I have a special treat this morning--an interview with Margaret Condy. Margaret is a long-time needlepointer with a special perspective on our needle arts due to her long enjoyment of them. She graciously agreed to be interviewed and even arranged for photographs of some of her stitching for you to enjoy. And now, here is the interview with Margaret!

Margaret says:
I have been reading your blog every morning for a long time. And while we are at it, I stitched the Trail of Life Sundance piece with you even though I had to get a nice young lady at the city library to print off the original drawing for me. An interview ??? What a hoot.


Very plain bones here I am afraid. In a very few days I will be 82. I am kind of proud of that. I wonder how many others remember when you bought your dish towels and iron-on transfers from Woolworths where there were 5 colors of floss available? As I remember there was black, green, blue, red and white. But it was during the depression and beginning of WWII and no one could have afforded to buy more than that anyhow. We certainly have come a long way.


I asked another old timer today if I remembered rightly about there being only 5 colors of floss. She said yes. We both remembered when pink became available. After all, flowers have to be pink. I have no idea what the big shops in NYC and Chicago carried because I was in Denver and my friend, who is 6 years younger, grew up in North Dakota.

I think you are very clever faking overdyes. [Note: this was what the Trail of Life piece I stitched was about, transferring a line drawing and then substituting for the expensive Watercolours with DMC cotton floss.] Not everyone can find all the specialties, especially with shops closing one after another. However I am mad for overdyes. I have a big bag full, including the left overs from Trail of Life.


I was particularly taken with that design because I had previous stitched a similar design, Thunder Spirit, in different shades of one color of Medici using bargello stitches. All that glitter and overdye of Life was such a different approach. I have another design of the same swooping theme (Pinery) which I will stitch some day if I can come up with a completely different slantwise stitch just for comparison.


I thought a bit about an interview because while I always have lots to say it isn't always of interest to others. But my vanity won out. I would love to see some pictures of my work on the net. So I cast around for someone with a digital camera and found one who carefully snapped away in the sunlight. They turned out fairly well. 

I was an only child in a house where my mother sewed everything for all of us. Sewing, tatting, crocheting, knitting, and lots and lots of hairpin lace. I was embroidering something very early. Always with floss, and never ever giving a thought to stripping the plies. The usual dish cloth and dresser scarves. My Mom added the crochet trim as I got better at it. Oh, don't forget the pillowcases. I fell in love with cross stitch for some time but needlepoint had to wait until I retired.


I took a course at the local Senior Center (I love those places with all their classes and am still engaged with one thing or another) where we all completed a sample square with all the basic stitches. The most used stitch of all was the ripit one. I am a past master at that. Anyhow, I quickly fell in love with the colors and designs, and rapidly moved on to large intricate designs of people. Women, knights, Minoan frescos, always, it seems, something alive. While I much admire flowers and paisley prints I am driven to stitch something I can give a name to.

I am slower now but have several things going at once. The largest is a 15X35 Princess Collection piece on a floor rack that is always in the way. It is the second of a pair of Pre-Raphaelite ladies, one blond surrounded with grapes on vines and the second with darker hair and pomegranates and masses of leaves. I went through a bad spell a couple of years ago and things got a little iffy. Fireside Stitchery offered them and I made a bargain with myself that I would see if I could finish one. Well, I did and am grateful to have a second chance to finish the pair. The second large lady is on the rack and is heavy stitching. The first one took a year and a half and I expect this one will too.

I have five little canvases in various stages and have just bought "And When She Was Bad" from Maggie. I am thinking about how I can really make her special. How nice it is to find out that other stitchers have such a nice stash. Doesn't it make you feel secure knowing you will never run out even if you never buy another piece?


When I retired 20 years ago I thought needlepoint was yarn landscapes all done in the same flat stitch. Talk about change. Do I see area differences among stitchers? I live in Santa Clara, which is a small town set in a very large crowded metropolis about 60 miles down the bay from San Francisco, right on the edge of Silicon Valley. Several stores have closed recently so the very rich meet with the penny pinchers in one nice surviving store, and we all pray together that it stays afloat. Differences here.... Almost never do I see Southwestern, religious (of any denomination), or woodsy (bears or woodcocks etc.) on display. What I do see is Asian, flowers, Californian kookiness. Every time I visit the store I see very large, complicated, multi-threaded Christmas stockings, finished and hanging for pick up. Beautiful.

My friends think it is nice I have a hobby but that is where it ends. Believe it or not, a plumber had to come in once and walked across the room several times before he was done. He was the one who stopped at my big framed piece at the time and looked at it. He knew exactly what I was doing. I was sorry he was a working man and didn't have time to talk, but I have always remembered him.


I am sure you never expected all this. Do with it whatever you want. You may receive some unexpected pictures next Monday. I hope so. But I never bank on anything.


Margaret

*************************
Margaret told me a bit more about the pieces pictured in the slide show in the list below. They are mentioned in the order they are in the slide show for your information.


1. Trail of Life (Sundance Designs)


2. Thunder Spirit  I had stitched this one a couple of years before Trail. That is why I was so interested in the different style. Yes, I think it is an older but not aged man. Something about the way he holds his head.


3. Lady/Cat by Lee  The stitching was very heavy with lots of Kreinek gold throughout. I was thinking padded winter wear. Some how I had a story in my head about her sitting in a rare bit of sunshine with her cats. That mark on the top left is a bit of thread. I never noticed it until I saw the pictures last night. I know it was thread because I picked I off this morning. The head ornament is purple beads set inside a burgundy Kreinik outline. The earrings are one of those bright threads outlined with silver Kreinik. Lots of gold in that robe that is more prominent in real life. No doubt that she is well-to-do.

4. Minoan Fresco  Every rope of silver was done differently using large and small Kreinek with some pearls. The original is located in The Archaeological Museum at Heraklion on the Island of Crete. The short-hand title is the Blue Ladies from Knossos. I see the original has belly buttons. All that turquoise (teal, whatever) is silk. The hair and faces are Splendor. The orange is floss. I would have sworn I stitched every silver chain differently , but I see now I didn't. I see three strings with pearls, two are inside chain stitches. 

5. Forth of July was one of my early ones.

6. This is a beaded Lavender and Lace design and far more gorgeous in real life. It is in cross stitch. The Angel of Love (unofficial name "The Circuit Board Angel") is lush and finely patterned, and so heavy that I always lay it on a flat surface. The linen would soon drag and tear if I tried to hang it.

At one time I had all the artists' names written down but gave up thinking it would never matter. I certainly appreciate their artistry and would acknowledge them if I could.

In order of work.... Roughly. The kid, The Knight (he has a lady too), Minoan, Thunder Spirit and Lady/Cat, Trail of Life, large lady (Her name is Helena. I name all my people. The knight is Guy pronounced as the French do and his lady is Eleanor).

Margaret, thanks for the interview. I enjoyed hearing about your stitching life very much.   I'm sure all Blog readers are wishing you a very happy birthday!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Border Test (with Scissors and Magnet)

Last night I worked on O'jishi's background ang also tested my idea of using one strand of my Watercolours (Chili 217) for a border using the same stitch as in the background.  What do you think?  I am not certain myself whether this is what I want.  I probably will need to work on the central mask before I decide whether a border of faux bamboo or this stitch will look good.  However, I don't like filling in the Watercolours area with tent stitches in the same thread.  I think those central tent stitches between the Alternating Cashmere Pairs need to be in a gold metallic.

What do you think?

Before I forget, there is a new Kelmscott magnet featuring a crown and new scissors out.  I saw them on the Needle in a Haystack blog.
http://needlestack.typepad.com/whats_new/2009/11/new-kelmscott-designs-scissors-needleminder.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

How About a Border?

Yesterday's entry mentined how much I'd like to use my shades-of-chili pepper red Watercolours in a border for this piece. For those who don't read the Comments, NC Pat added, "I like the bamboo border that Sharon did and here's a thought: Use one of the golds that you are planning to use in the mask and use one of the reds like she did to separate for drama. Or, use your cashmere stitch colors and use a gold for the red."

I liked Pat's ideas so much I thought I'd put them here so everyone can see.  I'm still going to try a few alternating cashmere pair stitches in my Watercolours sometime.  I did more background last night and I'll be doing background for at least another week I think.  So bear with me.  With the holidays approaching I probably don't have the brain cells to spare for coming up with any other stitches.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Background Grows Slowly

I've continued working on the background around the Noh drama mask.  As you can see in the photograph, about a third of it is done.  It is very slow going but I am also thinking about the stitches and threads for the main part of the piece and trying to decide whether to finish the eyes before I start anything else.

I'm also thinking about a possible border to this piece.  I have a gorgeous skein of Watercolours (three ply cotton) in a shade called Chili (#217) which a friend sent me thinking that it would be perfect for O'jishi.  [Many thanks!]  Chili 217 is really shades of coral and it is a good match to the coral colors in O'jishi.  I am wondering if I could do a faux bamboo border around him?  Sort of like what SharonG did around one of her canvases.  (Click on the photo for a better view.)  Wonder if bamboo would look strange in shades of coral?
http://sharongneedlepointdesigner.blogspot.com/2009/06/ct35-is-newer-canvas-that-now-has.html

I'm also thinking I might just continue a set of alternating cashmere pairs in my Watercolors and make a border that way....

That'll be easy to test stitch and rip if necessary.  I'll try it later this week once I am really sick of backgrounds.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

November 2009 Chilly Hollow Newsletter Article

With the holidays approaching like a freight train, this month's newsletter is going to be mostly full of eye candy to enjoy whenever you can take a break from everything you have to do over the next two months.

First up, Stitchers' Treasures posted some photos of pieces customers are working on. Don't miss the tip on how to stitch a lace pattern on a Christmas stocking at the end!
http://stitcherstreasures.typepad.com/whats-up-at-stitchers-treasures/2009/11/its-friday-and.html

Needlepoint.com in Raleigh has posted photographs of a customer's Kelly Clark Nativity set, stitched using Amy Bunger's kit and instructions.  The pieces are beautifully stitched and finished and a delight to look at.

http://www.needlepoint.com/blog/?p=351

Want to see more amazing stitching?  Visit these stitched book covers.

http://weloveyouso.com/2009/11/olympia-le-tan-2/

Looking for a good cheap stitching bag?  The About.com needlepoint guide has one.

http://needlepoint.about.com/b/2009/11/06/workbag-nirvana.htm

Curious about how needlepoint canvas is attached to stretcher bars?  The designer Laura Perin shows you on her blog.

http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2009/11/anatomy-of-project-preparing-canvas.html

Finally, if you need a good laugh, visit the Spinster Stitcher's blog.

http://spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com/2009/11/oh-dear-god-theres-bee-in-my-ponytail.html

Happy Holidays!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Beading: Nymo and Thread Conditioners

A lot of stitchers use cotton or silk floss to attach beads here and there on their canvases. I do this also but when I have a lot of beads to attach, I like to switch to Nymo.

People who make bead jewelry know that beads will rub and rub and eventually and cut through threads if you aren't careful.  So they use special nylon and other synthetic threads to get around this problem.  Nymo is the most popular brand of beading thread.  You can see little spools of it on the left side of the page.  It comes in various sizes.  My spool of black is size D and it seems to work with the Sundance and Mill Hill beads I use nicely.  It also comes on huge cones but they are for folks who are making a lot of bead jewelry.  But if you and your stitching friends want to go in together and get a cone, it probably is slightly cheaper.

However, there are many many brands of beading thread.  Here's a good list that explains the differences between many brands.  Just because your local beading source doesn't carry Nymo, it doesn't mean you have to go home empty handed!
http://www.landofodds.com/store/threads.htm

Another thing beaders do is condition their beading threads with beeswax or with synthetic lubricants.  You have probably seen the little blue boxes of Thread Heaven at your local stitching shop.
http://www.threadheaven.com/

There are other synthetics available but some folks prefer pure beeswax.  This site gives you some information on some brands of synthetics and also several forms of beeswax.  Put your cursor on a tiny photo and you'll see a larger photo with information about each item.
http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWCORDACCONDITIONER

All you do is draw your thread across the thread conditioner to coat it with the product.  This makes the thread a little stronger and has the bonus of taming some of the more unruly threads.  I like to use a cake of real beeswax myself.  It feels a bit better to me than Thread Heaven and also makes me remember the stitchers that have come before us who had nothing but beeswax available.  However, this is personal preference speaking.  I don't know of any information that documents one type of thread conditioner is better than another.

Some folks even use the Burt's Bees lip balm for waxing but it can be slightly scented and not all the lip balms are just beeswax.  This may be something you have at hand or something you might worry would damage the thread.  Your choice.
http://www.burtsbees.com/natural-products/lips-lip-care/

Guess I'd better put the beading toys away and get back to O'jishi's background!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Scary Eyes

I've been stitching background for three days now and have almost 25% of the background done.  WHEW!  The Alternating Cashmere Pairs take a long time to stitch.  I needed a break so I decided to make scary eyes.

The empty black eyes on the Noh mask are dramatic and impressive and the central focus of this canvas.  I decided I would bead them to make them glittery and impressive.  I rummaged around in my stash and found two sets of black hex beads, one from Sundance (probably size 14 beads although they aren't labeled) and one of Magnifica hex beads from Mill Hill.  (Before I forget, hex beads are faceted six sided beads, not the rounded smooth ones. Hex beads reflect the light and make very scary eyes.)

We know from the Mill Hill website that Magnifica beads are size 12s.   The size 14 Sundance beads are smaller than the Magnificas.  However, both sizes are smaller than the size 11 (also written as 11/0) beads that Fireside Stitchery used to recommend for 13 count canvases like O'jishi.  What to do?

Well, I could go shopping but that would mean putting O'jishi away until I could get to a place that sells beads, which means waiting until next March probably.  (sigh)

I could abandon beading the eyes and do something else, like go back to Endless Background.  (shudder)

Or I could Figure It Out.  I opted for Figure It Out!

The most common way of beading canvases these days is to stitch every other thread in a row to be covered with beads with tent stitches.  Then you go back and attach the beads in the threads you skipped.  If I do that, I may mute the glittering effect of the hex beads which I don't want to do.  I want the drama mask's eyes to bore right through the viewer.

So I decided to bead each and every stitch, not every other stitch.  The end result is pictured above. I decided to use the Sundance beads which seem just a bit more sparkly than the Magnifica beads.  When I finished I could see bare canvas or holes between the beads in spots, so I stitched in a bead here and there to cover these places.  The outside edge of each eye looks a bit ragged here and there but I think when I do the rest of the eyes, those rough edges will be masked by stitches.

I attached my beads with a doubled length of black silk thread, but that's what I happened to have at hand.  I have some Nymo in my stash tool box but I didn't bother to haul it out.  Which brings us to the next topic--what is Nymo?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

The Lee Wisteria Kimono UPDATED

The gorgeous finished piece you see above is a Lee canvas, Wisteria Kimono. Lee has several kimono designs featuring wisteria in bloom but this has always been my favorite. The photo came from Judie at Thistle Needleworks in Connecticut. Judie took the wisteria kimono class Ruth Dilts and Joan Lohr teach and she and Linda P. at Thistle stitched the design. Isn't it lovely?! I don't know when Ruth and Joan will teach this again but you can contact Ruth via her website and ask if she'll be in your area. UPDATE: Ruth tells me she sells the stitch guide to shops, so you can ask your shop to order it from her for you. She does not sell directly, so get your shop to email her.
http://www.ruthdiltsdesign.com/index.html

The kimono design itself used to come in different sizes but Ruth told me the large one has been discontinued. The piece you see above is the 8x10 design. I saw Ruth's and Joan's two models in person at Waste Knot in Arlington, VA and it is a spectacular display of color and silk ribbon embroidery on NP canvas. Great job, ladies!

UPDATE: I found a site with the 15x18 version of this design. Just because it is discontinued doesn't mean there aren't any big wisteria kimonos in the shops still.
http://www.oldworlddesigns.com/themes/asiancanvases.html

I begged Judie for the picture for a reason besides its intrinsic beauty. My next canvas is a small teapot with a wisteria design on it. I plan to attempt SRE (silk ribbon embroidery) on it and only hope that my final piece is half as lovely as Judie's version!

Wish me luck....

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Using Alternating Cashmere Pairs Stitch

Yesterday I explained how Alternating Cashmere Pairs are stitched so that you can use this lovely stitch on a project of your own if you are so inclined.  Pamela asked me how I handled compensation and said that the blocks weren't oriented the same way I diagrammed them.  I'd already planned to cover these comments in another posting (I was running out of time to write and the article was getting rather long anyway) and here it is.

Light Coverage Alternating Cashmere Pairs
First, let me review what I'm stitching.  My canvas is 13 count and I used two plies of the darker chocolate brown Splendor silk and two plies of the lighter chocolate with cream Mandarin floss.  This doesn't really cover the background.  I don't care as I prefer light coverage stitches that allow some of the underlying canvas to show but you may want to bulk up your plies of thread for your canvas.  Do a test first.  You'll need anywhere from 4 to 8 plies to cover well but the exact amount of thread depends on the color of your thread and your canvas and your own stitching tension.

Use a Laying Tool
Note that I am using a laying tool as I work.  I consider this is necessity as my flosses reflect light beautifully if they are laid straight with a laying tool.  You can use one or not, but believe me, if you use one with this stitch, it'll look a lot better.  (If you aren't familiar with laying tools, use the search bot at the upper left hand corner and type "laying tools" to see what I've written about them.  There are links to tutorials on their proper use here on Blog and that's the fastest way to find them.)

Keeping Light Coverage Stitches Secure
One of the most common problems you will find when you do light coverage stitches is that the threads on the back will loosen and rise up on the front because you can't tie them off the way you do normally.  The way around this is to tie a knot in your two plies and thread them under previously stitched cashmere blocks, then pull tightly and stitch.  This takes care of starting the stitch but what about tying off on the back side?  You have to do an L locking stitch before you thread the loose ends under a previously stitched cashmere block on the back side.  These L locking stitches are just a tiny vertical stitch over one thread with another tiny stitch done horizontally into a shared hole.  Then thread the loose ends under the back.  The L locking stitch will help keep the loose ends from coming out.

How to Compensate Alternating Cashmere Pairs
You can see in the photo above that my Alternating Cashmere Pairs thread colors change roughly when the paint color of the background changes.  Pamela asked how I decided when to change the thread color.  It isn't easy to know when to stop with light brown and start dark brown during one cashmere block (and vice versa). Mostly I continue with my current color if the color change is just 1-2 stitches.  If half the block is one color and the other half another, I change my thread color to match.  I generally don't want a long stitch to be made up of one dark brown tent stitch and the rest the light brown.  I think that looks messy.  It doesn't look odd to just cover that one dark brown stitch with light brown thread, making the whole line of thread one color.  Your eyes will adjust the colors in your brain.  But otherwise, trust your instincts.  If it looks ok, it is.

Keeping Alternating Cashmere Pairs Oriented Correctly
This is very hard for me.  I'm mildly dyslexic and also am constantly interrupted as I stitch.  I also tend to stitch at night when I am tired, not in the mornings when I am fresh and rested.  I just keep checking that things are right when it comes to having a pair of vertical versus horizontal cashmere blocks,  but I've found if I mix up the direction of the slants within the block pairs it doesn't matter very much.  I try to be perfect with this but in the background with this stitch it doesn't matter.  So if Pamela likes the cashmere blocks to slant another way, she can do hers all like that without a problem.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow