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
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