A Needlepoint History Lesson

Gather around, boys and girls, while Auntie Pat gives us a history lesson. This time the lesson is about the corkscrew stitch. You can see it in action here at Ruth Schmuff's blog.  There's a diagram so you can easily master this stitch yourself.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2011/10/happy-halloween.html

After I posted the link above earlier here, I got an email from Pat Correz, who by virtue of knowing everyone who's anyone in needlepoint, tells some fascinating stories.  This time Pat explained the background of the corkscrew stitch.

Pat wrote, "That corkscrew stitch was invented, I believe, by Ann Spiess Mills. Chottie [Alderson] used to bring her out to us for classes, and she always taught it.  She had several other names for it...the "peter" stitch...and the "penis" stitch.  I don't think anyone had done this stitch prior to Ann...it goes back to the late 70s or early 80s. A lot of Chottie's and Ann's groupies all know it by the original name....and I've demo'd it a number of times.  I taught it at an ANG meeting one time, called it by the name Ann used, and the class all turned bright red!~!!  Lots of memories for that stitch. I used to teach Dede's camel and used it for the camel's curls hanging down over his face. It works great with persian yarn if you want it big and fat.  I'd LOVE to stitch that Halloween tree!!!

Are you familiar with Ann Spiess Mills and her work...a real artist turned needlepoint designer? She NEVER duplicated a canvas...every one was an original. If you saw one you wanted, she'd take an order, then do her version of it. So much of her designs were based on the folklore of the New Mexico mountains and the Spanish, not Indians, who live there....stories about everything in her designs. For instance, 3 bunnies in a design represented the Trinity...one 1 bunny...lust!! Angels everywhere and all had stories. I had over 45 of her canvases...never stitched...and donated them to EGA HQ to preserve her legacy. I still have half a dozen, but will never stitch them...they're each original works of art, painted on canvas. She also did surface embroidery on felt of angels and all kinds of things...on and on."

By a happy coincidence, two of Ann's felt angels turned up on eBay recently so you can see them.  Here are the links.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170700583806?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_500wt_1411

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180727882731?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_500wt_1411

On Ruth's Halloween tree the corkscrew stitch is couched down at the tip to make the hair, but Ann Spiess Mills used it sticking straight up, hence the name.  The type of thread you use and whether you attach the tip and/or middle to your canvas will certainly make a big difference in the end result.

Thanks, Pat, for the wonderful story and for permission to reproduce it here.

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