A Tutorial For Creating Needlepoint Argyle Plaids

Jane Gable's Argyle Plaid

Courtesy of Jane Gable, here are instructions for creating a needlepoint argyle plaid by working skip row basketweave. Jane says feel free to share her instructions for her take on needlepoint argyle plaids.

ARGYLE PLAID

1. Choose your date
2. Choose your threads
3. Choose your colors, one for each number
4. Choose your color order

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER FOR THE ARGYLE PLAID:

1. The ONLY stitch you will be using is every other row basketweave
2. You will count ONLY the STITCHED rows for your number sequence
3. Always use 10 stitches for a zero
4. Partial dates are just fine
5. Decide how many repeats or partial repeats of your date that you want
6. Deciding the dimensions of your canvas:  Using the date July 12, 1942,
   those numbers total 70.  Since you aren’t counting your skipped stitches, you will double this to 140.  Your canvas will be 140 stitches by 140 stitches.  Mark this dimension into a square on your canvas.  This will be the final size of your stitched piece.

You will be combining the diagonal stripes of both directions to form a diagonal, or Argyle design.  the “every-other-basketweave” stitch is used to provide spaces for the two angles to meet.

You will start in the lower right hand corner and work to the upper left hand corner with the first number of your date, the month. When you reach the top, skip a stitch to the left of your first row and start your “down” row.  When you reach the bottom, skip one stitch to the left and start another up row.  Continue in this manner for as many rows and colors you have in your date.  You will be filling in the LEFT HAND SIDE OF YOUR CANVAS.

When you have finished stitching the left side of your canvas, turn it 180 degrees and repeat the process to fill in the other half of the canvas.

To complete your plaid, return to the original TOP and work from the UPPER RIGHT CORNER TO THE LOWER LEFT CORNER  continuing your color sequence, keeping the EVERY OTHER ROW BASKET WEAVE to fill in the spaces left.  When half of the canvas is complete, turn it again and start the same process filling in the last half and completing your plaid.

Jane Gable

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 29, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Tutorial For Creating Symmetrical Needlepoint Plaids

Courtesy of Jane Gable, here are instructions for creating a symmetrical needlepoint plaid based on dates by working skip row basketweave. Jane says feel free to share her instructions for her take on needlepoint plaid, sometimes known as birthday plaids since birth dates are often used to create the pattern.

STRAIGHT SYMMETRICAL PLAID

1. Choose your date
2. Choose your threads
3. Choose your colors, one color for each number
4. Choose your color order

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:

1. The ONLY stitch you will be using is every other row basketweave.
2. You COUNT the unstitched rows when counting out your number.
3. Always use 10 stitches for a zero in your date.
4. Partial dates are just fine...January 11,1948 can be shortened to January 11, 48 for example.

Deciding the dimensions of your canvas:  Using the date July 12, 1942, the center strip on your canvas will be 7 stitches wide, on each side of that, making a mirror image there will be an additional 28 stitches.  Decide how many repeats, or partial repeats of your date you want.  

Count the stitches both vertically and horizontally making a square.  Mark this on your canvas.

When you have finished your first date completion on both sides of your center column, start again with the 7 stitch column and work out from there.

EACH SIDE OF YOUR DESIGN WILL BE A MIRROR IMAGE OF THE OTHER SIDE WORKING OUT FROM YOUR INITIAL 7 STITCH COLUMN.

In a symmetrical design, the first number in the date (the month) is ALWAYS the center of your design and each side is a mirror image of the other side.

To achieve your symmetrical straight plaid, start in the CENTER of your canvas with the FIRST number of your date.  Stitch a vertical column the length you want, number of repeats of your date, in every other row basketweave.

When you reach your desired length, go back to the top and start on either side of your first column with the 2nd number in your date.  Continue this way, on both sides of your center column until you have achieved the number of date repeats you want.

To complete your plaid, go to the UPPER RIGHT CORNER of your canvas.    STARTING WITH THE LAST NUMBER IN YOUR DATE, work horizontally across filling in the unstitched areas of your canvas to complete rows corresponding to the numbers in your date.  Using the January date, your stitched rows will be this number of stitches wide...1 - 11- 1- 9 - 4 - 8

Jane Gable

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 29, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.