Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Bag Tags and Boxes

There are two new self-finishing items available:  the first are the rectangular pill boxes from Planet Earth.

I can't find dimensions for these but they seem to have a magnetic closure.



The pill boxes have a divider that you can buy to put inside.

The second item is called a bag tag.  They go over your luggage or purse handle and come with a small design already painted on them.  They are available from Julia's Needleworks.

Needlepoint Gallery has a selection, including one that is blank if you want to add your own monogram or other design.


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 19, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Monday, February 27, 2023

Thread Your Needle: The Movie

Waste Knot's Lori has posted another mini tip on the shop's Instagram account.  This time Lori shows you how to thread a needle if you don't have a needle threader.

I do this a lot myself.  It doesn't always work, so I have a threader as backup, but it's quick and easy when the thread cooperates.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 18, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Self-Finishing Belts

Fireside Stitchery carries something I've not seen before--self-finishing belts.

They come in red, black or white and have space for a design that is three inches in diameter.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 15, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

New Needle Cases From Sue Trevor

If you always wanted a handmade needle case but don't fancy stitching one yourself, Sue Trevor has a new batch ready for purchase on her Etsy site.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 13, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, February 24, 2023

Stations of the Cross

Lin discovered tent stitched Stations of the Cross at the Episcopal Church in Breckenridge, Colorado and posted a lot of photos on NP Nation.

It's an amazing series.  I hope some of us get to see them in person.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 13, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, February 23, 2023

A New Trend on Instagram

There's a new trend on Instagram--postings of stitch diagram video tutorials.  If looking at a diagram for a stitch makes your eyes cross, you'll want to check out Waste Knot's tutorial on creating Diagonal Mosaic...

...and The Nashville Needlepointer's tutorial on French Knots.  (She's doing one or two wraps to vary the size of the French knot.)

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 12, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

The Harte LED Work Light from Ikea

NJNA has a fun newsletter about the various classes coming up.

By the way, the Ikea light that they recommend is here.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright 2ebruary 11, 023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Scottish Santa and Planet Earth's Self-Finishing Ornament

Melissa Shirley's "Scottish Santa"


I started stitching on Melissa Shirley's "Scottish Santa" at Christmas.  I think this series is discontinued but he was fun to work on.  Also at Christmas I bought one of Planet Earth's self-finishing ornament holders.  Scottish Santa is almost four inches around.  The Planet Earth ornaments come in two sizes: one to hold designs three inches in diameter and one that is for ornaments that are four inches in diameter.  Both sides are identical except for the dimensions.  They are well made of good quality leather.  The bow is removable-- if you aren't a bow person just slide it off the loop.  Here you can see the colors currently available.  

Because Scottish Santa wasn't quite four inches around, I had to add three rows of background all the way around.  It pays to copy both the ornament holder and the finished piece and compare them.  That's how I knew I needed to add three more rows along the outside edge to make Scottish Santa big enough to fit.  




Planet Earth includes a card of instructions with each ornament holder. You can see it in the photo below.  



You'll need scissors to cut out your design and to score the waxed paper that covers the sticky middle of the ornament holder so you can peel the paper away from the sticky center.  Tweezers come in handy to get all the paper from under the leather lip of the ornament holder.  I also use a butter knife to lift the leather edge, then help push the needlepoint under the lip.  I also use my fingernail to push the needlepoint down and under but you'll need something flat and blunt like a butter knife.




In the above photo you see my tools and the waxy paper that's been removed plus the bits around the perimeter I need to pull out with the tweezers.  You don't have to expose the sticky stuff--you can insert your ornament without sticking it down--but it'll be puffed up a bit and for anything that will be handled a lot you probably need the safety of the glue to hold it in position.  





Be careful about beads and sequins.  They can't be too close to the edge or you might damage them trying to pry the lip up with your blunt butterknife and shoving the outside edge of the needlepoint under the lip.  In the above photo, one sequin is really close to the edge.  My background was tent stitches, which are very sturdy.  I wouldn't use a tender thread or a stitch easily damaged for the background if you plan to insert the finished piece in a self-finishing item.





I really like how Scottish Santa looks.  Kudos to Planet Earth for a nice ornament holder!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 11, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Monday, February 20, 2023

Silk Lame Braid: The Movie

Needlepoint.com's latest video covers Rainbow Gallery's Silk Lame Braid, which comes in four sizes/widths.

This is a wonderful thread (not meant to be stranded although if you really need size 18 and all you have is 13, you can pull out some filaments to make the thread smaller) so if you haven't tried it, you should.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 11, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sunday, February 19, 2023

A Candle from Mopsey Designs

Mopsey Designs sells candles! The scent is 13 Mesh and Chill.  

This one is Leave Me to Stitch.

There is also Safe Stitching Space.

I'm not a candle lover but I admit, I'm tempted.

(By the way, Mopsey also sells rainbow unicorn scissors.)

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 10, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, February 18, 2023

More Victorian Cross Stitch Kits

Poppymonk has added two new designs to their line that are made to be stitched in Victorian cross stitch.

These are kits, with the wool and instructions for doing Victorian cross stitch included.  As far as I know, these are the only Victorian cross stitch kits available besides Elizabeth Bradley's.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 9, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, February 17, 2023

Another Way of Doing T-Stitch

The Wool and the Floss has posted a diagram for stitching t-stitch in an unsual way-diagonal rows with the tent stitch alternating as you go.  

You'll have to visit their Instagram page to see the diagram.  This link brings up a photo of St. Patrick's Day canvases but use the right side arrow beside the photo to go through three photos and you'll eventually get to the diagram on the fourth picture.

I would find this very hard to follow personally (I do the stitch in horizontal rows as a skip tent, alternating the slant in each row) but not everyone is mildly dyslexic like me.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 8, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Breaking News: Kreinik 027L Discontinued

Kreinik has just announced on Instagram they are going to have to discontinue 027L (all sizes) as they can't get the base materials to make it.  

The color is called Orangeruptis and it's a sort of holographic burnt orange.  This is the best photo I found.  

It's a pretty color.  Too bad they can't make it any more.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 7, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Breaking News: Fireside Stitchery Loses an Owner

Betsy announced on Needlepoint Nation that Tony Bartolini, one of Fireside Stitchery's owners, has died.

Fireside is a wonderful shop that carries so many threads!  If you haven't visited, please do.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 15, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Game Is On

Brenda's did the pilot stitching for a class Susan Hoekstra of Foxview Needlepoint did at the ANG Seminar in 2022.  It's a game board for checkers and comes with the frame and the checkers themselves.

It's all finished now, including assemblying the frame and painted the checkers.  It looks wonderful!  Congratulations, Brenda.

UPDATE:  Mary's stitching this, too.




Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 7, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Nancy Lukoskie's Needlepoint Cleaning Tips

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Nancy Lukoskie of Fancy Work Finishing has posted her long awaited tips for cleaning needlepoint!

Nancy is an expert on ecclesiastical needlepoint and has cleaned and restored many pieces during her decades of designing church pieces.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright  February 2, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Monday, February 13, 2023

Tulip Scissors

While watching the unboxing party video that Wool and the Floss just posted to Instagram, I discovered that the manufacturers of Tulip needles also have scissors!

There are three types.  The rose gold ones have curved tips.  The only place I know carries the curved tip ones in rose gold is The Wool and The Floss.  They aren't cheap but if you are a big fan of Tulip needles, you'll want to check these out.  They looked really good in the video.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 5, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sunday, February 12, 2023

Best Needlepoint Kits: A Review

Poppy Monk Needlepoint has posted an article on their blog with their reviews of what they think are the best needlepoint kits.

I don't agree with many of their choices but they make some good points about what to look for and what threads are easier for a beginner to use (although they skip perle cotton entirely, which is a great and not very expensive choice for designs).

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 4, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, February 11, 2023

This Is Why I Love My K's Floor Stand

Brenda has had her K's floor stand clamp repaired again.  I love mine, although I've never had to have a repair.  But if I ever need it fixed, Brett at K's Creations stands behind the K's products.  This is important as I recently learned that not all floor stands are repairable.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 4, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, February 10, 2023

Submitting Entries for Woodlawn

Linda of ANG's New Jersey Needle Artists chapter drove to Washington, D.C. last week to deliver the chapter's submissions to Woodlawn for their March exhibit. 

It's interesting to hear how this is organized and to learn a bit more about the judging that is done.  I'd love to know how the chapter packages their entries, though.  Sounds like something very useful for those of us who mail in our entries to know!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 3, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Melita Takes Autumn Three Ways

People who are stitching the leaf wreath design sponsored by Needlepoint Now magazine will enjoy watching Melita work a Toni Gerdes class called Autumn 3-Ways.

This was an ANG chapter workshop taught over Zoom by Toni Gerdes.  I'll update this as Melita posts about her progress.

Here is the finished, framed piece.  It's upside down by accident but Melita and her husband decided they like it this way.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 2, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Antique Needlepoint for Sale

I'm sitting here, bored, waiting for time to go to my dentist appointment, so I decided to check out antique needlepoint for sale.

1st Dibs usually has high end pieces, as you can tell from the prices.  I'd be a little leery about most of the rugs, which likely aren't what we call needlepoint, but woven pieces.  Check the origin before you decide.  

And if you aren't in the mood to spend thousands on an antique, just enjoy browsing to see what our stitching ancestors spent their time on.  It's a good way to pick colors for your next project, if nothing else.  It also makes me think about the pieces I've got queued up to stitch.  Perhaps I should include a heirloom piece among the fun small ornaments I am going to work next....

Or maybe I should needlepoint a card table cover?  They were all the rage in the late 1950s-early 1960s.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 1, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Penny Linn Designs' Scissors

I didn't realize Penny Linn Designs has scissors as well as canvases and self finishing purses.  The crane style comes in red or blue, both lovely.


There's also a pair of bamboo handle scissors with larger holes for those who like that style.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 7, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Elegant Needle

I didn't know there was a needlepoint shop in Baton Rouge, Louisana until I read this article.

I loved watching the videos of the shop and a series of ornaments!

The Elegant Needle website has a bit more about the shop and its history with a slide show of the shop interior at the bottom.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 1, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Monday, February 6, 2023

Organizing Cards of Splendor

Star-lee showed off her new way of organizing cards of Splendor silk on NP Nation.

She used plastic pages meant for baseball cards in a zippered three ring binder.  If you go shopping for these at local stores, I suggest you take a card of Splendor in your pocket so you can make sure it will fit into the baseball card organizer as they seem to come in an assortment of sizes.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 30, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sunday, February 5, 2023

New Self-Finishing News

The January newsletter from New Jersey Needle Artists chapter of ANG is out and it's full of news and new products.

The new self-finishing wallets from Planet Earth and the retro travel tag's new swivel clip from Hedgehog caught my eye.  Self-finishing is where it's at these days, and designers are coming up with all sorts of goodies for us.

By the way, I've heard one of Evan Burrough's family members have retired from making Evertites so he's having trouble keeping up with orders.  They're still in business, just far behind.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 29, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, February 4, 2023

New Cyber Project, New Thread UPDATED

Blue Dogwood's new cyber project for Spring 2023 is called "Mountain Vista."  The canvas is their design and will have all sorts of lovely stitches. It also uses a new thread from South Africa--Vinnis Colours Bamboo, which appears to be a knitting yarn skeined for needlepoint.


Here is the finished design.  Lovely!

Here's all I can find about Vinnis Colours Bamboo.  Pretty colors and a nice sheen!

UPDATE:  Deborah in South Africa has lots of information about this thread.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
 
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 28, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, February 3, 2023

Cosmo Updated

I am a huge fan of Cosmo, which is a Japanese six ply cotton floss, available in hundreds of colors and even in about thirty overdyes. Trish Burr is working with Cosmo's manufacturer in Japan to package color ranges for sale.  If you've ever despaired about finding 5-7 shades of a color for a design, Cosmo has what you need.  

If you don't want to do mail order or Trish runs out of these limited edition packs, check with quilt shops in your area.  Many carry Cosmo.  I love stitching with it.  Of all the cotton flosses available, Cosmo is my favorite by far due to the huge color range, the silky feel as you stitch with it, and the quality of the cotton thread itself.

UPDATE:  Rittenhouse just posted that they stock Cosmo.  There are tons of shades!

Here is their website ordering page in case you can't resist.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 27, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Lori Demonstrates Using a Laying Tool

Lori at the Waste Knot* demonstrates the use of a trolley needle as a laying tool in this quick video tutorial.  Regular laying tools are held in the hand but they work the same way.  

*Waste Knot is my "local" needlepoint shop and a great shop it is!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 25, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Mary Corbet Tackles Nickel Allergies Updated

I have a dear friend who's allergic to nickel who always has to be careful about what jewelry she wears as she's quite allergic to nickel.  Nickel is everywhere, even in really expensive jewelry, so she had to coat her engagement ring inside with clear fingernail polish occasionally to keep wearing it.  She doesn't stitch but if she did, she'd have trouble with needles that contain nickel.  

Mary Corbet to the rescue! 

Actually, it's Pam, The Needle Lady to the rescue, but I wouldn't know about Pam unless Mary mentioned her.

Pam also sells spiral eye needles, which are easier to thread than regular ones.  If you don't have use of two hands, glue a cork to something near your stitching chair so you can stick the needle into the cork, then thread it.  This will be a lot easier with spiral eye needles than regular ones as you won't have to insert a needle threader into the needle's eye, then add thread. Spiral Eye Needles eliminate that step.


UPDATE:  Several Needlepoint Nation members recommend Pony Black Needles as being nickel free.  They have tapestry and crewel needle packs, betweens and specialty needles.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 25, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.