Tissue Toppers

Over at Needlepoint Nation, someone asked if there were tissue toppers for needlepoint.  The answer is yes!  If you are interested in the long rectangle tissue box covers, Leigh Designs has eight that are lovely.

https://www.fleurdeparis.com/product-category/canvas_designs/leigh-designs/tissue-toppers/

There are stitch guides for three of these.  I'm sorry the photos aren't better.  They are fabulous stitched! West Coast Finishing made these up and says they aren't hard to do.

https://chstitchguides.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-tissue-toppers-leigh-designs-pat.html

Lee's Needle Arts has a long rectangular leather box with room for a needlepoint insert that is 2 3/4 inches wide by 6 inches long.  This is self-finishing.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2019-Black-Leather-Tissue-Box-made-for-Holding-a-Needlepoint-Canvas-by-LEE/372598558303?hash=item56c09ace5f:g:avMAAOSw3qdbL-nf

Lee also has a small tissue box cover in leather with a round insert that is about 2 3/4 inches.  Both styles of Lee tissue box covers come in a variety of leather colors.  This is also self-finishing.

https://www.needlepointbywildflowers.com/collections/lee-needlearts/products/copy-of-accessories-mahogany-finish-octagon-box-for-needlepoint-cross-stitch-photo-sudberry-house-1

For a while Needlepoint.com had acrylic tissue boxes with a space for a canvas insert but they don't seem to have these any more and I can't find them elsewhere.  Regardless, your tissues can be just as pretty as the rest of your home in this unusual way to showcase your needlepoint.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright October 13, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitching Glasses the Leigh Designs Team Way

Leigh Designs has a tradition of releasing a series of small canvases on November 1 each year. Leigh calls this her November Surprise. For 2018, she's celebrating Oktoberfest and beer!
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp813x.html

There are 8 types of beer, each in their own special glass, and each canvas has a stitch guide by Leona Cole, Pat Miller or Carolyn Taggart.  To see the models, click on the photo of each unstitched canvas. If you do, you'll see a Master Class on stitching glassware!  Note how the tall, thin glasses use tall, thin stitches, for example.  Check out "Swaggering Stout."  The faceted glass is beautifully handled.  I was especially intrigued by the use of diamond shaped stitches for some of the more rounded glasses.  It works!

Kudos to the Leigh Design teams!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 1, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitched from the Soul Exhibit

A local online news service has profiled the Nave Museum's current exhibit which is about needlepoint.  The exhibit ends August 12, so if you are in the Victoria, Texas area, make sure you stop by.
https://www.facebook.com/southbridgestreetlive/videos/1009775169183321/?fref=gs&dti=108537025890131&hc_location=group

The exhibit is sponsored by Past Times Needlepoint.  If you fall in love with something or have questions, please contact Mary Ann at the shop.
https://www.pasttimesneedlepoint.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 31, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Summer Sips Backgrounds

The newest series from Leigh Designs is a set of 4x5 inch ovals called "Summer Sips."   As you would expect, they show eight different summer drinks, all the sort of thing I associate with a trip to the beach.  Six of the series have stitch guides, and you can see photos of those on the Leigh Designs website.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp811x.html

It's those stitched models I want to talk about today since they all have fabulous backgrounds and backgrounds are things many stitchers struggle with.  So why not visit the masters of the art and see what they came up with?  First, let's look at Carolyn Taggart's "Hurricane" and  "Pina Colada."

Hurricane Stitched by Carolyn Taggart

Pina Colada Stitched by Carolyn Taggart

Hurricane has a simple upright stitch that skips a channel. It's small scale and effective since it doesn't fight with the central motif but it does echo the upright shape of the tall drinks glass that is elongated even more by the fruit on the flamingo toothpick.  Pina Colada's background is a simple trellis pattern.  The diamonds formed by the lines crossing look a bit like the paper umbrella, unifying the background with a main part of the design.

Strawberry Daiquiri Stitched by Pat Miller

Pat Miller's "Strawberry Daiquiri" has a very unobtrusive background which appears to be skip tent stitch.  Because the color of the thread is almost exactly the same as the pink canvas in the background, all you see is a little texture, allowing the string of diamonds and pearls to be prominent and setting off the drink with its huge strawberry very nicely.  If you compare the unstitched needlepoint canvas outside the red oval with the stitched background inside the oval, you will see just how much the texture adds to the canvas without really making a loud statement.

Lemon Drop Stitched by Sandy Arthur

Sandy Arthur's "Lemon Drop" also has a very unobtrusive background, a darning stitch that slants / to echo the flow of the lemon slice and flower that decorate her drink.  Sandy use a quiet background stitch that copies the direction the main elements slant.

Cuba Libre Stitched by Sharon Quick

Bloody Mary Stitched by Sharon Quick

Sharon Quick's "Cuba Libre" and "Bloody Mary" have use the same pale pink color in their threads as the background canvas and both have decorative stitches in the background.  The Cuba Libre has a wave stitch which is neutral despite its horizontal orientation because of the up and down movement of the stitch.  This is a nice choice because of the seahorse and the fact that Cuba itself is an island, suggesting waves and a drink to be enjoyed with an ocean view.  The Bloody Mary also has a decorative stitch, this time an eyelet stitch that give the background the sense of oval petaled flowers. Since the Bloody Mary has peppers, celery leaves and an olive as garnishes, it makes sense to have a plant-themed background.  

So all the backgrounds relate in some way to the main theme of the design or echo the direction of the main motifs and all are light coverage.  One last thing I noticed was that all the Summer Sips except the Pina Colada have pink backgrounds that are very close to the background canvas color.  This helps keep the background in the background, even when it is quite fancy like Sharon Quick's wave and floral eyelet backgrounds.

Hopefully this gives you ideas for your next backgrounds.  Thanks very much to the extremely talented team at Leigh Designs!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 2, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Exploring Surf and Sand with the Experts UPDATED

Seeing Stars Santa (Jane Wood)

This spring I've been busy stitching a Santa from Leigh Designs' Seashore Santa series. I'm not the only one--guides for this set are also available from Sandy Arthur, Pat Miller, Sharon Quick and Carolyn Taggart. All are superb stitchers with their own distinct style so I found it fascinating to see how we all choose to add sand and surf to the blank backgrounds behind these Santas.  This may be because Leigh Designs wanted these all to be made up as stand ups with an oval top to serve as models for trade and trunk shows.  So we all started out with a very similar background shape and size that we had to cover.  I want to talk a bit about the design decisions everyone made.  First, look at the entire unstitched series.  These are all on 18 count "sandstone" canvas, which is an ecru with a yellow cast.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp835x.html

Now look at the photo above.  That's my Seeing Stars Santa.  I decided I wanted sand and ocean in the background because my Santa is a beachcomber, wandering the edge of the surf looking for washed up starfish and pearls.  I offset my Santa to the right so that I could add encroaching waves to the right corner.

It isn't obvious from the photo of the full Seeing Stars, but I used the same stitch, a wavy Bargello, for the entire background.  All I did when I got to the edge of the water is switch colors of silk floss and add pearls, clear beads and Swarkovski crystals to the join to indicate foam and washed up pearls.  The sand is Gloriana's "Honey Bronze 107."  The waves are Classic Colorworks' (formerly Crescent Colours)  Belle Soie "Babbling Brook CCS-027."  I should credit the idea for this to Brenda Hart who came up with something similar for a Melissa Shirley Beach Birdhouses canvas for a Bedecked and Beaddazzled embellishment class.  Here is Brenda's version.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2016/02/beachy-birds.html

Coral Reef Santa (Pat Miller)

Now let's look at Pat Miller's Coral Reef Santa.  Pat didn't add water to her background but the addition of little shaped beads gives me the impression of foam on wet sand around her Santa's feet.  She used a darning stitch background and an open stitch for the mound of wet sand.  Her Santa is centered.  Love those French knot corals, by the way!
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Mdl8353.html

Catch of the Day Santa (Sandy Arthur)

Next up on the page is Sandy Arthur's Catch of the Day Santa.  Sandy's Santa is centered on the background with his back to the ocean.  She also used an open darning stitch but it creates the sand while the wavy stitch at the top creates a choppy ocean.   While you are looking, check out the mermaid's hair--genius!
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Mdl8354.html

Globe Trotting Santa (Carolyn Taggart)

Carolyn Taggert's Globe Trotting Santa is next.   Her Santa also faces the ocean and is centered on the background.  The sand behind Santa is a  Bargello stitch (which I used) but the water is a random long stitch in an overdyed thread.  Carolyn added movement to the water by staggering the join between sand and surf.  Because both her sand and water stitches are horizontal ones, the join where the two meet is smooth.   By the way, I think the shells, coral and globe Carolyn created in Santa's arms are superb.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Mdl8355.html

Treasure Island Santa (Sharon Quick)

The final stitch guide in the set is for Sharon Quick's Treasure Island Santa.  Sharon also used a wavy Bargello stitch on the background and her Santa also has his back to the water.  The wave in the stitch creates wavy water.  Her sand is quite unusual. It is a mounded shape like most of the other piles of sand but the mix of an overdyed thread (I think) with an open Staggered Cross (I think) creates a lot of movement in the sand.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Mdl8357.html

To sum up, use a wavy stitch of some kind for water, overdyes make both great sand and surf, you can go with either an open stitch or a full coverage stitch for water and sand in backgrounds, create movement by staggering the margin between water and land in some way, and don't be afraid to toss beads and other embellishments around.

Many thanks to my fellow model stitchers for the master class in stitching surf and sand!

And now a word from our sponsor--all the stitch guides and canvases above are available for your favorite shop to order from Leigh Designs.

All the Seashore Santa Models (Sandy Arthur's tag is cut off but hers is the left hand Santa.)

UPDATE:  Thanks to Don Lynch of Associated Talents I have all of the Seashore Santa models from Leigh Designs' booth to show you.  Enjoy!


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 13, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Russian Santas: The Bearing Gifts Santa and More

Carolyn Taggart's Bearing Gifts Santa

Hurrah! Carolyn Taggart has finished another of Leigh's Russian Santa series! Above is the Bearing Gifts Santa.   For those new to Blog, Carolyn has stitched six of the eight Russian Santas Leigh Design released last December.  Carolyn has done guides for them all, too.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp833x.html

I particularly love the background on this one with the mountains under a sparkling night sky, but the beard, sack, warm hat and fur trimmed robe are terrific here.  Carolyn is a terrific stitcher, isn't she?  If you want to see the others Carolyn has finished, click on the Russian Santa Stitch-a-Long tab above.  I list all the guides available I know about at the bottom of the list of articles I wrote about my Santa which I blog-stitched here.

For more information or to order one of Carolyn's stitch guides, contact her via her Facebook page. Don't do Facebook? No problem! Leave a comment below with your email address or send it to me at chilly hollow at hotmaildotcom and I will forward your contact information on to Carolyn who will then email you.

Susan's Northern Light Santa

By the way, there are other finished Russian Santas for you to admire.  Susan Flippin McPherson just got two back from West Coast Finishing.  Here is Northern Light Santa.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10202402750618895&set=a.3943163146318.2139924.1497164924&type=1&theater

Birdland Santa, also by Susan

Followed by Birdland Santa.  Great job, Susan!  They look fabulous!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10202402750658896&set=a.3943163146318.2139924.1497164924&type=1&theater

How about a round of applause for some durn great stitching?!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 18, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Russian Santas: Another Carolyn Taggart Stitch Guide

Carolyn Taggart's Holly Hills Russian Santa

Carolyn Taggart has done it again--she has finished another Russian Santa from the Leigh Designs series.  On the left is Holly Hills Santa, complete with gorgeous background and bottom border!


Carolyn has also done stitch guides for the Forever Green, Little Angel, Birdland and Merry Mistletoe Santas from the same series.  All have different beautiful backgrounds and lovely bottom borders so if you stitch a set, they will coordinate.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Grp833x.html


For more information or to order one of Carolyn's stitch guides, contact her via her Facebook page.  Don't do Facebook?  No problem!  Leave a comment below with your email address or send it to me at chilly hollow at hotmaildotcom and I will forward your contact information on to Carolyn who will then email you.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 17, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Russian Santas: Mistletoe Green

Carolyn Taggart's Merry Mistletoe Santa

Carolyn Taggart has finished another wonderful Russian Santa. This one (above) is Leigh Designs' "Merry Mistletoe Santa."   I think this one's my favorite so far. I just love the background stitch, the bottom border and the fur trim of his hood. His wrapped sash is wonderful as well.  The stitch guide is now available from Carolyn, too!  You can contact her via her Facebook page.

Carolyn is starting work on the Holly Hills Santa next.  Stay tuned!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 29, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Russian Santas: Stitch Guide News!

Carolyn Taggart's Little Angel Santa

Fans of the Leigh Designs series of Russian Santas will be thrilled to hear more new stitch guides are available for these Christmasy Ivans.  Sandy Arthur's website now lists all the guides you can get directly from her:  The Birdland, Forever Green, Holly Hills, and Merry Mistletoe Santas.  Her website has some great photos of the finished models!
http://duodesignsinc.com/wpsite/stitch-guides-only

Vicky DeAngelis is working on her Holly Hills Santa.  She's been wrestling with just the right thread, but she's making progress despite being the busiest stitcher on the planet.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/what-i-learned-on-the-way-to-pull-threads/

http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/threads-threads-and-more-threads-2/

Carolyn Taggart has also been busy.  She just finished her version of the Little Angel Santa (seen above).  You can connect with Carolyn via her Facebook page to order.  If you aren't on Facebook, just send me an email at chilly hollow at hotmaildotcom and I'll pass your message along to Carolyn.

There's a Russian Santa for everyone, and guides for many of them.  Have fun choosing!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 28, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Russian Santa Models, Straight from Market

Leigh's Russian Santa Models

Leigh Designs has posted photographs of the Russian Santas Sandy Arthur and I stitched on their website. These are the models who went to the trade show to tempt your shop to import Russian Santa canvases for your stitching pleasure. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Santa you wish to view.  I hope you enjoy seeing how they turned out! 
http://www.leighdesigns.com/SG-Home.html#8333

The finishing is by West Coast Finishing.  Each Santa has white fabric on the back side, similar bi-colored twisted cord around the edge and are shown on plastic easels which I believe are L-shaped so that one end is inserted through the bottom of the Santa.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

More Russian Santa News

Forever Green Russian Santa

Those of you who admired Carolyn Taggart's Forever Green Santa (above) from the Leigh Russian Santa series will now be able to pick up Carolyn's stitch guide for this beauty!  Carolyn has written a thirteen page guide full of diagrams with a full color photo of the finished design to help you understand what to do.  Each stitch suggestion has a terrific graph, there is a full photograph of the completed Santa, and a supply list of threads and other items Carolyn used.  Price of the PDF version is $20. Price of printed version sent by snail mail is $25 plus $8 extra for postage/shipping and handling.

To order, contact Carolyn Taggart through her Facebook page.  If you don't do Facebook, send me your email address and I'll message it to Carolyn via Facebook.  I am at chilly hollow at hotmaildotcom.
https://www.facebook.com/carolyn.taggart.5?fref=ts

By the way, Vicky DeAngelis is working on her Holly Hills Santa.  Here is the latest.  Those reds and golds are gorgeous!
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/leighs-red-russian-santa/

Becki at Enriched Stitch is working on her Golden Maiden, too.  Again, the colors are beautiful!
http://astheneedleturns.com/exclusive-golden-maiden-progress/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 19, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Russian Santas--Forever Green

Carolyn Taggart's Latest Russian Santa Finish

Carolyn Taggart ---who must never sleep!--- has finished another Russian Santa from the Leigh Designs series that came out last December. Here is Forever Green Santa!   Isn't he lovely?  I find the fur especially gorgeous. Carolyn says the fur on the cuffs and the edge of Santa's robe was made from 2 strands of Wisper mixed with one strand of silk for strength, worked in stem and outline stitches and then brushed to make it fuzzier.  The hat is five strands of silk worked in Jump Thru the Loop Turkey Work, then cut and trimmed and brushed.

How do you work Jump Thru The Loop Turkey Work, you ask?   Sheena James has very kindly allowed me to share her diagram of this stitch.  Make a long stitch up and down in the same hole, then a small anchoring stitch goes down in the same hole as the first long stitch.

Sheena's Diagram for Jump Through the Loop Turkey Work

Susan Flippin McPherson has finished her Blue Russian!  Here's what he looks like.

Susan's Northern Light Santa Finished

Don't you just love his expression?  Susan used Brian's Steppe Stitch to create snow around her Russian Santa's feet.  That is diagrammed here in case you've forgotten.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2014/03/blue-russian-final-glimpse.html

Great stitching, Carolyn and Susan!  Many thanks to you both and to Sheena for sharing your stitching and diagramming for our viewing pleasure.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 31, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

More Russian Santas--Birdland Santa

I have a special treat this morning, courtesy of Carolyn Taggart who has been stitching another of the Russian Santa series from Leigh Designs.

Carolyn's Birdland Santa

Let me introduce Carolyn Taggart's Birdland Santa!  Luckily, Carolyn was happy to outline exactly what she did for us.  Please note Carolyn has one of the first runs of Birdland Santa.  Leigh has edited the design slightly so you may have a slight variation on the original compared to Carolyn's canvas.  Here is her description--

"Most of the threads came out of my "stash" so if I don't have a number, I will try to add a describe the color

Upper Background - 3 cards Silk Lame Braid for 18 count - SL17 - Double Hungarian stitch -Turn canvas on its side and work horizontal rows--when you return canvas to its upright position the pattern will be vertical.

Lower Background - 1 pkg Shimmer Ribbon Floss #148-37 Mint Green - This is a flat Stitch that Susan McPherson used on her Blue Russian Santa and she shared the count in the Blue Russian Group.   [ Note from Jane:  The background stitch was created by Brian Shaw of The Needlepointer for Kirstin Thompson who shared it with Susan who shared with Carolyn.  I will have a charted version for you shortly, courtesy of Brian Himself.]  There are 9 rows of stitches below the Santa, then I angled the pattern around the Santa to "ground" him on the grass.

Gold Robe - #8 Kreinik Gold-002J, Au Ver A Soie (AVAS) Silk Floss (from Soie de Alger) #2235 and Size 14 Sundance Beads #465--Double Trellis foundation, first horizontally --leave 2 canvas threads between each horizontal line and then vertically (leave 2 canvas threads between each line) in #8 002J. Then I tied down the foundation with 4 strands AVAS #2235 work 4-Way Continental over the intersections. I placed the gold bead in the opening using the "brick" method, sewing each bead twice to secure it.

Red & Gold Sash - AVAS 2532 & 3815 (but you could use the rest of 2235) plus #16 Kreinik 203 and 061. I made a Xerox copy of area.  Then using Main color AVAS 2532 Basketweave entire sash using AVAS 3815 or 2235 for darker areas--covering up red using 4 strands of silk. Then I couched the bright red areas with #16 Kreinik Braid 203 and used #16-061 to make the design over the darker silk areas. I strung Size 14 Sundance gold Beads at base of the sash--my fringe is long, but I note that the current canvas shows a shorter fringe or you could use your silk and make fringe using a Half-hitch knot for the silk fringe. I also had some Michelle Roberts' Red-Gold I Cording (by Benton and Johnson) which I placed above the beads."

[Note from Jane:  The tiny stiff metal twisted braid suitable for couching that Carolyn used is often referred to as British coloured twist.  You can see a sample in the link below.]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/178864199/exquisite-benton-johnson-silver-gold?ref=sr_gallery_3&ga_search_query=benton+and+johnson+coloured+twist&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

"Red and Black Undergarment - I used a Tomato Red Silk (AVAS) I had (no number) plus Splendor 801 (Black). The entire area is stitched with 4 strands in Basketweave. My canvas did not have any gold or green bead in the curlicue.  The current edition of the Birdland Santa canvas does.

Hat- Used same Tomato Red Silk used on undergarment for Hat--Used black Splendor #801 for design--Worked Basketweave. Placed 4 size 11 Sundance Gold #465 beads on top of hat, then added one size 11 Sundance Red Bead #11 on top and in the middle of these 4 gold beads for ornamentation on hat.

Blue Bird and  Cardinal - 2 shades blue silk for bluebird. red and black silk for Cardinal. I had some orange Flair which I used for the beaks. I placed a size 14 Black Bead on each bird for eye. Birds were stitched in Basketweave with 4 strands of thread.

Owl - Two Size 11 Black Beads, Yellow Accentuate, Dark Brown Silk--darker than silk you will stitch Santa'a fur trim in. I placed the eyes on first. stitching the bead in both directions. Then with 2 strands of Yellow Accentuate doubled through the needle, I stitched a small Jessica around the bead. I used the Dark Brown Silk (4 strands) and worked Encroaching Gobelin over 2 slanted TO THE LEFT. My owl had no black separating bird from fur--use your black Splendor 801 for this area.

Crozier - I used a softer color of gold here size #12 Kreinik 003. I padded the staff portion and then work Slanted Gobelin over 2 vertically. Using same Kreinik, I worked Buttonhole Stitch around the Face of the Crozier. The Landscape pattern was worked in Accentuate--2 strands double thru needle--all areas stitched in Basketweave. The top pointed area (where the Blue bird is sitting) I stitched with #8 002J in Four-Way Continental over one canvas thread.

Fur Areas - 2 cards Splendor 1104 and Wisper W-117

Hat- using 4 strands I did 2 rows of Basketweave at lower edge so that the Turkey Tufting would not cover up Santa's eyebrows. Then I made small loops using the "Jump thru the Loop" Turkey Work. Again, I used 4 strands of Silk. IF you want it to have a more "whispy" look, reduce silk to 3 strands and add I strand of Rainbow Gallery Wisper 117. I strongly suggest you wait to stitch this area until Upper Background has been completed. Cut, trim and brush fur.
Cuffs - I used 4 strands of Splendor 1104 and worked French Knots over each cuff area. Then I added an extra strand of Silk and used a #22 needle and scattered a second layer of French Knots over the cuff area to give area more depth and more definition.
Fur on lower part of Robe - I used one strand of Silk and one strand of Wisper W-117 and worked Stem Stitch, then I carefully brushed it to raise the nape to give it a more furry look.

Beard - Burmilana #3600 - 2 strands - Stem/Outline Stitch. I am not happy with Mustache. I am going to try to remove it and use 1 strand of 3600 and 1 strand of pale gray Burmilana, without destroying the beard--if that is not possible, it will stay as is and the rest of the Santas will have mustaches that are not as prominent.

Shoes - Splendor black #801 - pad vertically and horizontally, then work Vertical Satin Stitch using four strands.

Mittens - Splendor #801 - Read Jane Wood's section of the Russian Blue Santa dealing with the mittens so that you will understand how to make the mitten on the Crozier surrounds the area and make a thumb--these mittens are also padded numerous times before final satin stitch completes each mitten."

Thank you for sharing this fabulous Santa, Carolyn, and for writing a stitch guide for those who would love a Birdland Santa just like yours!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 12, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.