Basic Ornament Finishing Instructions

Just Cross Stitch magazine has published simple instructions for finishing small ornaments from their popular Christmas and Halloween ornaments issues.   If you want a flat finished ornament or one that is padded into a miniature pillow shape, this can help you do it yourself.  There is even a tutorial for making twisted cord for the edge and a loop hanger.
http://www.just-crossstitch.com/newsletters.php?mode=article&article_id=5175&key=JCXN&tp=i-H43-6o-9bH-yPJpV-1o-PE45-1c-yPGN0-bZCOS

Finishing is not hard but it does take practice.  Why not pull out those little ornaments you've stitched but never sent to a finisher and practice doing it yourself?  It will give you a new appreciation for professional finishers and help you explain what you like and what you don't the next time you use a pro.  And you might save a little money and enjoy something that is totally made by you start to finish.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 24, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Changes in Ten Years

Recently the designer Janet Granger found a stash of old Just Cross Stitch magazines at a charity shop and has been browsing them, looking at the changes in the UK embroidery arts scene in just 10-11 years.  There have been a lot of them, mostly due to the impact of the computer (desktop publishing), the Internet (web stores) and the closing of so many small businesses that supported the stitchers.
https://janetgranger.wordpress.com/2015/06/04/vintage-cross-stitcher-magazine/

We've seen these things here in America, too.  Some of the closures are probably natural as folks want to retire.  Some are due to the Great Recession here in the U.S. which has really put financial pressure on us all as jobs are not plentiful and discretionary spending has been curtailed.  But the Internet and computers have brought us closer together as distance doesn't mean as much as it did.

It doesn't seem that long ago, 1994-95.  But change is rapid all around us these days.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 4, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Finishing Tip: How to Miter a Corner

Just Cross Stitch magazine's website has a tutorial on mitering corners I thought folks who want to try this at home should see. A mitered corner is when two strips of fabric, one at the top and one at the side, meet at a forty-five degree angle.  You see this in pillow corners when the stitching is framed by fabric strips.  It's a nice finishing touch and although I personally find it hard to do, this tutorial is excellent.
http://www.just-crossstitch.com/newsletters.php?mode=article&article_id=4875&key=JCXN&tp=i-H43-6o-4yg-T98sy-1o-PE45-1c-T94CS-2GOgdt

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 28, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Beading Basics

Just Cross Stitch magazine posted two basic beading technique diagrams and tips on beading in their online newsletter. Of course they are talking about cross stitch beading but if you are just dabbling in beading on your needlepoint, you'll find this useful information.  First, two ways to attach beads--
http://www.just-crossstitch.com/newsletters.php?mode=article&article_id=4240&key=JCXN

Tips on technique--
http://www.just-crossstitch.com/newsletters.php?mode=article&article_id=4236&key=JCXN

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 11, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Christmas Arrives in September

Counted thread fans rejoice! The Christmas issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine has arrived, full of ornaments you can stitch for Xmas 2011.  Want to browse before you buy?  Pocket Full of Stitches has posted photos of the designs inside the covers for your enjoyment.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2011/09/christmas-cross-stitch.html

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