REVIEW: Stitches CDs

I've become a fan of the Ruth Schmuff/Kathy Holicky series of stitch dictionaries on CDs.  There are three CDs to date.  I bought Volume One at Needlepoint Tool Time on sale a few months back, and Volume Two was a gift last month from a friend.

I have not seen the third CD which is called "Backgrounds."  It probably is much like the first two, except they each have 300 stitches diagrammed and Backgrounds has 481 "repeat" patterns.
http://www.tistheseason.org/ptdproducts.php?catid=56

The two CDs I have are set up the same.  Stitches are arranged into folders.  You have Straight, Diagonal, Crossed and Tied, Eye, Decorative and Darning Pattern folders.  There is also an alphabetical listing of the stitches.  The stitches are in two formats: PDF files (which can be enlarged) and jpeg images.  You can print out either and you an embed the photos (jpegs) in stitch guides.  Ruth encourages stitch guide writers to use her diagrams but just asks for proper credit.

Many of the stitches are new to me although there are some old favorites in the two CDs I own.  I love browsing the stitches, although you do need to have a CD player (my computer does) to read them.  It doesn't matter whether you have a PC or a Mac computer, however.  Either can read the CD for you.

You can print out everything to have in a paper format if you like, but I just browse a CD when looking for a stitch, starting with the folder that sounds more like what I'm looking for.

I think this is a wonderful addition to any stitchers' set of stitch dictionaries.  The only caveat I can think of is that some folks may be uncomfortable working with PDF files or jpeg images but it really isn't hard to learn.

By the way, here is Needlepoint Tool Time's website.  They have great customer service and some very good sales.
http://www.needlepointtooltime.com/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Vertical Hesitation Stitch

The next section of O'jishi I want to tackle is his jaw.  In the photo above, you will see the jaw section underway.  I'm using a stitch called Vertical Hesitation Stitch, which I found on Ruth Schmuff's Stitches CD, Volume One.  This stitch dictionary, created in collaboration with Kathy Holicky, is on three CDs, each with 300 stitch diagrams (except Backgrounds has 481 patterns), each purchased separately.  You can buy one of the CDs or all of them, as you wish.  I don't know if more are planned but I've found them useful and full of stitches I've not seen many other places, so I hope so.

Anyone who needs a stitch diagram to print out or for a stitch guide can find the jpeg they want and print it or use it on places like Blog.  Just remember to give copyright credit where it belongs.
http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/products.php?catid=56&firstcid=6


Here is Ruth and Kathy's original diagram for Vertical Hesitation Stitch.

I tried stitching vertically as the diagram says but found it easier to lay the diagram on its side, lay O'jishi on his side, and stitch the two repeat rows over and over, working from left to right (then back again to fill in the second type of slants).

VERTICAL HESITATION STITCH 

from Stitches CD Volume 1 © Ruth Schmuff

I used four threads for the jaw, all silk flosses and all stitched with just two plies as I wanted the paint between the stitches to add depth and shading.  The burnt orange is Kreinik's Soie d'Alger #2635T, the dark brown Gloriana's Coffee Bean #166, the cream Needle Necessities' Empress Silk #C240, and the gold Gloriana's Lacquered Gold #045.

When I start the right side of the jaw, I'll turn O'jishi to the other side and also turn my chart so that the single row diagram showing just every other stitch is on top, not the bottom.  That way the slants will be correct and I can compensate in the lower cream jaw area so that the two slants meet in the center.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow