NJNA News for February 2025

NJNA's newsletter is back, full of ANG news, information about new designs, retreats, The Woodlawn show, workshops, ANG's Stitch of the Month program, shop news, and word that Kreinik's new machinery has arrived so they are starting to catch up on their metallic thread orders.  It's been a very busy couple of weeks!

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2025/02/22/whats-happening-at-njna-2-22-25/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 24, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Melita Tackles the 2011 Stitch of the Month Project

Melita and her ANG chapter are working ANG's 2011 Stitch of the Month project.  Here is the first month's piece, designed by Ro Pace.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2023/08/19/stitch-of-the-month-2011-flowers-of-italy-by-ro-pace/

And it's done!

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2023/08/27/finished-stitch-of-the-month-2011-flowers-of-italy-by-ro-pace/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright August 19, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Brenda's "Crescent Journey" UPDATED

Brenda has started on the 2023 Stitch of the Month available to ANG members.  This is a Melita Glavin design.  I'll update this article as Brenda posts progress reports so you can watch it develop.

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2023/01/sotm-2023-crescent-journey-1523.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2023/02/sotm-2023-crescent-journey-updated-21423.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2023/03/sotm-2023-crescent-journey-updated-3823.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2023/04/sotm-2023-crescent-journey-updated-41923.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2023/05/sotm-2023-crescent-journey-updated-5423.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2023/06/sotm-2023-crescent-journey-updated-61023.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2023/07/sotm-2023-crescent-journey-updated-71023.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2023/08/sotm-crescent-journey-updated-81523.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2023/09/sotm-2023-crescent-journey-updated-91023.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2023/10/sotm-2023-crescent-journey-updated-10823.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2023/11/sotm-2023-crescent-journey-updated-11523.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2023/12/sotm-2023-crescent-journey-updated-12523.html

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2024/02/sotm-2023-crescent-journey-updated-22724.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 5, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Sneak Peak at ANG's 2023 Stitch of the Month (and more)

Melita's been very busy!  Besides her SOTM design, she's taking a Toni Gerdes class and stitching on various chapter projects.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/11/20/ang-central-jersey-chapter-cjc-visit-for-saturday-meeting/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 21, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Lois Kershener's "Circles"

Melita's ANG Chapter is stitching the 2008 Stitch of the Month project from the ANG website.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/10/06/ang-stitch-of-the-month-2008-circles-by-lois-kershner/

This is a Lois Kershener design and Melita's blog has plenty of tips for stitching it if you want to do it yourself.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/11/16/ang-stitch-of-the-month-2008-circles-by-lois-kershner-2/

Melita's done and made up as a basket lid. Note she is using different colors and threads than the alternatives Lois Kershener listed.  

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2023/12/08/ang-stitch-of-the-month-2008-circles-by-lois-kershner-stitched-and-finished/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright October 7, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Wayback Machine and the SOTM

Jana (winner of the year's Cleverest Stitcher Award) messaged me to say she'd discovered that the Wayback Machine allows access to ANG's Stitch of the Month program  from its start in 1998 until 2011.  It's not perfect as not all the photos are available and sometimes clicking on the diagrams doesn't work or the diagram is upside down, but it's better than nothing.

https://web.archive.org/web/20111210214647/http://www.needlepoint.org/Stitch.php

ANG's current policy is to allow purblic access only to the 1998 Stitch of the Month project.  You have to be a dues-paying member to access the rest.  I've deplored this for years and Jana cleverly found a way around the limitations, allowing access to fun mystery projects from the likes of Beth Robertson, Barbara Richardson, Chris Eisenberg, Carole Lake, David McCaskill, Ann Strite-Kurz, SharonG, Kathy Fenchel, Brenda Hart Lois Kerschner, Tony Minieri, Sue Reed, and Ro Pace.

Thanks, Jana!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 18, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

50 Years of ANG

The American Needlepoint Guild (ANG) has been with us fifty years.  They just had their 50th Seminar in Tucson, AZ and both Jan and Melita are reporting back about all the fun.

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2022/07/29/50-years-of-ang/

Jan is taking a laid stitch class and stretching her brain in the best way.

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2022/08/04/seminar-class-im-possible/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2022/08/08/back-home/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2022/08/14/impossible-progress/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2022/08/23/more-im-possible/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2022/08/31/almost-finished/

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2022/09/05/a-finish-‼%EF%B8%8F‼%EF%B8%8F‼%EF%B8%8F/

Jan won a ribbon, too!

https://stitchlady.wordpress.com/2022/08/01/ang-seminar-update/

Brenda had a lovely time despite two bouts of COVID.

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2022/08/ang-seminar-2022-tucson-az-81122.html

Here is what Melita has seen so far.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/07/30/ang-2022-seminar-in-tucson-az-and-the-west/

The NJ Needle Artists are at Seminar as well.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2022/08/02/ang-seminar-2022-50th-anniversary/

Melita reports on her Kathy Rees class:

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/07/30/ang-2022-seminar-and-mesa-triangle-with-kathy-rees-day-1/

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/08/01/ang-2022-seminar-and-mesa-triangle-with-kathy-rees-day-2/

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/08/21/mesa-triangle-with-kathy-rees/

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2023/10/01/mesa-triangle-2022-ang-seminar-with-kathy-rees-framed/

Melita is also taking Jennifer Reifenberg's class on photographing needlework.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/08/03/photographing-needlepoint-with-jennifer-reifenberg/

Melita is learning to use handmade paper on her canvases in a Dawn Donnelly class.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/08/04/ang-seminar-and-blue-hills-with-dawn-donnelly/

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/08/05/ang-2022-seminar-and-blue-hills-day-2-with-dawn-donnelly/

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/08/16/blue-hills-with-dawn-donnelly/

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2023/06/19/blue-hills-framed-a-dawn-donnelly-design/

Melita has the pleasure of seeing one of her original designs win an award for its stitcher.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/07/31/ang-2022-seminar-and-the-presidents-award-for-a-spring-sampler/

AND Melita's "Crescent Journey" will be ANG's Stitch of the Month in 2023!

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/08/01/ang-2023-stitch-of-the-month/

NJNA has a brief review of the seminar and news about ANG's 50 for 50 fund raiser.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2022/08/27/whats-happening-at-njna-8-27-22/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 30, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Melita's Entries for Woodlawn 2022

Melita has shipped her entries off to Woodlawn Plantation for their exhibit of needlework in March.  You can see what she entered on her blog.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/02/05/star-of-stitches-framed-and-arrived-at-woodlawn/

It's fun that all the Kathy Rees designs exhibited are going to be in a scavenger hunt for kids.  Sounds like Woodlawn has really streamlined the check in process, too.

Hope everyone gets to see the exhibit in person.  Photos are great but they are no substitute for seeing something in person.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 6, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

ANG's Stitch of the Month for 2022

ANG's Stitch of the Month for 2022 will be Kurdy Biggs' "Kurdy's Medallion."  Thread kits are available from Kurdy herself.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=6640704856004370&set=a.641965995878316

This will be on the ANG website but is for members only.  ANG has put most of their information behind a paywall.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 10, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Color Changes

Eye Candy occasionally charts her painted canvas designs.  One of the Texas chapters of ANG worked this as a chapter project, using various color ways.  It's amazing how different each design looks!

http://eyecandyneedleart.blogspot.com/2021/05/ang-chapter-project-alpine-puzzle.html

Don't believe me? Check out the current ANG Stitch of the Month (SOTM) project that the NJNA chapter is stitching.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2021/05/31/sotm-may-2021/

Here is last year's STOM.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2021/06/01/background-star-of-stitches-ang-stitch-of-the-month-2020/

Color makes a huge difference.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright May 31, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The 2021 Stitch of the Month

The 2021 Stitch of the Month counted canvaswork project for the American Needlepoint Guild is Jennifer Reifenberg's "Stratigraphy."  It's shown here on Brenda's website, the next to last photo.

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/p/in-process-projects.html

This project is available to members of the American Needlepoint Guild only.  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 11, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Melita Tackles the Stitch of the Month

Armed with suggestions from the NJNA chapter who did this project in 2020, Melita has started Kathy Rees' "Star of Stitches," which is the stitch-of-the-month project from ANG.  

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2020/11/30/areas-1-3-star-of-stitches-ang-stitch-of-the-month-2020/

If you are a member of ANG, you can access this design by logging onto the ANG website.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 1, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

NJNA Do Stitch of the Month UPDATED AGAIN AND AGAIN

ANG's New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter has been working the current Stitch of the Month project as a group.  Now that they are nearly done, you can really see how the various colors change the design.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2020/11/24/sotm-november-2020/

Some people have changed the background stitches slightly.  Which do you like, the original or the changed background?  And what color combos speak to you?

UPDATE:  A change in the background.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2020/12/01/more-sotm-progress/

UPDATE #2:  Brenda is stitching this also using a red, white and blue color scheme.  It's really lovely.

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2020/12/stitch-of-month-2020-updated-1252020.html

UPDATE #3:  Here are all the chapter members finished projects.

https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2020/12/17/sotm-december-2020/

UPDATE #4:  Here is Melita's version.

https://www.suncitystitcher.com/2020/12/2020-ang-stitch-of-month-finished.html

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2021/07/12/background-completed-star-of-stitches-ang-stitch-of-the-month-2020/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 25, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

NJNA Works the Stitch of the Month

The New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild had their monthly meeting, which involves lots of showing off of the current ANG Stitch of the Month project.
https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2019/04/14/sotm-april-2019/

It is fun to see all the different color combinations that the members choose and how the design changes according to the colors used.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 15, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The American Needlepoint Guild Hides SOTM Behind Paywall UPDATED

ANG's new website is being built out so I've been checking it periodically to see what has been added.  Yesterday I was stunned to see that the fabulous Stitch of the Month (SOTM) program which is a great way to introduce people to various needlepoint stitches for only the cost of the materials is going to be available only to members of ANG starting next January, except for one year, presumably the current year's project.
http://www.needlepoint.org/page/SOTM

I feel this is a terrible mistake.  I use it to help new stitchers all the time.  It is a great resource for the world of needlepoint, which includes many people who are not committed needlepointers.   When folks learn the resources available from ANG, they tend to join.  Why hide your light under a barrel (or in this case behind a paywall), ANG?

Please reconsider.

UPDATE:  As an update to the Stitch of the Month's changes on ANG's new website, I'd like to report that the 1999-2016 Stitch of the Month items are now uploaded to ANG's new website but they are only available to ANG members who are logged in. 1998's Stitch of the Month items presumably will be added shortly. The 2017 SOTM material is available to all, along with the statement, "As of January 31st 2018, all SOTM offerings will become Member Only. We plan to make one year's project available to the public."

To see the most recent changes, you have to log in as an ANG member, then click on Distance Learning.  Stitch of the Month is at the bottom of the options that appear.  Slide your cursor down to there, and you'll see Stitch of the Month: Archive.  Click on that to see the older SOTM material.

I know this is a slow process as ANG has Seminar registration to deal with right now. I hope ANG will restore access to all of the Stitch of the Month items, past and present, to anyone interested in needlepoint.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 15, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Breaking News: ANG's New Website Finally Live

The American Needlepoint Guild's revamped website is now live. A lot of things are still missing, like most of the Stitch of the Month postings and the FAQ page which had lots of useful information, but the 2017 Stitch of the Month is there (hidden under Distance Learning). I am hoping their FAQ page reappears shortly as I refer folks to it constantly.  The URL is the same.
http://www.needlepoint.org

Here is the direct link to the Stitch of the Month for 2017.  Note that all the information was posted at once so it is very hard to tell what is the earlier and latest lessons.  I finally figured out that the latest was at the bottom, not the top as had been done for years.  ANG says that prior SOTM information will be added to the website at some point.   I am hoping this is done quickly as that is also information I refer people to all the time.
http://www.needlepoint.org/page/SOTM

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 3, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Fiber Talk Interviews Susan Hoekstra

This week the Fiber Talk podcast interviews Susan Hoekstra, familiar to many fans of the ANG website as the author of the 2016 Stitch of the Month design.
http://wetalkfiber.com/2017/02/26/fiber-talk-with-susan-hoekstra/

To view Susan's "Pineapple Leaves" project, choose the monthly 2016 postings on ANG's Stitch of the Month page.
http://www.needlepoint.org/Stitch.php

Susan often teaches ANG classes and also visits the Nimble Needle in New Jersey to teach.
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2013/05/classes-more-classes-and-trunk-show-too.html

http://needlepoint.org/Seminar-15/classes/1day/1day.php

Have fun getting to know her better.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 26,  2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitch of the Month 2017 (Deborah Forney)

ANG's Stitch of the Month program is up on their website. This year is a color and pattern study by Deborah Forney.  The introduction and January 2017 lesson are here.  A new lesson is posted around the first of each month.  Just click and enjoy!
http://www.needlepoint.org/Stitch.php

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

Stitch of the Month--The Wave

Amy's Tennis Ball

I thought it would be fun to post a very clever stitch I've found online here periodically for everyone to see.  The inaugural stitch is the background of this tennis ball, posted on Facebook by Amy who says the idea came from The Needleworks.

I've seen the same stitch used for the water behind this mermaid.  (Sorry, I don't know who stitched this.)  It skips a row occasionally, but otherwise is identical.  A very similar stitch is diagrammed by Ruth Schmuff as "Darning Pattern Large Wave" in her iStitches Volume 3 if you want to use it on your next project.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 1, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Red SOTM 2016 UPDATED

Melita and her local stitching guild are working the American Needlepoint Guild's 2016 Stitch of the Month (SOTM) project.  Melitia decided to do hers in shades of red instead of the original golden yellows.  She posted a list of her chosen red threads on her blog and showed the difference working the Amadeus stitch on alternate sides or one side at a time makes.  It's almost as much fun as being part of Melita's chapter to read her blog.
https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/ang-2016-stitch-of-the-month/

Brenda also has posted her list of threads for this project. She's going blue!
http://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/p/sotm-2016-thread-list.html

If you are not familiar with ANG's Stitch of the Month projects and stitch diagrams, here is the entire set since 1998 on their website.  It is a fabulous resource!
http://www.needlepoint.org/Stitch.php

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 29, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.