Basketweave for Lefties (and Others)

Saturnalia Stitching posted both a stitch diagram and a demonstration video of how she works basketweave from the lower left up towards the upper right.  This is how I've seen people teach left handed stitchers to do basketweave although sometimes I do this myself in an awkward space.  Basically, anyone can do this.  You don't have to be left-handed!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DND6ndPssrY/?img_index=1

Use the side arrow to switch between the diagram and the video.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright August 9, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Taping the Saturnalia Way

Saturnalia Stitching demonstrates how she tapes her canvas edges.  She may waste a bit at the ends, but it's very neat and her folds are perfect.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DF8S7ZYPZT9/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 12, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Free Alphabet Chart from Saturnalia

Saturnalia Stitching has posted a free small alphabet chart to their Instagram page.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DF_PeEOvHBq/?img_index=2

The letters are 7 stitches high and 5 wide, small enough for a discrete monogram or message in your needlepoint background.   Use the side arrow to see the matching numbers chart.

Thanks!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 13, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Needlepoint Magnets

Saturnalia Stitching has a great idea--finish your smaller needlepoint as a magnet!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DChpUB1P9pz/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 20, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Books, Books, and More Books

Melissa of the Wool and the Floss says butterfly canvases were everywhere at the Spring 2024 trade show.  I'm sure she's right but what I noticed were canvases for the book lover.

My absolute favorite is Thorn Alexander's "Read the Room." Cormoran Strike lovers, this is for you.

https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/products/read-the-room-canvas?_pos=1&_sid=17aabf696&_ss=r

The Gingham Stitchery has books to charm you.  (Note that Winnie the Pooh is mostly out of copyright now so anything A.A. Milne is ok to buy.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/C23EFKqvMhy/

Jenny Henry has the Cozy Bookshop (on 13 count).

https://www.jennyhenrydesigns.com/collections/pillows/products/preorder-the-cosy-bookshop-13-mesh-needlepoint-canvas?variant=42649339035825

Mopsey Designs has three pages of book themed ornaments.

https://mopseydesigns.com/collections/the-book-cavnas

The Book Canvas, distributed by Mopsey, has a new Jane Austen book stack ornament.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6HfXU1vVfS/

Plum Designs has a series based on The Secret Garden.  I love the little garden glimpsed through a keyhole.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5CJJ0rrVOG/

Mopsey also has a Secret Garden ornament.

https://www.oldworlddesigns.com/shop/Canvases/Category/2024-Spring-Market/p/Secret-Garden-Book-from-Mopsey-Designs-x81110500.htm

Plum also has the Ex Libris Bookplate which you can customize with your name or initials.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C4goykwrcA2/

Wake Robin has one, too.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1409944012/from-the-library-of-personalized-hand?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=needlepoint+painted+canvas+book+cover&ref=sr_gallery-1-4&sts=1&content_source=e7f825ca1ca84bcdb413cb4a48c1ac00aa649680%253A1409944012&search_preloaded_img=1&organic_search_click=1

Blue Ridge Stitchery has immortalized the NY Public Library in needlepoint form.

https://stitchtherapyneedlepoint.com/feature.php?id=104176

"Stars Hollow Books" is for fans of Gilmore Girls from NDLPT Designs.

https://stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com/products/ndlpt-designs-stars-hollow-books

Saturnalia Stitching has gone all out with their Bookish collection.

https://www.saturnaliastitching.com/shop-all/bookish

Froopy knows "The Book is Always Better Than the Movie."

https://froopyneedlepoint.com/products/copy-of-wwbfcd-11-5-x-2-5-on-18-mesh

And on a more specialized note, Saturnalia also has a darling Snow Cat Mobile Library design.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3deIpWrHlk/

Gingham Stitchery has the "I'd Marry the Beast for that Library" piece.  Truer words were never spoken!

https://www.needlepointclubhouse.com/products/id-marry-the-beast?_pos=12&_sid=623786fc8&_ss=r

Walker has several book canvases:

https://poppypointe.com/collections/spring-market-2024/products/beach-read

https://poppypointe.com/collections/spring-market-2024/products/book-of-fairytales

If you browse Etsy, you'll find all sorts of interesting designs, including this fun triangle bookmark.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1562133431/turn-on-the-light?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=needlepoint+painted+canvas+book+cover&ref=sr_gallery-1-8&frs=1&cns=1&sts=1&content_source=3aafedb243d3654644d3e7ecad9a40bd15182f5b%253A1562133431&organic_search_click=1

Three Thimbles reminds us there are so many books and so little time.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1479887572/im-booked-handpainted-needlepoint-canvas?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=needlepoint+painted+canvas+book+cover&ref=sr_gallery-1-3&content_source=e96607417bdcb61a295749fa8fb39a7f82d5dd9d%253A1479887572&organic_search_click=1

And Crude Canvases lives up to its name.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1042015191/time-to-read-hand-painted-needlepoint?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=needlepoint+painted+canvas+book+cover&ref=sc_gallery-1-3&frs=1&cns=1&sts=1&plkey=df0696c571d84aa50f8da96166be93a79cd74203%3A1042015191

I just found Heidi the Book Lover on Instagram. She's one of Mopsey's Designers but I love how she Instas books and needlepoint.

https://www.instagram.com/thebookcanvas/?g=5

(Here are explanations of the symbols on her book canvases.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9Kn_aEp7Sl/?g=5&img_index=1

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9Px3ajp4OQ/?g=5&img_index=2

We have two book stacks, one with a Christmas tree and one without.

https://woolfloss.com/products/book-stack-tree?_pos=4&_sid=3def25d7b&_ss=r

https://woolfloss.com/products/gift-of-knowledge-book-stack?_pos=7&_sid=3def25d7b&_ss=r

There's a third stack of Harry Potter book titles.

https://woolfloss.com/products/harry-potter-books-bear?_pos=2&_sid=3def25d7b&_ss=r

I don't know who created the "Dear Reader" canvas but it would make a cute bookmark.

https://goodpointneedlepoint.com/collections/needlepoint-canvases/products/dear-reader-canvas?omnisendContactID=66080898ab4e8bdd0a8ac5bb&utm_campaign=campaign%3A+%F0%9F%92%9C+Dearest+Gentle+Reader...+%28664291d0c4077c62bad4e509%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=omnisend

"The Plot Thickens" is a shop exclusive from The Wool and The Floss.  The designer is Saturnalia Stitching.

https://woolfloss.com/products/liz-s-mantra?_pos=1&_sid=e28210fcc&_ss=r

I don't know the designer for "Happily Ever After" but it sure is cute with its fairytale castle on the pages of a book.

https://goodpointneedlepoint.com/collections/shop/products/happily-ever-after-canvas

Kyra Cotter Designs has lots of new book-themed small designs for Penny Linn.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8uj9vdJNFo/?g=5&img_index=1

Need a stack of books key fob?

https://woolfloss.com/products/books-key-fob-2268?_pos=56&_sid=3def25d7b&_ss=r

The Meredith Collection's reading mouse is adorable.

https://woolfloss.com/products/xo-307-mouse-house-bookworm?_pos=84&_sid=3def25d7b&_ss=r

Happy reading to all those bookworms out there!

https://woolfloss.com/products/bookworm?_pos=81&_sid=3def25d7b&_ss=r

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 1, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

December is for Giving

December is the time for giving and in that spirit, three designers have announced their Charts for Charity for 2023:

The Wool and the Floss is sponsoring My Pink Sugar Life's design, sales of which will go toward Parkinson's Disease research.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0dG3ORNX3K/?g=5&img_index=4

Mopsey Designs is donating toward Maine Needs with this three Christmas tree design.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0U2Ch-r2JD/

Fire and Iris is donating to COVER, which does urgent home repairs, with this hilarious Rocky Raccoons Family Holiday Party.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0T7dc_rLyX/

Saturnalia Stitching's "Peppermint Butterfly" supports Bags to Butterflies, which supports women re-entering society from prison.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0U7p81rV6G/

The Gingham Stitchery's "Go Taylor's Boyfriend" benefits the Burundi Miracle Project and the two book charts (use the right side arrows to view) benefit Scholarship America.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0XDaSqLaUb/?g=5&img_index=1

These can be purchased from The Needlepoint Clubhouse.  Just choose the one (or ones) you want.

https://www.needlepointclubhouse.com/products/charts-for-charity-2023?variant=40386294284421

Rachel Barri's "Shalom Dove" benefits ADL National, which fights anti-Semitism.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0UwpKNvhWT/

Alice and Blue's "Let It Snow" ornament benefits Protect Our Winters, a climate change organization.

https://aliceandblue.com/collections/canvases-for-a-cause/chart

This isn't part of the Charts for Charity program, but Ridgewood Needlepoint is promoting Vanessa's Gift of Giving Holiday Fund Raiser, to promote cancer research which killed the former owner of Ridgewood.

https://ridgewoodneedlepoint.com/vanessas-gift-of-giving-holiday-fundraiser/

Here's to a better holiday for all!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

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

Saturnalia Stitching

I just stumbled across the designs created by Saturnalia Stitching.

https://www.saturnaliastitching.com/

Abbey loves books and architecture and retro designs, all of which show up in her pieces.  Her "Starry Skies" window with the moon and stars visible just over the piles of books in her window is just so me!  Then there is her "Bookish" ornament and coordinating needle minder....

However, you might be a sci fi fan or into retro music and film or even prefer counted canvaswork--Abbey does charts, too.  See what describes you best on her website or Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/saturnaliastitching/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright August 22, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.