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.

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.

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.

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.

ANG's SOTM for 2016

The American Needlepoint Guild's new Stitch of the Month (SOTM) project for 2016 is live on their website now.  It is a geometric sampler designed by Susan Hoekstra called "Feuilles d’ananas" (or Pineapple Leaves).
http://www.needlepoint.org/Stitch.php

First, click on the Introduction.  A PDF file will open with a photo of the finished piece and a list of threads you'll need plus the diagram that shows where each featured monthly stitch goes.  You can use your own threads and colors, though, and the introduction will explain how.

Then click on the link to the diagram to the Four Way Amedeus Arrow for the diagram for the first stitch in the project.  Again, you'll find a PDF file you can download to get the first step done.

Around the first of each month a new stitch will be posted to the SOTM part of ANG's website.  The Introduction's road map shows where each stitch is used.

Have fun!

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

The Stitch of the Month Project for 2015

ANG's Stitch of the Month program for 2015 has started!  This year the project is a dimensional water lily using reversible stitches.  Here is the January lesson.  Each month throughout 2015 the designer Rozelle Hirschfelt will post a lesson so you can stitch a bit each month and finish the project by next January.
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2015/jan.php

The American Needlepoint Guild has run their Stitch of the Month (SOTM) program since 1998.  Here is the main page so you can explore past designs and stitches.
http://www.needlepoint.org/Stitch.php

So, what color is your water lily going to be?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 5, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitch of the Month 2014

A lot of folks have been eagerly awaiting ANG's announcement of the Stitch of the Month program for 2014. Without any more fanfare, here it is!
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2014/jan.php

Bookmark the main page and come back around the first of each month to see what happens next.
http://www.needlepoint.org/Stitch.php

Many kudos to the folks at the American Needlepoint Guild for running this program every year since 1998!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitch of the Month 2013

ANG's Stitch of the Month program is going strong, as you can see from the Polski Needlepoint blog, which is highlighting various color schemes for the 2013 Stitch of the Month design from various Polish stitchers.   If you would like to read a bit about each design, scroll down to the bottom of the right hand column and turn on the translator.
http://polskineedlepoint.blogspot.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Leveraging ANG

Melita, who is inventive beyond compare, and her guild are using two Stitch of the Month stitches from the ANG website to create simple and fun Christmas ornaments.  Learn a new stitch--make a pretty ornament for your tree (or for a friend).  Win-win!
http://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2013/11/19/practice-ornaments/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

SOTM 2012 Finished

Liz Morrow has finished her Stitch of the Month project for 2012 from ANG's website. I wasn't wild about the design but Liz has made the most of it. Wait'll see the background she created for it--spectacular!  Click on the tiny photo to embiggen it to enjoy her work.
http://lizartblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/2012-sotm-finished.html

ANG's Stitch of the Month (SOTM) program has started in 2013 with a Bargello piece from Debbie Stiehler.  Click on January 2013 to get started on this one yourself.
http://www.needlepoint.org/Stitch.php

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

Stitch of the Month

A second Stitch of the Month design has showed up on the Internet. Many of you are familiar with ANG's Stitch of the Month design series. Now Blue Dogwood Designs has their own free SOTM series.
http://www.bluedogwooddesigns.com/sgom/01-2013-SOM.pdf

If you aren't familiar with ANG's program, here is their project page.  Both work the same way--a new stitch for a section of the design will appear each month during 2013.
http://www.needlepoint.org/Stitch.php

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

Stitch and Zip eBook Reader Project

My Stitch and Zip eBook Project

I was amazed to see this little Stitch and Zip cosmetic bag on the Needleart Nut's blog tonight because I have just started a Stitch and Zip project myself.  Here is what Pat's done on hers.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2012/11/cosmetic-bag.html

I wanted something to stitch on Election Day as I anticipate that there will be lulls in voting while I am helping at the polls as an election official for my county.  Belleza is way too large to take with me although I expect she would draw a LOT of attention!  Instead, I am taking an eBook Reader case with me.  I bought the coffee themed one on sale at the local big box crafts emporium last summer.
http://www.stitchandzipkits.com/kindle-cases/

The person I want to give this to doesn't drink coffee, so I decided I would use a charted pattern on the cover instead.  I choose SharonG's gorgeous Brocade Variation stitch from her 2005 Stitch of the Month project for ANG.
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2005/nov.php

I have recently been given some of Planet Earth Fiber's new wool so I choose a skein of that in dark green (Juniper #062) to set up the grid that is the basis for this stitch.  That's what you see being done in the photo above.
http://www.annieandco.com/collections/planet-earth-wool/?view=5000

I left the case unzipped in the photo so you can see the Stitch and Zip front and back.  The back fabric is a sturdy thin velveteen.  I will probably put padding beneath my needlepoint and then slip stitch a piece of Ultrasuede over the back side to give extra padding and protection for the front of the eBook reader itself when the case is zipped close.

I have to say the Planet Earth wool is quite nice stuff.  You can see the strand of green in the photo plus an unopened skein of tan in the photo.   It is 90 percent wool and 10 percent nylon so it doesn't feel scratchy.  If I didn't know better I would think it was a silk/wool blend with just a little less shine than these threads normally have.   I am allergic to wool and never stitch with it in the summer when it is hot.  But I haven't felt the itch with this wool.  Still, it has been unseasonably cold and this might be less easy to stitch with next July.  It covers well on the 14 count interlock canvas used by Stitch and Zip cases.  Interlock does occasionally rub off a tiny bit of wool if I am using too long a length but I think that is just because interlock abrades threads more than regular canvas does.  I am using a size 20 needle and trying to remember to cut smaller lengths and haven't had a problem very often, only when I pick out and restitch an area because I can't count properly.

I'll post a photograph of the finished piece once it is done.

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

Stitch of the Month Witch Hat Progress

Sheena has posted progress on her Stitch of the Month project--which is a witch's hat instead of the heart of the original SOTM design.  Because she is making it up as she goes along instead of following the posted pattern, she is changing things she's already done to make the whole project more pleasing.  It's a fun way to learn about design and trusting your own instincts when it comes to what looks good.
http://sheenassweetstitches.com/stitches-atenti-caddy/2012/01/sample-post/


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

On the Road with Sheena UPDATED

Those of you who have been eagerly awaiting Sheena's next Stitch of the Month posting on her witch hat version of ANG's heart shape design for this year will have to wait a bit longer. Sheena and her trusty Newfoundland Angus are on the road!  She's been having fun at Bedecked and Beaddazzled in the Baltimore suburbs.  I love all the photographs of the inside of the shop.  It's the next best thing to being there.
http://sheenassweetstitches.com/fun-at-bedecked-beadazzled/2012/01/sample-post/

If you've not seen what Sheena's designed so far for her Stitch of the Month, here're the links.  She picked up supplies at Bedecked for the April and to use where ANG has heart beads.
http://sheenassweetstitches.com/tick-tock-a-hat-needed-stitching/2012/01/sample-post/

http://sheenassweetstitches.com/april-fools-on-us/2012/01/sample-post/

http://sheenassweetstitches.com/transferring-to-canvas-fun-accoutrements/2012/01/sample-post/

http://sheenassweetstitches.com/stitch-of-the-month-turned-to-a-witchs-hat/2012/01/sample-post/

UPDATE:  Sheena's posted the threads she used for her April Stitch of the Month area.
http://sheenassweetstitches.com/threads-for-april-stitch/2012/01/sample-post/

The PDF file of the witch hat outline is on this page in case you want to stitch along with Sheena.
http://sheenassweetstitches.com/stitches-2/


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

How To Draw a Witch's Hat

Anyone who wants to do ANG's Stitch of the Month as a Halloween project, will want to read Sheena's tutorial on how to trace her witch hat design onto needlepoint canvas. She also lists the threads she will use for the first two month's stitches here.
http://sheenassweetstitches.com/transferring-to-canvas-fun-accoutrements/2012/01/sample-post/


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

SOTM Goes Halloween UPDATED

The American Needlepoint Guild's Stitch of the Month project for 2012 is a sampler in a heart shape that you fill in with stitches, one each month.
http://www.needlepoint.org/Stitch.php

You choose your colors and embark on the adventure without knowing what stitches will be used or how the overall project will look beyond the colors. But not everyone likes hearts. What to do? Folks on the ANG email list decided to draw a cat shape and fill that in, but this customization relies on some drawing skill, or the ability to find a cat outline you can trace. If you like Halloween and are wondering how to do the project in a non-romantic way, Sheena's come to the rescue.  She is doing this as a witch's hat!
http://sheenassweetstitches.com/stitch-of-the-month-turned-to-a-witchs-hat/2012/01/sample-post/

You can pick up the same threads and canvas Sheena ordered from The Scarlet Thread.  They are willing to kit this for you, even though the threads and canvas are not listed on their site yet.  UPDATE:  Here's the direct link.  Apparently they plan to send Sheena's hat outline with each order, which is a nice touch.
http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/ScarletThread/-strse-3325/Stitch-of-the-Month%2C/Detail.bok

The witch's hat outline is on Sheena's blog above. It's in the middle column about a third of the way down the page, Look for "Stitchy Files" and then click on the right PDF file to download the pattern which you then trace onto your own canvas.  Then you too can join the SOTM project with witchy fun.

Very creative, Sheena!


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

Rumor Mill: ANG SOTM Thread Shortage

According to Needle in a Haystack, ThreadworX's overdyed floss #1089, which is used in the ANG Stitch of the Month program for 2012, is going to be hard to get for the next month.  You might want to check around and see if another shop has it if you are certain you want to use the model colors from the ANG website.
http://needlestack.typepad.com/whats_new/2012/02/threadworx-floss-1089-out-of-stock.html


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

The Two-Toned SOTM

If you've been listening to folks at the ANG email list decide to do their SOTM project in a cat or square or any other shape than the original heart, you probably thought things couldn't deviate any more. WRONG!

Scarlet Thread has come up with a two toned colorways for the project, which is red in the original model.  They have restocked the purple, red and blue color sets they have assembled, too.  Check it all out here.
http://stitchything.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-two-tone-colorway-for-2012-sotm.html


The inventiveness of needlepointers is beyond anything you can imagine!

By the way, Scarlet Thread is working the SOTM project slightly differently than in a heart shape.  If you want to do something a bit differently, you might like to see what Sarea Leigh says about her progress.
http://stitchything.blogspot.com/2012/01/stitching-ang-2012-stitch-of-month.html


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

Stitch of the Month and Monday Mystery Progress Reports

If you are working on ANG's Stitch of the Month program for 2012 you'll enjoy seeing how Liz' version (based on the original reds) is turning out.
http://lizartblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-stitch-of-month-progress-1.html

Laura Perin has posted the last bit about Monday Mini Mystery #4.  It's interesting to see two versions in two colors.
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2012/01/mini-mystery-monday-4-pt-3.html


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

SOTM

ANG has posted the January 2012 information for their Stitch of the Month (SOTM) program. For some reason it's not linked on the regular SOTM page, probably because January 1 is a Sunday and their webmaster won't show up for work until tomorrow. Anyway, here's the direct link to the first lesson if you are a big fan who can't wait!
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2012/jan.php


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