Let's Railroad!

The Wool and the Floss has posted a short video showing you how to "railroad" threads on their Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1697355364820260

If you cross stitch, you've heard of railroading, but if you aren't, it's really easy to do.  Basically railroading substitutes for using laying tools if you are working with two plies of thread.  You come up as usual, then when you go down into your needlepoint canvas, you put your needle between the two threads.  This forces them to lay in two parallel straight lines like a railroad track, which is why it's called railroading.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright August 2, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Butterfly Broach

The Wool and The Floss shows off a great finishing idea for this butterfly canvas--make it a broach!

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2020306858602102

This is a moth in blue and pink, a printed canvas from Hermosa Stitch Studio who does several moth designs.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DD8ou_Vx0Li/

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1833485014/moth-blue-pink-printed-needlepoint

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 20, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Turkey Work the Brick Stitch Way

The Wool and The Floss posted a cute Blue Ridge Stitchery design that is covered in silk ribbon embroidery, prompting requests for directions to create the flower loops.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1329604485216849

It is turkeywork, but done with the tie down stitch done vertically over two threads instead of horizonally over two threads.  You can see how here.

https://woolfloss.com/blogs/tutorials/how-to-brick-style-turkey-work-for-needlepoint?fbclid=IwY2xjawSbgYVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFHbEQyMnRoY2sxVzVOYVNKc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtLb0b7WFwHrVs-FpPMhiCuv4KCA93KwICyj1GJz5InGVABW5-eu3MDbq_rW_aem_GOju0Kewg2BzxC4YJ1DL_A

Of course once the loops are in, they are not cut for this piece.  You need the ribbon loft to create the illusion of rhododendron in bloom.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright June 14, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How Hard is Messy Beading?

How hard is messy beading?  Not hard at all!  Just watch this short video that The Wool and The Floss posted showing how it is done.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1506068924577279

Easy peasy!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright May 23, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Create a Tiny Christmas Light

Colleen at The Wool and The Floss has a really clever way of making a dimensional Christmas bulb for this cute moose canvas.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1468994904890148

For those without a Facebook account, Colleen uses Flair, ties a knot in the end, then she goes down through the painted Christmas bulb, leaving the knot on the top.  Next, she creates a second knot with a French knot.  These two knots are padding.  The third step is to do satin stitches over the knots.  Then she ties off because she plans an open stitch background, so each Christmas tree light tangled around the antlers needs to be started/stopped right there, instead of dragging the Flair to another light bulb.  That would show though the open stitch background.

Smart!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 17, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Is That a Banana?!

Today's April Fool's Day, so this technology fail belongs here.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/3155885544584631

Kudoes to The Wool and The Floss for rolling with the (fruit) punches.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 28, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wrapped Back Stitch: The Movie

Colleen at The Wool and The Floss demonstrates wrapped back stitch, which gives you a smooth curved line.  It's perfect for stems, leaf veins, whiskers, even straight hair (although if you do rows of this, it is a bit tricky to wrap without catching neighboring threads).

https://www.facebook.com/reel/907245541792120

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 19, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Mustache: The Movie

The Wool and the Floss has a great idea for a mustache that has both thin and thick areas:  alternate basketweave with Colonial knots.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1883147888962442

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 12, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Bargello Tuck: The Movie

The Wool and the Floss demonstrates how to use the Bargello Tuck stitch to secure slippery threads such as Neon Rays on the back of your canvas.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DKamiwmx6Vp/

If you prefer written instructions, Louise's Needlework has a nice explanation on their Instagram page.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-aBXqAtyXU/?g=5&img_index=3

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright June 3, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tips for Stitching with Radiance Metallic UPDATED

The Wool and The Floss posted a video showing how to handle the untwisted ends of Radiance Metallic.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1179195107459802

If you can't see this because you don't have a Facebook account, Melissa says you can just ignore the fraying and cut off the ends, use Fray Check or fingernail polish dabbed on the end to seal it, or use the hot tip of a thread zapper to cauterize and seal the thread.

She also mentions that metallic threads have no "give" so you need to use stretcher bars for your piece since they don't block back into shape.  This is true for all metallic threads, by the way, not just Radiance.

By the way, Melita played around a bit with Radiance she had left over from an ANG Seminar class she took.  She doesn't say what size Radiance she used but I'm guess it's Radiance 18, not Radiance Mini (which is the smaller size).  By the way, I love stitching with Accentuate!  

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/09/28/radiance-metallics-by-meredith-willett-collection/

UPDATE:  Vicky of The Stitching Fox shows how to use wax on the tail of Radiance and explains it has a pop top, just like Kreinik.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/933807776290958

UPDATE #2:  Third Coast Stitches has a great article with videos on how to stitch with Radiance.

https://thirdcoaststitches.com/blogs/news/summer-stitching-with-radiance

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright September 28, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tips for Stitching with Radiance Metallic UPDATED

The Wool and The Floss just posted another video, this time of Meredith Willett who know know as a teacher, designer, finisher, shop owner, and now a thread manufacturer.  In the video Meredith talks about using beeswax to keep Radiance from unraveling and how to strip the plies and recombine them to use just like a floss.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/4188847241443688

UPDATE:  Vicky of The Stitching Fox shows how to use wax on the tail of Radiance and explains it has a pop top, just like Kreinik.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/933807776290958

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 8, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Laid Filling Stitches: The Movie

The Wool and the Floss just posted a short video demonstrating how to do laid fillings.  It sounds complicated and looks elegant but it is quick and easy even if a laying tool helps you put the first layer of stitches on smoothly.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/632867113182928

If you are intrigued and want a book full of different laid filling stitch diagrams, look for Jean Taggert's book, Laid Fillings for Even Weave Fabrics.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4355161827/laid-fillings-for-even-weave-fabrics-125

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 8, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Creating Feathers with Buttonhole Stitch: The Movie

The Wool and the Floss has posted a video tutorial on how to use buttonhole stitch for turkey feathers.  Here it is on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1138795315082441&set=gm.25008479295469226&idorvanity=108537025890131

It's actually quite easy.  Note that you will use a pretty fat thread but it won't completely cover the canvas.  If this bothers you, tent stitch the feathers with 1-2 plies of cotton floss first, then add the buttonhole stitch with your fatter thread on top.  If you go this route, use a slightly larger needle than usual for the button hole stitches.  Here's the video on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ5M_Q8kdOv/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 11, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Tool To Make Dark Canvases Easier to See

The Wool and the Floss has started using a hard silver pencil to mark on dark canvas.  You can also use it to lightly color over darker canvas to make it easier to see.  To answer your question, they say stitchers who have used it claim it doesn't come off on your threads because it is a very hard lead pencil.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/3311949072304266

The shop sells the Prismacolor Verithin Argent Metallique pencil in Metallic Silver bundled with a pencil sharpener in case you don't have one at home.

https://woolfloss.com/products/metallic-pencil-with-sharpener

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 8, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Wool and The Floss Does Twelve Days of Guessing

Because we should start out the New Year the way we intend to carry on, I bring you a video of The Wool and The Floss showing off the models for WIP Stitch's Twelve Days of (Southern) Christmas.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/780796518281747

If you want to try your own hand at guessing what each design shows, here is the entire WIP Stitch set.

https://www.barbarasneedlepoint.com/products/twelve-days-of-southern-christmas

Happy New Year, everybody!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 3, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Wool and The Floss Wraps Up 2026

The Wool and The Floss wraps up 2025 with listings of what canvases, threads, books and accessories were most popular this year, plus a report on their charitable giving.

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

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 28, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Make It Yours 2: Extraordinary Fonts

The Wool and The Floss shows off Krissy Johnson Designs' second book, Make It Yours 2:  Extraordinary Fonts.

https://www.instagram.com/thewoolandthefloss/reel/DO_QVBakYue/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPAJsM2kcCJ/?img_index=1

The Stitching Chicks flips through the book so you get a good idea of the various alphabets.

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

Krissy demonstrates how to use her books to put a monogram or name on your canvas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm2H4xpV3oM

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright September 26, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Why The Dinosaurs Died Out

The Wool and the Floss reminds us of the importance of needlepoint in our lives.

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

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright  August 18, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Santa's Beard in Twisted Lazy Daisy Stitches

Melissa at The Wool and The Floss demonstrates creating Santa's beard and eyebrows with twisted lazy daisy stitches.  

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNBUUD9RV8s/?img_index=1

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright August 7, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How to Create the Illusion of Depth

The Wool and the Floss just posted a short video with a tip from Paige of Blue Ridge Stitchery on how to create the illusion of depth with needlepoint stitches and threads.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMTObH6gY6c/

Basically, use larger stitches and thicker threads at the bottom (or in front), then gradually use a smaller scale stitch and less thread (often with open stitches) as you work your way to the top (or background).  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 20, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.