Button, Button, Who Has the Buttons?

Sometimes you need just the right button for your canvas.  If you want to browse what's available online, Three Stitches in Texas has tons of buttons from Just Another Button Company on their website.
http://www.3stitches.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=5_578

Threadneedle Street is another great needlepoint shop with a large selection of buttons on their website.  Click on Buttons and then browse the left side of the page to select from Susan Clarke, Mill Hill and Just Another Button Company treats.  Before you start looking for the perfect finishing button, though, read the information in the center of the page for washing instructions, sizes, and other important details.
http://www.threadneedlestreet.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 5, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Where to Get Floor Frames for Evertites?

Yesterday KL posted a comment on an older article here at Blog, one where I reviewed Evertite stretcher bars. Here's the link to the review.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2009/11/evertites-review.html

The comment read in full, "Where to buy a floor frame to hold the Evertite while stitching?"  It's an ambiguous question.  Is KL asking me what shops sell floor frames?  Or is KL asking what floor frames are likely to be able to hold the heavier-than-usual Evertites?

Let's look at the second question first.  Evertites are heavier and thicker than the stretcher bars we normally see used with needlepoint canvas.  This video from Needlepoint Now magazine shows stretcher bars being assembled and a canvas attached to them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipGkBY_7cO0

Compare that video to this photographic essay on putting linen on Evertites and you can see that the Evertites are probably a third thicker.  They are at least twice as heavy, perhaps more.  I haven't weighed a set of comparable sizes but trust me, there is a big difference!
http://www.needlenthread.com/2008/07/evertite-stretcher-bar-frames-for.html

This means you need a floor frame that has a very stable base and that also has an adjustable clamp to grab any size stretcher bars, from the very skinny ones to Evertites.  I use the K's metal floor stand which has a clamp that works very well with Evertites.  But look at the base.  It is a metal plate.  I usually stitch with that plate under my chair leg for stability but what if you like to have your floor stand right in front of you instead of to the side?  K's has now created a wooden base that works with their metal stand to provide more stability and to accommodate those who just don't like the Big Foot metal plate type of stand.  K's also has a very stable wooden frames called the Ultimate Stitching Station and the Basic Stitching Station.  I've heard that you can get accessories called Universal Clamps that adjust to any size or type of frame and even will hold Q Snaps.  I have no personal experience with this type of frame, though.  You can see the K's metal stand with the Big Foot metal plate base, the new wooden frame base for the metal stand and the all wooden Ultimate Stitching Station at Stitcher's Paradise, which is a good place to buy floor frames.
http://www.stitchers-paradise.com/Stands/KsCreations.html

Stitcher's Paradise also has photographs of the Lowery floor stand on their site.  It is quite similar to the K's metal stand but the metal plate is larger and the clamp is slightly different.  Friends with Lowery floor stands rave about them, although I have not used this frame.  I'd appreciate anyone with Lowery/Evertites experience to let us know how well they work together in the comments.
http://www.stitchers-paradise.com/Stands/Lowery.html

It looks like the System Four (which is perfect for sitting in front of the stitcher's chair) has a very stable base.  I have not used this frame although I have friends who have it and love it.  The photographs on the Threadneedle Street website (this is a good place to buy floor frames, by the way) show the clamp holding Evertites, so it looks like the System Four will work.  I'd appreciate anyone with System Four/Evertites experience to let us know how well they work together in the comments.
http://www.threadneedlestreet.com/accessories.htm

Mary Corbet has done a review of the System Four which has lots of photographs of this stand in action.  Be sure you read all the comments at the bottom of the article if you are interested in getting a System Four.  Mary says she uses Evertites with her System Four all the time but you do need the "frame clamp" accessory.  Mary does embroidery, not much needlepoint, so she probably has a variety of heads to accommodate hoops and other non-stretcher bars.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2008/01/needlework-system-4-floor-stand-review.html

You might also be interested in hearing from a very happy customer of the System Four. I've posted the most about the System Fours, but I have to say I wouldn't trade my K's metal stand for any other.  It suits me best.
http://dianestakingtimeouttoneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2012/04/system-4-needlepoint-stand.html

KL, I hope all this answers your questions.  Please note that there are many frames I haven't mentioned that will work, but since a lot of them are not made by U.S. companies, I confined my comments to floor frames that are easily available to American needlepointers.

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

The "New" Medici

Janet Perry reviews the replacement for Medici wool that you can pick up at Threadneedle Street.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/the-medici-problem

If you want to try some for yourself, here's what Threadneedle says about it from their website.
http://www.threadneedlestreet.com/Medicis.html

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

Threadneedle Street Announces Replacement for Medici

Threadneedle Street sent me the following message announcing a replacement for Medici wool.  I am reproducing this with their permission.  Their email address for further information is at the end of the message.
Jane, waving from Chilly Hollow

*****************************************

NEEDLEWORK NEWS FROM THREADNEEDLE STREET

Special Announcement, February 12, 2010

IT'S BACK!

Our Medicis rack before		Our Medicis rack after

Many of us were shocked when we learned a couple of years back that DMC would stop producing Medicis wool yarn. As supplies dwindled and color after color sold out, people wondered what they would use in its place. More than one company has come along offering yarn that they suggest we use instead of Medicis, but none of it is yarn that duplicates the color range of Medicis.

We are pleased to announce that Medicis is back - but with a few changes. Here are the pertinent facts:

1) This yarn is not being produced by DMC.
2) It IS being produced in nearly the same color range as when it came from DMC.
3) Color numbers are also the same.
4) Yardage of skeins is the same as before, 25 meters (approximately 27 yards).
5) It is no longer available in hanks.
6) Eventually it will not be called Medicis. For now we will continue to refer to it as Medicis as that is the name people know it by, and many colors are still in stock with DMC Medicis labels.
7) Six old colors of Medicis will be discontinued. Although we still have inventory of these colors, when they are gone they will no longer be dyed. Thirteen NEW colors of Medicis are also being produced.

New Medicis colors

8) Not surprisingly, the cost of Medicis skeins has gone up. DMC has had 2 price increases in their line since Medicis was discontinued. If DMC still produced Medicis, they almost certainly would have raised the price. Currently we have Medicis yarn at $1.40 per skein.

There are bound to be skeptics out there who will question whether the new Medicis is the same as the old. In my opinion, they are virtually identical products. Even dye lots are comparable. Although every thread occasionally has dye lot differences between batches, in cases where we have the same color in both old and new Medicis, nearly all are virtually identical to the old colors. Two colors are a little different but they are probably an improvement over the original colors. Great care has been taken to ensure the quality of yarn and dyeing.

Original DMC Medicis colors side by side with replacements

Here is a list of all Medicis colors, with both discontinued and new colors indicated:

White	Black	Ecru	Navy	8009**	8023**	8026	8027	8095**	8096**
8100	8101	8102	8103	8104	8105	8106	8107	8108	8109
8110	8111	8113	8114	8118	8119	8120*	8122	8123	8124
8125	8126	8127	8128	8129	8132	8133	8134	8135	8136
8139*	8151	8153	8155	8164	8166	8168	8173	8175	8176
8200	8201	8202	8203	8204*	8205	8206	8207	8208	8209
8210	8211	8212	8214	8221	8223	8224	8225	8300	8301
8302	8303	8304	8305	8306	8307*	8308	8309	8314	8313
8320	8321	8322	8323	8324	8325	8326	8327	8328	8331
8332	8333	8334**	8341	8342	8344	8346	8369	8380	8381
8390**	8397	8400	8401	8402	8403	8404	8405	8406	8407
8408	8409	8410	8411	8412	8413	8414	8415	8416	8417
8418	8419	8420	8421	8422	8426	8427	8484	8500	8501
8502	8503	8504	8505	8506	8507	8508	8509	8512	8514
8515	8542**	8543**	8544**	8567*	8610	8611	8618	8627**	8634**
8666	8685	8713	8720	8725	8739	8742	8748	8794	8798
8799	8800	8813**	8816	8817	8818	8825**	8838	8839	8840
8841	8842	8845	8846	8871	8877	8895	8896	8897*	8898
8899	8904	8908	8930	8931	8932	8940	8941	8955	8993
8995	8996	8997

*Discontinued color, available while supplies last
**New color

Copyright 2010. All prices are in U.S. dollars and are subject to change without notice.

www.threadneedlestreet.com
e-mail: custservice@threadneedlestreet.com

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

Needlepoint News

I've got many tidbits of news for today. First (and most importantly), Denise at Threadneedle Street has posted a list of all the Anchor perle cotton threads with the colors which are being discontinued on her website. If you need any of the Anchor perle cottons, check Denise's list and buy the ones that will disappear ASAP. Denise says she has many customers who are just realizing that Medici has been discontinued and can't find the colors they need. Don't let this happen to you with Anchor perle cottons! Again, none of the Anchor floss colors are being discontinued. This just applies to some of the perle cotton colors which they will no longer make. Here is the website page, which links to a PDF file. Thanks for looking out for us stitchers, Denise!
http://www.threadneedlestreet.com/AnchorPearl.html

Chaparral's e-newsletter announced that they have three new clubs joining the current Merry Christmas series which spells out the words in sparkly letters. They are going to do the Kelly Clark Nativity series of thirteen canvases (there are three other pieces in the series which are optional), a set of Staffordshire houses (based on the Staffordshire china houses I suppose) finished with velvet roofs, and a mini-series of Melissa Shirley's Valentine postcard kids similar to the old fashioned Halloween and Christmas series from the last two years. None of this is shown on their website yet but if you live in Texas close to the shop, you can see some models on display. Watch this area of their website for more information late this month--
http://www.ndlpt.com/html/series.html

Nordic Needle has posted wonderful information about SuZy Murphy's newest book, SuZy's Mini Stitches. I've been wondering just what was in this book so I was delighted to see a photo of the cover and read a description of the contents.
http://www.nordicneedle.com/PROD/1385.html

Finally, the American Needlepoint Guild has started their 2009 Stitch of the Month program. This year the design is from Tony Minieri. You can see Glittering Kimono on the ANG website. The design is posted now along with the list of threads you will need. You are to trace the line drawing on your canvas and then starting at the end of this month, the stitches that go in each section will be revealed. It's a fun departure of the more usual way this has worked, with the design not appearing until December after you've had a chance to master the eleven monthly stitches shown before the unveiling of the design.
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2009/jan.php

On a more personal note, I'm still stitching away on my Baroque Fish from the Household Pet Guardian Angel series but I'm pretty busy in my real life so I'm not getting much done. Of course, you aren't too interested in seeing my background basketweave progress anyway! I will post a photo when everything is finished up.

So stay tuned. Lots of fun stuff going on in cyberspace, even if the most excitement in my house these days is getting the taxes done.

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Threadneedle Street Has a Button for YOU!

I subscribe to all the shop newsletters I can find. Yesterday's email brought me one from Threadneedle Street in Issqauah, Washington. This is my go-to shop for all things silk gauze and for books. It is a wonderful place and Denise the owner really knows her silks. The newsletter lists the new thread colors in Gloriana silks, Impressions, Soie Crystale, ThreadWorX floss, Neon Rays+, Crescent Colours and Weeks Dye Works flosses.

Denise also announced that Anchor is discontinuing colors in their perle cottons. I'm going to quote her in full here for the benefit of folks who have projects that use the Anchor perle cotton:

"Anchor is in the process of discontinuing a fairly large number of pearl cotton colors. We have never stocked much of the Anchor #3 pearl cotton, but in Germany they have discontinued nearly all available size 3 colors, and as a result, the US will no longer import size 3 Anchor at all. In size 5 pearl cotton, Anchor is discontinuing about one third of the colors. In size 8 pearl cotton they are also discontinuing about one third of the colors, and in size 12 pearl cotton, they will discontinue 12 out of 47 colors, leaving only 35 colors still available. Some inventory still remains of discontinued colors, but if you have a project requiring Anchor pearl cotton, this is a good time to check availability of colors and purchase any colors slated to be discontinued."

If you need more information, call or email Threadneedle Street. Please note that the Anchor floss colors are unchanged. Only their line of perle cottons is effected. Here is the website for Threadneedle Street.
http://www.threadneedlestreet.com/

The shop stocks a lot of books, including the new English Embroidery catalogue from the museum exhibit, SuZy Murphy's new Mini Stitches book, and of course buttons galore. above the the newest and oddest button in their collection--a bedpan button!

Well, you can't say Threadneedle Street doesn't make every effort to satisfy their customers.

By the way, I forgot to mention that if you visit Threadneedle Street's online shop, you can see their new painted canvases by clicking on Needlepoint at the top of the page, then finding 2009 Part I on the left side of the new page and clicking there.

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow