The Couching Class

Kathy at The Unbroken Thread decided to take a couching class to combat the stitching blahs.  

http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2021/03/21/couching/

Look at all she achieved!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 21, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The New Unbroken Thread Studio

Kathy of the Unbroken Thread has relocated to Iowa and has her new studio set up.  I thought you'd love seeing the fabulous space she has in her new home.  Eventually she'll be able to offer classes once some necessary renovation work is finished.  Congratulations, Kathy!  Hope this is as functional and fun as it looks!
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2018/03/27/new-embroidery-studio/

Here you can see Kathy stitching away in the new studio.
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2018/03/31/trevelyons-pocket-progress/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 28, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Long and Short Tips

One of the techniques used in crewel embroidery is long and short stitch, which greatly resembles needle painting except it is done in a less free-form style.   You can achieve beautiful and realistic shading with this technique.  Kathy took a class with Owen Davies on this technique and kindly shares her tips for creating the best long and short stitched area possible.
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2016/09/20/pineapple-long-and-short-shading/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 20, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Interesting DIY Framing Tip

The Unbroken Thread has a fantastic do -t-yourself framing tip!  That Ikea frame looks like a good purchase, too.
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2016/05/20/water-canvaswork-finally-framed/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 20, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Kathy's Handy Dandy Household Tip for Holding Needles

Kathy at The Unbroken Thread has had problems with her fingers gripping needles recently and came up with an ingenious fix.  Kathy, you're VERY clever!
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2015/09/22/holding-the-needle/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 22, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitching Order Matters

Kathy at The Unbroken Thread explains in detail how to achieve perspective in stitch.  This is a crewel piece but the principle is the same in needlepoint.
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2015/09/12/loveday-crewelwork-shaded-roses/

Those who have a Facebook account will want to "follow" Helen M. Stevens True Embroideries as Helen posts photos of her amazing embroidery pieces with hints how to achieve perspective and realism using various stitches.  Again, she doesn't needlepoint but the principles (and stitches!) remain the same.
https://www.facebook.com/HelenMStevensTrueEmbroideries?fref=ts

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 12, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Twisted Tale

I think you'll love the photographs Kathy took of learning to make a tassel and cording at the Royal School of Embroidery.
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2015/07/29/rsn-diploma-passimentiere-part-1-the-cord/

She took photos of the tassel skirt making part, too.!
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2015/08/03/rsn-passimentiere-part-2-tassel-skirt/

Now for the ruff.
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2015/08/07/rsn-passimentiere-part-3-tassel-ruff/

And finally the assembly of the parts into a tassel.
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2015/08/15/rsn-passimentiere-part-4-assembly/

The classes are part of her RSN diploma, which includes having to learn passimentiere, which is making tassels and cording.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 31, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tip for Perfect Buttonhole Stitches in a Curved Area

If you have ever struggled to fit buttonhole stitches into a perfect curve, you need to read this. 
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2015/05/30/loveday-crewelwork-little-brown-sparrow/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 30, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Kathy's Assessment for RSN Canvaswork

Kathy worked a lovely Asian snow scene for her Royal School certificate in canvaswork over the last few months and just got it back. You can see the finished piece and read what the folks who judged it said on her blog.  This is Kathy's first piece of needlepoint, so prepare to be amazed!
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2015/05/16/rsn-canvaswork-assessment-remember-this-project/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 16, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

"Wash Your Hands!"

Kathy is taking a silk shading class at the Royal School of Needlework.  She's stitching on silk fabric with cotton floss but even though she washes her hands before each stitching session and has the piece protected by tissue paper, she still got a mark on the silk fabric.  Here's how she got it out.
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2015/03/14/rsn-silk-shading-keeping-the-silk-clean/

This makes my godmother's admonition to always wash your hands before stitching and wash them occasionally during stitching sound very clever.  Wash Your Hands!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 15, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

I Want to Borrow Kathy's Dad

When you see all the work Kathy's dad did to make her floor stand more stable so she could use slate frames on them, you will want to borrow him, too! 
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2014/09/03/a-better-stand-thanks-to-dad/

Slate frames are large and heavy.  You can see one being set up here by Mary Corbert.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2008/07/dressing-slate-frame-for-embroidery.html

Here is the NeedleNeeds website in case you wish to explore their floor stands.  This is a United Kingdom company, by the way, which is why they aren't a familiar name to needlepointers in the States.
http://www.needleneeds.co.uk/store/needlework-stands-frames/10-necessaire-floor-stand.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 3, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Solving the Umbrella Problem

The Unbroken Thread has posted about the umbrella on the piece Kathy is doing for the Royal School of Needlework class she's taking.  First, here is the finished piece.  Look carefully at the umbrella.
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2014/05/20/rsn-canvaswork-bristol-day-4-done/

Here is what Kathy says about her next attempt to create a better umbrella.
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2014/05/24/creating-a-better-umbrella/

Last year I was privileged to stitch this charmer from Leigh Designs.  This is the large version of Bermuda, from the Caribe' series.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Mdl6267.html

Silk Ribbon Umbrella Close Up

The paper umbrella was stitched using long stitches in YLI's organza ribbon.  If I were to work it again, I might consider using either Silken Straw or Sea Grass, both of which would give a more papery look to the umbrella.  The ribbon was the perfect color, though, and I like how it turned out.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 25, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

RSN Canvaswork Class

Kathy at the Unbroken Thread posted finished photos of the piece she worked for her Royal School of Needlework canvaswork class. I love it! 
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2014/05/20/rsn-canvaswork-bristol-day-4-done/

Now we all wait nervously for her evaluation marks to come back.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 21, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Visit When You Can, Shop Online When You Cannot UPDATED

Judging from the countries where Blog's computer visitors originate, there are a lot of folks here who don't visit the U.S. shops in person. They rely on mail order. This can be expensive, with duties and postal costs and many shops simply don't want to bother.  Unbroken Thread's owner is in Germany and faces this sort of problem, but she's found a great mail order source in England.  You can read about her experiences here.
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2014/01/25/wow-threads-have-arrived/

Here is the direct link to the Londoun Bead Company's online store, which I had never heard of before.  Judging from Kathy's experience, this is a great source.  I hope some of you find this useful as well.
http://www.londonbeadco.co.uk/shopping/index.html

If you have to mail order your needlepoint supplies and are not in the U.S., what shops have you found to be very useful?  Please comment below or email me at chilly hollow at hotmail dot com and I will post the shop for you here.

UPDATE:  Kathy visited the shop while taking a course from the Royal School.  Here's what she said.
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2014/02/24/rsn-canvsawork-a-day-exploring-london/

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

Touch--Don't Touch

Kathy's been working an embroidered quilt top, showing progress photos on The Unbroken Thread.   Today's posting is especially interesting as she raises the question about stitching things that are meant to be touched versus stitching things meant to be put away, kept out of the reach of little (and big) hands.  We all know models in shops and exhibit items are irresistible--hands seem drawn to them.  Are we making a mistake not stitching for touch?
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2013/12/03/gaelic-autumn-quilt-square-2/

No matter how you feel about folks' touching your needlepoint, check out the textural acorn tops Kathy created by the artful scattering of French knots.  That's something I want to remember to use!

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.

Is it Stem Stitch or Outline Stitch? UPDATED

I use stem stitch a lot but I am never sure when what I call stem stitch is actually outline stitch. If you are as confused as I am about the difference between the two stitches, you'll want to bookmark this terrific article by Kathy Andrews that clearly explains the different between the two stitches and also talks about S and Z twist threads.   Thanks, Kathy!  This is great!
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2013/06/30/stem-outline-s-and-z-whew/

UPDATE:  By coincidence Sandy Arthur also explains the difference in these two stitches for the July 2013 preview of Needlepoint Now magazine.
http://www.needlepointnow.com/wordpresstest/wp-content/uploads/NN_NWSLTR-0713.pdf

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.