How Many Strands?

Thanks to Needlepoint Nation, I know that Old World Designs has posted a chart on their website to help folks decide how many strands or plies of various thread brands to use on their canvas.

https://www.oldworlddesigns.com/fibers.htm?fbclid=IwAR3SNZs0MNDEMDLDqFLk3zFFiuPU9rcZ7uAZP-xLvDmL8iCywVfE8D6aql4

Note that I don't agree with some of their ideas (I almost always use Accentuate alone, for example) and how many plies depends on not only the brand of thread and the canvas count, but your thread tension, the color, and the stitch you want to use.  I always suggest some test stitches in the margins to find out what will work for you.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 5, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Fiber Pharm: The Threadaholic's Dream

Need threads but you don't have a shop?  Fiber Pharm to the rescue!

https://fiberpharmllc.com

You can buy a collection of fibers, or just a skein, or you can purchase what they call a "Curated Collection," which is a selection of fibers for a variety of canvases.  The canvases are purchased separately.  Designs featured come from Alice and Blue, Rachel Barri, Bad Bitch, CSH Needlepoint Designs, Crude Canvases, A Dragon's Tale, Emily G Stitches, Evelyn Designs, Everyday Needlepoint, Fire and Iris Designs, Frances Mary Needlepoint, Jenny Henry, Hudson Stitchery, Jenya Rose, Kayla Lu Designs, Lazy Lane, Mopsy Designs, One Part Whimsy, Over the Hill Needlepoint, Oz Needle and Thread, Poppy's Designs, Judy Tasch, Rowdy Designs, Ruscella Designs, SBT Stitches, Silver Stitch, Skooter's Designs, Elizabeth Crane Schwartz, Texas Safari, Three Thimbles, What a Gem, WIP Stitch, Audrey Wu and Ziggy Stitches.

https://fiberpharmllc.com/collections/curated-collections

Never heard of the designer?  No worries.  Click on the thumbnail for a canvas you like and you'll see a link to the designer's website at the bottom of the listing for the threads for it, which is usually an Etsy page. Makes it easy to get threads that will work and then go pick up the canvas (although I suggest that you make sure the canvas is in stock before you buy the threads for it).

Many thanks to Deborah of A Dragon's Tale for telling NP Nation about this new website!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright October 10, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Needle Felting the Imari Tiger: Tools and Sources

Tiger, Wool Roving and Tools

My small version of the Imari Timeless Tiger has arrived from Leigh Designs!  I put him on stretcher bars and pulled out all my wool roving colors to try and find the best match to his rust coat color.  What you see above are the best matches.  I unrolled the dark brown on the left so you could see what wool roving looks like better.   (Before I forget, the design itself is six inches in diameter on 18 count canvas.)

I am not sure you can tell from the photograph but the labels of the wool roving brands read Dimensions and FeltWorks.  Those two along with Artiste are the brands available at the big box crafts emporiums in my area.  The unlabeled baggies were a gift from a knitting friend (Hi, Marj!) who picked them up at a crafts fair, I think.  

Disclaimer:  I know nothing about any of the sites I am mentioning in this article (except for Dharma Trading which has a good reputation among those who dye their own threads, and Thread Gatherer which is well known as a source for wonderful threads), so buyer beware. 

I can't tell any difference in the wool roving sold under the various brand names, but the hand dyed wool my friend sent me is much nicer.  It is softer and the colors are better.  Etsy is a good source for good quality wool roving if you really get into needle felting in a big way or if you have to mail order your supplies anyway and want a less common color.  Here is the first Etsy shop I came across with a nice selection of wool roving but there are quite a few more.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/woolgatherings

The Thread Gatherer also sells packets of wool roving that are overdyed if you want a more subtle look without having to blend two or more colors on your own.
http://www.threadgatherer.com/Black%20Sheep%20Page.htm

This website seems to cater to the needle felting and spinning enthusiast.  It has an amazing range of fiber sources!
http://www.paradisefibers.com/spinning/wool-roving.html?gclid=CNbIpZf1078CFSdp7AodgG8AYw

I asked Sandy Arthur about the tool brand she prefers since she has a lot more needle felting experience than I do.  Sandy says she likes the Clover brand the best.  Clover tools come with a felting block (the thing you put under whatever you are going to felt to protect your table) that looks more like a brush than the styrofoam-looking thing I own.  They also come in single and multiple needle forms.  Here is the multi-needle tool. It comes with a "finger guard" to keep you from needle felting yourself.
http://feltingsupplies.livingfelt.com/Clover-Needle-Felting-Tool-8900_p_352.html

Here is the pen style with multiple needles.
http://feltingsupplies.livingfelt.com/Clover-Pen-Needle-Felting-Tool-8901_p_353.html

Here is the single needle tool.
http://www.the-quilt-rack.com/browse.cfm/clover-single-needle-felting/4,5884.html

Here is the Clover felting mat.
http://feltingsupplies.livingfelt.com/Clover-Small-Felting-Mat-_p_355.html

As you can see my needles are set into a plastic handle which helps grip it with less hand cramping while you poke and prod your wool roving.  Many needles are bare, though.  I think a handle of some sort is a good idea myself.  But be careful buying needles. You want the ones with a barbed point that will go through the holes in 18 count canvas.  Some felting needles are designed for needle felted 3-D animals and they have star shaped ends, not points.
http://feltingsupplies.livingfelt.com/-Felting-Needles-Variety-Pack_p_16.html

I think from my experience with the small single felting needle that the tools with multiple needles will make needle felting go faster but I will stick with my single needle because my tiger's tail is small--about five threads wide and six threads high.  That's about a third of an inch.  I don't want to keep punching the canvas on either side of the tail with the bare needles.  So if you are considering needle felting a piece with small detailed areas, you might want to use single needles.  If you are interested in speed and have a large area without much detail to needle felt, the multiple needle set will work well.

Remember, these needles are thin and barbed.  Not only are they dangerously sharp and barbed, they break easily.  If you are trying to choose between the brands of kits available to you,  a kit with spare needles is a good investment.
http://www.dharmatrading.com/tools/clover-felting-needle-tool.html

My thanks to Sandy and Marj for their help and advice and Ruth Schmuff for her tips on needle felting.  No stitcher can tackle something new without the help of their friends.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© July 20, Copyright 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Which Fiber Should I Use?

Exclamation Point gives some things to consider when choosing threads, particularly if you are a new stitcher.
http://exclamationpoint.org/wordpress/?p=90

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 23, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.