Showing posts with label needlepoint. Show all posts
Showing posts with label needlepoint. Show all posts

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Tariffs and Needlepoint

A friend asked me late last summer about how I thought tariffs would impact needlepoint.  As you can see, many designers are uncertain how this is going to work.  Tanya Bentham is an embroiderer in the UK who specializes in Medieval-style embroidery.  Her blog posting about tariffs is typical--she has to do two invoices to include tariff charges.

As for the impact on stitchers, prices will go up because so much of the raw materials for threads and other supplies comes from overseas. Right now the Canadian and UK suppliers are waiting for clarification on how this will all work.   Traditional Stitches in Canada has this to say about tariffs.

I also follow Colour Complements in Canada. Lorraine says that she's got a good grasp on how it will work now. She will have a list of how much tariff you'll pay that will be added on like shipping costs. I think the UK suppliers believe they will have an exception to tariffs but that's still in flux. 

Ehrman says that they add any tariffs or customs duties to their kits before they are sold so you won't have any surprises with an order from the UK. 

Susan Johnson of SJ Designs has discovered that manufacturers of certain bead and satin ribbon items are discontinuing them or going out of business entirely. She's looking for replacements in Central Europe.  I think some older owners of craft supplies businesses will choose to retire instead of coping with it all, especially if they can't find buyers for their firms.  Some items are going to be impossible to get.  Already the importer of Straw Silk is finding it almost impossible to get supplies from overseas and that may have to be discontinued.

A small painted canvas (let's say a 4 inch round) is approaching $90-100 each now. Of course there is still older inventory in the shops that costs $50-70 but you have to want a less popular design. Printed canvases are better quality now and I'm seeing more of them. Needlepoint.com is pointing the way, there.  Moore Stitching is another printed canvas firm with good quality items.  I've stitched both and had no problems, although I admit I don't really have an issue with figuring out what color goes where.  I just pick one and keep going.  

But I digress. I think painted canvas prices will continue to climb, threads will be harder to get (and more expensive), and lovely tools and embellishments like the Swarovski crystals that Swarovski is no longer making for the craft market may be harder to find, too.  If you can source good quality tools you want, buy them now.  On the other hand, issues like the problems getting Kreinik plus their switch to putting it on cards instead of spools means we have new suppliers of metallic threads like the Au Ver A Soie metallics that people are importing and the new Reflections metallics that Meredith of M's Canvas House has brought out.  So some companies are getting creative.  Overall, I think some things will be harder to get (embellishments, good quality tools) and others will cost more (painted canvases) and the range of what's available may narrow some. I'm betting older owners of companies manufacturing some of this stuff will throw up their hands and retire but we'll see.

My thoughts, for what they are worth and that's not much!

What do you think?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 4, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, August 16, 2025

A New Mystery UPDATED

Thanks to Diversions Needlepoint's June e-newsletter, I've learned about a new mystery set in a needlepoint store near Asheville, NC.  It's called One Sharp Stitch, by Allie Pleiter.  Ms. Pleiter has written mysteries centered on knitters and it looks like this is planned as a series as well.  

I read One Sharp Stitch last June and enjoyed it.  It's a great beach read, with a good cozy mystery obscuring who the killer is plus some interesting people, both important to the plot and peripheral to it.  The family relationships among the various characters are handled realistically and the author knows quite a bit about the social life of a needlepoint shop since she picked up needlepoint with the help of Stitchers Garden in Illinois, Two's Company in South Carolina and Po's Point in North Carolina (plus help from ANG's Queen Charlotte chapter.  If you can get this through your local library, it's worth checking out. I imagine more in the series is planned, and I'll be reading the second book when/if it comes out.

If you are intrigued, Lisa of BeStitched did an interview with Allie Pleiter on Facebook.

By the way, the fictional shop is called Nina's Nimble Needle, but it has no relationship to either Nimble Needle in New Jersey or Nimble Needle in Atlanta!

UPDATE:  Melita says there is a second book in the series.  It's called Two Purloined Pillows.

The third, which will be called Three Tangled Threads, is due to publish sometime in 2027.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 13, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, July 16, 2020

A Brief History of Needlepoint (not tapestry)

The Mr. X Stitch website has a regular column by Ruth Singer that talks about various types of handwork.  If you are interested in how tapestry differs from needlepoint, her two-part article will be quite interesting.  Of course if you are English, you'll call needlepoint "tapestry" which adds to the confusion Ruth talks about in part one.
https://www.mrxstitch.com/tapestry/

Note that she's really talking about 16-17th Century European tapestries here.
https://www.mrxstitch.com/tapestry-2/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 10, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, April 18, 2019

You Do You

The mother of Brooke Thorn of Thorn Alexander has words of wisdom about needlepoint.
https://www.triciaheatondesigns.com/blog/2019/3/3/dear-new-stitchers?fbclid=IwAR3n-RzsBo4uRa-0v7kHJ3gZFSPTgglR2dq74SzNhfrtxlWtVslT2oICQ1Y

Thanks for the heads up, Anne!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 10, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, January 3, 2019

Lycette Profiles Rudy Saunders

We needlepointers tend to forget that this isn't just a female art—there are plenty of guys who stitch even though they usually keep a low profile.  Lycette Designs managed an interview with one of them—Rudy Saunders who hails from a family of needlepointers and who likes to add monograms or change colors to make a design feel fresh and young.
https://lycettedesigns.com/on-point-rudy-saunders/?fbclid=IwAR2NM_NCpYjxpQy3DiTP0vzWK4otOE7msb-t-BUgdH-3XfOoDtreEqfx3MQ

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 11, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, April 22, 2016

TNNA Survey Results

TNNA does a survey of all the needle arts about every three years. The survey results for 2016 are now in. I can't share them with you--they belong to TNNA so only members can see them--but TNNA has been blogging about some of the results on their website. Here is what they say about the needlepoint section of the survey.
http://www.tnna.org/blogpost/725524/242485/TNNA-Survey-Says-Needlepoint-Project-Trends-in-2016?hhSearchTerms=%22survey%22&terms=

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 21, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Are YOU a "Slow Motion Painter"?

Anny at the Dreaming in Stitches blog occasionally poses an interesting question--and this time she talks about needlework being a slow art, similar to painting.  Anny was inspired by Stephanie Redfern's blog, which is the second link below.
https://dreaminginstitches.wordpress.com/2015/10/22/putting-into-words/ 

https://stephanieredfern.wordpress.com/2015/10/20/slow-motion-magic-painting/

Maybe I shouldn't be moaning about how long it is taking me to bead Mia's tote bag....

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 23, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Party Time UPDATED

A feast for your eyes and mind--two videos, one from the American Museum in Britain.
http://vimeo.com/94211050

and the other from the Museum of Aberdeen...
http://vimeo.com/102243242

Both are holding Kaffe Fassett exhibitions this year.

UPDATE:  More about the exhibit at the American Museum with lots of great photos.
http://hokkaidokudasai.blogspot.com/2014/09/kaffee-fassett-at-american-museum-in.html

UPDATE #2:  A quilting blogger's photos from the American Museum exhibit.
http://sewmanyquiltstoolittletime.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-american-museum-at-bath-uk.html

http://sewmanyquiltstoolittletime.blogspot.com/2014/06/kaffe-fassetts-world-of-colour.html

http://sewmanyquiltstoolittletime.blogspot.ca/2014/06/more-of-kaffe-fassetts-exhibition.html

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

Monday, May 19, 2014

Is It Needlepoint? Is It Art?

Connie tackles the question of needlepoint's place in the art world head on! 
http://conniepickeringstover.com/needlepoint-or-fiber-art/

I'd asked Connie the question because several friends have had pieces rejected by galleries because they are based on pained canvases, which have been designed by others.  The art world hasn't made up its mind about the collaborative art which is needlepoint on painted canvases.   What do you think?  Is needlepoint art?  Are painted canvases derivative art?  Do you have to be doing original designs to be accepted as an artist?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 12, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Dame Judi Dench and Her Embroidery UPDATED

Recently a bit of an old interview with Matthew MacFadyen has started circulating on the World Wide Web again, with the section that talks about Dame Judi Dench and her stitching highlighted. I finally managed to find the original source for you.  Mr. Macfadyen starred in Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly and Dame Densch and this was a publicity interview after the movie came out in 2005.
http://www.darcylicious.com/drupal/node/115

The stitching part is at the end, the last two paragraphs.  Sadly, neither of the actors interviewed can describe what the stitching is like except that it is all swear words.  I can't find any photographs, either.  Perhaps she is working one of the Subversive Cross Stitch kits?
http://www.subversivecrossstitch.com

UPDATE:  Another news article on her work.  Still no pictures.  :(
http://starcrush.com/judi-dench-subversive-needlework/?trackback=fbshare_top

UPDATE #2:  More info in the next to last paragraph.
http://www.darcylicious.com/drupal/node/115

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

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Is It Fashion or Pillow?

Can you pick out the close ups of antique needlepoint pillows from the close ups of couture dresses?  Which is fashion and which is a pillow?  (Correct answer- BOTH!)
http://fashionista.com/2012/10/fashion-game-is-it-needlepoint-fashion-or-a-needlepoint-pillow/

Many thanks to Barbara Bergsten who found this and posted the link on Facebook.

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

Monday, August 13, 2012

Fashionable Again

Hey, needlepoint is fashionable again! Who knew?!
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-needle-storms-runways.html

Speaking of being fashionable, check out these purses....
http://chapelhillneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2012/07/fabulous-purse-finishing.html

and this fabulous footstool.
http://chapelhillneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2012/07/put-your-feet-up-in-style.html

Not to mention Mid-Century Modern Bargello!  Thanks for this wonderful link, Althea.
http://bargelloneedlepoint.com/bargello-needlepoints-popularity/


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

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Simple Things

Linda B. reminds us of the simple stitching pleasures.
http://splittheneedles.blogspot.com/2011/07/simple-life.html

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

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Amusing

DMC's blog writes that half cross stitch is catching on.  Since this is just needlepoint/tent stitch under another name, this makes me smile.
http://dmc-threads.com/cross-stitch-projects-2/

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

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Susan Has a Point

I love reading Susan's Plays With Needles blog.  She is always doing something interesting, even if it usually isn't needlepoint.  But this time she's written something that I occasionally consider myself. Why the heck am I needlepointing to the point of obsession?
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2011/05/too-much-to-think.html

It certainly isn't something most folks understand or appreciate.  It's not going to pay the bills.  But it is something I couldn't give up any more than I could stop having brown eyes or drinking coffee in the mornings.

Do you think maybe God likes stitching enough that He makes a few stitchers each year?  Just for fun?  And we are the lucky few?

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

Saturday, March 26, 2011

I Lost My Temper

I lost my temper this morning.  The Washington Post had an article on the state of needlepoint in their Home and Garden section this week that made me really really mad.  And I'm not the only one.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home_garden/its-not-your-grandmothers-needlepoint/2011/03/10/AB1D08JB_story.html

ANG's Facebook page posted about it, and Catherine commented that the Post has a place where you can upload photos of our "best or most creative sewing and needlepoint projects" to their website.   So I did.  I uploaded a good number of contemporary needlepoint designs I've worked on this century.  I encourage you to do the same.  No reason we should let the Home and Garden staff remain ignorant of contemporary needlepoint!

Here's the link to the Post's page where you can upload photographs.  You will have to create an account to do so (pick a login and password) and share your email address (I think) but I've had an account with the Post for years and never gotten any spam or advertising from them.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/conversations/show-off-your-sewing/2011/02/09/ABV1OAQ_ugcgallery.html

I labeled everything "contemporary needlepoint."  Wonder if the Post is listening...?

[Jane stomps off, still swearing]

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

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Weird and Wonderful Stitching



I've been collecting links for odd and wonderful things for a while now and thought you might enjoy browsing through them instead of looking at even more photos of my basketweave progress up the side of the Tardis.  So, without further adieu, here's the stitched Stylophone.  Note that the title says this is NP but it looks like a cross-stitched keyboard on aida cloth to me.  You might want to play the video to listen to the sound.  Whether it is NP or not, it does work.
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/03/needlepoint_stylophone.html

I've had Mr. XStitch on my Google Reader for a while now.  This site features handwork of all types, half of which is NSFW (which means Not Safe For Work and seems to be replacing "X-rated" as a term among the 20-30 age group).  There are more stitchers than I ever imagined who like to stitch semi-pornographic scenes and Mr. XStitch showcases a lot of them. Or maybe I am just prudish?  Regardless, everyone will enjoy seeing the stitched line drawings on paper in this article which is totally safe for any setting.
http://www.mrxstitch.com/2010/03/18/the-cutting-stitching-edge-peter-crawley/

The remaining links are of wonderful stitching.  The Needleartnut has her Boots Bailey purse flap back from the finishers.  Please join me in swooning over how it turned out!
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2010/03/surprise.html

Are you a fan of Noah's Ark pieces?  This little box is special.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2010/03/gails-noahs-ark.html

Are you a Halloween fan instead?  Or have you always been curious about how Amy Bunger's mail order classes are done?  Then you'll want to keep an eye on the NP Study Hall and watch as folks from Amy's shop stitch their Kelly Clark Halloween House and the attendant monsters.  The latest lesson includes tips on stitching the witch's belt buckle, but Peggy has given tips on the witch's cloak, hat, dress and face in earlier postings.
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/

Finally, DMC's blog talks about needlepoint briefly this week.  They do a lot of thread giveaways and some of their articles about DMC itself are terrific.  The blog doesn't say where the above photo came from but it is a really wonderful and simple thing to stitch in case you need a Keep Out sign on your stitching door.
http://dmc-threads.com/?p=1095

Don't mess with Momma when she has sharp pointy things in her hands!  LOL

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

Monday, October 12, 2009

Needlepointers' World



I've been thinking recently about Blog's visitors and the huge variety of personalities and styles there are in the world of needlepointers.  You all know me--I am into painted canvases and like realistic designs, wonderful shading, and designs with Asian themes.  I am a threadaholic, and there's nothing I like better than using a huge variety of thread brands on my embellished painted canvases in as many stitches as I can dream up.

Folks like me are a small subset of Needlepointers' World, though.

I expect the vast majority of us like to do projects in all tent stitches and only occasionally use a thread other than wool.  Some of us have been stitching since we were children; some of us started yesterday.  A great many of us love charts and counted thread.  Some of us are into miniature stitching and over one on linen.  Some of us adore silk gauze, some of us stitch only rugs.  Some of us refuse to use stretcher bars and some of us hate roller bars.  Some of us only stitch in hand, some of us only stitch on painted canvases.  Some of us have one designer whose canvases or booklets we obsessively collect and stitch.  Some of us will stitch anything, at least once.  Some of us are stitching for posterity or at least our grandkids.  Some of us never think of the future.  Some of us buy old NP pieces at yard sales and refurbish them into fantastic pillows and upholstered chairs and footstools.  Some of us only want the most modern looking designs, some of us prefer the Victorian Berlin wool work look to our stitching.  Some of us love the English kits and pillows, some of us want only framed NP or pieces we can wear.

When you visit Blog, you get me and my own personal style.  But don't think I don't realize there is a whole world of needlepointers Out There who are different than me.  I know you are there and I try to take your tastes and styles into consideration and try to mention things I know are more to your taste than mine.  After all, we all use needles and thread and NP canvas to stitch our dreams.

Our dreams vary, that's all.

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

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

No Calorie Needlepoint



I got the latest little brochure from Pocket Full of Stitches in the mail last week. It announced their summer classes, retreats and of course the newest canvas of the month clubs planned for the summer into next winter. This information isn't up on their website yet but you can see some of the canvases for the newest monthly club on Raymond Crawford's website. Click on Finishing, then prepare to be amazed.

http://www.raymondcrawford.com/


Remember his NP cakes from a few years back? They were tiered like wedding cakes and full of fun. (If you haven't seen them, click on Designs and choose Cakes.) Now PFOS is going to be selling kits for Raymond's themed cupcakes, which have a round rop and curved sides, and which you can customize to your heart's content without worrying about your diet, healthy eating, or anything else except indulging your needlepoint sweet tooth.

Of course the Little Shoppe Canvas Company has carried NP pastries, cookies (including gingerbread men) and fruits for a while now. If you don't like cupcakes, you might find something equally fun and equally food at their website.

http://www.littleshoppecanvascompany.com/indexhome.html


A Collection of Designs has had decorated "sugar cookie" canvases for years. These are classics, with a very large selection of designs to choose from. The second link has cupcakes in a different style.


http://www.acollectionofdesigns.com/cookies%20page%201.htm

http://www.acollectionofdesigns.com/merry_christmas_6.htm

If small isn't what you like to stitch, how about stitching the cookie maker from Melissa Shirley?

http://melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?index=1247&cat=69



By the way, the photo illustrating this blog entry is Denise's Bitten Cookie, taken from the Elaine Magnin website, which is a durn good place to search on "cookie" or "baker" to browse for some non-fat delights.

http://elainemagninneedlepoint.stores.yahoo.net/bitcookor.html

Happy eating, uh, stitching.

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Friday, May 9, 2008

Kreinik's 24 Ways UPDATED

Kreinik's website has just posted a new article in PDF form--24 Ways to Embellish a Needlepoint Canvas, by Suzanne Howren and Beth Robertson.

http://www.kreinik.com/

It promotes Kreinik's threads, of course, but that doesn't mean there aren't some great ideas there.

Thanks!

UPDATE: If you are having trouble finding the article, it's at the bottom right of the link. The title of the home page link is 24 Ways to Use Braid. Sorry for the confusion. I failed to notice that the link had a slightly different title than the article.

Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow