The Thread Tamer

The Wool and The Floss shows how to use a cordless, rechargeable hair straightener to tame the kinks out of those ribbon-like threads.

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

Because this tool is cordless and rechargeable, it's not cheap.  If one with a cord works just as well for you, they are much more affordable.  

https://woolfloss.com/products/usb-rechargeable-hair-straightener

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com 

© Copyright August 12, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved

More About Melita's Books

Melita Glavin shows off two books she got for Christmas:  New Twists on Needlework Embellishment (by Suzanne Howren and Beth Robertson) and Embellishments for Canvas (by Mary Lou Helgesen).

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/01/18/books-in-my-library-new-twists-on-needlework-embellishment-by-howren-and-robertson-and-embellishments-for-canvas-by-mary-lou-helgesen/

Melita found the sections on using silk ribbons especially interesting.  I own New Twists and found it interesting.  I've not seen the Mary Lou Helgesen book, but it was apparently a companion to her famous Nativity set.  Both are worth seeking out, especially if you are in Texas, which was Mary Lou's stomping ground.

The next set of books from Melita's library are all classics from June McKnight.  I find her Architectural Stitches especially helpful.  Plants and Animals is a good one, too.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/02/23/books-in-my-library-architectural-stitches-plants-and-animals-shading-and-thread-blending-techniques-decorative-backgrounds-and-more-backgrounds-by-june-mcknight/

Many shops carry June's books but if there's one you can't find, contact Old World Designs as June teaches there regularly.  They might be able to help.

https://www.oldworlddesigns.com/

Melita just purchased a copy of Mary's Whimsical Small Stitches, the latest book from Mary Legallet.  

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/03/07/books-in-my-library-marys-whimsical-small-stitches-by-mary-legallet/

Here's Mary's Instagram page so you can see what her diagrams look like.

https://www.instagram.com/whimsicalstitch/

Melita has added Dawn Donnelly's book Transformative Stitching:  Needlework on the Diagonal to her library.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/03/21/books-in-my-library-transformative-stitching-needlework-on-the-diagonal-by-dawn-donnelly/

Melita has two volumes of Custom House of Needle Art's books--Quick Stitch Variations and More Quick Stitch Reference.  These are very portable with good information and clear diagrams.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/03/24/books-in-my-library-quick-stitch-variations-and-more-quick-stitch-reference-by-custom-house-of-needle-arts/

This is a classic book about Bargello followed by more Bargello books.  If I remember correctly, I thought Barbara Snook's Bargello books full of lovely patterns.  Dorothy Kaestner's 4 Way Bargello book has some wonderful patterns, which made my head hurt trying to follow.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/06/06/books-in-my-library-bargello-florentine-canvas-work-by-elsa-s-williams-1967/

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/06/07/books-in-my-library-florentine-embroidery-by-barbara-snook-1967/

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/06/08/books-in-my-library-bargello-a-pattern-book-by-golden-hands-1972/

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/06/10/books-in-my-library-four-way-bargello-by-dorothy-kaestner-1974/

I've never seen Nancy Kurten's Bargello book, although I'd like to.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/06/15/books-in-my-library-bargello-sampler-by-nancy-noland-kurten-1975/

This is a fascinating, although confusing for me with my dyslexia, Bargello book.  I don't have trouble with random but following charts that change a lot is almost impossible for me.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/06/17/books-in-my-library-free-form-bargello-by-gigs-stevens-1977/

I remember this Dorothy Kaestner Bargello book as being very interesting, with a lot of great designs.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/06/19/books-in-my-library-bargello-antics-by-dorothy-kaestner-1979/

Melita's finished her collection of Bargello books.  Next up is Mary Shipp's wonderful design book.  Her color book is amazing if you can find it.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/06/28/books-in-my-library-exploring-pattern-in-stitches-by-mary-shipp/

Jane Zimmerman's books are amazing and full of ideas.  Although she is known for her silk and metal designs, this book has a lot of stitches that will work on any type of needlepoint.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2025/08/13/books-in-my-library-traditional-silk-and-metal-thread-techniques-on-canvas-by-jane-zimmerman/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 19, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

River Silks Ribbon Ideas

I've been thinking about silk ribbon lately because I just used it on a project and it turned out great.  My ribbon of choice for 18 count canvas is the 4mm width from River Silks.  Here's their website if you aren't familiar with the company.  By the way, this is a very durable ribbon.  It won't mind if you pierce it doing Japanese ribbon stitch or drag it through tiny holes.  I have to say short of setting fire to it, this ribbon is pretty near indestructible.  The color range is wide and it also comes in three widths if you need something wide or want different widths for layering.
http://www.riversilks.com

Back to my project--I just stitched this Leigh Designs piece for the St. Charles trade show.  See the horizontal purple line right under the two skulls in the upper left quadrant?
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Sgl5167.html

I stitched that in straight vertical satin stitches with 4mm River Silks ribbon.  Because this canvas is 18 count, the ribbon was a little too close together, so it scrunched up and looked gathered.  This was a very easy way to have a great effect.  I will use this again.
http://www.leighdesigns.com/Mdl5167.html

Any ribbon brand or flat ribbon-like thread (such as Flair, Neon Rays, Kreinik's 1/16th ribbon, etc.) can be used the same way, depending on the effect you want.

I've been thinking that a flat ribbon held down by a series of cross stitches would be very pretty.

You can also lay a ribbon flat and stitch right down the middle with straight back stitches to hold it in place.  Use a contrasting thread and you'll have a very pretty effect.  I learned that from SharonG who used the effect for the grass in her Stitch of the Month design for ANG several years back.
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2005/december/directions.php

Several folks have stretched Flair and tacked it down on the sides for their projects.  Silk ribbon won't stretch but there's no reason you couldn't use little tacking stitches on either side to hold it in place.  

Silk ribbons make interesting bullions and French knots, too.

So what clever ideas for silk ribbon have you come up with?  Comment below or email me at chilly hollow at hot maildotcom and I'll post them for you.

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.

River Silks

The River Silks blog likes to show off stitching using their lovely silk ribbons. I have just as much fun looking at them since I really like their ribbons which come in lovely colors and are durable and easy to stitch with.  Recently I discovered a dyelot difference between two cards of the same color but my original card was quite old and might have faded since it was stored in a sunny room.  Since I was doing leaves, two slightly different shades of green didn't matter to me.  Just be warned if color changes matter--Get enough ribbon for your project since the River Silks 4mm ribbon I like to use on 18 count only has five yards on each card and that runs out fast when you are creating flowers.

Back to the eye candy--aren't these Shivering Sheep grasshoppers darling?
http://www.riversilks.com/wordpress/?p=1227

How about these florals from Julie Mar and Friends?
http://www.riversilks.com/wordpress/?p=1121


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