Is That Your Slip Showing? Or Your Jessica?

Debbie Rowley of DebBee's Designs shows how you can alter the top layer of a three layered Jessica stitch to show more or less of the colors of the middle layer.

https://debbeesdesigns.com/dont-be-afraid-of-jessicas/

This intrigued me.  I had no idea that you could layer Jessicas, using a different colored thread for each layer to get fun effects.  Smart of you, Debbie!  Upon doing a little research I discovered that Debbie Rowley has even done a four layered Jessica in one of her designs.  Here is how Ruth Schmuff diagrams Jessicas, just so you get the general idea.  

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2016/07/lets-talk-jessicas-2/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright August 4, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Debbie Does A Stitch-a-Long

Debbie Rowley of DebBee's Designs announced a stitch-a-long using her "Revelry Reflections."  I don't do many counted pieces myself--they are really difficult if you can't count to even three reliably--but because she's such a talented teacher and posting about the stitch-a-long on her blog, I thought I'd document things here.  First up, here is Debbie's announcement.

https://debbeesdesigns.com/join-me-for-a-stitch-along/

She explains in detail how she chooses threads, with an overdyed thread as her starting point.

https://debbeesdesigns.com/selecting-threads/

Now it's time to put your canvas on stretcher bars.  Debbie uses Evertites, but she has an interesting tip on tightening regular stretcher bars.

https://debbeesdesigns.com/revelry-reflections-mounting-the-canvas/

I can't find the chart for this design but I think she's starting in the middle of the canvas and that everyone is supposed to follow the design as she posts it.

https://debbeesdesigns.com/first-stitches-2/

https://debbeesdesigns.com/teardrop-crescents/

https://debbeesdesigns.com/an-unreversed-stitch-this-time/

First we have waffle stitch.

https://debbeesdesigns.com/my-favorite-stitch-waffle-stitches/

Now, reverse waffles.  (I didn't know there was such a thing!)

https://debbeesdesigns.com/now-reverse-the-waffle-stitch/

https://debbeesdesigns.com/sprats-heads/

And reverse sprats heads, which again I didn't know existed!  This stitch-a-long is very educational.

https://debbeesdesigns.com/reverse-sprats-heads/

Now we have a triangle-shaped Amadeus stitch, courtesy of the immortal Jean Hilton.

https://debbeesdesigns.com/more-triangles-this-time-a-triangle-amadeus/

Now the Amadeus triangle is reversed.  It's an original stitch from Debbie and complicated but it's pretty.

https://debbeesdesigns.com/reversing-the-triangle-amadeus/

Debbie is amazed that the herringbone square is actually a diamond--but Debbie, it's a square ballerina standing on point!

https://debbeesdesigns.com/could-this-be-a-misnomer-herringbone-squares/

Now we finish the corners.

https://debbeesdesigns.com/finishing-the-corners-with-diagonal-gobelin-stitches/

https://debbeesdesigns.com/moving-to-the-outside-edges-with-reverse-herringbone-squares/

https://debbeesdesigns.com/eyelets-not-my-favorite/

https://debbeesdesigns.com/framing-the-corners-with-reverse-eyelets/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 26, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Jessica, Step By Step with Tips

This week Whimsical Stitch explains how to create the Jessica Stitch, those (mostly) round open stitches that look great with a bead or French knot (or even nothing) in the middle.  Mary's got some great diagrams and tips for creating a perfect round Jessica to scatter on your canvas.
http://www.whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays/2016/10/16/dont-hate-me

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 16, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Twisty Stitches Two: A Review

Twisty Stitches Volume Two Cover

Those of you who read Blog daily know that I gave Twisty Stitches Volume One:  Amadeus through Jessica a rave review.  (If you aren't a regular reader, here's the link to the review of the first volume.)
https://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2016/07/twisty-stitches-review.html

UPDATE:  Sorry the link was wrong!

And now Carole and Michael have followed up with a second volume on string art stitches covering the Mistake Stitch to the Walento.  Go buy this book.  It's like nothing else available.  The only people who don't need this book are those who only do basketweave.  Everyone else, whether you do a lot of counted canvaswork or specialize in painted canvases, can benefit from Michael's and Carole's help.  After all, everyone needs to do these 3-D type stitches occasionally and some of us use them all the time.  Since they aren't done in just a step or two, they can be difficult to understand and when you go wrong, it's hard to figure out why.  Twisty Two, just like the first volume, makes how they are constructed easy to understand and helps you see how to create variations on the basic stitch.  String art stitches without pain?  The ghost of Jean Hilton (the designer who made string art stitches needlepoint) approves this book!

Now for the fine print.  Just like volume one, this is a spiral-bound book with heavy plastic covers.   Twisty Two is 52 pages long (including the cover page, a one page bibliography, and a color page showing off the various stitches) and covers seven stitches:  Mistake Stitch, Plaited Rays, Rhodes Stitch, Sheaf Stitch, Sprats Head, Waffle Stitch and Walento.  Why is a book about seven stitches so long, you ask?  Because each stitch is diagrammed step-by-step with a little color thumbnail photo for each step.  They even include a photo of what the reverse side of a stitch looks like.  There's a general introduction with tips that apply to all these type stitches but each stitch section has tips to help you with that stitch in particular.  Plus Carole and Michael diagram stitch variations for each of the Main Seven Stitches.

Sheaf Stitch Diagram and Thumbnail Photos from Twisty Two

I choose Sheaf Stitch at random to show you how the diagramming of the main stitch looks.  (Click on the thumbnail for a better view.)  The actual examples are stitched with red, green, blue or pink threads, which means folks with a vision problem can probably still see them ok.

More Diagrams Showing Variations of Sheaf Stitch

The variations for each of the seven stitches have their own little diagram and a color photo to show how they look stitched.  There are twenty variations of Sheaf Stitch, each with a little diagram and photo, for example.  Four of the variations are shown above.

Both volumes are Must Haves for the serious needlepointer, even if you only use them as reference material a few times a year.  If they are a little pricey for you, see if your local shop or guild chapter will buy both volumes for everyone to share, or go in with a group of stitching friends.  Trust me, you are going to be glad you have access to these great books!

Now, how do I stitch an Airy Rhodes again...?

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 29, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Counting to 39

Do Jessicas make your head spin? Ruth Schmuff explains (with a lovely diagram) how to create a Jessica. Tip #1--stay off Facebook as you count! LOL
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2016/07/lets-talk-jessicas.html

Hummmm....

Maybe my inability to count to three is really my inability to pay attention?  Regardless, thanks for the insights into Jessicas, Ruth.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 6, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Twisty Stitches: A Review

Twisty Stitches, Volume One

I mostly stitch painted canvases, so why on earth did I add Twisty Stitches: String Art for Needlepoint Volume One to my stitching library?   Because it's the best book on Jean Hilton-type stitches there is!  Heads up:  you need this book.
http://www.stitchplay.com/index.html

Why? Because the stitches Jean Hilton created and made famous are involved and intricate and there is no better source available for understanding how they are done correctly.  I own one of Jean's book that diagrams the stitches she came up with but it is thirty years old.  The newest variations aren't covered and it is hard for me to understand in places. Computerized graphs have come a long way in 30 years.   I am not good at counting so these intricate layered stitches are confusing for me.    I need a lot of help.  Twisty Stitches provides it.

A Peek Inside....

Carole and Michael's Twisty Stitches Volume One covers how to work the Amadeus, Chilly Hollow, Crescent, Double Fan, Double Fan Doubled, Eight Point Star and Jessica Stitch plus a great many variations of each.  For example, the Amadeus is diagrammed in 21 steps (with a numbered black and white diagram and 21 little color photos of stitched example of all 21 steps).  There is also a color photo of the finished stitch and a color photo of the back side of the canvas when this is worked correctly.  The only way you are going to understand this stitch better is if Michael and Carole are sitting on either side of you, cracking jokes and explaining what you are to do with each and every step that creates the arrow shape of an Amadeus Stitch.  Then the book diagrams (also with a numbered chart and a color photo) seven variations of the Amadeus!  The authors show you how to create an Amadeus heart, two triangles, a shorter and fatter arrow shape, a bat wing shape, and both a tongued Amadeus and a rounded Amadeus arrow.  Plus there is a photo of the classic Amadeus so you can compare it to its seven cousins.

It's brilliant!

If you do a lot of counted work, you will need this book.  It's going to make that stunning Threadles chart a lot easier to work and help you when you create a Walneto that just looks "wrong" to understand where you made a mistake.  Well, Volume One doesn't cover Walento Stitch but Volume Two (which will come out in September 2016) will cover it.

If you only want to add an occasional Rhodes heart or Jessica Stitch circle to your painted canvas, you need this even more.  These stitches are not often used on painted canvases so you won't be familiar with them.  Twisty Stitches covers them all (or it will when Volume Two comes out) so you can just grab the correct volume and go to town without hitting a barrier that is hard to overcome unless you have an experienced stitcher in your vicinity to help.

Now for the details:  The 8 1/2 x 11 inch book is spiral bound with a plastic covered cardboard cover and back for durability. There is an introduction and two pages of Frequently Asked Questions about string art stitches with answers culled from Carole's and Michael's years as teachers of counted designs and painted canvas embellishment.  The next 42 pages are diagrams and photographs, all large enough to see without squinting.  There is a bibliography for those who like delving into more detail that includes a lot of reference material beyond Jean Hilton's three books.  There is no index but the final page is a photo collage of these stitches done in wildly colorful threads, which gives a taste of what you can do with color and string art combined.

Any needlepointer who ventures beyond basic stitches--if only occasionally--needs this book.  I am already saving up for Volume Two when it comes out in the fall.  This isn't a series I will use often but when I need it, it's going to be a life-saver!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 26, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.