Mix It Up With Threads

Needlepoint.com has posted an article about the various threads and the effects they give to encourage needlepointers to use thread texture to add special effects to their projects.

https://needlepoint.com/blogs/needlepoint-know-how/the-art-of-mixing-threads-how-to-add-dimension-shimmer-and-depth-to-your-stitching

Personally, I like realistic designs, so I use thread textures to mimic real life, add highlights and shadows, and just have fun mixing and matching.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 26, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Top Ten To Master UPDATED with Sixteen More

Mary Corbet just wrote an article about her top ten embroidery stitches beginners should master--the ones she uses again and again and thinks every embroiderer should know because they are so useful and fundamental to embroidery.   Frankly, I use a lot of embroidery stitches in my needlepoint since I taught myself crewel embroidery before I taught myself needlepoint. In today's embellishment world, they add a lot of zing to my needlepoint without much trouble.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2014/10/ten-embroidery-stitches-to-know.html

UPDATE:  This article was written two weeks ago but the morning it published, Mary added a list of sixteen dimensional stitches to her website.  So now you have even more reference material to play with the next time you need a bit of texture or oomph for your needlepoint.  Thanks again, Mary!
http://www.needlenthread.com/2014/11/16-stitches-to-add-texture-dimension-to-hand-embroidery.html

Whether you agree with Mary's list or not, you will want to bookmark this page.  Mary being Mary, each and every stitch has a link to a How To Video demonstrating the stitch.  Just click on the green underlined title and away you will go to a video of Mary showing you just how to do this stitch.  Just note that like needlepoint stitches, embroidery stitches have many names.  For example, what Mary calls detached chain stitch I call a lazy daisy stitch!

You call it tomaTOE, I call it toMAto, it's all useful.

Thanks, Mary!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 30, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Texture Queen

The Queen of Texture arrived in the Baltimore area over the weekend and began to work her magic in class at Bedecked and Beadazzled. There are a lot of great ideas here, all documented by Ruth Schmuff, shop owner and our local spy. Thanks, Ruth!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2014/03/embellishing-differently.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 10, 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.