A Tip for Stitching Background

Ever get confused working background stitches around central design elements?  Louise's Needlework has a great trick to make it easier.  You do have to work the background first, though, at least the area near the design element that breaks up the background.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1559860389473899&set=a.539149581544990

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 17, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Eliminate Basketweave Ridges

Poppy Monk Needlepoint's blog has five tips to make your basketweave smooth.

https://poppymonkneedlepointkits.com/blogs/the-5-minute-needlepoint-blog/five-tips-for-smoother-needlepoint-basketweave

I'll add my own tip:  If you are a beginner, avoid tightly twisted perle cotton threads.  Wools and wool/silk blends are more forgiving and will spread a bit to fill the holes and lie nicely next to each other.  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 9, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How to Change a Stitch's Direction: The Movie

Lori at Waste Knot shows how easily you can make a stitch diagram change direction to fit your design.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1927363554831656

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 20, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A New Trick for Beading Thread

I have been needlepointing for almost forty years, so it's rare that I hear about a trick to make things easier I didn't know, but Kathey has one--use pliers to mash the end of those fishing line-type beading threads so they go through the needle's eye easier.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/9837837386293331/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

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

Creating A Twisted Cord Rose The Easy Way

Melissa at The Wool and The Floss shows us how to make a twisted cord rose.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEaaddRv-ek/

It's easy:  twist and couch.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 5, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Vibrant Beauty: Winter 2025 Mystery

Ruth Schmuff has announced the Winter 2025 mystery class--"Vibrant Beauty" from Romantzart.

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2024/12/vibrant-beauty/

The classes are set for January and February 2025.  Stay tuned. I'll update this article with Ruth's progress reports here as the class dates come and go.  By the way, Ruth had an idea about how to reduce shipping costs starting with this mystery.

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2024/12/i-had-an-idea/

Ruth started with an open background and a new Color Dreams thread on the vase.  (Color Dreams is a line of overdyed floche that Ruth has made for her shop.)

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2025/01/sparkly-2/

Then she moved to leaves and flowers with a Ruth twist.

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2025/02/leaves-and-fluffy-flowers/

Then Ruth tackled all those black outlines in a very clever way.  The flower center she's finished is amazing, by the way.

https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/2025/03/outlining-for-depth/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 2, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Smooth Out Your Letters With This LoveMBHStudio Trick

LoveMBHStudio on Instagram has a tip for smoothing out the jagged look of tent stitched letters I hadn't thought of--she just stitches over the outside tent stitch with another tent stitch, which happens to be in a contrasting color in this example.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_Ayth_RjX2/

Stitching again gives you a slightly padded look and smooths those rough edges. 

There are other things you can do--use a \ stitch on top of your tent stitch, making the outside edge a cross stitch.

Or you can do outline or stem stitches around the edge.  Cross stitches use back stitches for this as well.

Or you can couch a thread (a metallic or a perle cotton or even a wool, anything that isn't stranded) around the edge.  

Or you can embrace the ragged edge as from a normal viewing distance, it's not going to be very noticeable.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright August 24, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Want to Stitch a Christmas Stocking?

Ok, you finally have taken the plunge and bought a stocking canvas during the big Christmas sales at your favorite shop.  Now what?  KC Needlepoint has a few tips to get you started.

https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/blogs/news/stitch-a-stocking-in-2024-with-our-help

If this isn't enough help, perhaps Maureen Guiffre's book, True Confessions of a Stocking Stitcher, will help.  (Shop around for the best price. I went with this link because of the brief description of what's inside the book plus photos of the contents.)

https://nimbleneedlenj.com/product/stocking-stitcher/

This link lists the table of contents.

https://stitch-stash.com/products/true-confessions-of-a-stocking-stitcher-book

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

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

Organizational Ideas from CHB

Carolyn Hedge Baird just posted two organizational ideas on her Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10225537384045497&set=a.1574898296402

For those without a Facebook page, one of Carolyn's students stores her beading thread spools in Bobbin Ring Savers which are meant to store sewing machine bobbins.  Carolyn says she then pops her bobbin saver in a sandwich bag for transport.

https://sewingmachine.com/products/bobbin-ring-saver-purple

Carolyn herself uses a pair of magnetic cable ties to hold her beading mat or a chart to her canvas.  You'll need two, one for each end of whatever you want to hold onto the canvas.  You'll need to have magnetic cable ties long enough to position your bead mat or whatever as far from the edge of your canvas as you normally want it.

https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Organizers-Whiteboard-Noticeboard-https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Organizers-Whiteboard-Noticeboard-Organization/dp/B091FFSH5L/ref=sr_1_4?crid=J24WGT6SYZ7O&keywords=magnetic+cable+ties+reusable&qid=1704120858&s=hi&sprefix=magnetic+cable+ties+reusable%2Ctools%2C123&sr=1-4

Shop around for both items as prices vary wildly.  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 1, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Lori Tames Overdyed Threads: The Movie

Lori at Waste Knot talks overdyed threads and the various effects you can get from using them in this short but useful video.

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

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright September 23, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Quick Finishing for Coasters or Boxes

KC Needlepoint has produced a video that explains how to quickly finish a needlepoint design to fix into an acrylic coaster or box.

https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/blogs/news/a-new-video-is-here-learn-to-self-finish-a-coaster-or-treat-box-cover

I've found peel and stick velvets on Amazon for crafting that might work for the back side of ornaments.

https://www.amazon.com/Adhesive-Velvet-Flocking-Jewelry-Project/dp/B099ZNQL4P/ref=sr_1_3?adgrpid=1241348958069295&hvadid=77584475919783&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=91462&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-77584563437759%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=16682_13530714&keywords=fabric%2Bpeel%2Band%2Bstick&qid=1695393924&sr=8-3&th=1

It's possible that peel and stick wallpaper might work as well.  Samples are large enough for one ornament's finishing, too.   It won't be as thick as velvet, which is a plus when you don't have a large slot to push the needlepoint through.  I suspect it won't be as durable but I doubt coasters or boxes are meant as heirlooms.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenPlanetPrint?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=900287687

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright September 22, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tricks with Silk Road Fiber: The Movie

The Needlepoint Clubhouse shows off tricks you can use to skein and split Silk Road Fiber if a length is too fat for whatever you are doing.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cwn4ffOvADW/

The reason behind the movie is Needlepoint Clubhouse has a new exclusive collection of five shades of orange in Silk Road Fiber.  All shops have the other Collections that feature shades of blue, pink, green, red and neon colors but the orange set is only available from Needlepoint Clubhouse.  This link shows the orange but you can order any of the colors from the same page by switching colors before you add to your shopping cart.

https://www.needlepointclubhouse.com/products/silk-road-fiber-color-palettes?_pos=1&_sid=f70f585cc&_ss=r&variant=40283707474053

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright August 31, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

More about Dye Lots

A great many people read the article I posted about dye lots a few weeks back, so I thought I'd write a bit more about dyelots.  

Dyelots have always been a problem with certain thread brands.  Caron is an example, but you can even see dyelot changes in things like Kreinik's metallics.  Mr. X Stitch has an enlightening article about the topic.

https://www.mrxstitch.com/solve-dye-lot-dilemmas/

You also need to remember that sunlight will effect the color of your threads.  Be careful how you store them.  Also realize that a shop may have had a card of thread for a long time before you bought it.  It's possible that the new cards they order look slightly different.  

Kreinik has started marking their metallics that are having a dye lot change with a letter on the label.   Any stand alone letter on a spool of Kreinik signifies a dye lot change.  

http://kreinikthread.blogspot.com/2017/10/change-is-coming-to-kreinik.html

All that said, you are still going to be burned with dye lot issues.  What can you do to minimize the issue?  Look carefully at the area effected.  If it is a background, can you do simple things like add stripes?  Can you toss sequins or beads or charms or crystals on top to distract the eye and camoflauge the color difference?  

If you are stitching clothing, can you overstitch the dyelot area to help make the color change look like deliberate shading?  By overstitching, I mean adding stitches on top.  Joan Thommason is famous for her overstitching on her angels.  "Deanna's Angel" has a trellis pattern on top of tent stitches on one skirt and a metallic flower shape on another.  Will something along those lines hide your problem?

https://www.stitchinstuff.com/product-page/deanna-s-angel-m0049

If you are stitching hair, can you add a lighter or darker shade to give the hair natural highlights?  If you are stitching a face, can you use fewer plies to let the paint color show and mask the fact that the skin is two different colors?

Experiment and you might find that dyelot problem causes you to add extra creativity and beauty to your needlepoint.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 19, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Poppy Monk Tackles Round Areas in Needlepoint

Poppy Monk's latest essay is about stitching round items on needlepoint canvas.

https://poppymonkneedlepointkits.com/blogs/the-5-minute-needlepoint-blog/needlepoint-stitch-ideas-for-round-objects

I've noticed that when you tent stitch a round area that the left side often looks ragged because of the way tent stitches slant /.  You can counteract this by doing a \ on top of the outside edge, turning a tent stitch into a cross stitch.  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 19, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Neon Rays Tips

Louise's Needlework has some great tips for stitching with Neon Rays in this month's shop newsletter.

https://media.rainpos.com/530/News_Blast_May_2023_Final.pdf

Basically, Jill advocates using a flat iron to smooth cut lengths of Neon Rays, and to use a metal laying tool to lay each stitch since a wooden tool can sometimes snag this tender thread.  If you are doing padded satin stitch with Neon Rays, Jill likes to use Very Velvet as padding underneath for extra depth.

Stitching Shop advocates dampening the thread or popping it by cutting a length and then pulling each end simultaneously.  They also mention using steam or a flat iron to smooth Neon Rays and have tips on keeping this slippery thread from sliding out of the needle's eye or wiggling out from the back of the canvas where the ends are buried.

https://www.stitchingshop.com/store/index.php?l=product_list&c=105

If you aren't familiar with Neon Rays, this is from the Rainbow Gallery website.

https://www.rainbowgallery.com/product/neon-rays/

If all else fails, Neon Rays+ is a good substitute.  The bit of metallic filament woven in this thread makes it easier to stitch with than the original.

https://www.rainbowgallery.com/product/neon-rays-2/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright May 5, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Threading the Needle

If you are ever away from home without a needle threader, you can use a piece of paper to thread your needle as this video from Instagram shows.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CoXYCT5MLWD/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 7, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitching Santa's Beard: The Tutorial

Alexandra, aka The Millennial Needlepointer, has posted a tutorial video on her Instagram account that explains how she used packed stem stitch (which she jokingly calls Bourbon Stitch) for Santa's beard.

https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18004785844348657/

Packed Stem Stitch is simply stem stitches crammed together.  Here is how the Santa stocking looks finished.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjQS0MbLR3l/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 30, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Poppy Monk's Needlepoint Hacks

Poppy Monk Needlepoint has three interesting tips for you.

https://poppymonkneedlepointkits.com/blogs/the-5-minute-needlepoint-blog/three-really-useful-needlepoint-hacks

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright August 31, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Self Finishing Tips and Tricks: The Movie

Time's getting short for Christmas and this year (and last) shops are having quadruple the number of items to finish.  Short version:  if you turned things in to your shop last June, they might be ready by December.  But if you are totally desperate, you can try self-finishing items with products from Planet Earth, Sudbury, Beth Gantz and more. 

But doing it yourself is scary, so the Pointing It Out Podcast has come to our rescue with a video about self-finishing tips and tricks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_qFHsZdGFw

Here is a link to Sudberry's Betsy Box.  (Sudberry has other styles and sizes of boxes.)

http://www.sudberry.com/catalog/betsycarol.htm

Here are the Sudbury trays.

http://www.sudberry.com/catalog/trays.htm

Here are the Beth Gantz self-finishing ornaments and boxes.

https://www.bethgantzdesigns.com/products/boxes

Planet Earth's self-finishing items, including their jewelry boxes and clutches. are here.

http://planetearthfiber.com/index.php/leather2

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright November 21, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Wisdom from Amy: Compensation Trick

Steph has shared a great tip from Amy Bunger about compensation on her blog.  Genius!
http://stephsstitching.blogspot.com/2020/06/tricks-i-learned-from-amy-bunger.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 15, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.