The Finishing Touch: A Beaded Trim

I found this website by accident but I am glad I did because they have tutorials for how to make all sorts of beaded edges on your ornaments, pillows, etc.
http://sewguide.com/bead-tassels-for-edging/

Here's another lovely simple beaded edging.

https://hokkaidokudasai.blogspot.com/2014/08/how-to-make-beaded-edging.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 21, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Using Kreinik's Custom Corder

Folks who want to try finishing their own ornaments will be interested in seeing this instructional video that shows Kreinik's Custom Corder in action. 
http://www.kreinik.com/shops/VIDEO-Making-Bracelets-and-Trim-with-the-Custom-Corder.html

Here's what it looks like up close.  If you are interested in buying, check around for the best price.  I wasn't looking for that, but for the best photograph.
http://www.123stitch.com/item/Kreinik-Custom-Corder/CC-016726

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 5, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Creating Tiny Beaded Scallops

Today's finishing tutorials are from Mary Corbet. In the link below she teaches how to create a simple row of scallops using beads. The second link shows a somewhat more complex row of equally pretty beaded scallops.  Quick, easy, pretty--what more can you ask?! 
http://www.needlenthread.com/2015/01/scalloped-beaded-buttonhole-edging-1.html

http://www.needlenthread.com/2015/02/scalloped-beaded-buttonhole-edging-version-2.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 2, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Pat Mazu for Christmas

The October 2013 newsletter for Needlepoint Now magazine is out and it features a free chart from Pat Mazu. Pat is famous for her small stocking and ornament designs, all of which use fancy stitches and open spaces to create something wonderful.   (Oh, there's a preview of the upcoming issue of the magazine, just in case you can't wait.)
http://www.needlepointnow.com/wp-content/uploads/NN_NWSLTR_Oct13.pdf

By coincidence, ANG has also published a free Pat Mazu design as part of their Needle Pointers magazine's Web Extra series, this time a little stocking called Star in the Meadow.  You can see the finished piece at the ANG website, and there is a link to the free chart on that page also.  (Note the cord and tassel making instructions on the same Web Extra page if you want to try out making your own trims, just to know how.)
http://www.needlepoint.org/magazine.php

If you need a little ornament for a friend for Christmas or want to add another needlepoint piece to your tree, spend a little time with Pat.  With the help of Needle Pointers and Needlepoint Now, you can have a Pat Mazu stocking and ornament set for Christmas morning.  And if you fall as much in love with Pat's work as I am, Stitches From the Heart sells her charts and her finishing book, too.
http://stitches-heart.com/needlepoint/pat-mazu-designs/

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.

Passementiers

No, passementeirs is not French pastry.  It's better! It's French TASSELS and TRIM! 
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2013/10/declereq-passementiers-my-favorite.html

Tricia is right--this glossary of trim terms is a fabulous resource.  I enjoyed the article above a lot.  It's time travel right back to the 17th Century.
http://www.declercqpassementiers.fr/passementerie.php?niv=4&mot=Une+embrasse+c%E2bl%E9&lang=EN

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.

Trim and Other New Things

I updated the Stitch Guides blog with a brief article on Orna Willis, who is just starting to design painted canvases with a stitch guide, and with a description of Pegge Hopper's Hawaiian women series, some of which come with stitch guides.  (One of Pegge's pieces for Needlepoint Etc. in Honolulu is the Canvas of the Day today.)  You can visit Stitch Guides by clicking on the tab above, by clicking on the Magic Carpet photo near the blog list on this page, or by going here.
http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com/

Mary Corbet's blog mentioned a brand new product yesterday, a corded metallic trim called Soft Metallic Twist.  She has great close up photos of the colors available.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2010/06/soft-metallic-twist-trim.html/comment-page-1#comment-37988

Because Mary doesn't say how much trim is in a package and I can't see the manufacturer name in her photo, I did a little Googling and found that Alex Parras Needle Arts sells this stuff.  It comes in two diameters and there is a meter in each package, i.e., roughly a yard.
http://store.apneedlearts.com/mesotwco1me.html

You can buy it in larger quantities here from this Canadian site.  At least I think this is the same thing.  I know nothing about the Canadian shop,  but Alex Parras Needle Arts is the Internet presence of Thistle Needleworks in Connecticut.  I highly recommend their shop's selection of goods and their customer service.
http://www.pandgenterprises.com/metal%20threads.htm

Finally, let's go visit Nimble Needle's blog and see how a customer, faced with a gift canvas with elements she didn't particularly care for, customized it to suit her own tastes.  I think it turned out great! If you are in the same boat, why not try similar techniques yourself?
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2010/06/curls-and-then-some.html

Jane, standing on the edge of the swimming pool and screaming, "Jump, jump, jump!" to the stitchers standing on the edge wondering if there are sharks.  No NP police, no sharks, I promise.

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

February 2010 Chilly Hollow Newsletter Article

Morning all! We are snowed in here in Virginia, with more on the way, so it seems a good time to go visit a museum. After all, one can only stitch, stare at the Weather Channel or shovel snow for so long before you need a break!

Let's start out with an exhibit of kimono from the 1910-40 period which are for sale. These were the first mass-produced kimonos in Japan and the bold, graphic patterns would make great NP designs.
http://marcusonandhall.com/exhibitions/meisen-kimonos

Are you an admirer of samplers? Then you'll want to read this article about getting the most out of the V&A's online exhibit of samplers before you go browse their museum site.
http://needleprint.blogspot.com/2010/02/getting-most-out-of-v-sampler.html

Are you enthralled by the elaborate clothing of the Elizabethean period? Then you will want to browse this collection of gloves. They are astounding!
http://www.glovecollectioncatalogue.org/Spence-Collection-at-Bath-23337-to-23361

The trim on those 17th Century gloves is amazing but it turns out, trims and edgings are an even older craft. The Vikings made them, even. Examples of Medieval trims in silver and gold are shown on this site which explains a bit about them.
http://m-silkwork.blogspot.com/2010/02/silver-and-gold-ornaments-of-vikings.html

Somehow the snow doesn't seem so important when we browse the stitching of our spiritual ancestors.

Before I close, I want to let you know that Ruth Schmuff's It's Not Your Grandmother's Needlepoint blog has moved to a new site. Bookmark at, then settle in and read about Ruth's Valentine canvas. Ruth, hope it is snowing pink spangles and silver rhinestones on you, not the real stuff!
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/

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