More Thread Reviews

Since I've been talking about threads myself a lot lately, I thought I'd turn over the topic to Janet Perry who has several thread reviews on her website that you might be interested in.  The first article talks about the new Candy colors from Kreinik.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/candy-metallics-from-kreinik-thread-review

Dinky-Dyes has new colors for their silk threads and ribbons.  Because Dinky-Dyes is an Australian company and their threads perhaps not available in your local shop, the second link is to their website to do a little exploring.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/new-dinky-dyes-colors

http://www.dinkydyes.iinet.net.au/

Janet's final article is about ThreadworX threads and talks about their colorfastness and proper care if you plan to wash them or get your finished piece damp in blocking.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/caring-for-threadworx-threads

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

Out the Door (with Crewel Wool)

I'm heading out the door shortly for two weeks of vacation visiting family.  But not to worry!  I have sent up a series of Blog postings that will appear like magic while I'm gone.  (They'd better or I will make a personal appearance at Google Headquarters demanding to know why not!)

Yesterday I posted a new article about Tapestry Fair and their stitch guides on the CH Stitch Guides blog.
http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com/2011/03/tapestry-fair-adds-stitch-guides-to.html

I also noticed the announcement of a new crewel wool from Weeks Dye Works.  They started out specializing in gently faded colors of floss for the repo sampler crowd so I expect the colors will stay in their usual range.
http://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2011/03/wdw-crewel-weight-wool-available-at-norden-crafts.html

The WDW website has a nice slide show of the crewel weight wool they are dyeing and distributing now.
http://www.weeksdyeworks.com/crewel-wool-yarn.html

When I taught myself to needlepoint in 1988 there were two threads available to me--wool and wool.  I could choose between Paternayan wool or Appleton crewel. I learned to love crewel wool then for its strength, texture, color and versatility.  Although I don't use it much now (I'm allergic to most wools) I still love it and am happy that we have this new thread in our stitching toolbox.

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

Overdyed Very Velvet UPDATED

Overdyed Petite Very Velvet

One of the new threads introduced at the January 2011 TNNA market is overdyed Very Velvet.  Most of us have seen Very Velvet (or the Petite Very Velvet, sized for 18 count canvas) in the shops as it is a very popular thread for anything that needs a velvety look. Rainbow Gallery has now come out with overdyed versions of Very Velvet, some of which a friend sent me to show to you and stitch with.
http://www.rainbowgallery.com/detail.cfm?ID=1251

As you can see in the photograph and in the link, the colors are mostly a light to dark range of one color.  I think the reds will be very popular for a red velvet Santa coat since you won't need to do anything to have a subtle shading.*  My personal favorite is the subtle grays but the brown card will be perfect for tree trunks in a forest or for animal fur.

Many thanks to Rainbow Gallery for a great new thread to add to our stitching tool box.

*UPDATE:  While on my annual Woodlawn exhibit and shopping extravaganza, I ran into Ruth Dilts of Needlepoint 101 and 202 fame.  Ruth showed me a small Santa she was stitching using the red overdyed Petite Very Velvet.  She created a Bargello pattern on his coat front, mirror imaging the sides so that the shades of red played out on both sides exactly the same way.  It was gorgeous and very imaginative--a great use of this new thread that showed it off beautifully.
http://www.ruthdiltsdesign.com/newest.html

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

Bunnies Overrun Houston

If you live in Houston, you'll want to visit the Needle House's annual Easter canvas show.  The shop is covered with painted canvases of eggs, rabbits and carrots!  Read about the other local shop news in their newsletter.
http://www.theneedlehouse.com/jm/images/newsletters/spring_2011_web.pdf

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

Painter's Threads Meets Ribbon Floss

Painter's Threads Overdyed Shimmer Ribbon Floss

What do you get when you cross YLI's ribbon floss with Germany's Tentakulum Painter's Threads?  You end up with overdyed ribbon floss, of course!

Here is YLI's website, the page where the description of the varieties of ribbon floss start.  Ribbon floss comes in regular, metallic, Shimmer (which has a bit of metallic woven in--this is the type of ribbon floss Painter's Threads has overdyed), and heathered (which looks rather tweedy and thicker than the other ribbon flosses).
http://www.ylicorp.com/ribbonfloss_1.htm

This is Tentakulum's website, with links to all the threads they manufacture.
http://www.paintersthreads.eu/Seiten/PaintersInfoSite/English/PaintersColoursEnglish.htm

This link shows all the current colors of Painter's Threads in overdyed Shimmer ribbon floss.  I am told this is available from YLI if you are a shop owner looking to order.
http://www.paintersthreads.eu/Seiten/Farbkarten/Viskose.Wolle.Metallics.Andere/VRFS.html

This close-up shows some of the new Painter's Threads Shimmer ribbon floss as well as the regular ribbon floss in the old tube packaging.  If you compare the regular ribbon floss tail end with that of the new Painter's Thread overdyed Shimmer ribbon floss, you'll see the dyeing process makes the overdyed thread a bit less ribbon-like.

YLI now packages ribbon floss wound around flat rectangles of plastic (which you see at the top of the first photo) but you will still find ribbon floss wound around cardboard tubes as well.  I put the mesh tubes around the tube ribbon floss to keep the spools neat.  They don't come this way but I didn't have any of the old style of packaging I hadn't opened.

Amy Bunger's Halloweenies Home Study project used Painter's Threads overdyed Shimmer ribbon floss on the Devil character.  Here's a picture of Melinda's finished Dev L. Mann.
http://melindaslivingthegoodlife.blogspot.com/2011/02/speak-of-devil.html

Many thanks to LR for sending me these lovely threads to show off to you and use in my stitching.

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