More Tips on Stitching Through Tulle

As I have more experience stitching through the layer of tulle on top of cat topiary garden, I've realized that using a smaller needle than usual helps.  I am stitching with a size 24 tapestry needle on 18 count instead of the size 22 I normally use.  Right now I'm just stitching with one ply of silk or cotton floss, so the eye is big enough for the thread to fit, but the needle (and thread) are small enough that they slip right through the holes in the tulle. Occasionally I realize my needle is stretching the tulle a little out of position and I remove the needle and redo the stitch but mostly my size 24 needle works great.

When I have to rip out stitches, I find it easier to gently unpick my stitches with the eye of my needle instead of cutting them with scissors.  Cutting with scissors risks cutting the tulle.  I think I could repair a hole but I'm not sure so I am not taking any chances.  I just turn the needle around and use the eye to pull up a stitch and remove it.

I haven't felt the need to run a row of basting stitches down the middle of my canvas to hold the tulle in place there but some folks might like to do that to make sure the tulle doesn't shift position much.  You can always carefully remove the basting stitches (especially if you make them really long) when you get close to stitching over them.

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

Counted Canvaswork and Painted Canvases

This morning I have new eye candy for you. Since the trade show news has been mostly about painted canvases, here is a lovely silk version of a counted piece from Needle Delights.
http://thenimbleneedle.blogspot.com/2011/06/tangerine-twist.html

Carol has a lovely little free ornament for us, straight from Australia.  This will make great Christmas ornaments, a scissors fob or just something pretty to pin on your bulletin board at work.
http://carolscountedcanvasworkneedleworks.blogspot.com/2011/06/little-bitty-chart-to-you-from-me.html#comment-form

http://carolscountedcanvasworkneedleworks.blogspot.com/2011/06/here-is-chart-for-free-design.html

Ridgewood has been showcasing older designs that are just as wonderful today as they were when they were first released.  Their Famous Women series (from Labors of Love ) can be paired with a matching frame.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2011/06/famous-women.html

They also have a lovely Gone with the Wind canvas with all the main characters. I don't know who the designer of this classic is, but I bet fans will have great fun stitching it as a momento of a great movie.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2011/06/gone-with-wind.html

The final touch this morning is 8 blog entries from Pocket Full of Stitches, showing off their current Patti Mann trunk show.  Twenty percent off, folks!
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/

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

The Stitching Studio Checks In and Laura Perin Resurfaces

The Stitching Studio and Boutique has checked in.  They had a blast at Market!  They bought lots of goodies,
http://thestitchingstudio.blogspot.com/2011/06/news-from-market.html

including signing up for the Creepy Charactures set from Robin King and Needle Deeva.
http://thestitchingstudio.blogspot.com/2011/06/creepy-characters-from-needledeeva.html

They've also posted photos of the class model and Shelly Tribbey's cupcakes.  Yum!
http://thestitchingstudio.blogspot.com/2011/06/photos-from-market.html

By the way, if you've been wondering what happened to Laura Perin, she's been designing.  Wait'll you see her 4th of July piece!
http://two-handedstitcher.blogspot.com/2011/06/red-white-blue-i-am-for-you.html

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

More Cats, More Leigh, More Melissa UPDATED

It's obvious Robin misses her cats while she's away from home, working the Needle Deeva booth at TNNA's Columbus show.  At least she can look at needlepoint cats while she is away.
http://needlepointstudyhall.blogspot.com/2011/06/cats-in-columbus.html

The designers are starting to post all their new designs on their websites now that the shops have seen their work.  It's a tradition that they wait until the shops who go to the trade shows get first peek, but it is very hard on us Internet visitors!  Here is Leigh's newest Fashion Inserts as well as the new small size of their Staccato line.  I have to say I love the newest Fash inserts, particularly the temple, the pile of birthday packages, the Santa ornament, the Valentine lady whose flowing locks spell Love....
http://www.leighdesigns.com/ImgIdx01.html

There are more new Fash Inserts that are being distributed by Lee with their lovely bags.  You can see a couple of the others here.  Leigh created them but Lee sells the butterflies and the lilies.  (Confused yet?  LOL)
http://www.leighdesigns.com/News.html

Melissa Shirley has posted her new things on her website and she's made it hard because they are scattered throughout the page.  We are going to have to look at designs posted earlier this spring again.  Well, I guess that's not really such a chore.  LOL
http://melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?bsn=1

No wonder the Needle Bug staff are exhausted!
http://theneedlebug.com/2011/06/monday-and-to-head-back-shortly/

UPDATE:  Janet Perry picks her favorite canvases from the TNNA show.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/great-canvases-a-tnna

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

Shut Her Up With Candy Corn

In really new TNNA news, Vicky DeAngelis has found a new artist whose work Kelly Clark is reproducing in needlepoint canvas.  Let's give a big hand of applause and welcome--once we stop laughing--for Dan Dipaolo.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/06/13/lol-in-kelly-clarks-booth/

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