Japanese Braids

Anyone who likes to make twisted cords for their pillows and ornaments will enjoy exploring the Japanese braid website.  This technique of braiding cords using stands or pillows is called Kumihimo, and like so many other needle and textile techniques, the Japanese have raised it to a fine art.  The links on the left side of the page are to articles and the thumbnail photos show off what you can create using Kumihimo.  Once you start exploring, there are many more links to resources and supplies.
http://www.braidsociety.com/work/picsstoryfset_b.htm


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

That One Is Mine and This One is Yours

I never go anywhere that isn't the grocery, post office, or drug store, but if you go to classes (or if you just like a color-coodinated stitching corner) you may need customized trays and frame weights that are perfect for travel and easy to tell from your stitching neighbor's stuff in class.  Ruth Schmuff has you covered, and in just your style.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2011/11/personally-yours.html


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

Cat Topiary Garden: Why Tulle?

Since I've gotten multiple questions as to why I layered tulle over the cat topiary garden canvas, I thought it is worthwhile to provide an explanation for those who missed it the first time round.  When I finished stitching the background, I realized there was a problem.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2011/06/its-ruths-fault-we-are-going-shopping.html


I knew from paying careful attention to Ruth Schmuff's stitching and from using tulle over the Melissa Shirley Red Geisha that tulle could fix my problem.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-ruth-brought-tulle-into-my-life.html

Tulle isn't the perfect answer.  If I knew in June what I know now, I would have just put a piece of tulle over the background only and left the rest of the canvas uncovered.  But if I hadn't tried covering the entire canvas, we wouldn't know this, so it is a worthwhile experiment.  Making mistakes in your stitching is how you learn.  The perfect stitcher never gets beyond perfect stitches to memorable needlepoint.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2011/06/tulle-on-needlepoint-canvas-drawbacks.html

On the other hand, the tulle provides a secure background for making French knots if you are doing light coverage.  That's something worth remembering if you ever need to scatter French knots over something that won't really hold them in place well.


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

Needlepoint in the 1970s

This is pretty much what needlepoint was like when I taught myself how to needlepoint in 1988.  


Flashback!!

Sadly, this is also pretty much what folks who don't stitch think needlepoint is like today.  By the way, Brini Maxwell is a vintage style specialist on New York City cable TV and now on the Style Network.  She also sells pillows but they are fabric, not needlepoint.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=l_qg-Pq3O8k


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

Doodling at BeStitched

BeStitched has posted another short essay on aspects of needlepoint. This one is about how and why to use a doodle canvas.
http://bestitchedneedlepoint.com/news-and-updates/what-the-doodle-is-a-doodle-canvas/


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