Kumihimo Braid to Trim Needlepoint UPDATED

Wendy at One Off Needlework explains just how to use Kumihimo Braiding to make lovely trim for needlepoint.
http://www.oneoffneedlework.co.uk/blog/making-my-own-cord-trim/

It looks pretty easy once you have the disk.  Let me know if you try this!

UPDATE:  Check the comments for more information and resources from Blog readers.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 25, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Big Bucks for Basketweave

If you only tent stitch pillows and feel a little like the unwanted stepchild, take heart. Pillows from the auction of Ronald and Nancy Reagan's estate have sold for astounding amounts. 
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-22/ronald-reagan-auction-rakes-in-a-staggering-5-7-million

Here's a bit of background on the "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" pillow.
https://hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com/aint-seen-nothing-yet/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 23, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Black Outlines on Painted Canvases UPDATED

The latest Needlepoint for Fun newsletter tackles the issue of canvases that have black outlines on them. Do you stitch those? If so, how?   If this has ever puzzled you, this is a Must Read.
http://www.needlepoint-for-fun.com/how-to-stitch-outlines-in-needlepoint.htm

UPDATE:  The shop got so many good suggestions for outlining on canvas that they updated the above article.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright  September 23, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Long and Short Tips

One of the techniques used in crewel embroidery is long and short stitch, which greatly resembles needle painting except it is done in a less free-form style.   You can achieve beautiful and realistic shading with this technique.  Kathy took a class with Owen Davies on this technique and kindly shares her tips for creating the best long and short stitched area possible.
http://www.theunbrokenthread.com/blog/2016/09/20/pineapple-long-and-short-shading/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 20, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Cosmo UPDATED

No, we aren't talking that PBS science program that Carl Sagan so memorably narrated in the 1980s.
youtube cosmos carl sagan

I'm talking about Cosmo embroidery floss, an Egyptian cotton floss dyed in Japan. Cosmo is available as a six ply silky cotton, as a variated cotton floss and as a metallic floss.    It is widely available in the USA in quilting shops.
http://www.thimblecreek.com/cosmo.php

There are over 400 colors available in the embroidery floss line.  If you need a lot of shades of one color, Cosmo appears to have 6-7 shades quite often.  Folks who plan to stitch Patricia Spencer's Twister, take note!
http://www.thimblecreek.com/images/COSMO%20colorchart.pdf

Seasons is what the variegated line is called.  There appear to be 73 color combos.
http://www.thimblecreek.com/images/Seasons-color-chart.pdf

Sparkles is the line of metallic floss.  There are 7 colors here.
http://thimblecreek.com/product.php?product=88

For more information here is the company's website.
http://www.lecien.co.jp/en/embroidery/index.html

I've also found a DMC-Cosmo conversion chart so you can substitute colors easier.
http://www.thimblecreek.com/images/DMC%20to%20COSMO%20Conversion%20Chart.pdf

UPDATE: Here is Mary Corbet's review of their variegated cotton floss.
https://www.needlenthread.com/2020/05/cosmo-seasons-variegated-embroidery-thread.html

UPDATE #2:  Rittenhouse has a little video on this wonderful cotton floss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlAHzSX9rqQ

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 15, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.