Trish Burr's Free Needle Painting Stitch-A-Long

Trish Burr, who is famous for her classes and books on exquisite needle painting, is doing a free stitch-a-long for folks subscribed to her blog.  Even if you aren't interested in trying needle painting yourself, the instructions from a master of this technique are worth reading.  There are lots of tips that are interesting, even if this is being stitched on linen instead of needlepoint canvas.

https://trishburr.com/2020/09/15/project-12-mini-journal/

https://trishburr.com/2020/09/15/stitch-along-clarification/

https://trishburr.com/2020/09/18/stitch-along-part-one/

https://trishburr.com/2020/09/25/stitch-along-part-two/

https://trishburr.com/2020/09/28/mini-journal-layout/

https://trishburr.com/2020/10/02/stitch-along-part-three/

https://trishburr.com/2020/10/09/stitch-along-part-four/

https://trishburr.com/2020/10/28/o-christmas-tree/

https://trishburr.com/2020/12/06/construction-of-mini-journal/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright September 25, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Mr. Cat, Mr. Bat and Mr. Pumpkin Are Ready for Halloween~

My Debbie Mumm Halloween ornament is nearly done.  All that remains are the cat's features.  Since the face is three layers of satin stitch over four layers of felt, you need a sharp needle to add those.  I used a beading needle but an embroidery sharp or a crewel needle will also work as long as it will go through the bead holes.  (I used beads for the eyes.)

First I looked at my zerox of the canvas and the bits of orange I could see through the background stitching and placed the orange whiskers.  I used one ply of some orange Gloriana silk I had.  I copied the slant of the original painting as best as I could.  Next I did the nose and mouth.  I thought about using using three stitches for the nose/mouth, but I ended up breaking up each line a bit.  This area is the most raised and to get a smooth look over all that padding, I had to break up the two horizontal lines that make up the nose and mouth.  It is a little wonky but that suits Mr. Cat I think.  

If your first attempt doesn't go well and you have to rip out, you are going to disturb the smooth satin stitches that over the face a bit but that's not a big deal.  Rip out, add another layer of satin stitch with your black floss over the area you disturbed, and tray again.  

The eyes are entirely beaded with white pearls and black rounds that are all the same size, 15/0.  These are pretty tiny beads.  I used black floss to attach them as I was afraid the clear beading thread I used elsewhere might show against all that black.  I looked at my xerox again for reference.  The eyes are painted in five rows (top to bottom) of three white stitches, four white stitches with a black one in the middle, five white stitches, five white stitches and three white stitches.  

I copied that exactly.  In the top photo you can see the eyes underway.  I could have stopped right there but I wanted Mr. Cat to look like he was looking at Mr. Bat who had just landed on his head.  The moral is stitch this to suit yourself.  One stitch (or bead) can make a big difference in the expression.  The second photo shows my first attempt at the beading.  It's not easy to get beads to lay evenly over the curve of a heavily padded area.  I ended up taking them all out and trying again.  My second attempt worked much better.  

To make sure that both eyes were even, I did them at the same time, working the top row in both, then the second row in both, etc.  This helped me level the eyes as much as possible.  The photo at the top is me working both eyes simultaneously.

And here is the finished design again.  It was a lot of fun to work.  I hope you enjoyed it and will try some of these raised techniques on your own designs.

By the way, The Needleart Nut has also stitched her cat, bat and pumpkin.  Hilarious and different than mine.  I want to pet her cat.  I want to avoid being trapped on a desert island with mine.  LOL

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2020/10/it-is-finished.html

Happy Halloween!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright October 3, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Self-Finishing for Ornaments: Three Inches Versus Four Inches UPDATED

This fall I bet a lot of folks are thinking about self-finishing items for ornaments.  I'm just talking ornaments, now, either round or square, that fit inside three inch versus four inch self finishing items.  There are other self finishing items (purses, tissue boxes, snap trays) for larger pieces but I'm not considering those here.

If you have a three inch round item, your choices are the Lee purse, 

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Crossbody-Bag-Navy-Leather-Self-Finishing-3-opening-x36321354.htm

…the Lee leather needle box…

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Leather-Needle-Box-Red-3-Insert-x35454725.htm

…the Lee leather gift box…

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Self-Finishing-Gift-Box-Black-4-w-3-opening-x36997694.htm

…the Lee cosmetic bag (available in several finishes)…

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Self-Finishing-Cosmetic-Bag55x753-opening-x51899916.htm

…the Lee leather snap tray…

https://www.theneedlepointer.com/product/small-square-snap-tray-assorted-colors/

…or the Lee luggage tag.

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Luggage-Tag-Fucshia-Snakeskin-Self-Finishing-accepts-3-round-x36165587.htm

If your item is three inches square, Planet Earth has square leather coasters.

https://needlepoint-for-fun.com/products/leather-needlepoint-coasters

Some coasters for the three inch square design come in sets of four.

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Blue-Coasters-Set-of-4-Self-Finishing-Canvas-area-3x3-x33169093.htm

Planet earth also has boxes that are for a three inch square design.

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Leather-Jewelry-Case-Bellflower-Blue3x3-opening-x50489034.htm

If your ornament is a four inch round, this Lee leather box might be just right.

http://www.parkavenueneedlepoint.com/shop/Self-Finishing-Products/p/Gray-Leather-Round-Case4-design-area-x41461397.htm

I'm not sure which company offers these for four inch round designs.

https://www.theneedlepointer.com/product/round-leather-case-assorted-colors/

These silk boxes are also for a four inch round design.

https://www.theneedlepointer.com/product/round-silk-self-finishing-case/

If your round is a bit larger than four inches in diameter, this Lee leather coaster that has a magnetic back and a loop to hang might be just the thing.  

https://www.theneedlepointer.com/product/coaster-magnetic-ornament-assorted-colors/

This large snap tray will also handle a four inch round or even one that is four and a half inches round.

https://www.theneedlepointer.com/product/large-square-snap-tray-assorted-colors/

If your piece is four inches square, Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery has two styles of coasters, both with a glass insert to protect your stitching.

https://vngcanvas.com/self-finishing-coasters-and-designs/

Whether your ornament is three inches or four (or even a bit larger), shop around once you settle on your preferred style.  

UPDATE:  Eye Candy shows off the various Planet Earth self-finishing boxes and their own designs which fit perfectly.

http://eyecandyneedleart.blogspot.com/2021/04/finishing-freedom.html

UPDATE #2:  Stitch by Stitch Larchmont shows off a range of self-finishing items, including the new luggage tags from Planet Earth that take 2x3 inch designs.

https://www.stitchbystitchneedlepoint.com/accessories?utm_campaign=62d391f9-4d5a-43e4-b279-ef40a9c6338e&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail_lp&cid=68c6d8c4-6311-4db7-a6af-6c56ebef78b3

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright October 9, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Free Halloween Design from SJ Designs

Susan Johnson of SJ Designs has released a free Halloween ornament chart that is totally beaded.

https://mcusercontent.com/35aa40000a83a7d7f36608669/files/965eec61-9ef2-46f1-9b16-81028f7adad0/Boo_2_You_2020.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2rwaNbVXq93jeatlUos5pBIp-scOz_VCVWxfCn7xKJpFdlaBVmhK9AGp8

If you aren't a bead person, though, rummage in your stash and pick threads in the right colors and use those in tent stitches instead.  You'll need black, white, gold, purple, green and orange.  

Thanks, Susan!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright October 20, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stretcher Bars Versus Stitching in Hand

Megan and Melissa talk about using stretcher bars versus stitching in hand.  It's a fun discussion that also touches upon using tacks versus staplers to put canvases on stretcher bars, speciality tools you might want to consider and tips that help keep your canvas clean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeK6m78MZSA

The magnetic wrist band that Megan and Melissa show is called a Maker's Keep magnetic slap bracelet.  If your favorite shop doesn't carry them, you can talk to The Wool and the Floss in Michigan or to Needlepoint Club House in St. Louis to order.  You can see the five colors available here.

https://cocoknits.com/products/makers-keep

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright September 27, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.