Free Christmas Motifs

For their New Stitch Monday, Ridgewood Needlepoint has posted charted motifs for Christmas--an angel, bow, two versions of a tree and two holly motifs.  

https://ridgewoodneedlepoint.com/new-stitch-monday-100/

These will be fun to add to backgrounds or borders for that Christmas design you are stitching.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 18, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Is This A Problem?

Elizabeth over at Needlepoint Nation posted photos of her new spools of Kreinik, some of which look odd to her.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/6874086552668444/

It's not a problem.  It could be the thread was a bit off center when put on the spool or it could be that Kreinik's transition to using only the large size spool means some of the various sizes of threads don't quite cover the large spool any more.  For example, spools of number 4 braid have 11 meters on the spool, while number 8, 12 and 16 braid have 10 meters.  If you buy 24 braid, you get 5 meters.  You can see using one size spool for all threads means some spools aren't completely covered by the thread.

https://www.kreinik.com/store/new-spools

This greatly helps when buying spools, though.  Kreinik has been having problems buying all the different sizes they used to put their threads on.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 6, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

December is for Giving

December is the time for giving and in that spirit, three designers have announced their Charts for Charity for 2023:

The Wool and the Floss is sponsoring My Pink Sugar Life's design, sales of which will go toward Parkinson's Disease research.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0dG3ORNX3K/?g=5&img_index=4

Mopsey Designs is donating toward Maine Needs with this three Christmas tree design.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0U2Ch-r2JD/

Fire and Iris is donating to COVER, which does urgent home repairs, with this hilarious Rocky Raccoons Family Holiday Party.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0T7dc_rLyX/

Saturnalia Stitching's "Peppermint Butterfly" supports Bags to Butterflies, which supports women re-entering society from prison.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0U7p81rV6G/

The Gingham Stitchery's "Go Taylor's Boyfriend" benefits the Burundi Miracle Project and the two book charts (use the right side arrows to view) benefit Scholarship America.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0XDaSqLaUb/?g=5&img_index=1

These can be purchased from The Needlepoint Clubhouse.  Just choose the one (or ones) you want.

https://www.needlepointclubhouse.com/products/charts-for-charity-2023?variant=40386294284421

Rachel Barri's "Shalom Dove" benefits ADL National, which fights anti-Semitism.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0UwpKNvhWT/

Alice and Blue's "Let It Snow" ornament benefits Protect Our Winters, a climate change organization.

https://aliceandblue.com/collections/canvases-for-a-cause/chart

This isn't part of the Charts for Charity program, but Ridgewood Needlepoint is promoting Vanessa's Gift of Giving Holiday Fund Raiser, to promote cancer research which killed the former owner of Ridgewood.

https://ridgewoodneedlepoint.com/vanessas-gift-of-giving-holiday-fundraiser/

Here's to a better holiday for all!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 5, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Travels with Tricia

If you are a big fan of Tricia Nguyen of Thistle Threads and her research into 17th Century historical embroidery, you'll love her new video series called Travels with Tricia.  If you want to explore the history of embroidery, are curious about the materials we use to create our needle art, or just want to escape from Holiday Madness, this is the place to start.

Travels with Tricia No. One is both an introduction to Tricia herself and an overview of the Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers Guild exhibit in London.  These are the folks who make gold and silver embroidery thread.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z03bKOablQU

Travels with Tricia No. Two goes to the Witney Antiques 2023 Exhibit to see their Elizabeth Hall casket and samplers exhibit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYd-stm9UdY&t=475s

I've collected a few links mentioned by Tricia for those who want to see more.

https://www.gutterlaneembroidery.com/historic-reconstruction

http://www.beryldean.org.uk/

Subscribe to Tricia's YouTube channel to see more videos as Tricia releases them.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 5, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Mill Hill Bead Color Cards

If you use lots of beads and have to choose colors for online orders, Mill Hill's bead color flier is a must have.

https://www.thesilverneedle.com/millhill-buttons-beads.html#flier

It's inexpensive enough at a dollar (and it has real beads sewn on to help you match colors) that you can order several for all your stitching buddies.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright December 5, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.