Damaged Background Stitched

I've been concentrating on getting more background stitched these last two nights.  As you can see from the photograph, I've worked more rows in tent stitch around the perimeter of the design and have done quite a bit of stitching around the geisha's head where the burn hole is.

Looking objectively at the background and scorch marks, you can see that despite my repair to the underlying canvas, the damaged areas are still visible.  I can probably hide the corner brown area that peeks out from behind the stitches by putting beading on top of the canvas but the hole just above and to the right of the ears is going to have to be hidden by trim in the finishing.  Despite my best efforts, the burned canvas threads break and peek out (particularly under the tent stitches which are distorted by the breaks) and the hole, although compensated for by the woven thread, is a bit lumpy.

It is possible that Summer Louise (the finisher) will just turn back the upper right hand corner of the canvas along the diagonal line of split pavilion stitches to hide the damaged areas.  This will give her a straight line  to work with and that missing corner might be a nice place for a monogram or a fancy button.  We'll see what she thinks of this idea after Christmas when this will be made up.

I've discovered an unintended side effect of spritzing the canvas with water before stitching.  This really does soften the burned areas and makes them less brittle so I can stitch over them without breaking the burned canvas threads, but it also softenes the patch of 18 count canvas underneath and makes it fray around the edges.  The original piece stuck out past the edge of the canvas design a quarter inch but now that it is fringing itself,  the real stitchable edge of the patch is at the tent stitches and some of them are not even because of that.  If you plan to patch a canvas, you need to make the patch at least an inch bigger around all sides than the damaged area.  A half inch or less is just not going to be stable.

I thought about hemming the edge of the patch or covering it with hem tape or just doing a zigzag stitch around the sides of the patch but all these will add bulk and be difficult to stitch through, so just having a larger patch and ignoring the fraying is the best way to go in my opinion.

I've also found that dampening the burned areas does make them softer and more easily stitched over but I think that once they dry, they are even more brittle.  Since I am no expert in restoring canvas, I am following common sense and instinct in repairing this canvas.  Sometimes they lead me astray.  I'd encourage anyone with a canvas they want to salvage to try using a good sized piece of 18 count silk gauze on top of any hole with a patch of an equally good sized piece of 18 count mono canvas (or whatever size the original canvas was) on the bottom for stability.  I think that would avoid the lumpy appearance I have just above the ears, although it does not do anything to solve the problem of burned canvas threads breaking.

I might have done well to completely remove all the burned areas, enlarging the hole and then patching it.  For the scorched areas, painting a matching color on top of the brown area should hide the brown color that shows between the threads.  I am not convinced that painting a scorch mark will be good in the long run, but in the short run it might hide the mark.

However one goes about repairing a canvas like this, a full coverage stitch will be needed on the repaired area.

Hope all my musings on fixing a damaged area helps someone with a repair, whether it is a cut thread, chemical damage or a burn from a magnifier in the sunshine.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Ruth Schmuff's Zinnias Explained

Someone who reads Blog (you know who you are) greatly admires the silk ribbon embroidery flowers Ruth Schmuff is adding to the Melissa Shirley canvas above.  I grabbed the picture from Ruth's blog (she's given me blanket permission which I am abusing shamelessly this morning) where she is showing off progress on this design which is one she is teaching at her NP shop.  It's one of her mystery classes.  You can read about the upcoming mystery class on her website (second link below).
http://www.tistheseason.org/blog/2009/09/zinnias.html

http://www.bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/classesEvents.php

Anyway, the zinnia that Ruth is stitching is done in silk ribbon embroidery, which is really easy.  I promised to explain how it is done and now that I am doing Boring Background on the Rabbit Geisha and there's not much to see, I've worked out a tutorial on making zinnias.

First you need supplies.  In this photo you see a 5x5 piece of 18 count canvas, a bunch of silk ribbon (it's important for making zinnias or daisies that the ribbon all be the same width as their petals are all the same width but otherwise you can use any color or colors you want), a thread in a color that looks good with your silk ribbons (I choose #8 perle cotton in pink),  something to trace a circle onto your canvas with (I choose a small round metal sauce container), a laying tool (I like to use a nut pick from a nutcracker set for ribbons and ribbon-like threads) to keep the ribbon untwisted, and a sharp needle with a large eye.  I use size 18 crewel embroidery needles when doing silk ribbon embroidery.  They have a sharp point (you'll see why you need one in a minute) and an eye large enough to thread the ribbon through.  In the photo above I've drawn a line around the outside of my little sauce container that is around 2 inches across.  You can make your circle any size you want. I want to make my flower up as a pin so I need a pretty large circle.  I also need a larger flower for demonstration purposes and my line is a lot darker than yours should be.  It'll show through the sheer organdy ribbon I picked for this project so don't make a dark line like I did.  You don't need something that photographs well like I do.  You will also see in the photo that I put a dot in the approximate middle of my circle.  You don't have to have the exact center, just an approximation so you'll know where to stop the ribbon.  You may also want beads to put in the center once the silk ribbon embroidery is done.

Once you have your circle, use your coordinating thread (I used pink perle cotton) and stitch 2-3 rows of tent stitches outside the circle you've drawn IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A FLOWER PIN.  Obviously Ruth didn't do this step as she was stitching a painted canvas but I need the rows for making my flower into a pin.  If this is just a test sample for you or if you plan to stitch a zinnia on a canvas, skip this part.

Now cut a length of ribbon and tie a little knot in the end, just like you do for any other stitching.  I normally use a 12-16 inch length of ribbon and suggest that you not use more than 18 inches worth of ribbon.  Come up about half way between the outer edge of the circle and the middle.  You are going to start doing the outer ring of petals first.

Now the scary part.  Look carefully at the picture.  See the needle sticking right into the silk ribbon there at the edge of my circle?  Go down right through the ribbon to the back side.  This is why you need a sharp crewel needle. You are going to sew ribbon through itself!  Silk ribbon stands up to this nicely, too.  Pull the ribbon through itself slowly and carefully and look at the point where the ribbon goes down into itself.  You can pull it all the way through like Ruth did for her zinnia petals or you can leave a little curl on top, like a breaking wave, which is what I did in many of my petals.  Isn't that neat?

Once you get over the horror of piercing ribbon (this is called the Japanese ribbon stitch or sometimes just plain ribbon stitch) you just move over a bit, pretend to be the hand of a clock, and repeat all the way around the circle.  If you want to switch colors when you run out of a length of ribbon, please do so.  Ruth used seven colors of silk ribbon for her zinnia petals to match the colors painted on the canvas.  I used five colors in all.

Continue around the circle a few times until this outer ring is all filled in. If you don't like a color, put a petal in another color on top of it.  This is another reason to use a sharp crewel needle--in silk ribbon embroidery sometimes you have to stitch right through more than one ribbon petal to get the placement and look you want.  For my sample there isn't a top or bottom side since we are looking down into the flower center.  So turn the canvas any way necessary to stitch the outer ring.  Once you are satisfied, start on the inner ring.  Leave the center blank (I left about 6 threads empty in the middle) so you can put in beads or French knots or metallic stitches there.

Switch colors as you like (or to match the painted canvas).  Note that Ruth's zinnia doesn't have a smooth edge like mine, but again, she is matching what is painted and I am making a pin to wear.  Above is a photo of my finished flower with the center empty.  Another close up is below of the same stage.

I finished the center by doing 2-3 French knots in the very center of the empty space with my pink perle cotton, then ringed the French knots with more French knots in my dark pink organdy ribbon.

I cut out my canvas, folded the edges under, put a piece of finishing foam on the back, and covered the edge with green beads.  This weekend I'll pick up a pin back to put on the rear and will have a cheerful pink daisy to wear this winter.

The silk ribbon embroidery part took about 90 minutes.  The beading took 2 hours.   Silk ribbon embroidery is quick and easy and you get terrific results from it.

Interesting in seeing more silk ribbon embroidery projects?  Explore the River Silks website.
http://www.riversilks.com/Site/Site10/ABOUT_OUR_SILK_RIBBON.html

No silk ribbon was harmed in the making of my pin.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

Amy and Jane Z.

This is just a quick post to remind everyone the monthly Amy Bunger newsletter is up on her website.  This month there are a lot of great photographs of finished projects that Amy, her staff, or her students have stitched.  And congratulations to Robin for her new teaching gig at TNNA in January!
http://www.amybunger.com/f/Amy_s_e-newsletter_October_2009.pdf

AND Jane Zimmerman has released more of her designs as chart booklets as part of her website's one year anniversary.  I can't stress enough how gorgeous her work is in person.  Photographs can't capture the shine of the silk and metal embroidery she specializes in.
http://www.janezimmerman.com/Site/index.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

SNS Announces The SharonG Network

It's Christmas here in Chilly Hollow and my dreams have come true! The Shining Needle Society is doing a SharonG class!!!! Here are all the details, straight from the announcement email from Kate and Marie-Therese:

"New class for painted canvas lovers and fans of SharonG!


Announcing...The SharonG Network


Shining Needle Society is very pleased to announce our latest class offering which features SharonG. Sharon is the creative force behind a number of enterprises -- most notably, her very successful line of painted canvases. Sharon is somewhat of a rarity in the needlepoint world, however, in that she both designs AND stitches her canvases.


The SharonG Network will allow you to tap into SharonG's extensive creative resources and get advice for stitching your SharonG canvas directly from the source -- SharonG herself!

Think of the SharonG Network as a club you join and then you can interact with Sharon via email as you stitch your canvas. Sharon will offer stitch and thread suggestions to help you make your SharonG canvas project uniquely your own! You will also learn along the way as Sharon consults with your fellow classmates about their canvases -- what a great opportunity to get inside the mind of the designer!!! While we will be discussing ONLY SharonG canvases in this classroom, you don't actually have to own one to sign up for the class. Sharon's canvases are so appealing, however, that we bet you'll want one sometime during your membership and Sharon will happily direct you to a shop in your area where you can purchase your canvas. Online sources will also be listed, so anyone anywhere can participate.

How does the new SharonG Network work? There will be quarterly signups for the classroom and it will be ongoing. The cost will be $35 a quarter (three months), and if you sign up for a year, we're offering a discount making it $120 total. So, for $10 a month, you can lurk and learn all sorts of embellishment tips and techniques with Sharon. You have the joy of working at your own pace, and Sharon will be there to assist as needed. She may even throw in a few general lessons or an occasional recipe. It's rumored that her baklava is to die for! :-)


Many of you already know that Sharon has a welcoming style in her email communications. She has been a frequent and knowledgeable participant in the ANG email discussion list. For an example of her online work and the clarity of her charts, a ready reference is her own Website and her contribution to ANG's Stitch of the Month in 2005 (Dragon and Butterflies Kimono).


For Sharon's website:
http://www.sharong.com/


For Dragon and Butterflies Kimono:
http://www.needlepoint.org/StitchOfTheMonth/2005/dec.php

There are a few ground rules for this new class:


This classroom is for SharonG's canvases only. Sharon has a wide range of canvases in her line, so we hope there is something that will appeal to anyone, but please know that Sharon will provide stitch and thread advice for her canvases ONLY. That said, you are more than welcome to join this class and listen and learn from a true expert in the painted canvas world.

This is NOT a "get a complete stitch guide for your canvas" class. If you just want a stitch guide, Sharon has a number of stitch guides that can be purchased with her canvases. Your local shop can help you with that. However, if you want a chance to work with the designer to create a unique piece of needle art, then you're in the right place. The idea is that you may already have some goals for your canvas and how you want to stitch it -- or maybe Sharon will start you in an area. You complete that and then we take the next area. As each area builds on those already completed, your piece evolves into your own unique creation.


Shop owners -- this is great opportunity for your customers to get some specialized help with their SharonG canvases and we welcome you and your customers to participate.


So, if you're ready to work directly with SharonG to make your canvases amazing, it's time to sign up for this new class!

Class: "The SharonG Network" (TSGN)
Teacher: Sharon Garmize
Type of class: canvas enhancement/embellishment; canvas is student's choice, limited to SharonG canvas line
Length of class: Three months (10/21/09 thru 1/31/10 -- and yes, you get a little more than three months of class time because we can't wait to start!!!) -- or sign up for a full year (10/21/09 - 10/31/10) at a discount)
Kit contents: No kit.
Student to supply: An open mind and a willingness to learn. If actively stitching a canvas, then student provides all stitching supplies. Canvas discussion is limited to SharonG painted canvases.


Skill Level: All levels welcome. Some experience with painted canvas stitching and reading charts is helpful.


Price(s): $35 per three month signup period, discounted to $120 for four quarters, paid in advance.


Registration begins: Sept. 29, 2009
Registration for first quarter offering ends: Oct. 15, 2009 -- with late signups allowed through Nov. 15.  Late signups are not pro-rated, but will have access to posts from beginning of class.
Class begins: Oct. 21, 2009
Class ends: Jan. 31, 2010 (end of first quarter, class will be ongoing)
Payments accepted: PayPal and checks.


To sign up, send an email to Sharon Garmize at sharon@sharong.com and include "SharonG Network" or "Network Class" in the subject line of your email.


Please include the following information:


Your name
Your address
Your email address so we can enroll you in the online classroom
Your method of payment -- check or PayPal.
Your desired length of membership at this time: 3 months for $35, or 12 months for $120.


Any questions, just email us!


We hope you are as excited as we are about this innovative new concept in painted canvas embellishment.


Kate Gaunt and Marie-Therese Baker
SNS Founders"

The SharonG canvases you see scattered all throughout this message are some of her designs in my stash.  I have more, too, but just couldn't find photos of them.  Step one is signing up for the class and step two is deciding which canvas to ask Herself about!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow

The Rabbit Geisha's Clothing

Last night I finished the lower skirt of Brenda Stofft's Rabbit Geisha using my Half Tony stitch (which is actually the bottom half of the Sally's Diamonds August 2009 Stitch of the Month from ANG's website).  The brass colored lining inside the sleeves is done also, which means I've finished all the lining bits you see at the hems of the skirt, tunic and sleeve interiors. This means only the lighter blue sleeve trims, the pink and green ribbons, the tassels and a ton of gold outlining are left on the outfit the geisha wears.  I think I need to do a lot more background before I start on the last items she wears or I will be doing boring background for the last week of the project!

If you look at the left side of the lower skirt, you'll see one section is the same dark brass color as the lining of the inside of the hems of the skirt and tunic.  I simply switched to my Gloriana silk and stitched that section in the same stitch as the ecru section stitched in Mandarin floss.  The darker color is simply shading on the rear part of the lower skirt.

Before I forget, the Chart of the Day today is actually called "Summer Morn" but I mistyped it as Summer MorE and decided, given the cool and wet fall weather we are having, that more summer was appropriate and left it.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow