Calling All Thread Detectives

Remember when I talked about the new High Cotton five-ply floss from Hyla Hurley?  I did a review on Blog here.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/10/thread-review-high-cotton.html

Two different sources have told me they think the thread is rather matte (like Needle Necessities' Madras was)  but I thought it had more sheen to it than regular DMC cotton floss, both in the skeins and especially when stitched in long stitches.  In tent stitches it does look matte, or at least not any different than using DMC or Anchor floss in tent stitches.

I'm wondering if it was just the color I used (pale lavender), or if I am losing my mind. (There is heavy betting action on the latter.  LOL)  I am going to test stitch with other colors when I have time but for now, I'd love to hear from folks who have stitched with this thread about what they think.

I'll update the earlier review with a note about the matte/shiny decisions we all came to once I have more input.  So, what's your opinion?

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

Luna's Gown

After much work, Luna's couture gown is finished.

The beads are gunmetal gray, crystal lined with silver, and black.

Some beads appear gold in the photos because light is bouncing off the crystal beads.

It was a lot of work but worth it.

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

UPDATED: Testing Needles (or, The Mad Scientist Speaks)

You may remember that the last LNS visit I made I picked up two packets of Bohin tapestry needles to test.  I started using some of the needles (I bought size 22 and 24, the sizes I use on 18 canvas the most) when I started Luna.  Now that I've been working on her for a while, it's time to review the needles.
http://www.creweljewels.com/Bohin-Tapestry-Needles-p/73001.htm

The link below talks a bit about Bohin. Their needles are made in France and are very smooth to the touch.  The packets I bought had six needles to a pack .  I believe that Bohin sells tapestry needles in sizes 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28.  I forgot to make a note of all the sizes available when I bought these at Waste Knot, however.
http://www.creweljewels.com/Bohin-France-s/59.htm

As long time members of Blog know, I have very acidic hands.  It only took me about three hours of stitching to start to wear away the metal coating on my Kreink gold needles.  The John James platinum needles showed wear after maybe 5-6 days of stitching.  So far the Bohin needles show no sign of wear under my magnifier although they don't feel quite as slick as they did when I started using them.


They are not pretty like the gold needles are, however.  There are no burrs in the eye and the coating of the surface stands up to my hands.  Are they my favorite needles?  Well, no.

I prefer Piecemaker needles when I have a choice because they last as well as Bohin needles plus they are very smooth and silky to the touch.  I prefer how they feel in my hands.  However, Piecemakers
are made for quilting and as far as I know, you can't buy size 18 or 20 tapestry needles from them.  Here is the Piecemaker website.
http://www.piecemakers.com/products.html/Piecemakers_Needles?zenid=a2181e883db046f97e4778395ae97b93

I expect I will buy size 18 and 20 Bohin needles and sizes 22, 24, 26 and 28 Piecemakers from now on due to how well both brands hold up to my acid fingers.

If you are curious about Bohin needles and your local shop doesn't have them, I know you can get them at Waste Knot.  They are around $2 a packet, which is what Piecemaker needles cost me.
http://www.wasteknotneedlepoint.com/

Whatever brand necdle you like, remember to discard needles after each project or two.  Amy Bunger wrote in a Needlepoint Plus article long ago that stitchers use their needles too long.  They are not expensive but if you have hands like mine, it is essential that you switch to new needles frequently. If you don't have acid hands, you should still be using new needles periodically.

Save the used needles.  We'll do a Festival of Broken Needles ceremony next February again to honor them before we get rid of them.

UPDATE:  A friend told me she doesn't like the feel of the needles. She thinks they feel ridged instead of rounded and after a while, they hurt her fingers.  The eye is very smooth and great for silk and cotton flosses, though.

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

Odds and Ends

It's confession time in CH.  I never really "got" the 3-D needlepointed stuffed animals.  Of course I never saw these pictures.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/11/sew-much-fun-3d-animals.html

http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/11/sew-much-fun.html

Now I get it.  These are fabulous!  And perfect for the child in your life (or the child in you).  Speaking of children, Squiggee has something I've never seen in painted canvases before --baby booties.  The ones with puppies are too cute for words.
http://squiggeedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/10/needlepoint-baby-booties.html

My final link is to Janet Perry's blog where she talks about finding the perfect thread to stitch a cloudy blue sky.
http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/stitching-the-cloudy-sky

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

The Astounding Ribbon Master

I've been reading Susan Elliot's blog for a while, enjoying her eclectic embroidery than ranges from bead covered journals to Japanese embroidery.  Susan just took a ribbon class from Candace Kling, whom I've never heard of and whose out-of-print book The Artful Ribbon just went on my Christmas list.  Here are photos Susan took in class.  Prepare to be amazed and delighted.
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2010/11/ribbon-art-and-candace-kling.html

Here is Candace's website.  Make sure you click on Art to see the candy boxes and the hat, then check out the Links for more photographs and informations about her ribbon art.
http://www.candacekling.com/

This is awe-inspiring work, so much so that I'm not posting anything else today.  I want you to have time to explore this a bit and think of ribbons as works of art, not just the way to make some flowers for your needlepoint.

Thanks, Susan.  I would never have known about the art of ribbons without your blog.

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