Threadaholic Alert: Four Wool Threads Compared (Plus a New Crewel Wool)

Needlepoint for Fun's latest adventure is a comparison of four new wool threads on the market.    You'll learn about Vineyards Merino, Essentials, Glisten and Planet Earth Wool, especially their characteristics and what canvas count (13 or 18) and type of stitch they work well for.
https://www.needlepoint-for-fun.com/comparison-of-three-wool-threads-for-your-needlepoint--vineyards-merino-essentials-by-tilli-tomas-and-glisten-by-rainbow-gallery.htm

As a bonus, a stitch guide is being written for the Steven Klein canvas used as a demonstration project.  Your favorite shop can order the canvas from Julie Mar and Friends, or you can ask Needlepoint for Fun for the canvas when you get their guide.

As an aside since we are talking about wool, Painter's Thread now has a crewel wool on a machine embroidery spool.  The second link below is their website with a good look at the colors available.
https://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2019/08/painters-thread-crewel-wool.html

https://threadnuts.com/shop?olsPage=t%2Fcrewel-wool-soft

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 28, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Anna's Guide to Beginning Needlepoint Tools

The English designer Anna Pearson just posted a guide to the tools useful for needlepoint on her blog.  The article also explains needlepoint for those who are new to it, and uses a lot of British language versus what we Americans might say.  She calls Zweigart type needlepoint canvas even weave, for example, and talks about power points (electrical outlets) and flat headed drawing pins (thumb tacks).  She also prefers Appleton crewel but then many of her designs are pillows or for footstools or other items that get wear.
http://anna-pearson-needlepoint.blogspot.com/2019/07/introduction-to-needlepoint-and.html

It's a good orientation for folks who are in the United Kingdom and very interesting for those of us who are not to read.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 2, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitch Pink in October

Enriched Stitch is organizing a breast cancer fund raiser in October for the shops to host using three new Stitch Pink designs: One from Suzie at Vallerie Needlepoint Gallery, one from Melissa Prince and one from Two Sisters.  They are announcing it now so that stitchers and shops can pre-order.  Each design comes with a full kit and stitch guide by Suzie Vallerie.  It's a fun way to stitch towards a cure for breast cancer.
http://astheneedleturns.com/stitch-pink-fundraiser/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright  August 20, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Kimberly Exhibits

Kimberly is creating nine mix media art pieces to exhibit in the Magnolia Building during the Magnolia Fine Arts exhibit August 24-35, 2019 in Lakeland, FL.  Three are finished (and one's sold already!).  Stay tuned to see more.  And don't forget to send Kimberly a note if you need to take one of these pieces of needlepoint art home.
http://akimberlydesign.blogspot.com/2019/07/one-two-three.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 2, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Finish Small Ornaments with Hoops

If you want to try finishing small round ornaments yourself, NeedlePaint has a nice tutorial on their blog about finishing their Twelve Days of Christmas designs into small hoops.
https://www.needlepaint.com/blog/2019/06/27/hoop-them-up-needlepaints-diy-christmas-ornaments/

Karen advises you to buy all your hoops at the same time from the same manufacturer.
https://www.needlepaint.com/blog/2019/08/05/thinking-of-christmas/

Joann's Fabrics carries three inch wooden embroidery hoops.
https://www.joann.com/wood-hoop-3in/1043868.html

Michael's has colorful plastic four inch embroidery hoops.
https://www.michaels.com/susan-bates-hoop-la-embroidery-hoop-4in/10337140.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 27, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.