Meredith Does a Cat and Dog Background

Speaking of Meredith Willet, her latest free stitch diagrams are stitches suitable for a cat and a dog canvas.  Here are the fish diagrams for a cat.
https://classes.mscanvashouse.com/pdf/quarantine/Quarantine_Lesson_13.pdf

Here is the dog bone one.
https://classes.mscanvashouse.com/pdf/quarantine/Quarantine_Lesson_14.pdf

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 1, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Meredith's Beading Tips

Meredith Willet of M's Canvas House and The Meredith Collection has some beading tips, things she's found in her classes that make for better beading.
https://classes.mscanvashouse.com/pdf/quarantine/Quarantine_Lesson_8.pdf

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 25, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Mary's Whimsical Stitches: A Review

Mary's Whimsical Stitch, by Mary Legallet

Recently I was gifted Mary Legallet's brand new book, Mary's Whimsical Stitches, Volume 1.   As you can see from the above photo, it's a rather small but heavy book, spiral bound, with a plastic cover and back for durability.  Inside it is 287 pages, with three of them a short introduction, plus two stitch indexes.  More on the indexes in a bit.

Each page has one stitch diagram, so you have a lot of stitches in this book.  It's fat!  It's probably 3/4 of an inch thick.  It's small enough to put in your suitcase or tote bag if you travel much but it is heavy.

Sneak Peak inside Mary's Whimsical Stitches

Here is a peek inside the book.   As you can see, the diagrams are in colors and are numbered to help you follow the path to create each stitch unit.  That's actually my biggest quibble with the book.  I'm not sure the diagrams (mostly in black, gray, goldenrod and teal blue) are always legible if you have eye problems.  However, Mary's made a real effort to make them clear and the colors are more restrained than in the original diagrams Mary created for her blog.

Many folks have seen Mary's weekly online stitch diagram series.  If you haven't, here's a link—
http://www.whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays

I know some folks are thinking why should they buy Mary's book when they can just look at her stitches online? The reason is that browsing her blog, although fun, isn't easy when you are looking for something specific.  The book has those indexes I mentioned.  They help you find a stitch for something quite easily.  The Stitches by Chapter Index lists all the stitches by chapter.  Since Mary organizes her stitches by Essential Stitches, Balanced Stitches, Border Stitches, Diagonal Stitches, Layered Stitches, Oblique Stitches, Small Stitches and Straight Stitches, if you are looking for stitches for a border, the index helps you locate anything that might work quickly.

The Decorative Stitch Index lists all the stitches in alphabetical order but it is in chart form.  The chart lists stitches by page number and by chapter,  but also by the sort of usage that Mary thinks the stitch is good for.  The usages are:  Animals (except for birds), Backgrounds, Beards, Birds, Clothing (Large), Clothing (Small), Floors, Flowers, Glass, Leaves, Roof, Sky, Snow, Tabletops, Trees, Walls and Water.  As you can see, that's most of what you will find on a painted canvas unless it's an abstract design.  So you can just flip to the back and look up Glass and find 38 different stitches that Mary uses for windows, drinks glasses, etc.  I think these indexes are really useful.

Another Peek, This Time at a Page with a Link

Another reason to buy the book instead of just browsing Mary's Instagram page or her blog is that there are a lot more stitches in the book than she's posted online.  However, probably half of the pages have a URL listed under the diagram.  These are stitches Mary has posted online. If you type the URL into a browser window, you'll see the diagram stitched.  Here's the URL for the diagram above.  
https://www.instagram.com/p/BK7KBpZDGi9/

This is invaluable for those who want to see a stitch sample in color.   Most books cannot provide this because it raises the price of printing to more than stitchers will pay, but Mary's found an ingenious way around it.  Typing the Tiny URL is a pain, but it does help you figure out if this is a look that will work for your canvas if you have trouble visualizing stitches from a diagram.

I do have another caveat for those who might be considering buying this book.  Mary likes open stitches.  If you object to canvases not being totally covered with thread, this book is not going to be as useful to you as to someone who likes having a bit of the original painted shading showing.  You can make most stitches more or less full coverage by adjusting the thickness of the thread but there is a limit as to how much coverage you can achieve with many of these stitches.

But if you like the idea of stitches organized by effect with clear diagrams that have a bit of color, and if you want to be able to look at colored photos of the stitches in action at least some of the time, this is a very useful book!  Mary doesn't sell directly but any shop can get a copy for you.  Just ask your favorite store for assistance.  If you don't have a favorite store, this is the first one that came up in a search for me.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/product/marys-whimsical-stitches/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 29, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Are You Tempted to Make Face Masks? Read This First UPDATED

As the epidemic rages on, more and more of us know someone who is sick or at great risk for getting sick and we all have local hospitals in need. Want to help by making masks?  First, you should read what Tricia Nguyen says about finding useful masks hidden in our houses.
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2020/03/woodworkers-makers-and-those-who-sew.html

If you don't have any supplies you've forgotten about or you want to make masks for your local UPS driver, read what Erin has to say.  Pay special attention to removing the mask and washing it frequently.  If someone in your house gets sick, having some of these ready will be very helpful but you'll need to know how to handle and clean them safely.
https://erinbromage.wixsite.com/covid19/post/time-to-rethink-the-face-mask

Here is the mask pattern he recommends.  There's even a video to help you make them.
https://www.unitypoint.org/cedarrapids/sewing-surgical-masks.aspx?fbclid=IwAR310tk5LwP12ap8gp2IFnprP9kNWthxirueXmjYg2nKHC8Vb0OM4gXpxaM

Here's the Olsen mask template pattern.  See the box that says "Test Square" on each template pattern page?  If you print this page out, measure the box to make sure your box printed out around one inch square so you know you have a good template.
https://www.unitypoint.org/cedarrapids/filesimages/Coronavirus/003902oo-1%20Olson%20Mask%20V07.pdf

As I write this, my state doesn't mandate the wearing of masks in public to compare the coronavirus sweeping the world but I think it's only a matter of time—and of common sense.  Most of us have the skill to make our own but before you do, read what Johns Hopkins says about masks and their utility in preventing infection.  It really helps you understand how to protect yourself best, what masks can and cannot do and how to use a mask properly.
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/johns-hopkins-education-and-research-center-for-occupational-safety-and-health/can-a-mask-protect-me-putting-homemade-masks-in-the-hierarchy-of-controls

UPDATE:  Here's a needlepoint mask pattern but I'd only stitch this as a joke as it can't be washed.
https://lifetart.com/2020/04/16/quarantine-needlepoint-mask-cover/

UPDATE #2:  Needlepaint has instructions as to how to make your own mask.
https://www.needlepaint.com/blog/2020/06/19/needlepaint-masks-unmasked/

https://www.needlepaint.com/blog/2020/08/14/needlepaint-mask-version-2/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 31, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Rainbow Gallery and Needlenook of La Jolla to the Rescue

Worried that you won't be able to get threads for your projects now that so many things are closed?  Don't be.  There will be minor disruptions but it looks like things are going pretty well.  Just heard from Vicky at Needlenook of La Jolla:

"In the last week I've gotten orders from Silk & Ivory, Vineyard, Planet Earth, Fleur de Paris (DMC & Kreinik) and Rainbow Gallery. Gloriana is shipping and that's my next order up on my evergrowing to-do list! Planet Earth & Vineyard shipped immediately, while the others take a little longer than normal. but there is nothing normal now."

I also heard from Sally London of Rainbow Gallery:

"We are shipping out orders at least 2-3 days a week. We do have a limited warehouse staff and I am working every day off site. I have personally talked with many shops in the last 2 weeks and given them my cell phone number and told them I am available to take an order from them 7 days a week. All shops can email, phone or text orders to me and I send them off to the warehouse. We are making every effort to get orders out to the shops as soon as possible. If you know of any shop that is in need of goods please have them email: info@rainbowgallery.com  Thank you very much for getting the word out that we are shipping."

With dedication like this from our thread manufacturers and our shops, we are not going to be short of things to stitch with, that's for sure.

Your guys are our heroes.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 12, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.