Monday, November 9, 2020

The Stitcher's Best Friend Movie

Needlepoint.com's latest video is a tutorial on using the Stitchers Best Friend.

The Stitchers Best Friend is a double-ended wooden tool used to fix stitches.  It comes in either a size 20,  22 or a size 24 needle.  You can use it to remove a stitch, tuck loose ends under other stitches, use it as a laying tool, or to poke a stitch that's pulled out of position into place again.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 22, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sunday, November 8, 2020

Corraling Beads

With the Tacky Bob bead box being discontinued, my friends and I have been talking about the various gadgets one can use to hold beads as you work a canvas.

Beadsmith's Sticky Bead Mat is a favorite.  It comes in gray or clear and in various sizes.  You peel off a plastic cover and the beads stick to the mat.  If you peel off the plastic cover off the back it will also stick to your canvas.  (Keep the plastic covers to cover the mat when not in use.)  The nice thing about the Sticky Bead Mat is that when it gets pet fur and thread bits on it, you can wash it off and let it dry and it'll be as sticky as when new.

Accoutrement Designs has a metal box for beads and needles that has both the sticky pad and a magnet to hold your beading needles and the beads.  These come in various designs.  You can attach them to your canvas by using a magnet on the back, too.


The Meredith Collection has the Bead Buddies, which is an inch and a half long by one inch wide plastic box with a magnet on the back.  The inside has a sticky paper strip that holds the beads.  If you want something very small, this is probably the right choice.  


There are people who make their own sticky bead holder using masking tape that is rolled into a little loop and stuck into the beads and then onto the canvas, or who use a small container they have around the house.  Whatever works for you is the right choice.  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 7, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Saturday, November 7, 2020

An Interview with Jill Likes

The Pointing It Out podcast interviews Jill Likes of The Needlepointer.  Learn all about how she got into store ownership, dyeing Silk Straw, her friendship with the designer of Pippin, and more!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 19, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Friday, November 6, 2020

The Smart Cookie's Stocking

The Smart Cookie Award for this month goes to a customer of Eye Candy's who took their rectangular fairy tale collage and made it into a stocking topper!

Here is the original design, 8x9 inches on 18 count.  Very clever!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 19, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Thursday, November 5, 2020

Bohin Has a New Needle Threader

Bohin has released a new wire needle threader with an intricate rose gold base that allows for tassels to be added.

If you like wire threaders (they are my favorite type) you'll want to check these out.  I suspect they'd make a great gift for a stitching friend, too, especially if you made a tassel in their favorite colors.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 15, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.