Poppy Monk's Five Fun Stitches

Poppy Monk Needlepoint's blog has diagramed what they describe as "five fun needlepoint background stitches."

https://poppymonkneedlepointkits.com/blogs/the-5-minute-needlepoint-blog/five-fun-needlepoint-background-stitches

The stitches are not your usual stitches, except for Diagonal Mosaic which is a personal favorite I use quite a bit.  Note that Poppy Monk recommends these for larger areas, although if you can do three full repeats, you can squeeze them in anywhere.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright May 15, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Self Finishing Leather Tool

KC Needlepoint has come up with the perfect self-finishing tool--a double-ended gadget that helps you both lift the edges of leather self-finishing items and smooth your canvas down.

https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/products/self-finishing-leather-tool?_pos=1&_sid=b6ff66b3b&_ss=r

It's not as expensive as leather worker's burnishing tools, either.  Examples below in case you want something different:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B074N595Y2/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aaxitk=423b4f69b27800f6653c2a97c0ef7d85&hsa_cr_id=2819899420901&qid=1747072201&sr=1-2-9e67e56a-6f64-441f-a281-df67fc737124&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_lsi4d_asin_1_title&pd_rd_w=VkfRU&content-id=amzn1.sym.8591358d-1345-4efd-9d50-5bd4e69cd942%3Aamzn1.sym.8591358d-1345-4efd-9d50-5bd4e69cd942&pf_rd_p=8591358d-1345-4efd-9d50-5bd4e69cd942&pf_rd_r=AQVH04CA2ZTGPQ6J0JGN&pd_rd_wg=IuSnl&pd_rd_r=e425fb75-37bb-47b2-8a2b-c5d65e621709

https://www.walmart.com/ip/balikha-Leather-Edge-Burnisher-Tool-Handcrafted-Leather-Working-Tool-Leathercraft-Modeling-Tool-Hand-Tools-Edge-Beveler-for-Household/15710569211?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101175479&selectedOfferId=8D2E225AF5063DCBB945AB8017FBBF52&conditionGroupCode=1&adid=22222222222000000000&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=10352200394&wl4=pla-1103028060075&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=&wl10=Walmart&wl11=Online&wl12=15710569211_10001194841&wl14=Leather%20Edge%20Burnisher%20Tool%20Handcrafted%20Leather%20Working%20Tool&veh=sem&msclkid=92c6bd819b8912ef36dbd5a3af1560a7&gclid=92c6bd819b8912ef36dbd5a3af1560a7&gclsrc=3p.ds

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright May 12, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stitching Outdoors

Now that the weather is nice outside (at least here in the USA) it's tempting to stitch outdoors.  Mary Corbet reminds us that stitching outside has its own challenges.

https://www.needlenthread.com/2025/05/stitch-life-outdoor-stitching-tips-precautions.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright May 10, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Martha Washington's Shell Cushions

Mount Verson has posted an interesting short video about Martha Washington's dozen shell chair cushions.  I didn't know there were so many or that they were stitched over such a long period or that they included so many colors.  Fascinating!

https://www.facebook.com/HistoricMountVernon/videos/1202864078239885

You can see reproductions of the cushions in place at Mount Vernon and learn a bit more about them here-

https://www.mountvernon.org/the-estate-gardens/the-mansion/little-parlor/furnishing-the-little-parlor

Here are two more links from Mount Vernon's website.  I haven't found the video posted to Facebook on the Mount Vernon website yet but maybe it will end up there eventually.

https://emuseum.mountvernon.org/objects/1294/chair-cushion?_gl=1*umuakk*_gcl_au*NDAzNDUyMDIyLjE3NDg5NTYzODU.*_ga*NDg4Mzc2OTU2LjE3NDg5NTYzODU.*_ga_Z7H51J8C80*czE3NDg5NTYzODMkbzEkZzEkdDE3NDg5NTY1MTUkajU5JGwwJGgw

https://magazine.mountvernon.org/2020/Spring/object-spotlight.html?_gl=1*umuakk*_gcl_au*NDAzNDUyMDIyLjE3NDg5NTYzODU.*_ga*NDg4Mzc2OTU2LjE3NDg5NTYzODU.*_ga_Z7H51J8C80*czE3NDg5NTYzODMkbzEkZzEkdDE3NDg5NTY1MTUkajU5JGwwJGgw

Mount Vernon sells two cross stitch charts of this iconic pattern if you are interested.

https://shops.mountvernon.org/collections/cross-stitch

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright June 3, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Easy Flower and Buds: The Movie

This quick video has Ruth Schmuff of Bedecked and Beadazzled demonstrating creating a flower with 7mm wide silk ribbon (that's the medium size ribbon from River Silks).  

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJZuBOlv6st/

Once Ruth creates the flower petals, she uses a Colonial knot for the bud, followed by a lazy daisy stitch on top to cover the Colonial knot which serves as padding for the bud.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright May 9, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.