Upcoming Chapter Project

This geometric design, Golden Reminiscence, is from the ANG Project Book. It was designed by Carolyn Mitchell. I will be leading this program at our local ANG chapter meeting in Jan/Feb 2009. The idea of the project is to feature a piece of vintage jewelry or other adornment on a canvas. It was fun going through the back of my old jewelry box and finding that vintage pin. In the case of the pillow, the colorway was suggested by the designer. The piece on the left was stitched using materials from my stash. I chose threads that were of compatible weight and characteristic as those recommended by the designer. The pillow is from a group of self finishing products called, "Plumpers" from Trail Creek Farm http://www.trailcreekfarm.com/. It's one of the finishing pieces I got from my spree at PFOS.

I didn't use jewelry on the framed piece; I used beach glass collected by a dear friend long since passed. In case you cannot tell, the green stuff in the lower right corner is a stylized angel made from the beach glass.

The framed piece was done first just as a "dry run" to get familiar with stitches, etc. before trying to lead others in a teaching program. I took notes and made observations about various stitch and thread nuances. Was quite fun and worked up very quickly at only 5.5" x 6". I had been wanting to get it up on the blog, but needed to wait until it was first displayed at our Chapter meeting.

I didn't have much trouble except when using the Antica, a Caron metallic, that is used to stitch the Van Dyke around the perimeter of and across the design. It easily unravels and you really have to use your fingers when dealing with this particular thread. The pillow was embellished with an old sentimental pin that I've had for many years. In each case I chose to embellish with something that has personal significance for me.

Next up: I have completed the stitching and expect to have the Lite Stitches Elk framed and up by next week. I am also anxious to show you what I've done with my Halloween Fairy canvas, and the kimono is at my sewing machine as I write. Tomorrow I will volunteer in the morning and hope to make some progress in the afternoon. Keep coming back.

Anatomy of a Sampler

A year long project published in ANG's Needlepointers beginning in late 1997 continuing to September 1998 turned out to be my most challenging undertaking at that time. The mere size, 9x25" (168 threads wide by 450 long), was daring by my standards; would I ever finish it? I did learn what bankers clips were and how to use them when working on large pieces such as this. I had never tried a band sampler before and figured that it would be a fun way to learn a variety stitches. There are a total of 16 separate bands, designed by individual teachers each featuring their favorite sampler pattern. A combination of floss, overdye, braid and a few beads were used. There are 10 identical dividing bands worked in elongated padded cross. I've tried to highlight some of the details but recommend reading Needlepointers for more information. Also worth mentioning that I had never heard of a laying tool back in the 90's!

BAND 1-Florentine Trellis-by Susan Kerndt stitched in 5 steps including a. Foundation row; b. Hungarian point variation; c. Trellis; d. Diamonds; and e. Beads.

BAND 2-Wheat and Diamonds-by Estelle Kelly. Another 5 step band which included wheat variation, fishbone, running and straight stitches. BAND 3-Composite Stitch-by Gayle Bicknell using floss, overdye and braid. Stitches are sheaf, upright cross, elongated cross, slanted cross, eyelet variation and some straight stitches for the background. BAND 4-Florentine- by Debbie Stiehler suggested finding the vertical center and working the top half of the band across then turning the canvas 180 degrees and finishing the rest of the pattern. Eyelets were stitched inside the diamond motifs. BAND 5-Sunburst-by Pat Morse. A variety of straight stitches following the chart forming a wave with large sunbursts and small smyrna crosses. BAND 6-Satin Stitch-by Lizbeth Napier. Following the chart using straight satin stitches to form butterflies and pinwheels. A running stitch was also used and a small smyrna cross inside the pinwheels. BAND 7-Beaty Stitch and Heart-by Sandra Reddell using beaty stitch, double tent and straight stitches following the chart to form the "hearts." BAND 8-Balloons- by Louise Meier. What a fun band featuring 4 different balloon styles. Stitches include half Rhodes, longarm cross, slanted gobelin,smyrna cross, brick filling, tent, dillon, mosaic, straight, cashmere, eyelet, woven, and reverse tent.

BAND 9-Herringbone and Eyelet-by Mary Clubb. Stitches include herringbone, half-eyelet, backstitch diamond adding a bead. BAND 10-Cloud-by Peg Laflam. The rounded cloud form is actually 2 pairs of interlocking chevrons. BAND 11-Floral Motif-by Ilsa Altherr using alternating scotch, gobelin and outline stitch. BAND 12-Herringbone-by Sandy Rogers. Using a 4-trip herringbone, eyelet, straight and zigzag straight stitches this band was one of my favorites.

BAND 13-Laid Work Tied with Woven Cross-by Joyce Lukomski beginning with metallic brain and overdye with long horizontal and vertical laid stitches working the woven cross over. BAND 14-Satin Flowers and Eyelets- by Sara Lee J.-Allen. Stitches include Satin, eyelet, diamond rhodes, cross, double cross and upright cross. BAND 15-Tied Cross-by Jean Taggart using upright cross and oblong cross.
BAND 16-Shaded Gobelin-by Nannette Costa using very carefully laid upright straight stitches and through the use of color shading made this final band a perfect choice for the bottom of the sampler. Well this is it, it's a lot to take in but I did enjoy sharing it with you and hope to stitch another sampler one of these days. Thanks for viewing.