Create Needlepoint!

Needlepoint Flip Flops

There's snow on the ground and I'm wearing boots, but I'm thinking Needlepoint Flip Flops! If you'd like a pair of needlepoint flip flops it's a good idea to start them soon. One belt canvas makes a pair. You'll need to stitch 36". That may seem like a lot but the finisher cuts the belt up with diagonal cuts. They need all 36". You will want to pick a canvas with a tight repeating pattern. Again because of the way they cut it up. I just designed the belt above and will stitch it over the holidays (along with everything else I have pending!). I highly recommend Needlepoint Flip Flops!! I have two pairs and love them.

Fighting with Fyre Works

I'm continuing my fight with Fyre Works needlepoint thread. I love the look. I needed something bright and shiny that would show up on the white. This does the trick. The shorter threads with Fray Check helps a lot. I wonder if I'm still doing something wrong? Each stitch is a labor.

Different Needlepoint Mesh Canvas

I am offering my waddle of Penguins on different needlepoint mesh canvas sizes. The larger is on #14 mesh canvas. The smaller is on #18 mesh canvas. I don't often offer my designs this way, but I know there are many stitchers that only like #18 canvas. Then there are stitchers that have trouble seeing the smaller mesh (me). So I offered them both ways! The penguins are exactly the same except size.

Working with Needlepoint Threads

Thank you all for so many nice comments about my waddle of needlepoint penguins. I tried to do a few things when I designed them. First I wanted them to have a cute expression/personality. Then I wanted them to have a "painted stitch" on them. The scarf was the perfect place to do a different "painted stitch" on each penguin. Then I thought they should hold something of the season. Using the gold ribbon idea I could have each penguin hold something different. When I started stitching the samples I decided I would try to get out of my safety zone and use some specialty threads I hadn't used before. I used Rainbow Gallery Angora on the first scarf. This thread was thicker than it looked. It was very easy to needlepoint. I am using Kreinik 100HL for all the penguin bellies. This is not the easiest thread to stitch because it is stiff. I have tried using Thread Straighteners but it doesn't seem to help. I'm stitching with Rainbow Gallery Fuzzy Stuff for the black part of each penguin. It is easier to use this thread doubled on #14 canvas. I stitch the second penguin's scarf with Rainbow Gallery Very Velvet. I love this thread and it is very easy to use. the background of each penguin is Rainbow Gallery Gold Rush 14 midnight blue. I LOVE this color so it is worth the slow stitching. Again it is a stiff thread so you can't just whip along. I used Kreinik for the HO HO HO. This is a perfect place for this thread. The trees were stitched with EdMar's Boucle' Needlepoint Thread. This is what I wrote on another blog post about boucle':

"I’m working with Boucle’ needlepoint thread again, this time for my mermaid’s hair. I’ve learned a couple of tricks I want to share. Use this thread any where you want a tangled or knotted texture. Boucle’ wants to boucle’ on the back as well as the front of the canvas. To help prevent too much of this and wasting a lot of thread I’ve learned that stitching the continental stitch instead of Basketweave keeps the back tangling to a minimum. Also hold the back of the last stitch and pull firmly before completing the next stitch on the front, letting the front tangle. I love the look of Boucle’, I hope you try it!"

Don't try to control each stitch. Go for an overall look. Now I am working with Rainbow Gallery Fyre Works. This is my most challenging thread yet and I would switch except I don't want to pull it out and I LOVE the look. I need to stitch with shorter threads and use Fray Check. Also I'm going to try Thread Straighteners. It is a small area of snowflakes. I wouldn't use this thread except on a small area or accent. I'll keep you posted!

Needlepoint Penguin with Trees

I just finished the next Needlepoint Penguin. This one is holding little trees.

 

The scarf stitch is the Jacquard Stitch. I used two colors of Very Velvet by Rainbow Gallery.

 

Now I'm working on the Snowflake Penguin. I'll keep you posted!
  
 

Boucle' Needlepoint Thread

I love the look of EdMar's Boucle' Needlepoint Thread. I am French Knot challenged, so Boucle' is my answer! I painted the little Christmas Trees with gold dots. I thought I might use boucle' so I stitched the dots first so I wouldn't lose the dots in the boucle' twists. I didn't think the boucle would hide the dots as much as it did, but I still like the look. I bought some gold beads and am going to stitch the beads on top of the gold stitches. Hopefully this will raise the beads above the boucle'. Otherwise I'll have gold beads peeking through the green. I could have stitched the boucle a little tighter and it wouldn't have been so fluffy. I'll keep you posted!

HO HO HO Needlepoint Penguin

HO HO HO Needlepoint Penguin is finished, but I'm going to wait until I have a group until I send it to the finisher.

 

I used the Staircase Stitch on his/her scarf.

 

You could also use the Diagonal Hungarian Ground Stitch because they are painted the same but stitched differently.

 

  

 

 

Finished Needlepoint Penguin

Last night I finished my first needlepoint penguin. I'm starting the penguin with the Christmas Trees next.

Finished needlepoint

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Last night I finshed Painted Stitches Palm. I'm pleased with the dark background. It does make the bright colors pop. I'm also pleased with the Vineyard Silk and Silk Lame' Braid combination. This canvas would make a great half day advanced beginner class. It is really doable in 2-3 hours. That was my goal.
Hope you all have a great holiday!

Finished needlepoint

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Last night I finshed Painted Stitches Palm. I'm pleased with the dark background. It does make the bright colors pop. I'm also pleased with the Vineyard Silk and Silk Lame' Braid combination. This canvas would make a great half day advanced beginner class. It is really doable in 2-3 hours. That was my goal.
Hope you all have a great holiday!

Needlepoint Sister Stitches

I've just finished "sister stitches" in pinks. The Jacquard stitch is on the right and Byzantine stitch is on the left.

Below is the link to the diagram

http://createneedlepoint.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54f768a5988330120a69e933e970b-pi

Needlepoint Door Stop

My mom is stitching a Tropical Fish to be finished as a needlepoint door stop. She's making great progress and I love her color choices.

Needlepoint Door Stop

My mom is stitching a Tropical Fish to be finished as a needlepoint door stop. She's making great progress and I love her color choices.

Needlepoint Background

I just finished the black needlepoint background for Painted Stitches Palm. I've never stitched a black background for one of my designs. I like it. I'm starting the "sister stitches" next. I'll keep you posted.

Needlepoint Background

I just finished the black needlepoint background for Painted Stitches Palm. I've never stitched a black background for one of my designs. I like it. I'm starting the "sister stitches" next. I'll keep you posted.

Needlepoint Frame

I'm making good progress on my first needlepoint peguin. I decided to put it on a frame. It is difficult to stitch with specialty threads in hand. I should also switch to a larger needle. I'll get one today. A larger needle makes the mesh open more and the specialty threads can glide easily through the canvas. I've been working with just wool for so long I forgot these specialty thread tips!

ANG

I just joined ANG and went to my first local meeting last night. I also joined my local chapter, Needle Point Stitchers Chapter in Kirtland, OH. I is a great group! Most of their stitching projects are counted needlepoint on #18 mesh. I will have a lot to learn (I've never stitched counted needlepoint) and will need a new magnifier! So much fun to be surrounded by like-minded stitchers!

Staircase Needlepoint Stitch

This is my progress so far on the needlepoint HO HO HO Penguin. The scarf stitch is staircase. I used Rainbow Galleries Angora and Vineyard Silk for the stitch. Today I'm going to pull more threads for more penguins. These will be available on both #14 mesh & #18 mesh. I'll keep you posted!

HO HO HO Needlepoint Penguin

I pulled threads for HO HO HO Needlepoint Penguin. Lots of opportunities to try some specialty threads. I can't wait to get started!

Dark Needlepoint Background

I have never tried to needlepoint a very dark thread over a white background before now. It's working! I think the reason is the Vineyard Merino is a thicker thread. I could have painted the background black, but I don't want to sell this canvas with only a dark background. I need it to versatile! The black gives it a whole different look. I'm going to complete the background first then needlepoint the "Sister Stitches". The background is basketweave tent stitch.

"Painted Stitches" Needlepoint Palm Tree

 

This is my newest Painted Stitches needlepoint design. It is a 6" x 6" square on #14 mesh. The idea behind the design is "sister stitches". Each colored frond is a "sister stitch" to the opposite frond. The background will be tent stitch in black. Ann suggested the black and I think it will give a different look to the design. Also it would fit in the new Stirling purse due out in January. Below is my working stitch sheet, I'll write a stitch guide soon.

I'm using Vineyard Merino for the background. I'm hoping the thicker black will cover the white. The palm will be stitched in a combination of Vineyard Silk and Rainbow Gallery Silk Lame' Braid. Dark stitch steps are Silk Lame' Braid. Light stitch steps are Vineyard Silk. The silk palm on a wool background should help the needlepoint design pop. This is my plan, we'll see how it works out!

Needlepoint Penguins

I finished 12 needlepoint penguins. I definitely think 12 is a waddle! I'm open to painting more but now I have to do the work on them. Painting a design is the easy part. Now they need to go to the service. That takes a lot of preparation. Each penguin has a decorative stitch on it's scarf. I'm going to put together an easy stitch guide of each design with lines for thread pulling. Soon they will be ready for shops to order. I'm going to stitch the HO HO HO penguin first. I'll keep you posted!

Correction!

It is waddle of needlepoint penguins not waggle. If I read my own post I would remember this. I'm thinking parade of penguins. I'll see how many are created. I haven't run out of ideas yet. But I need to paint in the black to get the full effect.

My waggle is growing

My waggle of penguins is growing. I wanted to share my progress. The black needs to be added to most of the penguins. I'll get more canvas tomorrow and hopefully add four more. Is a waggle a dozen?

Needlepoint Shoes

I'm sending my needlepoint loafer tops off to the finisher, Stitch N' Leather,  today.

A tracing of my feet and 4 measurements (ball, waist, low instep, high instep, I didn't even know a foot had a waist) are required. Then you get to pick out your leather colors. I want these to be jazzy but not too over the top. The outside is going to be black with black trim to tie all the black lines together. (I hope) the inside is going to be aqua and the inside sole will be pink. Now that I write it not really all that jazzy, but I'll know they are wild inside! I am not a shoe person, flip flops are my mainstay. I'm very excited to see them finished.

Needlepoint Designs in progress

These are the designs I am currently painting. Hopefully after the weekend I'll have some more to share.

Decorative Needlepoint Stitches Stocking

Yesterday I painted a decorative needlepoint stitches stocking. It's about 7" x 5". There are nine decorative stitches painted with two colors and two steps. I tried to paint some gold so when it's finished with gold cord it will all flow.

This is how I paint canvases. I tape a template to a canvas board. then I tape the #14 mesh canvas over the template. I use note cards to write paint colors and stitch so I can remember what I was thinking. I've also started painting little color swatches on the bottom.

I like the shape of the stocking. I think I'll have a smaller stocking painted on # 18 canvas too. Hopefully I'll get a little group of them painted soon.

Needlepoint Penguins

I'm working on some needlepoint penguin ornaments, they could also be standups. Each has a scarf in a decorative stitch, painted in two steps and each is holding something of the season. Sometimes my mind wanders while I paint, I keep thinking ... What is a group of penguins called?

"A group of penguins on land is a waddle. The nesting group is a rookery. A group of babies is a creche. A group on water is a raft. Go figure." from WikiAnswers.

Now I'm really excited to get a waddle! What a great name. I'll post photos as my waddle grows!

Homeward Bound

I have had a great two weeks of needlepoint Shop Hopping! Now I am homeward bound. The best thing about visiting all these great needlepoint shops is the inspiration. It's so inspiring to meet people who love the craft I love and to see how they put their love to work. I also love seeing all the other designers work displayed in shops. Thanks to everyone for making our visits so special! I'm itching to paint so I hope to start some new designs this weekend. I'll keep you posted!

More ... Needlepoint Shop Hop

Today we visited Needlepoint Alley in North Palm Beach. Be sure to stop by if you are in the area or on the web.

http://www.needlepointalley.com/index.html