Create Needlepoint!

Inspired to Needlepoint!

I’ve been working on new “Painted Stitches” canvases for the June TNNA Show. Spending all that time with decorative needlepoint stitches has made me want to try some of the stitches on a big piece. What’s bigger or better than a big shift! Just what I need to feel Spring Fever. I picked my PW12 Garden Large Shift 14” x 17” #14 mesh. I’m going to start with the white and pink background stripes. I want each colored stripe to be similar but a little different and easy to compensate. I picked what I call “sister stitches” Mosaic Stripe Stitch for the white stripes and Diagonal Mosaic Stitch for the pink stripes. I’m going to stitch with Vineyard Silk #C-109 Bright White and Vineyard Silk #C-173 Veil. I’ll keep you posted!!!

Here’s the link to my What’s New page:

http://www.barbarabergstendesigns.com/2013%20New%20Designs%20from%20Barbara%20Bergsten%20Needlepoint%20Designs.pdf

Barbara Bergsten Needlepoint Designs 

http://www.barbarabergstendesigns.com/

Needlepoint Specialty Threads

 
Needlepoint Specialty Threads will do the work for you! I used Rainbow Gallery's Water n' Ice for the window panes. Windows are a great place to use a specialty thread for a reflective look. I used Edmar Boucle for the flower vine next to the window. I am "French Knot" challenged. Boucle is the answer!! Hope you try a Needlepoint Specialty Threads to give your next canvas some punch.    

Barbara Bergsten Designs

http://www.barbarabergstendesigns.com/

PS15 Needlepoint Beach House Progress

A little more progress on PS15 Needlepoint Beach House!

 

Barbara Bergsten Designs

http://www.barbarabergstendesigns.com/

PS15 Needlepoint Beach House Progress

 

This is my progress on PS15 Needlepoint Beach House. I love the decorative stitches and the specialty threads!

 

Barbara Bergsten Designs

PS15 Needlepoint Beach House Thread Pull

 

These are the threads I pulled for the border:

 

These are the threads I pulled for the house:

 

These are the threads I pulled for palms & plants:

 
 

I'll keep you posted on my stitching!

Barbara Bergsten Designs

New Needlepoint Canvas

Everyone needs a little beach house! This is mine...PS15 Needlepoint Beach House. It's a "Painted Stitches" canvas. I'm going to try some decorative stitches in some other areas too. I'm also going to try and use some specialty threads.

 

This is how I work out my stitches before the Stitch Guide is written. Helps to keep me on the right track. Next is the thread pull. I'll keep you posted!

 

Barbara Bergsten Designs

Needlepoint off to the Finisher

X41 Wreath Mitten is off to the needlepoint finisher! I can't wait to see how this new shape looks completely finished!

 

 

Barbara Bergsten Designs

More X41 Needlepoint Wreath Mitten

 

More progress on the Needlepoint Wreath Mitten. The wreaths are the Criss Cross Hungarian Stitch. In my experience this is a hard stitch to learn. It is a really easy stitch to follow with the two color stitch steps painted on the canvas. I used two colors of green Caron Snow and 002L gold Kreinik  Holographic Thread for the wreaths and three colors of red Rainbow Gallery Very Velvet for the bows.

 

Barbara Bergsten Designs

X41 Wreath Mitten Decorative Needlepoint Stitch

 

I started the next section of X41 Wreath Mitten. This area's decorative needlepoint stitch is the Jacquard Stitch. I'm stitching all the first step of the stitch in Kreinik Holographic Gold, then I will fill in the second step of the stitch. I love doing decorative stitches in two steps. It makes it so easy to follow the diagrams.

Barbara Bergsten Designs

X41 Wreath Mitten Decorative Needlepoint Stitches

 
 

I finished up the Corduroy Stitch on the cuff. Below the cuff was a big block of solid color. I wanted to try one of the Threadworx overdyed Vineyard Merino threads to coordinate with the cuff. WV1025 was perfect! I decided to use the Parisian Stitch in this area. You can find this stitch in any stitch diagram book. It is a simple upright stitch that works for this area. I will also do the Parisian Stitch on the thumb and the lower big block of solid color. Next I will do the background around the wreaths in basketweave. I'm using a decorative needlepoint stitch for the wreaths so I want the background to be quiet so the wreaths will pop!

Barbara Bergsten Designs

Needlepoint Wreath Stitched

 

I just finished stitching needlepoint X31 Small Package Wreath. Another WIP off to the finisher! I'm having this finished as a puffy donut shape.

X31 Small Package Wreath has a stitch guide. This stitch guide includes 8 stitches for the little packages. I did not include thread choices because I think this canvas is a perfect "stash buster"! This is the post where I did my own, Small Needlepoint Wreath stash pull. 

Barbara Bergsten Designs

Needlepoint Accent Stitches

 

Sometimes you want a couple of decorative stitches to accent your needlepoint. Two stitches that come in handy are the Mosaic Stitch and the Scotch Stitch. I used the Mosaic Stitch to highlight the small dots on the claw dots. Using the Scotch Stitch in two colors gave some interest to the crab legs. Try a needlepoint accent stitch on your next canvas! Here is the link to all my stitch diagrams:

http://www.barbarabergstendesigns.com/new_page_1.htm

 

I stitched the tent stitch around the outside of the Scotch Stitch so the finisher would have a plain stitch to sew on and not take part of the decorative stitch. BB01 Madras Large Crab is off to the finisher. I can't wait to see it finished as a bean bag! I'll keep you posted!

Barbara Bergsten Designs

Needlepoint WIP's

This time of the year I always seem to have lots of needlepoint WIP's. I plan to spend more time stitching so I can get caught up. Also I need to have a finishing plan so I will have all the stitched models I need for the June show. Yes, the June TNNA Show! As soon as the Winter Show is over designers need to think June!!

Time to Needlepoint

 

Yesterday I finally found some time to needlepoint. I made some progress on BB01 Madras Large Crab. I'm getting excited to see this canvas finished. I have designed a group of crabs that will be finished as bean bags. They can be found on my web site, click on Bean Bags.

http://www.barbarabergstendesigns.com/new_page_4.htm

Next I'm going to try some little "Painted Stitches" crabs that could be used as frame weights or paper weights, even as ornaments. Also these would be a good class. Three different stitches?? I'll keep you posted!

Small Package Needlepoint Wreath

 

I'm almost finished with the gold and silver bows on the packages of X31 Small Package Needlepoint Wreath. I really like the way the red bow turned out. I was a little hesitant to use pink on the red bow but I think it really adds the highlight I'd hoped. The velvet was a good choice too. The red bow does appear to sit forward off the wreath. Giving a real feeling of dimension to a flat object is a challenge.

Learning New Decorative Needlepoint Stitches

 

I need to expand my decorative needlepoint stitch knowledge. I downloaded the iphone app, "SuZy Stitch". The stitches can be viewed alphabetically or by use. I picked PW08 Beach Chairs to use as my learning canvas because there is sand, sky, etc. that I can look up for stitches. I pulled threads from my stash. I picked as many different types of threads as possible. I'll keep you posted!

Needlepoint Stitch Guide

 

The needlepoint stitch guide for PS08 Small Retro Flower is now online.

PS08 Small Retro Flower Stitch Guide

The canvas will be ready for the Destination Dallas Show, April 25 & 26. Hope to see you there!

Decorative Needlepoint Stitches

 
Below are the decorative needlepoint stitches for Small Retro Flower that correspond with the numbers on the canvas.

(click on name for printable stitch diagram)

1.  Tent Stitch

2.  Mosaic Stitch (without the frames)

3. Mosaic Stripe Stitch

4. Diagonal Scotch Stitch

5. Staircase Stitch

6. Corduroy Stitch

7. Milanese Stitch

8. Jacquard Stitch

With this canvas I tried to give a wide variety of decorative needlepoint stitches as well as balance the design. The stitches range from easiest to more difficult and build on the skill learned in the previous stitch.

Small Retro Flower Needlepoint

 
This is my next needlepoint project. It is a 6" x 6" square on #14 mesh. I'm going to finish it as an insert for the new Stirling purse. (hopefully I'll have a picture of it tomorrow, it's not on their web site yet)

I painted the flower petals in combinations of pink and aqua. I was hoping by mixing up the pink and aqua I would gain a consistency throughout the petals. Instead of one petal all pink one all aqua, etc. The vertical green stripes help the design pop against all the diagonal stitches. The yellow center become a resting point, or focal point if the stitcher chooses to add a monogram or initial.

One of the things I love most about needlepoint is the ability to personalize it. A date can be added, a name, initials or monograms. Threads can be pulled in different colors than painted on the canvas. Each canvas is an opportunity for the stitcher to really make the canvas their own!

 
I painted the monogram from Tink’s Marvelous Monograms – vol. 1 Monogram #16 HexTriple34. One large initial would fit too. Circus 33 Letter Sheet.

Thread pull is Vineyard Silk:

 

Decorative stitches are:

 

Needlepoint Finished and Finishing!

 
Last night I finished my needlepoint Stitch Tangle! Another WIP checked of the list. I think I might have this framed. I learned a lot about variegated threads and think I might use them with confidence soon. Also I used on of every thread in my turquoise stash. Great learning experience for me. If you want to make your own Stitch Tangle click on my old post Needlepoint Stitch Tangle.

 
I just got my new needlepoint shoes in the mail from the finisher! I am so excited. They turn out prettier than I imagined.

Poppy Plaid off to the Finisher!

PW05 Poppy Plaid Needlepoint is off to the Finisher! I took it to the framer yesterday. I don't usually do framed pieces, but I think this will be a good show and tell for different decorative stitches. I'm having it frame without glass so it can travel to shows with me.

More Sister Stitches

 

Poppy plaid progress

T Stitch Stitch (top)

Nobuko Stitch (bottom)

 

Diagonal Hungarian Ground Stitch (top)

Staircase Stitch (bottom)

 

Framed Stem Stitch (top)

Corduroy Stitch (bottom)

Sister Stitches

I'm using "sister" needlepoint decorative stitches for the Poppies. These are stitches that are similar but somewhat different.

 

Diagonal Scotch (bottom) -Moorish Stitch (top) stitched

 

Jacquard (top) -Byzantine (bottom) Stitch stitched

Tropical Bamboo progress

Just wanted to post my progress!

Mosaic Stripe Stitch

 

I'm packing every area of this canvas with decorative needlepoint stitches. (except the inside background which was stitched in basketweave) I want to show how decorative stitches can be used on any hand-painted needlepoint canvas. I wouldn't normally put 20+ decorative stitches in such a simple canvas. Or use so many thread colors. I've continued to use two colors for each stitch step. I'm hoping this makes it easier to see the stitch steps. This whole project is a learning tool. Hopefully I'm showing another way to look at the hand-painted needlepoint canvas. Each stitcher can look at their own canvas and say, "I'll try this stitch here". The Mosaic Stripe Stitch is my final stitch for the Poppy Plaid Needlepoint Pillow plaid border. I like the stripe effect and since it is technically a "box stitch" it ties into the other box stitches used in the border.

Mosaic Stripe Stitch

Stitch diagram:

Type: Box Stitch

Count: over 4

Pattern/Texture: Stripe pattern, medium texture

Ideal for: Focal points, borders and medium to large blocks of color

Overview: The Mosaic Stripe Stitch can be worked in either one or two colors. The stripe effect is more prominent when stitched in two colors.

Painted Stitches Butterfly Class

 

Last night I taught the first of 3 two hour classes for the Painted Stitches Butterfly. The class description was: " Painted Stitches Butterfly is a great way to learn to use a variety of threads and stitches on the painted canvas. The 11 specialty stitch blocks are stitch painted, two-step decorative stitches on this 8" x 8" canvas on #14 mesh.. Painted Stitches Butterfly design helps the stitcher learn how to compensate stitches because the compensation is painted on the canvas. We will be stitching with a variety of specialty threads. 2 step color stitch diagrams included. " Each bag had the Butterfly canvas, Stitch Guide, #22 & #18 needles, and I kitted up the threads ahead of time in little bags for each block. We went through the first 4 blocks. I talked about using a larger needle for specialty threads, using thread straighteners to relax fibers, how these blocks were about stitching regular and in mirror of the stitch diagrams and how to compensate the stitches. I also showed everyone where threads were located in the shop and picked canvases from the shop walls to show where decorative could be used on other needlepoint canvases. I think it went well, I hope everyone had fun! I did.

Gingerbread Farmhouse Night Sky

I have started stitching the my new Gingerbread Farmhouse. I've mounted it on a scroll frame to keep it straight and help needlepoint specialty threads and decorative stitches lay flat. With this "Stitch Along" I'm going to try to talk about the threads as well as the stitches I'm using. The Night Sky is stitched in basketweave tent stitch. I used this stitch because the thread, Rainbow Gallery's GOLD RUSH, is very lively and I think a decorative stitch would fight the effect of the thread for the sky. Another option would be to use long stitches, but I wanted the sky to look tight and sparkly with lots of color change and depth. I learned the hard way to stitch with short threads, this is not a thread to "scoop stitch", a firm up and down is needed. I highly recommend Rainbow Gallery 237C Gold Rush for a beautiful night sky.

Painted Stitches Butterfly Stitch Along

 

My newest Stitch Along is PS03 Painted Stitches Butterfly. I developed this canvas as a great way to learn in stitches by needlepointing a design not just learning blocks of stitches. Each of the 11 stitch blocks are stitch painted specialty stitches, similar to Stitch Your Stress Away. Painted Stitches Butterfly design will help the stitcher learn how to compensate stitches because the compensation is painted on the canvas.

Block	Stitch	Thread Color
1	Tent Stitch	Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 009 – Emerald Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 005 - Black
2	Mosaic Stripe Stitch	Rainbow Gallery Silk Lame’ Braid SL36-Chartreuse Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 009 – Emerald
3	Mosaic Stitch (no frame)	Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 005 - Black
4	Milanese Stitch	Rainbow Gallery Gold Rush 215C Yellow Shimmer Vineyard Silk T-813 Caribbean
5	Staircase Stitch	Vineyard Silk C-174 Hot Pink ThreadworX #12 braid 91018 - Baby Blue Eyes
6	Diagonal Scotch Stitch	Vineyard Silk C-173 Veil Rainbow Gallery Panache PN14 C’mas Red
7	Framed Mosaic Stitch	Vineyard Silk C-007 Aruba Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 9200 - Blossom
8	Reverse Scotch Stitch	Vineyard Silk C-091 Captain's Blue ThreadworX #12 braid 91049  Parrot Bay
9	Byzantine Stitch	Vineyard Silk C-174 Hot Pink Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 9294 - Periwinkle
10	Rice Stitch	Rainbow Gallery Petite Spark Rays PS29 C’mas Red Vineyard Silk C-163 Crème Brulee
11	Cross Stitch	Kreinik Medium #16 Braid 005 - Black
	Background – Tent stitch	Caron Watercolours 000 Natural

Stitch Guide for Patchwork Small Tote

A stitcher requested a needlepoint stitch guide for ST04 Patchwork Small Tote  5" x 5" #14 mesh. I just put one together and hope this helps. Click on the picture and then print landscape.

Stitch Your Stash Around the World Workshop

Stitch Your Stash Around the World Workshop at Wool & Willow!