August 31, 2025--This is the third project I'm doing for the Hoops for Hospice program. This time it's a very small cross-stitched Santa Hat which will fit into a 3" hoop beautiful. As I did with the prior project, I first mounted the 26-count linen on stretcher bars, starched the finished stitches with Nori paste, then placed it in the 3" hoop. I was compelled to starch the stitches since the thread, DMC Perle #5 and stitched over 2 linen threads, seemed so heavy.
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| Santa Hat Mini Cross Stitch Completed |
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| Santa Hat Mini Cross Stitch on Stretcher Bars |
I found this as a free pattern online distributed by:
So all three of my pieces are ready to "finish" at my ANG chapter October meeting. Then I'll post a photo of all three together.
Today is my 75th birthday and it's wonderful to have gotten this far in life. About ten years ago my doctor told me I should live to 115. Wow, that's 40 more years!!! I need to buy a lot more needlepoint. Yay!
August 16, 2015--Here's the second hoop ornament stitched to date. It's called Tower of Presents by DebBee Designs, 2024. This time, instead of stitching it in a hoop, I placed the 26-count linen on stretcher bars. Worked perfectly since I was able to get it tight as a drum. When the stitching was done, I "starched" the piece using Nori paste, let it dry overnight, removed the linen from the stretcher bars, then placed it in a hoop. No wonkiness or warping.
I have one more hoop ornament to stitch, so I'm off to "shop my stash".
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| Tower of Presents Completed |
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| Tower of Presents on Stretcher Bars |
August 11, 2025--For the past few years, Delaware's Seashore Chapter of ANG has been participating in Delaware's Hospice Holiday Tree program. Last year we did clothespin angels, and they were a huge success.
This year we are making ornaments that are self-finished using 3" and 4" embroidery hoops. I volunteered to stitch up three ornaments and below is my first one. This is a free design from Laura Perin called Christmas Square. It's supposed to be stitched on 18 count canvas with perle 5 thread. Since canvas doesn't squeeze well into hoops, I thought I would work this up on 26 count linen (given to me a long time ago) using perle 8 thread. The idea was good, but I learned that needlepoint stitches can be too heavy for linen--the fabric isn't stiff enough to hold the weight of the thread, so it looks a bit warped. For the next ornament (using a different design), I'm going to tack the linen onto stretcher bars, then use lighter weight thread (e.g., 2 strands of floss, not perle 8). That should work better. Stay tuned on how that will work.
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| Hoop Ornament Christmas Square Completed |
When I was first thinking about using this design on linen, I wasn't sure if perle 8 would work, so I asked Microsoft's AI called CoPilot (this comes with my Microsoft 365 subscription). Here is what it told me:
My Query: Can DMC perle 8 be used on 26 count linen?
CoPilot's Response: Absolutely — DMC Perle 8 can be used on 26-count linen, but it depends on the look and feel you're going for. Here's how it plays out:
🧵 Compatibility & Stitching Style
• Thread Thickness: Perle 8 is a non-divisible, medium-weight thread. On 26-count linen (typically stitched over two threads), it will produce bold, raised stitches with good texture.
• Coverage: It offers full coverage on 26-count linen, especially for surface embroidery, Hardanger, or specialty stitches.
• Needle Choice: A size 26 tapestry needle works well with Perle 8 on this fabric count.
✨ Ideal Uses
• Surface Embroidery: Great for decorative stitches like stem stitch, chain stitch, or satin stitch.
• Hardanger Embroidery: Perle 8 is often used for the satin stitch portion, paired with Perle 12 for the delicate cutwork.
• Bold Cross Stitch: If you're doing cross stitch, expect a chunkier, more dimensional look than with standard floss.
If you're aiming for delicate detail, you might prefer a finer thread like Perle 12 or stranded cotton. But if you want texture and drama, Perle 8 on 26-count linen is a lovely combo.
Pretty cool.
