Ornaments Bargello Woven - 9/30/26

September 30, 2026—My needlepoint chapter, the Delaware Seashore Chapter of ANG, is again participating in our local hospice’s Christmas tree program. This year’s theme is bargello ornaments, with members free to interpret the theme as they wish. The only guideline was to keep each ornament small—under 4 inches. Below is my adaptation of a pattern published in the latest issue of ANG’s Needle Pointers magazine (2026, Vol. 5, September/October), designed by Deborah Reichert.

I stitched two ornaments, reversing the thread colors between them and reducing the graphed design to a 3-inch square. I used threads from my stash and stitched on 18-count PVC (plastic) canvas. Because the holes are very small, this canvas limits you to a size 24 or 26 needle and strandable floss. I used Pepper Pot Silk in a few bargello rows and needed pliers to pull it through the canvas. For each ornament, I made a plastic-canvas backing and joined the front and back with buttonhole stitch. I may cover the backs with self-stick felt or leave them as they are. If I make these again, I'll needlepoint or cross-stitch a holiday phrase on the back.

PVC (Plastic) 18 Count Canvas by Mill Hill - 9/22/26

September 22, 2026--With Zweigart 18 count mono canvas being so difficult to acquire these days, I thought I'd try Mill Hill's new 18 count PVC (plastic) canvas.   It comes in 9" x 12" sheets in color white only.  A colorfast marker worked well and I'll next try acrylic paints on it.  Mill Hll recommends using size 24 or 26 tapestry needles and they aren't kidding.  This limits the type of threads to strandable floss or smaller metallics (e.g., 2 strands of Kreinik size 8).  Ribbon type threads won't work.  They require needles that are too large.

Note:  After perusing Wichelt's website, it appears that 18 count perforated paper is no longer available (only 14 count can still be purchased).

I did try stitching with a metallic ribbon using a size 24 needle and found I had to pull the needle through the PVC canvas with plyers.  It was nearly impossible to go from a "clean" (empty) hole into a "dirty" (used) hole.  A lot of pulling was involved.  After working up a few bargello rows, I noticed the plastic canvas began to buckle and stretch.  The holes, however, barely budged.   So, I removed the stitches to see how bad the plastic fared, and the pictures are below (front and back) show the distortion.  

Distortion Caused by Too Large Needle and Thread

Closeup Front of Canvas Showing Distortion

Closeback Back of Canvas Showing Distortion

I now wondered if the canvas was ruined or could it be salvaged for a different project.  The answer is YES, it can be salvaged.  I applied some hot air using my hair dryer for a few seconds and the plastic "shrunk" to its original size (for the most part).  You can see in the below photos how smooth the plastic became after applying heat.  Some of the holes look a little wonky, so I'll stitch up another project over the repaired area and see how it looks.

Back of Canvas with Distortion Removed by Heat

Front of Canvas with Distortion Removed by Heat

So now I'm wondering if I had left the heavy metallic stitches in place then applied heat, would the canvas shrink back to it's original form.  Would the threads lie flat or would the tension look uneven?  This will be my next experiment--stay tuned.

Needle Puller Tool - 9/12/26

September 12, 2026—I have a new favorite tool: the needle puller I purchased from Amazon.

About a week ago, Jane at Chilly Hollow wrote about a Bohin Needle Puller used by quilters. I learned that Amazon sells it for about $23, while a generic version of the same tool costs $12—so I snapped one up. There are plenty of YouTube videos that show how to use the device. Because arthritis has caused my fingers to lose strength, I had been using small pliers to pull needles through the back of my work to secure thread. This needle puller fits comfortably in my hand and is so easy to use. It’s perfectly designed to work like a thimble for pushing the needle through fibers, then like a puller to complete the action.

I’ve even developed a side-scoop method: I guide the needle into the puller, press the plunger to secure it, and then pull. Easy.

 

Note:  These are stock photos taken from Amazon's website.