Brenda's Needlepoint Studio

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Hardanger Stitch A Card Kit - Updated 2/18/2020

February 18, 2020--A few days ago, while looking for blank canvas bits and pieces, I came across this half completed hardanger project started 6-1/2 years ago and totally forgotten about. I remember I put this away because I felt my hardanger skills weren't up to par to complete the last 2 blocks. Since then, I've been to Hardanger University and could now finish this with ease. Which I did. So here are the final 2 blocks and a photo of them turned into greeting cards. I would stitch these again, or design my own little squares. Lots of possibilities.

Blocks 3 and 4 Completed

All 4 Blocks Completed

Blocks Attached to Greeting Card Stock

August 13, 2013--Purchased this little kit to "practice" hardanger stitches learned last year at a chapter led class to make a hardanger doily.

There are four blocks to stitch, each progressively more difficult. Have completed the first two and know for certain that I really do need to practice before I take on a more ambitious project. It's very important to properly lay the satin stitches called "klosters" before cutting the threads, otherwise it's too easy to cut the stitching along with the linen threads (been there and done that). Also purchased a booklet by Janice Love called HARDANGER BASICS AND BEYOND, 2006. Great diagrams, pictures, detailed instructions and lots of small projects to work on.

Block 1 of 4

Block 2 of 4

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Pillows - Three Very Old Ones - 2/8/2020

February 8, 2020--A few days ago I was telling someone about some old needlepointed pillows I stitched in the 1980s and discovered I had no pictures to show. I'm taking care of that by writing about them here for "historical" purposes.

The first is a Jane Rainbow Design, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire called Rona stitched in cream colored paternayan yarn and cotton perle. I love this design and kept the instructions so it may be stitched again.

Pillow Rona by Jane Rainbow Design

The second pillow is a Bucilla Needlepoint Pillow Kit called "Classique". I've stitched this twice--the first in a cream color (the pillow is no longer available--lost to wear and tear), and the second in a pale blue color using acrylic crewel yarn.

Pillow Classique Bucilla Needlepoint Kit

The last pillow I still have is a pattern from Maggie Lane's book called Needlepoint by Design: Variations on Chinese Themes. Unfortunately I no longer have this book. I will keep an eye out for someone giving this book away--I would like to stitch more of the pillows offered.

Pillow Maggie Lane from Needlepoint by Design: Variations on Chinese Themes

These were fun projects to work on while watching television and their classic designs still look wonderful in my home.

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Holiday Ornament Green Gift - 1/30/2020

January 30, 2020--Number 10 of the 16 Susan Portra Holiday Ornaments collection is now stitched (click here for more information about them). The star centers are filled with french knots and turned out to be easier than anticipated. They add some dimension to the front. The instructions for this ornament were published in Needlepoint Now Magazine 2014, Volume XVI, Issue 6. I plan on turning all of these Holiday canvases into ornaments when the set is completely stitched.

Ornament Holiday Gift Green Completed

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Hardanger Ornament Crystal Daisy - Updated 1/8/2020

January 8, 2020--The additional project to stitch given us by Terri Bay in the hardanger crystal daisy class (see 7/20/19 blog post below) is now finished into a little doily. It has some depth and shine due to the beads and Kreinik thread. Cutting away the fabric wasn't difficult at all--just had to keep a steady hand and carefully cut into the inside corners with the sharpest little scissors I have.

Hardanger Crystal Daisy Doily Finished

My Tiny, Inexpensive, Sharpest Scissors

July 20, 2019--Finished the Hardanger Crystal Daisy piece into an ornament.

This is the first time I've made an ornament stitched on linen fabric--all others have a canvas (usually 18 count) base. The linen had a tendency to move off grain, so it needed serious pinning around the edge of the mounting board to stay even. It was also difficult to keep the measurements even all around from the edge of the stitching to the edge of the ornament--I had to repin the fabric onto the mounting board three times before I got it right.

Hardanger Ornament Crystal Daisy Finished Front

For a needlepoint ornament stitched on canvas, I usually cut the ornament front a little smaller (about 5%) than the back so the cording "sits" a bit forward. This is because the canvas is so thick with stitching all the way to the edge (usually). With the linen ornament, the fabric is so much thinner than canvas and there's no stitching to the edge, so the front mounting board should only have been reduced in size by 3% or so. So this linen ornament has a front that is too small and the cording doesn't show at all from the back.

And speaking of cording, mine is too small for this size ornament. It would look much better if it were twice the thickness.

Every time I finish my own ornaments, I learn something new, but am learning the hard way. Would love to "intern" with a professional finisher so I could learn all the tricks of the trade at one time.

Anyone want an intern? I'm willing to travel in the mid-Atlantic area.

PS I have no desire to use what I would learn to finish ornaments for others as a business--this would be for my own purposes only. Thank you.

Hardanger Ornament Crystal Daisy Finished Back

July 14, 2019--In February, I attended Hardanger University (click here for information about the classes) and have been wanting to finish stitching the pieces I started.

The first class was an ornament sized project called Crystal Daisy from Terri Bay Needlework Designs. Recently I decided to complete the stitching and learned a lot in the process. I really like stitching "in hand" and have no problems with my tension pulling and or warping the linen Below is a picture of the ornament which I just completed.

Hardanger Ornament Crystal Daisy Completed

Below is a photo of where I left off at class end.

Hardanger Ornament Crystal Daisy at Class End

I had an issue with the very thin beading thread included with the kit. A small amount was coiled inside of a plastic bag and when I tried to take it out--it knotted up like crazy. So I used my 6 lb. Berkley Fireline Crystal Braid to stitch the bicone beads in place. This works great on canvas, but hated the results on the linen which can be seen in the photo below--was way too heavy. Fortunately I remembered having some "invisible" thread in my sewing stash. So I cut out the Berkley line and restitched the beads in place using my invisible thread. Worked perfectly as you can see from the first photo above.

Hardanger Ornament Crystal Daisy with Berkley Fireline to Stitch Beads (too visible)

Am now working on the larger, oval ornament which was included in the class materials. I plan on turning the project into a small doily instead of an ornament and placing it on the edge of my huge soaking tub for something a little decorative.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Janet Zickler Casey Santas Stitched to Date - Updated 5/18/2020

Click on the photo caption to view more information about each santa.

May 18, 2020--Here's the 12th santa ornament stitched so far--North Wind Santa

North Wind Santa Completed

May 12, 2020--the 11th Janet Zickler Casey santa stitched to date called Santa in the Moon.

Santa in the Moon Completed

January 5, 2020--The 10th JZC santa, Heart Santa, is stitched.

Santa Heart

February 11, 2019--The 9th JZC santa is stitched.

Star Spangled Santa

January 9, 2019--Here's the eighth stitched so far to add to the list below.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Santa

November 16, 2018—Recently I counted up the number of santa ornaments designed by Janet Zickler Casey that I’ve stitched over the years. Below are 7 out of 23 total to date. As new ones are completed, I’ll add them to the list. My goal is to stitch two a year (one new, one old) until all are done. Click on the caption for more information about each santa pictured.

Christmas Light Santa

Candy Cane Santa

To see the santas yet to be stitched, please click on the 2 Pages on the right side of this blog called Planned Projects and In Process Projects.

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

2019 Year in Review

December 31, 2019--It's been a busy year, but I still managed to complete the stitching on 20 needlepoint projects. Here they are from most recent (December) to oldest (January).

Many have not yet been finished into ornaments, etc.--I'm waiting to stitch all the projects in the collections before working them up into ornaments (e.g., Janet Zickler Casey's santa collection, Susan Portra's holiday ornament collection).

Also included in this list are the projects stitched in prior years and finished into pillows, ornaments, etc. in 2019.

Hope you enjoy looking at these pictures and walking down memory lane with me. Click on the photo's caption to see more information about each project.