Bristly Thistle Needlepoint News

Ruth Schmuff has come out with a new CD that features over 480 background stitches. Sorted based on the repeat of the pattern from 2 to 40 stitches wide, you can browse the CD, find your background and print it for reference. With so many to choose from, backgrounds will never be boring again!

You can learn more about Ruth’s other CD’s on our website.

I was so enthused that Julia’s Needleworks now represents the JB line that I stitched this roll-up nutcracker “Partridge in a Pear Tree” in record time. I will be making stitch guides for the entire series of the 12 days of Christmas. And then there are the large standup Santas in my stash…I see Swarovski crystals in my future. (Click on this picture to see the detail.) (posted by Michele)

As a reward for stitching class models, I let myself work on a couple of small projects for myself at the end of the day.

I pulled this Heart canvas from my before-store stash. I worked the red and pink areas in basketweave using Petite Very Velvet and Trebizond. While stitching with the Trebizond, I found that longer lengths tended to shred at the end, so I began using 12-14” lengths. Because I hate ripping out, I needed to save the areas that were obviously worn. I took a 12” length of Trebizond and split it into thirds. I threaded one strand on my needle and went over the distressed areas. For perfectionists, this won’t work, but I don’t think anyone will get into the tree to scrutinize this ornament that closely.

I had never really appreciated Kreinik’s Japan gold braid until I stitched this canvas. I had intended to bead all of the gold areas and then came to my senses. I found the gold braid stitch in June McKnight’s book “Needlepoint Borders”. The stitch is a large cross with reversing mosaic ties done with #12 braid. I then couched the braid horizontally above and below the border using a strand of the Japan gold itself to attach it. The bottom of the center medallion is a fern variation. For the swirly lines, I again couched #12 Kreinik Japan gold braid. The floral motifs were going to be gold-plated beads, but I found they stood out from the canvas too much. I had tried the lazy daisy stitch with #12, but it was too bulky. Finally, I took #8 Japan gold braid and stitched lazy daisies with French knots in the centers. They look like gold peas in gold pods.

I’ve always wanted to take the time to learn goldwork. Until I can find that time, I think this “faux goldwork” is something I will use again.

Here is another of my “rewards” canvases—projects I stitch when I have finished stitching models for the day.

The background is Renaissance Shimmer stitched in a horizontal Parisian stripe. The snowflakes were going to be beads, but French knots in Kreinik 032 #12 braid did the trick. The fur trim is a chenille thread I found in a fabric store that I couched down with a strand of Floche. I used my curved scissors to trim the chenille to the proper shape and scale. The wreath is made of French knots with beads. Santa’s beard is the criss-cross Hungarian in perle cotton with Neon Rays cross-stitches in the voids. These canvases come with all the materials you need to finish them yourself. I’m afraid to finish canvases, but even I was able to pull it off.

I love this limited edition sampler so much that I bought one for myself. (I’m not much of a fan of dating canvases, so I will probably stitch over the date. True collectors will leave it in.) Each one of Pat Thode’s canvases, no matter how small, comes with a wonderful stitch guide that transforms the canvas as if touched with a magic wand (or needle, as the case may be.) This is definitely an heirloom piece.

We have other new canvases from Pat Thode on our website. (posted by Michele)