CBK Trunk Show

CBK Needlepoint Collections from Massachusetts is our latest trunk show. CBK represents a number of different designers including Keep Your Pants On which has, not surprisingly, a large collection of belt canvases. These belts have a range of themes -- sports teams are well represented but so are hobbies and activities.

My favorites are some of the more unusual/whimsical including a great hedgehog design and another one with bow ties.

Also offered for sale at Rittenhouse Needlepoint for a limited time only are the classic canvases of Bettieray Designs. This collection includes traditional florals, charming children's designs, chair seats/bell pulls, affordable Christmas stockings and some great canvases featuring birds including my favorite bird -- the hummingbird. Other featured design themes include frogs, roosters and shells.

Stop by the store today to see these lines before they leave February 6.

Stitch of the Week: English Stitch

The English stitch is a two step stitch that begins with a series of five straight up and down (Gobelin) stitches over four horizontal canvas threads. The second step consists of a series of angled stitches that frame the original group of five stitches. The result is a handsome composite stitch that according to Robertson and Howren (Even More Stitches for Effect, p. 43) can be used for door panels, fences, brick walls, architectural details, baskets, clothing, borders and backgrounds. Ribbon type threads would work well on this stitch.

Mary Rhodes offers the best verbal description for executing this stitch so rather than trying to improve on it I will merely quote from her fine book, Dictionary of Canvas Work Stitches: "Five vertical straight stitches are worked first over the four horizontal threads. The needle is then brought up through the centre [sic.] hole along the bottom edge of the stitch and is taken down into the centre hole on the left-hand side. It then emerges from the centre hole on the right-hand side, to be taken down again into the centre hole on the bottom edge. From this point the needle is then brought up through the centre hole on top edge of the stitch and taken down into the centre hole on the left-hand side. It is brought up once again through the centre hole on the right-hand side and is taken down into the centre hole at the top. A small diagonal stitch over two intersections of the canvas is then worked over each corner of the group of vertical stitches, outside and parallel to the four longer diagonal stitches just worked."

Just take this verbal description one step at a time and you should be fine. Variations on the English stitch involve doing the straight stitches and the angled stitches in different colors or threads. You can also stagger the stitch from row to row.

Back from Vacation

Russell and I had a terrific vacation cruising around the Carib-bean-o. I got lots of reading and needlepoint done. I had a tough time though deciding what to bring with me in terms of both needlepoint and books. I selected a new project -- a set of Imari coasters for my living room. I choose this project primarily for its portability. I cut the canvas into four smaller projects and then I could hold them in my hand and work on them one coaster at the time.

Before we left I wondered whether this would be enough stitching for the entire vacation! As it turned out, I only completed two of them. Oh well. I still have two more to go. I enjoyed working on them. I used Caron Impressions thread (the canvases are 18 mesh) and did basketweave stitch with some cross stitches thrown in here and there. Sometimes, it is nice to just keep it simple and not get too creative (can you say vacation?). The canvases themselves are complicated enough and the 18 mesh was sometimes a challenge to see but I brought with me a helpful pair of clic glasses that I used as needed.

Russell even did some stitching on the cruise with me. He has picked out an ambitious project for himself. It is a design featuring antique buttons on a handsome red background (Associated Talents, item #14438). It's a handsome canvas but a large one too! He made a good start on it during the cruise. Taking a page out of my play book, he has started stitching in the upper right hand corner and is working his way down and to the left -- alternating between background and detail work. He is doing a fine job and more importantly seems to be enjoying himself doing it.

Stop by the store, I am sure that he would be happy to show it to you and ask him to tell you the story about his canvas and how I tried to sabotage his needlepointing career! Just don't believe the whole tall tale.

Stitch of the Week: Ashley

The Ashley stitch is a very pretty stitch. It is really more of a pattern than a stitch but we won't split hairs. The stitch begins up two horizontal canvas threads and over two horizontal canvas threads to the right. The second stitch begins immediately underneath where the first stitch began and goes over three horizontal canvas threads and to the right over three vertical canvas threads (ending immediately to the right of where the first stitch ended).

Stitch numbers three and four are repeats of stitch number two -- going up and over three canvas threads and beginning/ending one canvas thread underneath where the previous stitch began/ended. Stitch number five begins one vertical canvas thread to the right of where stitch number four began and goes up and over two canvas threads in the same manner as stitch number one.

This five-stitch, Cashmere-like unit (over two, over three -- three times, then over two again) is repeated immediately underneath the first group. However, the stitches in the second unit are done from the top down and to the right as opposed to up and to the right. The stitch progresses in this manner -- one group of five stitches slanting up and to the right, the next group slanting down and to the right. In the next column, the orientation of the groups is reversed thereby creating a blank area where the four "group of five stitches" meet.

In the final step to the Ashley stitch, an eyelet stitch over one canvas thread is executed in the vacant center area where the "group of five stitches" meet. Variations to the Ashley stitch call for using a different color/type of thread for the center eyelet stitch. One can also vary the stitch by using a different stitch in the center such as a Mosaic stitch or a Smyrna Cross.

As with any stitch that spans several canvas intersections/canvas threads, a ribbon-type thread can be used (such as Neon Rays, RibbonFloss). The Ashley stitch can be used for architectural details, wallpapers, borders and backgrounds.

Stitch of the Week: Van Dyke

The Van Dyke stitch, this week's Stitch of the Week, can be worked either vertically or horizontally. It works up easily and fairly quickly and it has a nicely woven/braided appearance. The stitch works especially well with overdyed thread such as Threadworx Floss or Caron Watercolours.

The stitch consists of oblong crosses that overlap. Begin by going down and to the right over four horizontal canvas threads and two vertical canvas threads. The second step begins two canvas threads to the left of where step one ended and goes up and to the right over four horizontal canvas threads and two vertical canvas threads.

The second stitch unit is begun two horizontal canvas threads underneath where the first stitch unit began and proceeds in the same manner as the first stitch unit (i.e., down and to the right over four horizontal canvas threads and two vertical canvas threads, over to the left two canvas threads and then up and to the right over two vertical canvas threads and four horizontal canvas threads). Each of the subsequent stitch units begins two horizontal canvas threads underneath the previous stitch. At the end of a row you must end your thread and then begin again at the top of the row.

To work the stitch in a horizontal manner, rotate the canvas 90 degrees and proceed as above. When used as a single row the Van Dyke stitch makes excellent columns. The Van Dyke stitch also make great stripes, borders and when done in wool it looks like a knitted garment. To compensate you may want to fill in at the top and bottom of the row with a Gobelin stitch over a single horizontal canvas thread.

Stitch of the Week: Double Stitch

This week's stitch of the week is one of my favorites -- the Double Stitch. This is an easy stitch to do and very useful as well. It can be used for filling in large areas, as a design element or even as a background stitch.

The stitch consists of two parts. The first part is an oblong cross done over one vertical canvas thread and three horizontal canvas threads. Work horizontal rows from left to right skipping one vertical canvas thread in between oblong cross units. The second row of oblong crosses begins two horizontal canvas threads below the first row. The top of the second row of oblong crosses will overlap or encroach one canvas thread onto the previous row of stitches. The final step is a simple cross stitch inserted in between the oblong cross units.

The result is a wonderful bumpy texture that looks like quilting to me. When worked in one color the stitch can resemble tree bark. You might try combining an overdyed thread with a related solid-colored thread for a more interesting look. When the oblong crosses are stitched with a dark colored wool and the cross stitches with a very fine metallic, the double stitch can resemble a night sky. Other suggested uses for the stitch include bushes, shrubs and even the fur trim on coats.

Adjust the thread amount you use to provide the level of canvas coverage that you desire. Also be sure that all your top stitches are slanted in the same direction for greatest effectiveness. The Double Stitch is a stitch that you will not regret learning and one that you will find many uses for in your stitching projects.

New Colors -- Planet Earth / Silk & Ivory

The National NeedleArts Association is having its Winter show next month in California and in preparation for the show manufacturers and designers are releasing their new products. Brown Paper Packages, the distributor of Silk & Ivory, recently dispatched 4 new colors bringing their total number of colors to 220. Tilli Thomas, the makers of Planet Earth, also released their new colors -- thirteen new luscious colors bringing their total number of colors to 165.

The Silk and Ivory colors are Pewter, Onyx, Smoky Quartz and Straw. Silk and Ivory is a 50% silk, 50% Merino wool thread, made in Switzerland. It offers a incredibly soft feel, has a medium twist and a lustrous appearance. If you haven't tried Silk & Ivory before consider using it on the background of your next 13/14 mesh piece.

Also for use on 13/14 mesh canvas is Planet Earth, a 100% silk, single stranded thread. The colors of Planet Earth are wonderfully saturated and vivid. Their new color families include a fantastic array of yellow-orange from Amber to Persimmon (see above). Also released is a blue family that includes colors entitled Venus, Calypso, Poseidon and Neptune (bottom right) as well as a great new neutral family (Almond, Honey, Cashew and Dijon -- at right).

Here at Rittenhouse Needlepoint, Planet Earth is one of our favorite fibers. We recommend it all the time for 13/14 mesh canvas. It is affordable and wears well and as they continue to add colors it just keeps getting better and better.