New Vineyard Silk Classic Colors

Vineyard Silk has come out with twelve new luscious colors bringing their "Classic" line to 210 colors. The new colors strengthen several color families including orange, blue-green and blue-gray.

Vineyard Silk is a single strand silk that we recommend for use with 18 mesh canvas for those individuals who do not care to ply their thread. For more information about Vineyard Silk Classic check out my blog entry earlier this week "Focus On: Vineyard Silk Classic."

Stitch of the Week: Double Cross

The Double Cross stitch is a beautiful stitch as you can clearly see from the outstanding examples stitched up by intrepid instructor Mindy Bogue. The look of this stitch can vary quite dramatically based on the choice of thread. Use a thinner thread for a more lacey look and heavier threads for fuller coverage.

Begin the stitch by making Giant Cross Stitches across four canvas intersections. Then go back and insert Upright Cross stitches over two canvas threads in each "quadrant" of the Giant Cross Stitches.

Mindy altered the stitch thus creating what the class dubbed the "Mindy Variation" which is, in my humble(?) opinion, even more attractive than the original stitch. In the Mindy Variation, stitch sizes are increased. So, you make Extra Giant Cross Stitches over six canvas intersections and insert Upright Cross stitches over four canvas threads rather than two in each of the four quadrants. Because the Extra Giant Cross Stitch carries over six intersections Mindy felt the need to "tie" it down with an additional Upright Cross stitch where the two legs intersect. She did this in a third color which added further interest and visual appeal.

According to Suzanne Howren and Beth Robertson in their wonderful book, More Stitches for Effect, the Double Cross stitch is good for baskets and wicker furniture due to the stitch's woven look. They also recommend using overdyed thread in combination with solid silk/cotton thread for this stitch.

Note: the Mindy Variation has been copyrighted and permission must be obtained (and royalties paid) before using.

Haha, only kidding.

Focus On: Vineyard Silk Classic

Vineyard Silk Classic is a really luscious thread and one of my all-time favorites. It is 100% silk, imported from China and non-strandable. One strand is equivalent to one strand number five pearl cotton.

In our shop, we recommend Vineyard Silk for use with 18 mesh canvas. It is our "go to" fiber for when we want the look of silk on 18 mesh but without the bother of stranding/plying. The manufacturer as well as other needlepoint shops maintain that it can be used with 13/14 mesh. I think that it does work with diagonal stitches such as tent stitch on 13/14 mesh painted canvas.

Diagonal stitches look particularly lovely with this thread as it reflects light so well. Recommended stitches for use with Vineyard Silk Classic include Basketweave, Diagonal Mosaic (sky, water, background), Nobuko (snow, water), Cashmere (architectural details) and Brick (lawns, bark).

Rittenhouse Needlepoint carries the full line of Vineyard Silk Classic. The thread is sold in 30 yard skeins. There are 210 colors. The line is particularly strong in pinks, greens and blues. The company has recently released several new colors about which I will write soon.

Two of my favorite characteristics of Vineyard Silk Classic are 1) the fact that it does not unravel and 2.) it does no pill. Combined with the lustrous sheen and the durability of silk, I heartily recommend Vineyard Silk Classic.

News from the Store

We are enjoying cooler weather today which is a nice change of pace from the eighty degree+ weather that we've been having recently-- way too early for those temperatures!

We have two trunk shows currently in residence though one of them is due to head out shortly. The extensive Cooper Oaks Design collection with its lovely floral designs is here until Tuesday, April 14 while the wild and whimsical designs of Ewe & Eye are here a bit longer -- they will be leaving us on April 20.

Also leaving on April 20 is a mini trunk show from Whimsey & Grace. I don't believe that I have mentioned this show before -- it is a collection of napkin ring canvases. I think that napkin rings would make a wonderful needlepoint project. You could even incorporate your initials or monogram. It's an unexpected use for needlepoint for all you "I simply can't do another pillow" people out there (and I know that you are out there because I've heard it from you before!) The collection from Whimsey & Grace also includes round name tags or box inserts for the Lee boxes.

The Web site redesign has been well-received. I will be blogging soon about some of the more advanced features of the web site. We may even hold a free class on how to get the most out of the Web site. You would be surprised at what you can do with it.

Speaking of the Web site, we are in the process of adding Canvas Works Collection online. This is the first time the designs of Canvas Works have been online so we are very excited to be able to offer them to you.

We had a special delivery yesterday at the store. Back from the finisher came two Patti Mann 3-dimensional characters: a sea turtle and a "Pudgie" elephant. These guys are super-cute so be sure to ask to see them next time you are in the store. A special thanks goes to Betty Lou Malmud for having stitched up the sea turtle for us -- gratis!!

Focus On: Hand-Dyed Impressions

Caron Collection's Impressions is a popular fiber and for good reason. The combination of 50% silk and 50% wool gives it a wonderful "hand" and the array of colors is extensive. The combination of silk and wool gives depth to this thread as each of the two fibers reflect light differently.

What could be better than Impressions? Easy -- Hand-Dyed Impressions. This gorgeous collection of 97 hand-dyed colors shares all the desirable points of Impressions and adds to it subtlety and sophistication of variegated color. The colors of Hand-Dyed Impressions coordinate with the colors in Caron's other lines -- Watercolours (all cotton) and Waterlilies (all silk).

This very versatile thread can be used in embroidery, cross stitch and needlepoint. One strand of Hand-Dyed Impressions is equivalent to one strand of No. 8 Pearl Cotton. On 18 mesh canvas I use one strand however some people prefer the fuller look of two strands. It's a matter of personal preference.

Suggested stitches for use with Impressions Hand-Dyed include Alternating Smyrna Cross (top left) for bushes and treetops using one of the many shades of green. The Kennan stitch (bottom left) makes nice grass. The Woven or Web stitch (middle left) makes terrific fields and Diagonal Fern (top right) stitch plus Hand-Dyed Impressions in some of the smoky grays or browns makes realistic looking mountains. My favorite stitch with this thread is however the French Knot (bottom right). It makes terrific flowers (especially in the lavender hues) and also curly hair using the brown or straw colors.

Stitch of the Week: Moorish

The Moorish Stitch (top right and left) is essentially the Diagonal Scotch stitch with a row of tent stitches in between. The over 1-2-3-2 pattern is repeated without interruption from the upper left to the lover right. In a different color or thread, a row of continental stitches is then worked on either side of the Diagonal Scotch stitches.

The Moorish stitch makes a fine background or filling stitch. It works up quickly and has good coverage on the reverse side of the canvas. It can be used for representing roofs and fields. The stitch has a definite diagonal feeling to it, a look that might be useful for stitching skies or clothing.

It is important to maintain a consistent tension when stitching the Moorish stitch and I would also encourage you not to pull too strongly as the stitch can pull the canvas out of square. Compensating the Moorish stitch can be tricky. Keep in mind that the long stitches of one row of Diagonal Scotch will match up with the short stitches of the next row of Diagonal Scotch.

Variations on the Moorish stitch include Wide Moorish (middle right and left) in which a Gobelin stitch (2 x 2) is employed between the rows of Diagonal Scotch instead of the Continental stitch. Another option is Giant Moorish (bottom right and left) in which the Diagonal Scotch stitch is expanded to include an "over four" stitch so that the pattern for the row of Diagonal Scotch stitches then becomes over 1-2-3-4-3-2, repeat.

What I am Working On

I have been working on and off recently on my current needlepoint projects. I got a fair amount accomplished on my travel project when Russell and I went to Tucson for his birthday. This project, which I started in January, is a set of coasters from Susan Roberts that have an Imari-inspired design. Imari, for those of you who don't know, is a Japanese porcelain that was created mostly I believe for European export.

The color scheme of Imari porcelain is normally blue, white and oxblood red which happen to be some of the colors in our apartment. So, I was attracted to this project because of its utility and also because of its portability.

Coasters are a great travel project because you can cut the canvas up into four separate smaller projects. These are great for plane travel and inconspicuous stitching in public. I have completed the third coaster in Tucson and have a good start on the fourth one.

The Imari coaster project is however 18 mesh which means that I have to use magnification when I work on it. So, I have another project that I have been working on that is 13 mesh. This is a project I bought a couple of year's ago (before Rittenhouse Needlepoint).

I realize now that the canvas was intended to be a tallis bag. I however purchased it with the idea of making it into a pillow. I had the shop add my initials to the canvas thinking that I would perhaps do a second with Russell's initials. I started the project -- completing just a small section in the upper right hand corner and then put it away.

A month ago I found it in the closet and decided to start working on it again. It seemed just the right thing at the time -- a good relaxing needlepoint project. I think I was actually trying to avoid working on the more difficult canvases frog and Christmas stocking canvases that I also have going right now (more about them later).

Lastly, I had Alicia, one of our painters, paint me a canvas insert for my stitching bag with the logo of Rittenhouse Needlepoint. I figure that I will bring this to the next trade show in Ohio and I will be the envy of everyone there!

I wasn't sure how far to go with the glitz on the shop's name. I settled on a medium-glitz course with the choice of Caron's Snow. The background will be done in Vineyard Silk.

I think that I will use a subtle stitch for the background. It has to be fairly easy to compensate (because of all the letters) and I don't want it to be too noticeable but at the same time it has to be sophisticated because the intended audience is a tough crowd. Any suggestions?