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Archive for the ‘Needlepoint Inspiration’ Category

CoronaVirus Needlepoint Update

Hi all, I hope you’re staying safe!

Needlepointers have been posting lots of funny messages on the Needlepoint Nation Facebook page, if you are not a member yet, you should join!

On the serious side, here at NeedlePaint, we’ve been working on being safe so we can remain open and help design custom needlepoint canvases for you.  Luckily our customer service and design teams are able to work from home, and we’ve changed our production schedule so that only 1 person is in the workshop (Thanks Lyndse!).

We know that a lot of you are spending more time at home than you are used to, and having a hobby is a great way to be productive and make the best of it.  We’ve stocked up on supplies and are ready to make your needlepoint canvases.

This week, we’ve designed something not only fun to look at but useful in days and years to come.  Parents are already used to saying this, but a reminder on your bathroom wall would look great.  Even more important these days, is to wash your hands every time you enter your house after being outside of your property.  So maybe at the front door 🙂  Years from now when coronavirus is hopefully a distant memory, you will have a hand made remembrance of your time at home.

Please remember, staying isolated and helping slow the spread of the virus is the best thing we can all be doing.  Sometimes it is the small things that can make a big difference.

 

Wash Your Hands Handprints Needlepoint Canvas

Clean Your Hands Needlepoint Canvas

 

Wash Your Hands Keep Calm Needlepoint

Keep Calm and Wash Your Hands Needlepoint Canvas

 

Wash Your Hands Needlepoint

Wash Your Hands Needlepoint Canvas

 

Plan Your Next NeedlePaint Project!

There are so many great choices and personal preferences involved when planning a new needlepoint project to stitch. NeedlePaint would love to help you plan your next project!

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NeedlePaint offers Zweigart Mono Deluxe needlepoint canvas.

Project size:
Choosing the overall design size of your canvas — do you want to stitch a belt, pillow, key fob, wallet, flask or maybe even a guitar or purse strap. We can create very large canvases, small canvases and everything in-between.

Canvas Mesh size:
Choose the canvas mesh size that works best for you — The mesh size of the canvas represents the number of stitches per inch. An 18 mesh canvas (with 18 stitches per inch) is usually used for smaller projects that require more detail; and a 10 mesh canvas would be used on something like a large floor pillow. It often depends on what type of thread you want to use, or maybe even what you can see visually.

NeedlePaint DMC thread

NeedlePaint offers DMC embroidery floss, or Waverly wool for your canvas!

Types of thread:
Choosing the type of thread depends on your canvas mesh size and your preference. 10, 12 and 14 canvas mesh sizes work great with wool thread. 14 and 18 mesh sizes work great with DMC embroidery floss. Thread choices are varied, and at Needlepoint we offer two types of thread. You have the option to of DMC embroidery floss, which is a 100% pearl cotton six-strand thread; and Waverly wool, which is 100% wool, and a three ply thread. We also will be happy to create a canvas for you without supplied thread. We know that a many of you like to use thread from your own stash, or simply like to pick the thread type and colors yourself. 

original cat image       NeedlePaint canvas

Original photo on the left, and a printed canvas of that image on the right.

Printed needlepoint canvas: 
NeedlePaint offers a huge selection of stock designs. If you’re looking for custom needlepoint; we can draw it for you, or we can print an image directly onto the canvas for you from a photo, drawing or graphic. We create your design image in a computer file, which assigns each square on the canvas a color. We then print your image onto blank canvas with a heat transfer process, and our computer generated file creates a stitch chart color guide. These charts help with the process of stitching; letting you know what color to use in each square. This is especially helpful if you have a background in cross-stitching, but not needed if you are used to following the colors on on the canvas.

handpainted needlepoint canvas

This is a hand painted needlepoint canvas we did for a customer, who preferred a solid lavender background and wanted to add a decorative border, using the original photo.

Painted needlepoint canvas:
NeedlePaint would be happy to provide you with a hand painted canvas. This is a great option if you prefer to stitch following the colors that are painted on the canvas and you don’t need stitch charts for reference. Although a printed canvas is more cost effective if you are on a budget, a hand painted canvas is always a great option. Let us know if you would prefer a painted canvas, and we will be happy to give you a price quote for your project.

There are so many great options when planning your next NeedlePaint project, feel free to contact us and let us know how we can help at: info@needlepaint.com. replica relogios rolex best replica watches sites
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NeedlePaint Perfection — A Beginner Shares Her Creation!

About two weeks ago we featured customizing our Fun Kids Name needlepoint pillow canvas. Much to our surprise this week, at NeedlePaint we received the most beautiful photos of what Paula from Pittsburg, created with not just one, but two canvases with this design!

Paula created this tote for her personal use; featuring her grandchildren’s first names. She is using it to carry around her sewing projects. Take a close look at the front and back of this tote, as Paula has used different colors on each side, not to mention she sewed and finished this tote herself.

Easy Beginner Needlepoint Tote

Grandkids Needlepoint Tote

 

Paula has been sewing since the age of five, and learned from the best . . . . her grandmothers were both creative seamstresses and taught her how to sew doll clothes. She has been sewing her own clothes since she was in the ninth grade, and also loves embroidery, cross-stitch, knitting and crochet.

WOW! I found out this was Paula’s first needlepoint project. She will add needlepoint to her list of crafting, but would like to try a different project next time. “I like trying things I’ve never done before”. 

Grandkids Needlepoint Tote

Colorful Grandkids Needlepoint Tote – Laying Flat

 

A beautiful needlepoint creation Paula; thank you for sharing your truly amazing example of “NeedlePaint inspiration”! 

We love to see what you have been stitching, please feel free to send us your creation photos at: info@needlepaint.com.

 

Finding Needlepoint Belt Design Inspiration In Unlikely Places

With the warmer weather upon us, we definitely take notice of the living creatures that have been missing all winter; only to have made new homes and habitats in our backyards. Some of these creatures are sweet and friendly; the rabbit that likes to eat your flowers. Some annoying; the wasps that have made a new nest in your wind chime. And some . . . we’ve just never seen in our backyard before. This month at NeedlePaint, we’ve taken inspiration from nature, and have created two new needlepoint belts canvases. 

gecko belt blog

Our first new creation is the Southwestern Gecko needlepoint belt canvas; inspired by a sighting in my own backyard, and from some ancient cliff dwelling drawings. We’ve added a modern southwestern color twist to this gecko who runs along the length of our needlepoint belt. These gecko’s are clever, and secretive, and famous for climbing sheer vertical surfaces, walking up a wall, or hanging from the ceiling. What’s not to love about this lizard.

frog blog

Another NeedlePaint nature inspired creation, is our Green Frog needlepoint belt canvas. Jumping across the length of this belt, who doesn’t have a vivid childhood memory of trying to catch that one elusive frog at the nearby pond or ditch. Too bad Mom, wouldn’t let you keep him! 

These belts are both colorful, both playful, both great for young and old. Available as a belt canvas you can stitch yourself, or a completely finished belt. This is the perfect sized needlepoint project to take on a vacation; it’s smaller, more manageable, and will fit into your carry-on, or in your car’s glove box.

We hope that you enjoy your summer, and embrace what nature has to offer. Even if it’s not cute and fuzzy!

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A “never seen before” visitor to my back yard . . . design inspiration!

Seven Swans Swimming and Eight Maids Milking Christmas Needlepoint

By: Peggy Bond

We’re continuing our 12 days of Christmas Needlepoint Projects!  (See other posts for all 12 projects!)

Day 7, Seven Swans a-Swimming

The swan is the last of the birds. The only fancy feathering here is on the wings.

Seven Swans o-Laying Christmas Needlepoint Kit

Seven Swans a-Laying Christmas Needlepoint Kit

Seven Swans Swimming Stitch Chart

L Wing Stitch Detail

The pink “L”s in the wing are done with two Cashmere 2×4 stitches – one worked horizontally and the other vertically. The “L”s are surrounded by brown “L”s where space permits and then the remainder of the wing is done in Continental as shown below.

 

 

 

 

Wave Stitch DetailThe main portion of the wave is the Double Parisian with the peaks done with left and right slanting Continental.

Slanted Straight Stitch NeedlepointAnd, the background Slanted Straight stitch is done over three canvas threads working right to left. It is quick and easy.

Day 8, Eight Maids a-Milking

Our Maid is done with her work and is carrying her milk home from a job well done.

Eight Maids a-Milking Christmas Needlepoint

Eight Maids a-Milking Christmas Needlepoint

Eight Maids Christmas Stitch Chart

Eight Maids Christmas Stitch Chart

Needlepoint Vest DetailHer vest and pocket of flowers require some explanation.

The center of the vest of worked in Slanted Gobelin 3×3 working left to right and right to left to form the lower points of the vest. The edges are Continental and button French knots.

 

 

 

 

Pocket Stitch DetailThe pocket is done in a manner similar to the heart of the Day 2 and the flowers are a satin stitch.

The Milanese stitch, like the Medieval Mosaic stitch, is quick and easy to do after getting it established.

Now on to Dancing Ladies and Leaping Lads…

Four Calling Birds and Three French Hens Needlepoint Guides

Stitched and written By:  Peggy Bond

Day 3, Three French Hens Needlepoint Kit

French Hen Needlepoint Kit with Stitch Chart

The French hens were just too plump to put all three on the block so we only have one, sitting fat and happy on her flowering nest. No eggs in view!

All but one of the stitches for this and the next block can be found in The Needlepoint Book by Jo Ippolito Christensen. However, some are worked in different directions than shown in the book.

The head of our lonesome hen is stitched in Continental as are her comb and beak. Her eye is a French Knot. Her breast and tail are Kennan and the wing tips are alternation rows of Slanted Gobelin 2 x 2 and Continetal worked slanted from top left to right.

Flowers are Continental with their centers done is varying numbers of French Knots to fill the canvas. The branches are Continental as well, and the leaves are done in variations of the leaf stitch.

French Hen Needlepoint Stitch Guide

French Hen Needlepoint Stitch Guide

Victoria and Albert Herringbone

V and A Herringbone

The hen’s wing is done in Victoria and Albert Herringbone, show below. It is a variation of the standard Herringbone was adapted from a Victory and Albert Museum Handbook of embroidery stitches by Sherlee Lanz.

Background is Woven Plait which is similar to and simpler than the Victoria Albert Herringbone. The Woven Plait is a quick background stitch that has texture.

 

 

 

 

Day 4, Four Calling Birds Needlepoint

Four Calling Birds Needlepoint Canvas fully Stitched

Four Calling Birds Needlepoint Kit

The Four Calling Birds block is the other symmetrically designed block.

The yellow of the birds is done in Lazy Knitting, worked left to right on the left half and right to left on the right. The same is true for the Slanted Gobelin 2×2 of the tails and the green Slanted Gobelin 2×2 of the wing. Lazy Knitting is one of the more tedious stitches, but contrasting texture to the Slanted Gobelin makes it worth the effort.

Four Calling Birds Needlepoint Guide

Four Calling Birds Needlepoint Guide

The flower is done with 4 Scotch squares on each petal. It is edged in Satin to round out each petal. The flower center can be stitched in white Continental, or yellow French Knots or maybe some beads? There are possibilities on all or the blocks to add some flare with beads and/or sequins. Flower centers and eyes are obvious choices for these types of embellishments.

The leaves are variations of the Leaf stitch and branches are vertical or horizontal Gobelin. (The traditional Gobelin is a straight stitch over 2 threads of the canvas. It can be stitched horizontally or vertically. And, as used for the birds, it can be stitch on diagonally, i.e. over 2 strands horizontally and vertically making it twice the size one of the Tent stitches – Continental, Half Cross, or Basketweave.)

The background is the Diagonal Mosaic, not to be confused with the Mosaic stitched diagonally. Unlike the background of the Two Turtle symmetrical block, this background is worked continuously across the entire block. That is not stitched in opposite directions on each half.

Coming up a break from birds…. Five Golden Rings, the most complex of the 12 blocks!

Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas in Needlepoint

Needlepaint’s 12 Days of Christmas needlepoint canvases were inspired a quilt my mother made 25 years ago. Use the 3-inch circular, 18-point ornaments to decorate a tree or the 6 x 6-inch 18-point blocks to hang as a bunting (8 x 8 inch on 14 mesh). They are an ideal size to be  done while traveling, waiting in a doctor’s office, or babysitting a sleeping grandchild.  Or, in the tradition of a quilting bee, canvases can be done by several different needle-pointers.

I stitched and finished the bunting…….

12 Days of Christmas Needlepoint Kits

12 Days of Christmas Needlepoint Kits

The blocks can be stitched with the continental stitch However, I used a variety of stitches using DMC 6-strand floss.Quick-cover stitches for the backgrounds sped up completion and others I chose to provide texture. (Stitches will be described in subsequent blogs.) Beads, sequins, and/or ribbons could also be added for textures and highlights.

Finishing and display options are numerous…  If one has a large wall space or fireplace, a 12-block bunting would be cool, but it is easier to find a place for a shorter 4-block 3 string display. Also, consider a 2-block 6-string or 3 strings of 3 blocks, 4 blocks, and 5 blocks.

In the photo above, the blocks are framed and backed with red felt, hand-stitched together with 3 strands of red DMC floss to match, and strung on a ¾-inch strip of felt. If you are not into buntings, the blocks could be used to decorate a table or sewn together for wall hanging or table runner. Each could be framed in the Mill Hill Wooden 6 x 6-inch frames which are designed for needlework and available online from several vendors, including  JoAnn or Amazon.

Detailed directions and alternatives for finishing will be addressed in a later blog.

 

A Very Needlepoint Christmas to All

Christmas and Hanukkah are almost here!  Our little workshop has shipped over a hundred belts this past week and almost as many needlepoint kits.  We hope they all arrive and bring smiles to families across the country.

We have a lot to be thankful for this year, and are looking forwards to 2017.  We’ll be offering some new services for our needlepointers and for our customers who are looking for fully stitched products.

Those of you thinking of taking up a new hobby, please check out what an art needlepoint really is.  You’re in for a treat, we have a Customer Spotlight at the bottom of this post.

Needlepoint Christmas Belt

Our first Big announcement for 2017 is that we’re now selling fully stitched custom needlepoint stocking!  We’ve sold some over the years, but finally have put a listing online in our Etsy shop.  Our designers are here to work with you, whether you’re trying to match an heirloom needlepoint stocking, or looking for an updated needlepoint design, needlepoint stockings truly are timeless.

Personalized Nutcracker Needlepoint Christmas Stocking

Our Fully Stitched Nutcracker Needlepoint Stockings in wool with velvet backing.

What better to give than a gift of personal memories!  These custom needlepoint pillows are going to a fishing lodge, but I had to sneak some pictures under the tree.

Needlepoint Fishing Pillows

Needlepoint Fishing Pillows

And those of you who made it this far are in for a treat.  Lisa, in New York just finished her second project ever.  She stitched this amazing Clara Nutcracker Stocking!  It is the same design as above (we did customize the background a bit), but you can see her talent in selecting her own colors and especially choosing fun stitches and embellishments that add even more depth and texture to the stocking.  Nice work Lisa!

Needlepoint is Fun and amazing. I hope you share these images with your friends and help inspire them to learn to needlepoint in 2017!

Fun Stitch Needlepoint Christmas Stocking

Fun Stitch Needlepoint Christmas Stocking

Christmas Needlepoint Ideas

Are you looking for that special gift that will be cherished for generations to come?

We’ve got a LOT of ideas here that are sure to not only show off your talent as a needlepointer, but that are all sure to be loved by the younger generations who often seem to be too busy to learn the art of needlepoint.

For the beginner stitcher.  We’ve recently added some great Christmas Needlepoint ideas that are smaller and simple, but for the experienced stitcher, leave plenty of space for fancy stitches to spice up.

Needlepoint Ornaments are small and quick.  Our custom needlepoint ornament listing lets you decide what to stitch!  Think of a favorite photo, pet, old home, sport, or cherished memory.

Christmas Needlepoint Ornament Ideas

Christmas Needlepoint Ornament Ideas

A Custom Needlepoint Belt will be a huge hit under the tree.  We offer custom designed needlepoint belt kits, or fully stitched needlepoint belts.

Custom Needlepoint Golf Belt

Custom Needlepoint Golf Course Belt

Needlepoint Wallets and needlepoint Flasks are both easy projects for beginners and we now offer leather finishing as optional extra.

And the my personal FAVORITE, a Custom Needlepoint Stocking!  We’re now happy to offer fully stitched and custom needlepoint stocking kits.  We’ve got dozens of designs under our Christmas Needlepoint theme that are made to be personalized, and of course we’d love to design something custom for you!

Custom Christmas Needlepoint Stockings

Custom Christmas Needlepoint Stockings

Last but not least, for the more experienced stitcher, you can Needlepoint your own Photo!  Most popular are dogs and cats.  We’ve also done hundreds of homes, landscapes, and art needlepoint projects.  These can be turned into a pillow or hung up on a wall.  We now offer Pillow Finishing and if you don’t needlepoint, even offer fully stitched custom needlepoint pillows.

***Custom needlepoint kits available with standard shipping until Dec. 12th.  Our order deadline for fully stitched products in 2016 was Nov. 1st.  But we do offer custom designed Gift Cards that show your design that is being stitched, so you would not be empty handed if you decide to give the gift of needlepoint but don’t have the time to stitch it yourself.

Also, a special thanks to Jen in VA, who stitched the two custom needlepoint projects below!  Thanks and happy holidays to all!

Custom Needlepoint House and Cats

Custom Needlepoint House and Cats

Christmas Needlepoint Order Guidelines and Customer Highlights

Happy Friday!

We’re approaching Christmas again, and I wanted to let you know our timeline this year.

Fully Stitched Needlepoint Belts, Wallets, Dog Collars, and Flask – orders must be placed by November 1st.

Fully Stitched Pillows and Stockings – we cannot finish any new projects before Christmas.

Needlepoint Kits and Canvases (stock designs) – December 12th for free shipping, and Dec 19th for an extra fee.

Hanukkah = same as Christmas this year!

All right, now that is out of the way, onto the fun stuff  🙂  If you’ve worked with us before or follow our blog, you may have noticed that I’ve been lagging behind.  Our customers have been sending me amazing pictures and I have not had time to post them online yet!  Below are two custom needlepoint projects designed from photos:

The first project comes from Chunyen in VA.  She stitched an amazing portrait that she custom designed on our website NeedlePaint.com, she did not skip any details!  Nice work!

Photo to Needlepoint Portrait

Next is a dog portrait turned into pillow by one of our customer’s mothers!  Stunning!

Dog Photo to Needlepoint