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Posts tagged ‘custom needlepoint canvases’

Photo Needlepoint Vs “NeedlePainting”

Turning a Photo into a Needlepoint Canvas is not as simple as is seams. Which which is why we are always looking for new ideas to create the best needlepoint canvases.

Recently we had an issue with one of our customers, because the image on the canvas turned out to be much blurrier than the original. Since the person was a very experienced needlepointer, and they wanted to pick their own colors, we decided to try a direct photo transfer. This process looks a lot better, but it does not directly follow the mesh. They loved it!

Unfortunately, I don’t have the images of those exact canvases to compare with, but I did talk to some more stitchers and decide that in some cases a direct photo transfer would be better. I experimented and took some pictures so you can see the clarity difference.

Left is Direct Transfer on the Right is NeedlePaint

You can see how the direct transfer is crisper (which is the one the customer picked), But to be clear, we do not recommend this unless you are experienced, and only if your image is not coming out clearly on NeedlePaint.com

The reason we think the website’s “NeedlePainting” version is better, is that it groups similar colors for you, and it matches real floss colors to your canvas. The end result is that even if you are experience and like to do the colors and grouping yourself, the final stitched canvas will come out almost identical. With our counted stitch guides and color aids, we believe the NeedlePaint versions will come out stitched better. And if you are having troubles with letters, just email us after you place the order, and we will fix them.

But, as mentioned, on some projects the direct transfer can make a big difference, so if you have any issues when placing an order, please use this image and description as reference to help make your decision. We will also still include a counted stitch guide, color aid, and color chart for your reference, even though it won’t match identically, it may still help!

And, as always, feel free to email or call me to discuss.

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How to NeedlePoint, Needlepoint

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‘Tis the Season for Needlepoint Christmas Ornaments

Christmas is still 4 months away, but it is never too early to begin that special needlepoint gift – a personalized needlepoint Christmas ornament. My new design was inspired by metallic threads and a shimmering gold fabric I saw at JoAnn’s.

The needlepoint canvas section is a 2.5 x 10 inch band to done in a variety of stiches selected from one of my favorite reference books, Jo Ippolito Christensen’s The Needlepoint Book.

Red ornament – horizontal brick stitch
Green ornament – diagonal plait stitch
Yellow ornament – slanted Gobelin variation
Light blue ornament – vertical beaty
Pink ornament – Parisian stripe with 2 shades of pink
Orange ornament – Byzantine stitch
Dark blue ornament – pavilion diamonds
Background – reversed mosaic
Lettering and ornament tops – continental stitch

The finished canvas is sewn onto a 6 x 11 inch piece of fabric. (Layout is shown below.) Trim the canvas, leaving a ½ inch edge and fold under as shown below. I got carried away with trim and used a 1/8- inch gold ribbon. (If you don’t use a narrow ribbon for trim, the canvas should be bound as described in my blog on Needlepoint Napkin Rings.)

Sew narrow hem at bottom of the fabric and place trim at top. (Optionally the top can be finished with a narrow hem.) With right sides together sew the 6-inch edges of the ornament together along the end of the worked needlepoint. Trim seam to ¼ inch and turn.

Gather the bottom tightly to close and stuff the ornament with a polyester fill or other light weight filler.

Gather top, attach a hanger, and a bow at the bottom. Your Christmas ornament is ready to hang for 2011 and for many more holiday seasons to come!

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How to NeedlePoint, NeedlePaint Inspiration, Needlepoint

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Needlepoint Napkin Rings – For the Eco-Conscious

I have to admit that I am addicted to cloth napkins. It is so bad that when we travel I take my own cloth napkins to our vacation rentals. This winter as usual my husband and I rented a house on the beach in Molokai, Hawaii, and we had several couples visiting. I got tired of trying to remember whose napkin was whose. It was time for custom needlepoint napkin rings with a Hawaiian theme.

Each ring measures 1.5 X 6.0 inches and I placed them on the needlepoint canvases an inch apart. I used 16 different traditional Hawaiian quilt blocks in bold primary colors. Each ring measures 1.5 X 6.0 inches and I placed them on the canvas an inch apart. I used 16 different traditional Hawaiian quilt blocks in bold primary colors. The background is a rusty-orange, probably influenced by the red soils of Molokai.

After I finished needlepointing the canvas, I cut the rings apart and did loop stitch over the 2 stitches on each edge as shown here. I used the background color along the length of each ring and a different color for the edges — that was so all my guest had to remember was the edge color of their ring in order to claim the correct napkin at each meal. If your canvas needs block, I recommend that you block it before cutting the rings apart. After edging the length, I found that I needed to reblock them again.

I lined each ring with 1 1/2-in gross grain ribbon which I purchased from JoAnn’s,

I slip-stitched the lining together to form the ring and then using the appropriate color overcast the edges. Voila! My contribution to the ecosystem — no more paper napkins and everyone can remember their color so I save on water by not having to wash napkins so often. These would make a great needlepoint Christmas, wedding, or house warming gift.

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How to NeedlePoint, NeedlePaint Inspiration, Needlepoint

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NeedlePoint Custom Stitch Guide

Finally! All NeedlePaint.com orders will now ship with custom stitch guides.

Trying to needlepoint a photo or custom needlepoint canvases can be very tricky. Especially since many colors in shading of faces or shadows are very similar. These similar colors on a canvas often are hard to distinguish. But, when the embroidery floss is laid out and the project is underway, these shades are key to making a stunning work of needle art!

Most custom needlepoint kit makers don’t have the ability to go into the amount of detail that NeedlePaint.com allows when using photos. When discussing with needlepoint shop owners who sell handpainted canvases, they have reviewed our product and agreed that NeedlePaint.com offers a better and more real looking product than most handpainters are able to produce.

To help our customers tell the colors apart, we have been working on a counted stitch guide that shows the exact location for every stitch and color. When this is combined with our color stitch aid and the printed canvas, it allows a needlepointer to quickly and easily figure out exactly where each color goes.

Needlepoint Stitch Guide, Color Aid, Canvas, Color Chart

Our new stitch guides are counted in rows of 10, and each symbol is referenced in our color chart which displays the color and number of the floss to be used.

Our color stitch aid is also organized in rows of 10, so cross referencing the color aid is very helpful when looking at the image on the canvas. Our customers have been very happy with this new addition!

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At the Wedding – The Ring Bearer Pillow

One of our March Posts was Seth’s ring bearers pillow. I was out of town and he was going to take on the needlepointing himself. Well, running Needlepaint and wedding plans got the better of him and I returned in time to get it done.

A Custom Needlepoint Ring Bearer Pillow

I stitched most of the needlepoint canvas with the continental stitch, and added a braided stitch to make the knot stand out and a tied stitch for the inner light blue boarder. It was fun!

With the stitching completed, I headed to the local fabric store for pillow backing, polyester filling, piping, and ties for the rings. Since the wedding was to be on the beach in Cape Cod. I opted a navy backing and piping. For a more formal indoor wedding I would probably have picked a white brocade or satin. I also spent a lot of time decided on what to use for the ring ties. I was sorely tempted to get metallic cord, but it was rough and easily unraveled. The this white polyester braid worked wonderfully and looked great. It was easy to untie lest the Best Man find himself entangled in unraveling, scratchy thread.

E-how has a good tutorial for how to finish your pillow. OR ADD FINISHING SERVICE……… PLEASE CONTACT US ABOUT OUR CUSTOM NEEDLEPOINT PILLOW PRICES.

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How to NeedlePoint, NeedlePaint Inspiration, Needlepoint, Pillows

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Needlepoint a Dog Collar for Man’s Best Friend

Looking for a small needlepoint project, consider making a dog collar. The needlepointing itself went quickly on a 1 in. x 17.5 inch, 18-point needlepoint canvas and your choice of colors will allow you to match your dog’s personality.

After needlepointing the canvas, I blocked it, trimmed the excess canvas leaving a ½ in. border, folded back the canvas, steamed it in place, and finished the edges with a binding or edge stitch. There are several binding techniques. The quickest is a loop stitch worked over the last completed row of needlepoint and the adjacent vacant row. But, the most elegant is the braided binding stitch shown in this video:Binding Stitch Video

The Neeplepoint kits come with thread and matching canvas. Email us if you would like a Clip and D ring shown in the images. Position the finished collar in the center of the polyester strap. There should be 6 inches on each side of the collar. Sew in collar in place. Insert the left end of the strap into the side of the buckle with a single bar. Adjust so that the finished needlepoint is snug with the face of the buckle. Sew through all thicknesses as close to the buckle as possible. Side the D-ring onto the collar and position approximately 2 inches from where the collar is attached to the buckle. Sew through all thickness on each side of the D-ring.

The other side of the buckle can be adjustable when threaded as shown below. Optionally it can also be sewn making the collar a fixed size.

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Horse Needlepoint Canvases

Needlepaint Picture of the Week

Last week, we made a really beautiful custom horse needlepoint canvas.  
The horse is really beautiful, and I'm looking forward to seeing it finished!

A Custom Horse Needlepoint Canvas

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Tiger Needlepoint Canvases and Needlepoint Kits

I was inspired by an order for a tiger needlepoint canvas a few months ago. It was such an amazing photo that I had to put something together for the rest of the needlepointing world! The customer is busy finishing their project, and will email us photo’s when it is done 🙂

Tiger Needlepoint Canvas 8 x 6 inches on 18 mesh canvas

You can buy this canvas at our ETSY needlepoint shop.

More animal needlepoint canvases are at our shop, but check out the Leopard!

Leopard Needlepoint Canvas 10 x 7.5 inches on 18 mesh canvas

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Custom Needlepont Dog Collar

We’ve been thinking of what other projects are great for custom needlepoint, and realized that the answer is laying at our feet!

A custom needlepoint dog collar can be beautiful and make a great gift for your furry friends.

Peggy is currently working on a project for her son who asked for a ‘tough looking’ collar for his male dog, Jack.

I worked on designing this and created a simple design that looks great! And is very tough 🙂

1.25" x 17" Needlepoint Design for Jack

Now, look again, and see how ‘tough’ becomes girly when I change the colors!

1.25" x 17" Custom Pink Needlepoint Design for a Dog Collar

This project is just underway, we hope to have lots of designs and complete needlepoint dog collar kits on our Etsy needlepoint shop soon. All designs are customizable, please contact us if you would like us to design your dog’s needlepoint collar!

Some ideas worth considering: Stitch in a phone number, extra wide collars

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