A Heart for Independence (in Needlepoint)

I've been digging in the old boxes again, and found this piece - made a number of years ago for a shop here as a practice piece for using beads and textured stitches.

As I remember, the inspiration for the design was a little enameled pin I saw in a catalog. It looks lopsided only because it has been wadded up under a pile of other things for at least 8 years. Oh dear.

















I had not finished the stars yet, but decided to show it this way so as to make the method simpler to understand. Stars, at best, are not easy in needlepoint, and I wanted the effect of the misshapen and irregular look anyway - so worked this out for the stitching.

I used YLI Ribbon Floss because it is perfectly flat (and shiny) so it easily cover the canvas. The background stitching needs to be done first, (I used #5 pearl cotton in a bright navy) right up to the edge of the drawing of the stars. Then it's a simple matter to just "draw" with needle and ribbon floss as we did as children, the five pointed star. Follow the diagrams, and just continue making the star "motion" until the area is covered. You can see one in progress where the black line ends.

To draw your own, simply start with the counted outline as described on previous posts. This piece is 5" x 5" on 18 mesh canvas, so you will need to center it on an 8" square of mono-canvas.

The second scan of the drawing on canvas is the actual size, so you can simply trace the stars onto your drawing. (It might be easier if you first outline them with black ink so they show up better through the canvas.)

The red stripes are 9 stitches wide, and the white ones are 7. You can see the correct placement of the dots for the beads, which also make the Hungarian criss-cross stitch easier to do in this narrow space.

The little bracelet is outlined with Kreinik metallic gold 002 #12 braid, and the bump stitch "silver beads" are made with Kreinik metallic silver #12 braid.




The red stripes are worked with a stitch I thoroughly enjoy using, but have no idea what the name is or where I found it - I've been using it for many years, and something shiny could be inserted instead of beads if you wish. I'm showing it in two colors simply to illustrate the construction. This post is a bit of a mess - I have no idea where all that blank space at the bottom came from or how to get rid of it.

Oh well - Enjoy!! I was thinking earlier, that the stripes might be worked in bargello instead of with these stitches.

A Wonderful Bargello blog

I just found a blog this morning that I was unaware of - this is a great one, and can answer a lot of questions I see from people who are unfamiliar with Bargello.

I've not "invented" anything new for Freebies just yet, as I've been busy elsewhere - so do go look at this and be entertained and enlightened!! It's called Bargello Needlepoint.

Ornament Instructions

It took me quite a while to figure out what I did on this thing - where to begin, etc. It seems, after some careful study, that the best way is to start on the inner part of the border, in order to place it well on the canvas and leave space for tracing the holly - or whatever else you might want to put there.

I'm showing the picture again, but with arrows showing the importance of being careful of placement of lines when tracing - so as to leave those small spaces OPEN when stitching. It's very simple once you've formed the habit, and will make stitching so much easier for you.

As I said in the previous post, the canvas has little sparkles already built in - but you could easily just do an open canvas stitch with blending filament to imitate it - or even paint on a very thin, watered down layer of Liquitex "Liqui-gems" which is what some designers use to make snow sparkle on painted canvases. (this is T-shirt paint from the craft store).

The ornament is app. 5 3/4" from point to point, and then I added a little bit when I folded it under, as I thought it looked better with a border. Your canvas needs to be cut in a 9" square.

Stitch the inner border, at least, following the scan of the canvas and the chart - and then trace the drawing carefully on to the canvas (place it under the canvas square) centered. I sized the tracing so it should fit as it is when you print it out.

For stitching, I used YLI Ribbon floss in Honey/Copper instead of using metallic gold, as I like the effect better for this than metallic gold.
The berries are "bump" stitches (different sizes) with something red and sparkling - I did this one a number of years ago, so can't really tell what it is. Perhaps Flair. The leaves are done with two shades of green Flair - but cotton floss or the new DMC Satin Floss would work beautifully.

My idea of "counted canvas" is to count the stitches onto the canvas with a pen, so as not to have to think or count while stitching. You can see there are 14 little pointed things on the inner border - easy.


On the chart, you can see the gold stitches marked - do these first, and then add the beads. I placed the red and green ones end to end rather than side by side as I usually do, as this makes them appear to be a string of beads. I used my favorite Sundance beads in the hexagonal cut for extra sparkle.

The blue circles indicate the gold beads.

This is an easy project to do - make several, and enjoy!

A New/Old Ornament

Not being too logical tonight. I had planned to put the instructions for this ornament here today, but got caught up in finishing my March "Crazy for Birthdays" Heart. It makes a pretty header - but the ornament is for Christmas. Oh well. Spring is a good time to start!

Anyway - I'll do this tomorrow. The canvas prompted the piece about 8 years ago (another one I found in the box), as it's one of those that has the little sparkle speckles in it - so the background doesn't have to be stitched. A really pretty effect, it is. There is also an ivory one with gold flecks.

This is a simple one, and good for practicing your new drawing skills - as well as a little bit of beading.

Chapter II: The Canvas Painted

Two of the canvases are painted, and a third one begun - go see on the other blog!

My challenge on this one will be retaining the "look" of the watercolor, a process I thoroughly enjoy.

A Canvas Drawing tutorial

This is just an alert to send you to the other blog (Possibilities, etc.) to see an in depth canvas preparation tutorial I've started - with children's art, as that is a simple thing for learning and practice.

This one begins with the actual preparing of the original art, tracing to size, and drawing it onto canvas.

New Napkin Ring Charts

Now the napkin ring charts! My good friend and co-conspirator Pat Miller suggested that these could also be made longer - about 7" for a cuff bracelet, and a bit longer for a bangle - and make wearable jewelry. When I have time, I'll also see if I can make little earrings to match like I did with the beaded cuff bracelets last year on the other blog.

This first scan is the "set up" for the napkin ring (or bracelet). As I determined it should be approximately 1 1/2" high, I marked 27 threads, and then marked the center of the 27, which is the 14th thread. Also folded the canvas to find the vertical center and marked it at the top. By doing this, I was assured that the "jewels" would come out even - or stop at the same place on each end. A tiny bit of juggling a few threads doesn't hurt, as it doesn't have to be exact. Sometimes I just get lucky and it happens anyway. Also, I always mark two threads at top and bottom for the "edge" stitch, which is long armed cross stitch. It makes a lovely binding, and rolls over easily to make the finishing neater. (See the patchwork post for this edge stitch)

I decided to show the marked canvases lengthwise, as the resolution could be made larger so you can see what's going on when you print them out. i.e. easier to see and to count. The first scan is of the April jewel - the diamonds.

The second is the January garnets, and the third is the "string of pearls" for June. I hope soon to have time to stitch these things, but can't seem to do it in double time as I wish. (like the old Charlie Chaplin movies, where everything moved very fast.)

As for stitching, I always outline the jewels first - that is, stitch the gold mountings. (or silver if you prefer). The "jewels" may be made with beads or with bump stitches and sparkly thread. I love using the Renaissance Shimmer for pearls. The little "picot" edging I put on two of them may be done with a single bead or just left plain and background color inserted.

You may use your own ideas for color on these - and even change the jewels. I try to draw them the most typical cuts for the particular stones - except the garnets, which I always "see" as antique lavoliers, etc. I'm already seeing "Emeralds."