New Stitch Monday With a Twist – Week 10

My hunt has continued for stitches that I have never done and I found a really interesting stitch for the letter ‘N” on the Raymond Crawford “NEEDLEPOINT” canvas.   Years ago, I joined a club called “Building Blocks for Needlepoint” by Stitch Play Designs and as I was looking through the pamphlets, I found this stitch called Virginia’s Stitch.    I continued looking and I found the same stitch in “A Father B Sampler – Stitches for the 21^st Century”.  It was meant to be that I would do this stitch.  I used Splendor S910 (4 strands for 18 count and 6 strands for 13 count) shown pink on diagram and Entice E265 shown blue on diagram.   I did need 2 cards of the Entice.   I really liked the way the stitch turned out.  Play around with different threads and or try using 2 different colors to see the different effects that you will be able to achieve.

I hope you can add this to your new stitches for 2021.  Give it a try!

Happy Stitching – Stephanie

New Stitch Monday With a Twist – Week 9

This week’s stitch went through a lot of changes.  When I started stitching the letter “I” on the Raymond Crawford “NEEDLEPOINT’ canvas the original stitch that I was going to use was a Rice stitch variation.  As I was working on it, I really didn’t like the way it looked.  I had the base 4 by 4 Cross stitch stitched using Entice 209.   Once this was completed, I realized the stitch was beginning to look like 4-way Continental Variation which is not a new stitch to me.  A funny thing is that in the end 4-Way Continental, Alicia’s Lace Variation and the stitch I finally did do, Trellis Cross, all look very similar. Luckily, I never did Trellis Cross so I did do a stitch that was new to me.

If you like open stitches leave the letter “I” as is doing Steps 1 & 2 as shown on the stitched sample and diagram.  I found it easier to complete all of the 4 by 4 Cross stitches with E209 and then went back and added the Upright cross stitches also using E209.

To complete the stitch, add the additional Upright Crosses using 4 strands of Splendor S960 as shown blue on diagram.

I hope you can add this to your new stitches for 2021.  Give it a try!

Happy Stitching – Stephanie

New Stitch Monday With a Twist – Week 8

For the letter “O” on the Raymond Crawford “NEEDLEPOINT” canvas I did another Bargello stitch, Scallops.  It was a really easy stitch to do and to compensate.  I used Splendor S1134 for the main part of the stitch shown pink on diagram and Entice E231 for the accent stitch shown yellow on diagram. If you flip this stitch it would work for clothing and drapes.

I hope you can add this to your new stitches for 2021.  Give it a try!

Happy Stitching – Stephanie

 New Stitch Monday With a Twist – Week 6

I am at the half way point on my Raymond Crawford “NEEDLEPOINT” canvas.   I have to admit this has been a fun project and is helping me keep busy during these crazy times that we are living in.  For this week’s stitch I choose the Arrowhead stitch.  It is fairly simple and easy to compensate.   I used Splendor S850 for the main part of the stitch, shown pink on diagram and Kreinik 127 (size 12), shown yellow on diagram for the accent stitches.  If your canvas is 18 count use 4 strands of Splendor & 6 strands for 13 count canvas.  You may also want to consider using size 16 for the Kreinik depending on the coverage you are looking for.   You can use the Arrowhead stitch in small or medium areas.

Hopefully you can add this to your 21 new stitches for the 2021 Challenge.  Give it a try!

Happy Stitching – Stephanie

New Stitch Monday With a Twist – Week 5

As I continue looking for stitches that are new to me for the Raymond Crawford “NEEDLEPOINT” canvas, I found a great stitch.  For the letter “L” I did the Twisted Columns stitch.  What I did discover is this stitch would be fantastic for a larger area.  So, keeping that in mind when you are choosing stitches make sure you get the look that you are looking for in a stitch.  Some stitches look good in smaller areas while others look better in a larger area.

I did this stitch in 3 steps using Soie Cristal #5074, Neon Rays N138 & Neon Rays Plus NP138. I used 4 strands of Soie Cristal for Step 1 shown yellow on the diagram.  For Step 2 use Neon Rays N138 shown green on the diagram.  For Step 3 use Neon Rays Plus NP138 shown blue on the diagram.   The beauty of this stitch is you can choose to use 2 threads instead of 3 by using the same-colored thread for Step 2 & Step 3.   I was looking for a little glitter in this stitch.  The next time I do the Twisted Columns stitch I will most likely try it as a background.

I hope you can use this in your 21 new stitches for the 2021 Challenge. Give it a try!

Happy Stitching – Stephanie

New Stitch Monday With a Twist – Week 4

For the letter “D” I chose the Rosemary stitch.  I have to admit that I had a different stitch picked out for this but after I took it out the 4^th time I realized if I got frustrated there is a good chance that you would also. For me needlepoint is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable.  While I do like to challenge myself, I don’t want to get stressed out.

Since I already purchased the threads & ribbon, I looked for a stitched that I would be able to use all 3 threads.  I did this stitch in 3 steps.  First, I did all of the Continental stitches using 4 stands of Splendor S997, if your canvas is 13 count use 6 strands (shown dark purple).   For the 2^nd step I did all of the cross stitches using Kreinik – K2094HL (shown light blue).  For the 3^rd step I did the accent lines using Neon Rays N05 using a Chenille needle.  I did need 2 cards of N05.  I tried doing the accent lines before the cross stitch but I found I kept catching the ribbon causing it to pull.

I hope you can add this to your 21 new stitches in the 2021 Challenge.

Give it a try!

Happy Stitching – Stephanie

 New Stitch Monday With a Twist – Week 3

Continuing on my journey of learning 11 new stitches for the Raymond Crawford “Needlepoint” canvas I found a fun stitch for the second letter “E”.  The Upright Oriental stitch was just perfect.  I used 4 stands of Splendor S1074 for the main part of the stitch (shown light blue) and then added Neon Rays N116 for the accent lines (shown dark blue).

There have been discussions about how far to take your vertical stitches.  I take them right to the edge because when I don’t it looks to me as if I skipped a stitch or two.  Some stitchers don’t like a crowed look.  It your personal choice.

When using Neon Rays or and type of ribbon it is a good idea to use a laying tool to help keep it flat.  Try to use a laying tool that does not have a sharp point because it can catch on the ribbon and make a pull.  Another trick is to use a small flat iron and run the ribbon through it.  Of course I’m sure you all know where to order one from.

Another idea for this stitch would be to use an over-dyed thread for the main section and a solid thread for the accent lines.

For those of you who are participating in the 21 New Stitches for the 2021 Challenge I hope you can add this stitch and the other 2 that I wrote about over the last 3 weeks.

Give them a try!

Happy Stitching – Stephanie

New Stitch Monday – With a Twist – Week 2

I am having a lot of fun looking through all of my books for stitches I have never used.  I found some great stiches that I will use for “D” & “I” but we are only up to the yellow “E” this week on Raymond Crawford’s “Needlepoint” canvas.

I tried the Victorian Step with Oblique Cross Stitch.    For the Victorian Step I used 4 strands of Gloriana 092 (Lucky Old Sun) and Entice E-218 for the Oblique stitches.   If your canvas is 13 count you would use 6 strands of the Gloriana.   These are only my thread suggestions and can be replaced with your favorite threads.

I find it easier to set up the base line for the Victorian Step in a spot where I can get the longest line.  Once you have established that line it will be easy to follow the pattern and work the compensation stitches.  When you have completed that add the Oblique Cross Stitches.

I really liked the way the stitch look.  Give it a try!

Happy Stitching – Stephanie

I thought I would add a twist to the usual New Stitch Monday.  I purchased this Raymond Crawford canvas not really knowing what I was going to do with it.  I thought I would have it attached to a tote but I already made 3 or 4 of them and that’s not counting the other 10 or more totes I already have.   As I was looking at it, I came up with the idea to only use stitches I have never done before for each letter.  Then I decided I would put it in a Lucite tray and use it to hold the threads while I am working on one of my current projects.   Now I had a purpose.

Starting with the first letter “N” I tried the Cameo stitch.  I used 4 strands of Splendor #978 for the Double Hungarian stitches shown in orange on the diagram.  If your canvas is 13 count you would use 6 strands.  For the Elongated Cross stitches, I used Neon Rays N83 shown yellow on the diagram.  For the accent stitches I used Neon Rays Plus NP83 shown pink on the diagram.

If you have this canvas and want to work along with me, I will introduce a new stitch for the next 11 weeks.  Knowing me, I will most likely just Tent stitch the areas in between the letters.   For those interested in purchasing this canvas please contact the shop by calling (201) 612-7770 or by sending an e-mail to stitches@ridgewoodneedlepoint.com.  The canvas # is HO 2066 and it comes in 13 or 18 count.

Come along for the ride!

Happy Stitching – Stephanie