Know more, grow more, create more

Here is a simple-but-strong New Year's Resolution for stitchers and makers that will change your life and is totally do-able: Know more, grow more, create more. Strive to learn about something new every week, no matter how big or small—a new stitch, historical tidbit, helpful tool.

To kick off this New Year's Resolution and keep you learning all year, we present "The ABCs of Kreinik" — a look at Kreinik-related items or ideas you can use to improve your stitching, knowledge, experience, and creative process. It's a fresh way to expand the fiber art techniques we all know and love. Let's get started.

A is for Acid-Free Tissue Paper

If you've seen our posts on the Kreinik Facebook page, www.MrXstitch.com, Twitter, and our blog, you realize how important this subject is: Safe Storage. Textiles are valuable: you (or a loved one) spent time making something, you want it to last, you don't want it to be damaged. So be aware of how you store your finished or unfinished projects. The safest way is to use Acid-Free Tissue Paper.

• WHAT: Used by conservationists, this paper is neutral and free from acid products
• WHY: Chemicals in plastic bags, normal tissue paper, even old pillow cases can transfer to textiles and cause them to become discolored, brittle or tarnished
• WHERE TO USE: Ideal for textiles including cotton, wool, silk, linen, real metal threads, quilts, embroidery. Also safe for jewelry, photos and other heirlooms
• WHERE TO GET SOME: Kreinik Acid-Free Tissue Paper comes packaged in 6 or 12 or 100 (20" x 30") sheets. Available through needlework stores or http://www.kreinik.com/shops/Acid-Free-Tissue-Paper/