Time for a name change

What's in a name? A lot, actually. Our identities, first impressions, definitions, and often lasting judgements come with names. Some people wait until a baby is born to give the child a name that fits the budding personality. Names are actually rather important. That is why we are changing the name of...a Kreinik color.

4011V Adventure Green is now 4011V Vintage Viridian

Sure it sounds super trendy, like a character in a Star Wars movie or a superhero flick—or a Pokemon city. However, the reason for the change is simply to identify it with its color family: the Vintage line (hence the "V" in the color number). We really don't know what we were thinking when we named this antiqued, soft-hued, innocent version of chartreuse "Adventure Green" when it is obviously a more refined and elegant Vintage personality. After much research and discussion, we felt Viridian reflected it's true nature, being an old-world, medium green, a timeless spring that spans centuries.

As a metallic, this beauty has a muted finish, an antiqued look, almost a luminescence that's beautiful in designs. This color comes in Kreinik Blending Filament, Braids and Ribbons. We have updated our website to reflect the new name, but older color cards still list it as Adventure Green.

Who knows, maybe Viridian will become a popular baby name for 2019...

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Crochet a cutie with the most fabulous hair

Yes, she woke up like this: looking fabulous! This crochet cutie was created by Jessie Rayot (from @Jessie_AtHome on Twitter) using Kreinik Bag O'Bits for the hair.

"Blue Belle is a sweet doll for the sweet little one in your life," writes Jessie. "She got her name from her color and her bell shaped body." The pattern was created as part of the 2018 CAL Central Softie crochet-a-long. The free patterns in the series are designed for you to make as gifts or donate to charity. They certainly bring a smile to faces—and the metallic hair just makes the smiles brighter.

To make your own

• Free Blue Belle softie pattern from Jessie At Home: https://jessieathome.com/blue-belle/
• Kreinik Bag O'Bits: http://www.kreinik.com/shops/Metallic-Bag-O-Bits-Small.html
• CAL Central Softie crochet along details: http://undergroundcrafter.com/blog/2018/04/01/cal-central-softie-cal/

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Transform primitive pretties into string art stunners

We found this sweet “Love Brings You Home” owl themed decor at a local TJ Maxx store. The creation, from Primitives By Kathy, featured a string art heart with muted pale pink floss. We knew instantly it was the perfect candidate for a Kreinik thread makeover. Hearts are wild, hearts are alive, hearts are vibrant and chaotic and beautiful. Layering a glow in the dark and a metallic thread will bring this one to artistic, textile life. Here’s how:

Materials used:

• Primitives By Kathy string art owl design from TJ Maxx
• scissors
• Kreinik Tapestry #12 Braid in color 055F Watermelon (glow-in-the-dark thread)
• Kreinik Fine #8 Braid in color 024 Fuchsia (metallic thread)

Instructions:

1. Purchase a string art design from a craft store, home goods store, or antique store
2. With the scissors, remove the plain yarn currently wrapped around the nails that are in place on the design.
3. Start wrapping with the glow-in-the-dark Watermelon pink color first. Tie one end around a nail, then start “stringing” it, wrapping it around the other nails at diagonals, or as desired. When finished with that thread, tie the end in a knot around a nail. With your finger, push the thread down the shaft of the nail slightly to give you room for the next thread.
4. Use the other thread, the metallic Fuchsia Braid in the same manner, on top of the glow-in-the-dark pink thread.

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Open your creative minds for a new needlework challenge

What would you stitch if you were given freedom to stitch something absurd, comedic, and over the top. No mores or stitching norms to hold you back, just free expression? Could you? It would be a great exercise in creativity and expression, though, right? And we'd love to see what you would create. Here's your chance...

Kreinik is excited to be a co-sponsor of the latest creative challenge from the San Francisco School of Needlework & Design (SNAD). These exciting design challenges are open to everyone from all over the world. The school sends the materials and stitchers create designs based on a theme. These aren't contests, just exercises to expand your creativity and encourage you to try new things. Read on for details about the newest challenge from SNAD.

Announcing the next SNAD stitching challenge: BURLESQUE!

reprinted from SNAD newsletter

Burlesque, noun: An absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something, especially in a literary or dramatic work; a parody

Kreinik, maker of sparkly, metallic threads, inspired this theme and they have graciously donated threads for all of you to use on your Challenge pieces. This stitch-at-home challenge is intended to pull out the whimsical, the subversive, and the exaggerated parts of ourselves and our world. Throughout time, people have been responding to experiences that bump up against their sensibilities, that provoke a feeling of ridiculousness, frustration, or celebration. How do we reframe, exaggerate, or explode these feelings? Where do we find outrageous joy? Just like these Kreinik threads, we create contrast and we react boldly.

Contemporary and historical precedents are varied, fascinating, and provocative. We hope you'll look through this inspiration page here for ideas and entertain us. Let's have a ball!

For full rules, deadlines, and entry form, see the SNAD document here.

Side note: this challenge is created, maintained, and carried out through the San Francisco School of Needlework & Design, not Kreinik. All questions and submissions should go through the school. They can be reached via http://www.sfneedleworkanddesign.org/

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