Your chance to see Kreinik in person in 2020

Here is our tentative 2020 show and class schedule. More events and dates will be announced, so check back often. We hope to see you in person and share our passion for gorgeous, colorful, fun fibers! 

• JANUARY 10: Doug Kreinik Threads Talk in Richmond, VA
• JANUARY 11-12: Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival, Doswell VA
• FEBRUARY 15: Doug Kreinik Threads Talk at Stitch Stash Rehoboth Beach
• FEBRUARY 22: Doug Kreinik Threads Talk at Hillside Needlepoint in Maryland
• FEBRUARY 23: Doug Kreinik Threads Talk at Stitch Middleburg in Virginia
• MARCH 6-8: Nashville Needlework Market trade show  
• MARCH 20-23: Orlando Needlepoint Market trade show
• APRIL 16-19: Chicago Miniature Show
• APRIL 29: Doug Kreinik Threads Talk at The Needlepointer in Everett, WA
• MAY 16: Doug Kreinik Threads Talk at The Village Sampler in St. Albans, WV
• JUNE 27-JULY 5: closed for summer break
• SEPTEMBER: Destination Dallas needlepoint trade show
• OCTOBER 1-3: Kreinik Factory Outlet Store Tent Sale
• OCTOBER 5-10: Fly fishing trade show in Denver
• OCTOBER 21: Doug Kreinik Thread Talk at Needlepoint Clubhouse, Kirkwood, MO
• DECEMBER 24: Closed for holiday break (dec 24-Jan 3)

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Kreinik's 2019 holiday hours

The Kreinik factory, outlet and offices will be closed December 22, 2019 through January 1, 2020 so that our staff can spend the holidays with their family and friends. No threads will be made or shipped during that time. We recommend stocking up now so you won't run short on your favorite fibers. 

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Top 3 embroidery scissors to give a stitcher this Christmas

Looking for a Christmas present for a stitcher? Pick any of these Italian scissors and they will be ecstatic! Each available in standard or serrated blades (which are good for cutting metallics).

X305 Premax® red handle 3.5" embroidery scissor. (ABOVE) This gorgeous color is only part of the quality here; the 'soft-touch' coating makes them non-slip.

X302CS Premax® 3 3/4" Curved Embroidery Scissors. (ABOVE) The red "eye" is part of the patented ring-lock system which means they will never loosen. Curved blades mean you can get closer to your stitching area, even when your work is in a hoop or frame.

X370LS Premax® 3 1/2" Left Hand Embroidery Scissors. (ABOVE) Every leftie needs a pair of scissors made just for them.

There are so many good scissors in the Premax® line, all made in Italy. Look for tiny embroidery scissors to fit in your travel case, large finger-hole scissors, double curved scissors (great for machine sewing), and more. Ask your favorite needlework shop for these terrific gifts, or visit http://www.kreinik.com/shops/Premax-R-Scissors/

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New Kreinik Celadon color

We are so excited to introduce our new metallic color 5730 Celadon. This color was created by a group of designers who wanted a soft sage green to match popular needlepoint painted canvases. Of course, it's not just for needlepoint. Use it in cross stitch, embroidery, fiber art, mixed media, anywhere!

The new color comes in these Kreinik sizes:

• Very Fine #4 Braid
• Fine #8 Braid
• Tapestry #12 Braid
• Medium #16 Braid
• 1/16" Ribbon

Choose the Kreinik thread size  based on what technique you're doing, what stitches you're doing, what fabric or canvas size you're working on, etc. For more educational info on Kreinik threads, visit http://www.kreinik.com/shops/Metallic-Thread-c-497/

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New Kreinik metallic ribbon colors

Kreinik 1/16" 'Ribbon now comes in more colors! This thread is popular for needlepoint, embroidery, crazy quilting, and other fiber arts. The new colors are:

• 016L Olive Moss
• 9591 Buttercup
• 9592 Peony
• 9593 Wisteria
• 9594 Bluebonnet

These colors also come in our Braid sizes. Check your favorite needlework store or www.kreinik.com to order.

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Make 2020 your year of beauty and inspiration with this calendar

The 2020 Crazy Quilt Calendar is now available, and it's an easy way to grace your refrigerator, craft room, or office space with beautiful needlework. 

Popular cross stitch designer Pam Kellogg is a long-time crazy quilter as well. She owns and publishes Crazy Quilt Quarterly Magazine which is devoted entirely to the art of contemporary crazy quilting and textile art. It's published four times a year and to go along with that, she publishes a yearly Crazy Quilt Calendar. "Although the calendar isn't cross stitch," Pam says, "it's a beautiful publication perfect for anyone who enjoys any type of needlework or quilting." We agree! It also makes a lovely Christmas present for any quilter or needleworker in your life. 

Pam has designed free cross stitch patterns for Kreinik over the years, and often uses our sparkly threads in her crazy quilt designs featured on her blog. Metallics have long been used in both needlework techniques to offer light, texture, dimension...to make a design more visually appealing and interesting. The 2020 calendar features Kreinik in several of the designs. Take a close look at the photos and be inspired to try different threads and stitches to liven up your own embroidery designs.

A quick interview with this inspiring designer

Q: Did you use any Kreinik threads in the projects?

A: Yes, I adore Kreinik threads!  The large roses on the cover design is done in Broiderie Purse. It's outlined entirely in Kreinik #8 Braid using the chain stitch. Some of the other designs include #4 or #8 Braids as well.

Q: Which Kreinik threads are your favorites for crazy quilting?

A: My favorites are #4 and #8 Braids but I also enjoy using the ribbons.  And I always use Blending Filament for spider webs. They're fine and delicate like a real spider web and give a hint of sparkle. They make the web look like there's dew on it!

Q: How did you get into crazy quilting?

A: I started in 2000 when a friend of mine sent me a magazine that featured some contemporary crazy quilt blocks. I was so taken with it and immediately saw how I could include some cross stitch and charted work into crazy quilt pieces. I had no idea what I was doing when I started. But as with anything, the more I did it, the more it all made sense to me. I was never good at "free handing" my fancy stitches so I started using waste canvas and my own charted borders to create my seam treatments. This gave me perfectly spaced stitches every time! I've put 3 books together on using waste canvas for seam treatments.

What I enjoy most about crazy quilting is the freedom to use every needlework technique that I know how to do! There are no limits and since I have an affinity for anything sparkly and glittery, it's the perfect canvas for Kreinik metallic threads and lots of beads, sequins, vintage jewelry pieces and anything else I can sew on!

Q: How can people purchase the 2020 Crazy Quilt Calendar?

A:  http://www.magcloud.com/user/kitty-and-me  and in my Etsy store: http://www.kittyandme.etsy.com/

Q:. How can people purchase your cross stitch designs?

 A: My cross stitch designs are available in many needlework retail stores as well as at the above links. Both professionally printed pattern leaflets as well as Instant Digtial PDF Download files.

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Visiting The Black Sheep needlework shop in Florida

Heading south for winter? Make this needlework store in Orlando, Florida, your home away from home. 

Wow! Check out the Kreinik thread selection at the fabulous needlework store The Black Sheep in Orlando, Florida. While carrying mostly needlepoint patterns, their thread and yarn selection is for all techniques: cross stitch, embroidery, Temari, Swedish Weaving, knitting, crochet, everything. 

Watch the video to meet the owner and find out why it's called The Black Sheep (can we relate?!). Sounds like creativity runs wild at this fun shop. 

Visit the shop's website for address and other information: http://www.theblacksheepshop.com/

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Doug Kreinik's famous Thread Talk is coming to Colorado in October

Learn everything you need to know about Kreinik threads direct from the maker himself when he comes to A Stitching Shop in Denver this October. Entertaining stories, fiber knowledge, and hundreds of actual samples/models will get you excited about your own creativity and projects. 

The details:

• Sunday, October 20, 2019 at 1 PM – 4 PM MDT
• At A Stitching Shop, 4444 Morrison Road, Denver, Colorado 80219
• Get cost info and reserve your spot by contacting A Stitching Shop, (303) 727-8500

This is a fabulous needlework store serving Colorado residents and more (they ship!). Owner Christine Hause carries a huge Kreinik thread selection (look at all of those boxes of Kreinik threads!) and will order cones or other special put-ups. Be sure to visit when you are passing through Denver, visiting friends or family in the area, or just moving to town. And hope to see you in thread class!

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How Kreinik and Elvis are connected

Doug Kreinik is full of interesting information. On a recent trip to Cleveland, Ohio, for a needlework trade show, he revealed a pretty cool Kreinik connection to Elvis Presley.

In the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, an area is dedicated to singer/actor/icon Presley. The artifacts on display include a motorcycle, his guitars, and various items of clothing. As Doug and Kreinik Creative Director Dena Lenham stepped up to this leather jacket in the Elvis exhibit, Doug read the description. "Oh, Nudie Cohn. Nudie was a customer of my parents' when the company started," Doug casually mentioned.

Nudie, Nudie Cohn...the famed tailor-to-the-stars who also created Elvis' gold lame suit, was a customer of Jerry and Estelle Kreinik's little Kreinik Manufacturing Company! Both Jerry and Estelle were professionally involved in textiles—and Estelle was a professor of couturier design—before starting the thread company, so they were well versed in clothiers' embellishment needs. Since 1972, Kreinik threads have been worn in all kinds of places by all kinds of people. Today, the company still sells threads to top fashion houses in New York as well as costume production companies.

Elvis passed away in 1977, so he probably didn't wear any Kreinik threads (although we don't know for sure). We like to think he would have loved the sparkle.

For more on Nudie Cohn, visit the official website, run by his granddaughter: http://www.nudiesrodeotailor.com/

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Fuzzy metallic fibers add more fun to Halloween designs

Halloween is the fun holiday, isn't it? Oh we love the traditions of Christmas with all of its classics in tv shows, movies, songs, clothing, cards, food and such. But Halloween is a free-for-all, a no-stress, let-your-hair-down holiday. And, it has become the second biggest stitching holiday in the needlework world. This year, let your Halloween projects reflect some of that spooktacular silliness by adding fun fibers and wacky stitches. Why not?!

We recommend adding some of ThreadWorx' fuzzy fiber, which is actually Kreinik's Micro Ice Chenille, just artisan dyed by this California company. We're spotlighting the Halloween colors here, but they have many other colors for just about any design, mood, holiday, or theme. 

Micro Ice Chenille is a fuzzy metallic thread that you could on the surface of your design. So whether you are needlepointing, cross stitching, doing embroidery or crazy quilting, you can use this fun fiber. Lay it on top of your design or your stitching and tack down in the desired position with a matching color of cotton floss, silk thread, Kreinik #4 Braid, or even a clear monofilament thread. Plunge the ends to the back of your work and hide or secure under other stitches. 

Where would you use a fuzzy metallic? Anywhere! Think bugs, bats, cats, goblins, witches...anywhere. The point is fun. 

For more information:

• on Kreinik Micro Ice Chenille visit the Kreinik website or needlework stores
• on ThreadWorx artisan dyed Chenille visit the ThreadWorx website or needlework stores
• Chenille tip sheet on the Kreinik site

The colors shown in our photos:

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