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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More Scary Apothecary cross stitch patterns from Hands On Designs

The last three designs in the fabulous cross stitch pattern series Scary Apothecary by Hands On Design are now available! Witty, colorful, easy to stitch and finish, this series will liven up your Halloween display. The three clever new patterns are:

• Snail Slime ("Take a slug!")
• Spider Legs ("Serving size 8")
• Skeleton Polish ("No tarnish varnish")

Details on the designs and the materials you'll need to stitch them all:

• Stitch count: each is about 3.5 inches by 5 inches stitched on 32-count linen
• The linen: Cathy, the designer, used 32-count Winter Wishes, from Fabrics By Stephanie
• Threads needed: Classic Colorworks Bean Sprout (2), Boysenberry Jam (1), Finley Gold (1), Frog Legs (2), Pumpkin Harvest (3), River Rocks (3), Shamrock (2), Sugared Violets (1), Ye Old Gold (1), Zack Black (4)
• Kreinik threads needed: one spool each of Kreinik Very Fine #4 Braid in colors 011HL, 027, 242HL, 5013, 5510, 5535, 5720, 5815, 5835
• Designed by Cathy Habermann of Hands On Design

For more information on the new designs or earlier patterns in the series, contact your favorite needlework store or Hands On Design, https://handsondesign.biz/ 

Photos of previous patterns in the series can be found here http://kreinikthread.blogspot.com/2019/02/new-cross-stitch-from-hands-on-design.html and here http://kreinikthread.blogspot.com/2019/06/start-your-halloween-stitching-now.html

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Start your Halloween stitching now

Tis the season! It may be summer outside here in the United States, but now is the time to get ready for Halloween—at least with your stitching projects. Pick up Hands On Design's new Scary Apothecary series for small, quick, fun-to-stitch-and-display projects. The designs have that clever Halloween sense of humor and a subtle sparkle thanks to Kreinik threads.

Designer Cathy Habermann just released the next three designs in the series: 

• Cackle Lozenges "Shriek well"
• Coffin Paint "After-lifetime warranty"
• Cauldron Cleaner "With enhanced spell check" 

There will be nine designs in the entire series; you can stitch one, two, four, more, less or all. Another thing we love about this series: easy finishing. Cathy has supplied instructions for how she finished them, and you can do it at home. Don't use that as an excuse to wait until October to start stitching these designs though—get the patterns, threads and fabric now. Work on one a month and you'll be on your way to having your custom Halloween decorations ready. The designs make great gift-swaps too. 

The series uses nine Kreinik colors in Very Fine #4 Braid: 011HL, 242HL, 5510, 5815, 5013, 5535, 5720, 5545, 027. Print this list and use it to shop at your favorite needlework source, or online at www.kreinik.com. 

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New cross stitch series from Hands On Design is spooky, sparkly and silly fun

She has cross stitch fans all over the world, an entertaining and fun FlossTube channel, and a positive, encouraging, glowing life attitude: Meet Cathy Habermann of Hands On Design. Next month she's introducing a new design series featuring Kreinik threads that is just to die for!

Cathy has been creating cross stitch patterns since the 1990s, but since launching Hands On Designs, she has become one of the most popular designers around the globe. Her unique style is fun, fresh, clean, a mix of modern and traditional (check out the Chalkboard series), and just plain creative. As a long-time stitcher, she knows we all want patterns that are quick to stitch and finish but also creatively satisfying. Her Year Of Celebrations patterns, for instance, offer a sweet stitched sentiment that you can rotate monthly.

The newest series from Hands On Design company is the Scary Apothecary series, featuring Kreinik metallic threads. Classy and elegant, they have a humorous twist. They're spooky, sparkly and silly—just what we all need right now. "Scary Apothecary was inspired by spooky apothecary labels," Cathy says, "but with a Hands On Design twist of a vintage color palette, a touch of Kreinik sparkle, and some wicked Halloween humor." Cathy is introducing the first three designs in this series at the Nashville Needlework Market in March 2019, a wholesale trade show. Ask your favorite needlework store to pick up copies for you: "Bat Balm," "Bitter Brew," and "Broom Stick Fuel."

For more information on Cathy's designs, visit her website. She is also on Facebook and Instagram.

All photos courtesy of Hands On Design

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How to stitch a night sky

It's almost time for Halloween; are you busy stitching Halloween projects? October 31 has become the second most popular stitching holiday after Christmas, meaning there are designs galore out there to help you decorate in style. The best part is that it gives you a good reason to use fibers with special effects. Yes, this is the Glow-In-The-Dark Holiday. Have fun with it.

Do your Halloween project have a night sky?

Here's an idea for customizing some of the night scenes in cross stitch, embroidery or needlepoint designs: add Kreinik glow-in-the-dark thread to add spooky yet fun effects Watch the video above as we demonstrate on a fabulous Pepperberry Designs needlepoint canvas.

Glow-in-the-dark threads are fun all year, but they're must-haves for Halloween stitching. Make eyes glow (cat eyes, bats, jack o'lanterns, etc), use it to write subliminal messages in areas, outline spider webs, and more. Kreinik off-white color 052F Grapefruit in particular blends perfectly into moons, stars, clouds, and ghosts. Look for Kreinik colors that have an "F" in the color number, which represents fluorescent or glow-in-the-dark colors. 

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