Book review: pattern couching and Or Nue with Sue Dulle

Couching is a surface embellishment technique in which one thread is laid on top of the ground fabric and secured with another thread. Sounds boring from the description, doesn't it? Well, think about this for a moment: since you aren't stitching in and out with the thread, you are able to use all weights of thread, all kinds of fibers, just about anything as the laid thread. It can be laid straight, freeform, or in patterns. Make the couching thread a matching or contrasting color, tacking either with a straight stitch, decorative stitch or even beads, and you start to get the idea: there are unlimited variations and techniques that can be used in couching.

Exploring the creative world of pattern couching is the focus of Sue Dulle's new book, Celtic Origins. Two designs are offered to help you practice couching, experiment with variations, and bring this beautiful technique to colorful life. The projects feature Kreinik threads for sparkle and contrast in the couching patterns. The heavier Kreinik threads— 1/16" Ribbon, Medium #16 Braid, and Heavy #32 Braid — are perfect for this type of embroidery. The two designs are almost like stitch notebooks suitable for framing. 

"The choice of designs will allow stitchers to choose a design they are comfortable stitching," Sue says. "The Celtic Knot is designed to be worked on congress cloth, the Shamrock design is stitched on 18-count mono canvas. Both will allow beginning stitcher as well as advanced stitchers to study pattern couching in a logical order." The center of each design is Or Nue while the two border areas are pattern couching designs. You may  have heard of Or Nue; it is a form of couching using solid laid fillings. It's a beautiful technique that is gaining popularity right now, thanks in part to teachers like Sue creating new Or Nue patterns.

This book begins with a glossary of couching terms, so you know the language right away and begin your lesson with small steps. There are wonderfully clear and detailed charts, which is ideal when you are learning a technique through a book. This is as close as it can be to having the talented teacher Sue standing right next to you as you learn. Charts are in black and white and in color. Stitch diagrams are detailed as well. Sue also includes blank graph paper pages for the stitcher who would like to create their own creative pattern designs. She knows that once you start exploring pattern couching, you will run wild with ideas.

As a side note: Sue's models of the two designs in the book were entered in the 2013 Woodlawn Plantation Needlework Exhibit in Alexandria, Virginia, and were awarded third place ribbon (Celtic Knot) and honorable mention ribbon (Shamrock). 

Ordering info:

The book can be ordered directly from Sue, $40.00 with either check or PayPal. Shop inquires are welcome.

Sue Dulle
SD Designs
Kansas City, MO

Blog: http://sudukc.wordpress.com/
Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sudukc

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O Canada! Or, What Doug Kreinik Did On His Summer Vacation—and you know it involved textiles...

Nova Scotia is a wonderful place. For this year's summer holiday, my wife, Myla, and I traveled to this Canadian Province for the second time to seek out moose and whale. We found no moose, but saw a squirrel and lots of whales. If you've never experienced it, let me tell you: It is very exciting being in the Bay of Fundy smelling whale breath. 

I stopped to see my good friends from Dragon Dreams designs, Jennifer Aikman Smith and her husband Nick (see http://www.dragondreams.ca). We talked about the industry, her new designs and the way the design market has changed.  She dropped us off at the only counted needlework shop east of Mississauga located in Moncton, Because You Count (you can find this fabulous shop on Facebook).  Her store is filled with everything counted, from cross stitch to needlepoint and embroidery.  Shelly told me that while I was in Nova Scotia, I had to visit rug hookers—apparently this is a very popular craft in this part of Canada. I love any type of fiber art and the whole handmade process, so we set out to visit some rug hookers.

Rug hooking was made popular early on in history.  It was the ultimate in Reuse, Recycle and Reposition. Canvas from grain sacks were used as the base material and cut-up fabric or leftover yarns were used to make the design. (This technique seems like a perfect place to use Kreinik Bag O'Bits, which is leftover metallic thread).

First stop was in Amherst, at the studio and store of Deanna Fitzpatrick, http://www.hookingrugs.com/.  She has a dye studio selling her custom-dyed yarns, a work studio, and classrooms. She is well-known internationally for her books and DVDs on rug hooking. Here, I saw very artsy rug hooking.  She uses all colors of yarn to accomplish very large and beautiful tapestries.

After Halifax, a wonderfully historical city, we went down to Peggy’s Cove, which is very picturesque but fairly touristy. Next, we headed to Mahon Bay where we found two other rug hooking artisans who used fabric instead of yarn. The first was Spruce Top (http://www.sprucetoprughookingstudio.com), and here you can learn the art of rug hooking, purchase finished rugs and take braided rug classes.  Carol, the owner, showed us a slitting tool capable of making 1/16” widths out of any fabric or even leather. The second spot was Encompassing Designs (http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/).  Christine creates charts and sells her own kits, has an exceptional selection of felt in shaded colors, and she has created many new types of tools for rug hooking.

In Lunenburg, we met with Laurie Swim, http://www.artquiltpublishing.com/ author of “Rags to Riches-Quilt as Art.”   Laurie took us through her gallery and studio as we talked about her work and philosophy behind making quilting into art. At the time of our visit, she was working on a large tapestry from a photograph.  Later, we traveled to her hometown down the coast, got out of the car and saw the exact same landscape scene along the beach that she used in her latest quilt. The experience was remarkable.

 

We stopped into a number of yarn shops, including Hand’s on Crafts in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and Cricket Cove in St. George, New Brunswick.  We concluded that Canadians like to spend their cold winters with a needle in hand, and they seem to enjoy all types of hand crafting.

And yes, we did see two humpback whales.

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New Wired Facets™

Kreinik's bead-like thread just got better: Facets™ are now available in a wired version. Popular for replicating the look of beads on needlepoint, cross stitch, crazy quilting and art quilts — without having the mess of beads — this metallic thread adds a unique texture and interest to surface work. It can look whimsical and beady in certain designs, or resemble a Bullion, Frieze, or Jaceron real metal thread in more classical design themes. 

Four colors are now available in the new Wired Facets™ version: gold, silver, black and pearl. The wire makes couching more controllable, and give you more creative options. You can create words, shapes, figures, and motifs which will stay in shape as you tack them to your design. Couch using a matching color of Kreinik Cord or Blending Filament, or try a contrasting color for more visual interest. You can also couch Facets™ with Kreinik Silk Bella™ for a beautiful metallic-and-silk design.

"Wait till you see what I am doing with the Facets," said needlepoint designer Jill Rigoli in an email to Kreinik recently, "It really makes the piece." In the photo on this page, Jill gives us a sneak peek at gold Kreinik Facets couched in the Danji Designs painted canvas needlepoint (http://www.danjidesigns.com). She plunged the end to the back of her work, securing with tacking stitches, then couched the Facets™ along the gold painted area in the design. This is just a glimpse at the embellishment possibilities for this unique thread. You can use it in any embroidery, quilting, or needlework project.

Five Facts about Facets™

1. Looks like beads.
2. Couch it on the surface, rather than stitch in and out of your fabric/canvas.
3. Basic version comes in two sizes: Facets™ and Petite Facets™ (half size) in primary colors.
4. Now there's a wired version, Wired Facets™, available in gold, silver, pearl and black.
5. Hand or machine washable (cool water, on gentle), and dry cleanable.

Just imagine how wonderful it is to get the look of beads in a project without the mess of beads rolling all over your work. No need to stop stitching and string bead after bead; simply couch Kreinik Facets™ or Wired Facets™. Ask your local needlework store for these fun threads, or visit www.kreinik.com for more information.

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New Kreinik Twist™

Kreinik's new metallic carry-along fiber is the world's softest sparkle. Add this 3-ply yarn to your crochet and knitting projects to make any design more interesting. Take a look at our before and after photo; just the simple addition of the metallic makes your base yarn more vibrant, with more texture, giving a touch of light and a spark of "special." It elevates projects like a shawl, scarf, hat, or sweater from drab to beautiful. And the best quality about the new Kreinik Twist™? You get the added "spice" without adding weight or scratchiness.

Available in the prettiest range of introductory colors, the lightweight metallic is hand and machine washable, and dry cleanable. Our designers found that it works best with lace-, sock-, or light-weight yarns, but feel free to experiment with it using any yarn in your stash. Even an ugly yarn can be transformed with a little metallic. 

Made in West Virginia, the new Kreinik Twist comes on 250-meter cones. It is available in Silver, Gold, Black, Chartreuse (Lime), Teal, Berry (Purple/Pink), Brown, and Red/Orange. Don't let the plain color names fool you; these are gorgeous shades that coordinate with every yarn. On the cone they look vibrant and bold, but when used as a carry-along, they add color without being glaring or glitzy, offering subtle effects. If you think metallics aren't for you because they are too blingy, this is the metallic to try now. You will be amazed at the softness and quiet elegance it adds. We're not just saying that; we've knitted and crocheted with it and amazed ourselves. This is a fun new yarn that will do wonders for your designs. The next time you are stitching a project and think "Something's missing…" this could be the solution.

The new Kreinik Twist™ debuted at the TNNA Columbus needle arts trade show June 22-24, 2013. Look for it in stores soon, or from you favorite online thread resources. You can also find it at http://www.kreinik.com/shops/Twist.html. 

The specs:

• Name: Kreinik Twist
• Description:  Soft, lightweight, decorative, metallic, carry-along thread for adding visual interest to projects
• Fiber Content: 65% polyester 35% rayon
• Yarn Weight: Lace weight, Carrying weight, 3-ply
• Use with: Lace-, sock-, or light-weight yarn
Knitting Gauge: Carrying weight (use the weight of the lace/sock weight yarn to make gauge calculations)
• Needle size: Refer to the lace/sock weight yarn to determine size
• Hook size: Refer to the lace/sock weight yarn to determine size
• Yards: 250-meter cone
• Put Up: cone
• Colors: Silver, Gold, Black, Chartreuse (Lime), Teal, Berry (Purple/Pink), Brown, and Red/Orange.
• Care: Hand and machine washable, dry cleanable. Tumble dry on low or hang to dry.
• Video:  Click here to see our Twist Video

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“Can a cross stitcher do this?”

New designs using Kreinik threads are frequently posted on our Facebook page, eliciting "oohs" and "aahs" along with "Where can I buy that pattern?" One needleworker raised a common question when she wrote, "Can a cross stitcher do this?" in response to a gorgeous Frosty Friends charted needlepoint design by Ann Strite Kurz. We asked Ann for a teacher's point of view to answer the question, "Can a cross stitcher do counted canvaswork?"

First, let's differentiate counted canvaswork from painted (or printed) canvaswork. A glance at Wikipedia notes that "Needlepoint is a form of counted thread embroidery in which yarn is stitched through a stiff open weave canvas…"

• "In hand-painted canvas, the design is painted on the canvas by the designer or painted to their specifications by an employee or contractor."
• "Printed canvas is when the design is printed by silk screening or computer onto the needlepoint canvas."
• "Charted canvas designs are available in book or leaflet form…Charted Canvas designs are typically printed in two ways: either in grid form with each thread intersection being represented with a symbol that shows what color is meant to be stitched on that intersection, or as a line drawing where the stitcher is to trace the design onto his canvas and then fill in those areas with colors listed."

In very basic terms, counted canvaswork is needlepoint done from a chart, and painted canvas is needlepoint with the image already on the canvas. Charted designs are less expensive than painted canvas, so for many people, it is an economical way to experiment with needlepoint. 

Since counted canvaswork is based on a chart, you can already see that cross stitchers would be comfortable with the format. "Some of my best [charted needlepoint] students started in cross stitch," Ann tells us, "and they have much more patience with some of the precision in my work than canvas fans who prefer the freedom of painted canvases.  The reason is that they are fluent at reading charts so they adapt well to doing texture stitches other than crosses on a grid."

Texture stitches? Now we are getting into what really separates charted needlepoint from charted cross stitch: there are many more stitches and threads used to create the stunning visual effects of charted canvaswork. "Another part of the education," Ann notes, "is learning to use a lot of today's novelty threads, but this is also part of the fun since so many special effects can be achieved with them." Charted designs can be intimidating to some because they have so many stitches and look complicated, but good charts come with detailed stitch diagrams, numbered so you can follow the sequence. You are still following a chart, still counting out rows, counting up and down, but you have added a greater variety of fibers and stitches. That is what makes the finished project so fun and exciting. If you ever made a string art design in elementary school, you know what we mean: the lines are harmonic, the colors are rich, the layers are dimensional. It's just fun to create this kind of fiber art.

If you are a cross stitcher falling in love with a counted canvaswork pattern, don't be afraid. The answer is: Yes You Can Do It. It's something different, a new way to use stitches and threads, to create embroidered pictures, and to express your creativity. Find a teacher at your local needlework store, online classroom, or through a needlework guild. Visit the Ann Strite Kurz section on www.needleartworks.com to see both her simple and her complex designs. Ann also teaches at ANG and EGA meetings in the US, so check their web sites for schedules.

Side note: Cross stitch is basically fabric embellishment technique, as stitches are created on fabrics. Needlepoint is a fabric creation technique, as stitches and threads work with an open canvas to actually create a fabric. Most often, we keep the two categories separate (technically, economically, culturally). Estelle Kreinik, however, was very fond of reminding people that the cross stitch is often used in needlepoint. Both techniques, in fact, share common threads.

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Pretty paillettes add real-metal elegance

Paillettes, or little round discs of real silver or gold, have been ornamenting clothing and fabric for centuries. You see them on costumes and gowns in museums, on haute couture garments today, and probably in the needlework projects of your stitcher friends. They are often used in silk-and-metal needlepoint projects and counted thread designs. Just Cross Stitch magazine is currently featuring them in their 30th Anniversary sampler project. As a real-metal decoration, paillettes add a level of elegance to a design, plus unique texture, a little shimmer to catch the light, and "something different" to capture attention. As needleworkers and creative people, we love details, and paillettes are about as uniquely-detailed as you can get.

A paillette is a French word that is pronounced "pie yet." Kreinik sells these real-metal spangles in gold and silver, in several sizes. Here is a page with photos and details, plus a ruler-comparison to show sizes: http://www.kreinik.com/shops/Paillettes/

Paillettes are surface embroidery embellishments, sewn onto a design using just about any thread, but the most common is silk thread. Attach one by bringing your needle up through the fabric next to the paillette (note: select a needle that will pass easily through the hole), then down through the center hole. Usually three stitches in a "Y" formation are enough to keep the paillette in place. You can top off a paillette with a bead for added dimension, or make a decorative stitch over the spangle. Apply them in clusters or singly as needed to achieve a desired effect in a design. They make beautiful embellishments for borders and backgrounds. You can even use them to replicate "realistic" texture such as fish scales. 

Kreinik's paillettes are ecclesiastical grade, which means the real metals have been processed with an additional tarnish-proof coating which extends the length of time it will remain bright. If used on a garment, go to a dry cleaner with experience in treating heirloom clothing or costumes. 

Take a look at the photos here for inspiration on where you can use paillettes in your next project. Whether you are making a wedding dress, embellishing costumes for your local theatre group, creating jewelry, or doing needlepoint, cross stitch, counted thread, stumpwork, surface embroidery, or Brazilian embroidery, you can use these real-metal decorations just as our needlework-ancestors did: to add the most elegant spangle you've ever seen.

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The quickest way to find a Kreinik color

"What color is 102?"

"Does color 421 come in Very Fine #4 Braid?"

"What shade is 2829 Seafoam?"

These questions and more answered!

The newly redesigned Kreinik website features one of the best and most useful tools for stitchers on the internet*: a Kreinik Metallic Thread Color Finder. Put a Kreinik color number in the text box and within one second you see the color swatch and know which thread sizes are available in that specific shade. 

"I need this more than you can imagine. Wonderful idea," said one needlework designer. From Facebook: "Terrific reference" and "Great help!!! Thanks…got it bookmarked!." We have been working on this tool for some time, so we are delighted that it is useful to stitchers, shops, designers, and makers. If you haven't visited the page yet, check it out: www.kreinik.com/color_selector/ 

Here's a quick tutorial on how it works:

1. Enter a color number in the text box, such as 421, 002 or 102. Search by "All Columns" for the broadest search or click on the blue arrow box to select a search by "Color Number."

a. You will see all of the thread sizes available in that color. 

b. You can sort this group by clicking on any of the column headers (the words in green boxes, such as Product, MSRP/price, etc) 

2. You can also enter a color name, such as Silver. Search by "All Columns" or click on the blue arrow box to select a search by "Color Name."

3. You can also search by color family, which is a more generic search. For example, you can search for all of the red colors, or all of the metallic colors that contain black. 

a. You will see all of the Kreinik colors containing that particular hue. 

b. Since this list will include many pages of options, you may want to organize the list by Product (thread size/weight). For instance, if you want to know all of the gold shades available in Tapestry #12 Braid, search All Columns or Color Family for "gold" (in the text box), then click on the green header "Product." Scroll through the pages to see the Tapestry #12 Braid selection.

Definitions of the Color Finder columns:

• ITEM NUMBER: The Kreinik SKU number.
• PRODUCT: The thread size/weight. Only Kreinik metallic threads are in the database.
• COLOR NUMBER: This is the color number found on the spool label, on needlework charts, and in patterns.
• COLOR NAME: The official Kreinik name for each color.
• COLOR FAMILY: Indicates the base hue.
• THREAD TYPE: The only thread type currently available is metallic. (Side note: we are working on creating a Color Finder for our silk threads.)
• SHADING ORDER: The numbers were really designed to be an internal reference system, but they also indicate a color's spot in a particular shade group.
• ADD THREAD TO CART: You can buy directly from this Color Finder chart.
• MSRP: The suggested retail price.
• COLOR SWATCH: Digital scan of an actual spool or swatch of thread.

The Kreinik Color Finder is a massive file of data, so if you come across a glitch:

1. Click "Reload Page" on your web browser to see if that fixes the problem.

2. Click "reset" on the right side of the Color Finder.

3. Or email us (info@kreinik.com) to report a problem.

Bookmark the Kreinik Color Finder page for quick access on your computer, laptop, tablet, or phone: http://www.kreinik.com/color_selector/ The search for Kreinik colors just got easier!

* We quote Janet Perry's description of the color selector tool from her recent review: http://www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com/kreinik-color-selector/

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