NASA just launched a rocket to the moon. Yale University found a new star, the bouncing baby Herbig-Haro 46/47. "Star
Trek Into Darkness" came out on Blu-ray this week while we await the
new Star Wars movie. Jane Lynch just got her star on the Hollywood Walk
of Fame, and the new cast has been named to the next Dancing With The
Stars. Stars are everywhere, and they will never go out of style in
needlework, crafts, and life. So this week's blog shows you five ways to
make your stitched stars sparkle like the real things.
Look
into the night sky. It isn't matte, all-one-color, or boring. Some stars
shimmer, some are brighter than others, far away, or nearby. The night
sky has depth, variations of light, shading, and excitement. Your
stitched night sky should be the same. There is no reason to have a
boring night scene when metallic threads are available. Kreinik
metallics are designed to be easy (no need to ply, just use it straight
off the spool), soft (most are polyester blends), and versatile (use
them in many different stitches, on many types of fabrics). The color
range is such that you can even do shading among, for instance, silver
metallic colors: a darker silver like 025 Gray will make a star look
farther away, an 001 Silver would be mid-range, while a brighter 001HL
Silver Hi Lustre star would appear closer. There is so much fun you can
have with metallic threads in your stars—dare we say it,
"the sky's the limit."
Stare
at a bright star for a moment, and it will twinkle, maybe alternating
blue and white. Sometimes we think our eyes are deceiving us when it
comes to the colors of stars. While there are scientific explanations,
it's also part of the magic of star-gazing. Holographic threads are
perfect for replicating this twinkling effect because they are
iridescent threads with flecks of different colors built right in.
Kreinik's line includes Braids, Ribbons, and Blending Filament, so
choose the size according to the fabric you are using (see #3 below).
The best star colors include 001L Solar Silver and 002L Chromo Gold. You
can use Kreinik holographic threads in any stitch (cross stitch, tent,
eyelets, etc). No need to separate plies or combine strands, just use it
straight off the spool, as it comes (easy!).
You or
your children may have had them: glow-in-the-dark star and planet
stickers on your ceiling. Anything glow-in-the-dark is fun; the little
surprise when lights go out is just about as delightful as it gets. So
one of the easiest ways to make your stitched stars light up is to use a
glow-in-the-dark thread. Kreinik offers several colors, but 052F
Grapefruit or 054F Lemon-Lime are the most popular for star colors.
Choose the Kreinik Braid size depending on your ground fabric. For
instance, use Fine #8 Braid or Tapestry #12 Braid on 18-mesh needlepoint
canvas, or Heavy #32 Braid on 10-mesh canvas. For cross stitching,
choose Blending Filament for the most subtle effect, Very Fine #4 Braid
on 16-count or 18-count (or over two on linens), and Fine #8 Braid on
14-count.
A
wired thread will really make your star stand out. Kreinik's version is a
metallic thread with a wire in it, making it shimmer and glisten.
Glow-in-the-dark colors are even available in the Wired Braid™ line. In our
sample, we tent-stitched the background first, formed a similar color of
Kreinik Wired Braid™ into the star shape, then tacked it on top. The result
is a layered, 3-D effect. This technique would be fun for stitching
shooting stars that look like they are flying right off your fabric (or
making fireworks in other night-sky-themed designs).
We
came out with this Reflective Yarn for the knitting and crochet market,
as a way to add reflective quality to hats, scarves, dog sweaters,
gloves, etc. However, you can stitch with it too. Although it looks like
a plain, matte gray sewing thread, it is made up of tiny glass beads
which reflect light. Use it just like you would a Kreinik Braid,
straight off the spool. It works in cross stitch, eyelets, and many
"star-like" stitches. This is a fun thread to use on ornaments, because
when a camera flashes (you know how we all take photos in front of the
Christmas tree), the stitched stars will shine.
Read more...
A
full day of inspiring craftiness and savvy business talk is coming to
town this month, via the Cleveland Craft Connection. We know some of the
people involved in organizing this to-do, and they are sharp; we
wouldn't hesitate for a second to attend the event, where you can learn
both craft techniques and business tips. All the info is below. Oh, and
Doug Kreinik will be there, doing a thread demo and serving on the
business panel. This is a great opportunity to revel in creativity and
come away with valuable knowledge.
Cleveland,
OH—Cleveland Craft Connection, Cleveland’s exclusive DIY craft
gathering, where creative meets business™, is set to launch an annual
event on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at smARTspace at 78th Street in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood from 8:30 am – 6:30 pm.
The day is for like-minded, creative crafters to gather and partake in
hands-on sessions, such as knitting, fondant décor and felting, listen
to an inspirational luncheon keynote, learn how to launch a creative
business or take one’s business to the next level and much more.
.JPG)
