The Stitching/Knitting Bitches Newsletter

 

Now that school is in, it is time to start on all those holiday projects you have been putting off.

 

Needlepoint News

 

We need to have all large needlepoint items (stockings, pillows, frames, kissing balls, etc.) into the store by October 11, 2008 if you want them finished in time for Christmas.  After that date, there is no guarantee that they will be back in time.  The last send off date for ornaments is December 1st. 

 

Check our website for the new needlepoint arrivals:  www.needlepointyaya.com.

 

Check out our new fibers: 

 

Rainbow Gallery http://www.rainbowgallery.com/

 

Neon Rays +, Silk Lamé Braid.  Georgie used this on her tree skirt panels.  Yes, they are stitched and off to the finisher.  We will post a picture when it comes back.  The tree skirt is 14 mesh canvas and it did beautifully.  I did an 18 mesh canvas with the Silk Lamé Braid and I liked it a lot.

 

Access Commodities – Gilt Sylke Twist.  It is composed of a flat filament silk and fine gilt wire twisted together.  It is strong, flexible and resilient.  This thread is designed to work in many types of needlework.  I have used it on this canvas.  I liked it very much.  It is an easy fiber to work with.  It has a subtle shine.

 

 

We now carry Appleton as well as Paternayan Yarn for those of you who would like to use wool.

 

We carry Gloriana Silk Floss.  Sharon G taught her canvas “Fish Out of Water” in April.  She introduced us to this silk floss.  I don’t like a lot of silk thread, but I enjoy working with this one.  I’ve used it on a number of canvases.

 

Estaz has been re-added to our line of threads. It’s a shiny, fuzzy fiber that enhances ribbons, trees and anything else you would like to try it on.

 

Stitch of the month:

 

Medieval Mosaic works great as a background, angel wings, jackets, house, etc.  We use this stitch over and over.  This is what Georgie used on the background of her Christmas tree skirt

 

 

Knitting News

 

Yarn of the week:  Comfort by Berroco.  Here is 1 baby blanket worked up with the yarn.  We only have a few colors, but will be adding to the line in the future.

 

 

Baby by Feza:  Here is a picture of a baby blanket knitted with this thread.

Pattern of the week: 

 

This is the blanket Georgie is working on now.  It’s being done with Dreambaby DK.  The pattern is the fan pattern afghan in “Lacy Baby Afghans” by Jeanette Crews Designs.

 

Tip of the week:  Joining in yarn.  See Verna’s baby blanket (yellow) above. 

 

Joining in at the side:  It’s the best.  It works well with all types of yarn.  There are 2 methods:

 

Method 1:  Drop the old yarn, begin to knit with the new ball leaving a 6 inch tail.  The tail will be worked in later.

 

Method 2:  Join with a ½ square knot and slide it up to meet the old yarn.  Then start knitting.  This is good for slippery yarn and is the most secure.  It is good for lace or open work patterns.  This hint was gleaned from “Knitter’s Companion” by Vicky Square (Interweave Press).

 

 

What we are working on:

 

Georgie is working on LSU angel ornaments for her daughters.  At present she is working on knitting throws, a brick, a Halloween bear, a chess board and a spider bear.  Two of her daughters are pregnant and she has knitted 2 blankets, and is working on a 3rd.

 

      

 

I am working on a secret Christmas present for the Stitching Bitches (our Wednesday group).   If I show it to you, I would have to kill you.  I did a blanket for one of Georgie’s daughters and am thinking about the other.  I just finished an Elizabeth Zimmerman Surprise Baby sweater, hat and a set of baby booties ….in LSU colors.   I finished a scrap throw and am working on another to use up all those leftover yarns we accumulate. I’m working on finishing ornaments for this Christmas.  I have about ½ of them done.  We just received my Halloween ornaments on a stick back from the finisher.  I used glow-in-the-dark Kreinik for the entire design and left the background blank.  The finisher put a red lame behind the design to add a little shine.

 

   

 

 

Katy is working on a baby hat and just finished a baby blanket for charity using Sirdar Super Soft Aran. 

 

 

She really enjoyed working with this yarn.  It didn’t split or pill as she was working on it.  She is knitting a shrug Ariel in Noro’s book “Joy” using Noro’s Kureon sock yarn.  She is knitting on a prayer shawl for charity.  The pattern she is using is Plymouth Book 637, “The Gift of the Shawl:  A Collection of 8 Designs in Encore Boucle.” She is using Encore Boucle for the yarn.

 

 

Verna is crocheting a bath mat with a heavy weight cotton from the “One Skein” book.  Using Berroco Comfort, she is knitting a baby blanket.  The only main drawback is that it twists up on itself as you draw from the center.  This problem can be solved by re-balling the yarn.  She is doing a Firenze ruffled afghan kit throw.  There is one completed in the shop to see.  She is almost done with a shawl-Mulberry- from Colinette (Arboretum) using Art Yarns – Beaded Silk and Silk Rhapsody.