Monday, January 26, 2015

Sometimes Tent Stitch Is the Right Stitch

Rebecca Wood Canvas





When I recommend using the tent stitch (aka basketweave in needlepoint land) on a small canvas I sometimes get a negative response.  It's usually along the lines of "I asked for a stitch!"  

Of course basketweave is a stitch.  It's the first one I learned when I started doing needlepoint and I stuck with it for a long time, afraid to venture out into the vast, scary world of decorative stitches.  Looking back at 27 years of needlepoint I find that I still love many of the pieces I did entirely in basketweave.  On others I wish I had added some decorative stitches.  This is a lifelong learning process.

In my opinion every needlepointer should learn to do basketweave correctly, both to improve the look and durability of our stitching and as a foundation for the hundreds of other stitches available to us.   


I love the Rebecca Wood canvas shown in this post.  I struggled for a long time trying to figure out how to use decorative stitches.  No matter what I pictured in my head, the stitches I considered were either too busy for the design or overwhelmed important design elements like the bare trees, the deer or the moon's aura.  This is a delicate, elegant canvas.

In the end I chose to do the entire canvas in basketweave, except for cross stitches on the deer eyes.  I didn't even add beads, which I often do on Christmas canvases.  
 

Sometimes tent stitch is the right stitch.   

Friday, January 23, 2015

Stitched Canvases - Owls and Others

I have added two pages showing stitched canvases.  One is devoted completely to owls. 

Please note that most of these are personal canvases.  I do not have stitch guides for them, unless noted in the caption.  If you are interested in a stitch guide for a particular canvas pictured please email me.  I am not set up to sell anything to customers directly, however I may be able to arrange something through the shop where you bought, or intend to buy, the canvas.  


Painted Pony Owl Angel

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Fancy Stitches Needlework Shop in Cleburne, Texas

Last week on the way to an EGA chapter retreat I had the pleasure of visiting Fancy Stitches, a great needlework shop in Cleburne, Texas.  They offer needlepoint, cross stitch and gift items.  The owner Sandy and shop manager Gail were on hand to welcome us.  Here are some pictures I took in the shop.


Halloween Display

Stitched Models

Front counter showing stitched models

Threads and Gail

Threads, books and canvases

Friday, January 9, 2015

Zentangle Examples

What is Zentangle?  Here are some examples.  
For more click on the tab entitled "Zentangle."





Thursday, January 8, 2015

NeedleDeeva Christmas Stocking With Holiday House




NeedleDeeva has a large Christmas stocking that incorporates most of the Holiday House.  A stitch guide for this canvas will be available soon.


Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Welcome to Owl Stitchery

Welcome to the Owl Stitchery Blog.  I design needlepoint stitch guides for canvas designers and retail shops.  I also teach from my stitch guides and give classes on canvas embellishment at shops and guilds.  

You can contact me at owlstitchery@gmail.com  

My website is www.owlstitchery.com

My Facebook page is www.facebook.com/mwaldsmith