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The Needlework Nutshell—August 1, 2006 Volume 2, Issue 8 August 1, 2006 <*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*> THE NEEDLEWORK NUTSHELL Needlework news, musings, tips, contests, and what’s happening now at FUNK & WEBER DESIGNS <*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*> Editor: Jen Funk Weber Mail to: mailto:mail@funkandweber.com Web site: http://www.funkandweber.com Your privacy is important to us. Our subscriber list is NOT made available to others. *********************************************************** IN THIS ISSUE *********************************************************** 1. Needlework Musings 2. Tips and Tricks 3. What’s New at Funk & Weber Designs 4. Make It Yours! 5. Readers Ask 6. Puzzle Contest 7. Contact/Subscribe/Unsubscribe *********************************************************** 1. NEEDLEWORK MUSINGS *********************************************************** Remember when we first started hearing that knitting was “hip” and “trendy”? We discovered that Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz, and Sarah Jessica Parker knit, manufacturers developed fun and funky yarns, *Knitty Gritty* became a hit on TV, and suddenly knitting scarves was way-cool. That didn’t just happen; people made it happen, primarily yarn marketing people. On the one hand, I think trends are ridiculous. I mean, some of us have been knitting for years, and *always* making cool stuff. What or who suddenly decides it’s “hip”? And why are so many people willing to believe it? That’s the kicker, if you ask me. Can we really call something ancient Egyptians and my grandmother did “trendy”? But on the other hand, I really, really, REALLY want to see the same thing happen with embroidery. I want to see Jennifer Aniston and Hilary Duff stitch. Heck, I’ll teach them! And how much do you think I’d love it if suddenly Everyone were stitching…say…our bracelets? Well, I happen to think the bracelets are way-yonder cooler than those eyelash scarves. Yeah, yeah—big surprise. So here I am, waving my magic wand (or my teaspoon): IT IS HIP TO EMBROIDER! EMBROIDERY IS TRENDY! There. Did it work? I’m not deluded. Yarn folks invested a lot of time and $$$ getting knitting on the trendy map. Here I am preaching to the choir in my itty bitty private church. But there’s something to be said for grass-roots movements, too, perhaps the biggest being I can afford it. So how do we make embroidery the new “in” thing? Besides getting Reese Witherspoon to stitch and wear a Funk & Weber Designs bracelet in her next movie. I think there are things we can all do to shed some limelight on needlework. 1 – Be seen stitching in public. If you don’t have small, take-it-with-you projects, start some. Keep them in grab-and-go bags ready for the next PTA meeting or softball game. When others see you stitch, they’ll be interested. Let them know how to get started. 2 – Display your work in public. Is all your needlework framed and on the wall? Make a keychain or a tag for your purse. Embroider your clothes. 3 – Give the gift of embroidery. We all make gifts of our needlework (hooray for us!), but how about giving gifts of fabrics, patterns, books, frames, or classes? How about coupons for a 1-on-1 class with *you* redeemable at the recipient’s convenience? 4 – Make it relevant. Instead of stitching an eyeglass case, how about an iPod holder? Instead of a scissor fob, how about a cell phone fob? Why should we care if needlework is hip and trendy? Well, that would make *us* hip and trendy! That’s like having a superpower! And if that isn’t reason enough, go back to the musing in the March newsletter and recall some of the reasons we stitch. The benefits of needlework outweigh the benefits of reality TV and other currently trendy pursuits. And if you’re hooked on reality TV, well, you can multi-task and listen to it while you stitch. Come on—not everybody’s doing it, but they should be. *********************************************************** 2. TIPS AND TRICKS *********************************************************** I’ve gotten several e-mails this summer from stitchers asking for instructions on stitching over 2. Let’s see if I can answer them. Stitching over 2 is how we generally stitch on linen and evenweave fabrics, as opposed to Aida fabrics. You can use either fabric with most projects, so if you prefer one over the other, substitute that fabric when the other is called for. A 14-ct aida is the same size as 28-ct linen, stitched over 2 threads (28 threads divided by 2 threads, since every stitch uses 2 threads, equals 14 stitches per inch). Aida fabric has visible squares made of several interwoven fibers. Each cross stitch goes over a single square. Linens, evenweaves, and plainweaves do not have squares, but rather just the warp (vertical) and weft (horizontal) fibers. On these fabrics, the crosses generally go over two threads horizontally and vertically. Why? Because stitching over 1 results in itty-bitty stitches, and because these itty-bitty stitches have a tendency to slip and disappear between warp and weft fibers unless stitched in a manner that deliberately prevents it. That’s why interlock canvas is made. The intersections of the warp and weft fibers are locked so stitches can’t slip between them. It is possible to stitch over 1 thread on linens and evenweaves, but that’s another discussion. What do you say we talk about that next month? To stitch "over 2," bring your needle up through the fabric, then count over 2 threads and up 2 threads, and sink your needle back down for the first leg of your cross stitch. That’s it! All stitches are up or down 2 threads and left or right 2 threads. I find that once I get one stitch down, the others follow more easily. I don’t actually *count* to 2 with every stitch, but rather come to see the fibers in groups of 2. Here are some visuals to demonstrate: http://www.funkandweber.com/fw/over_2.html If you’re under the impression that stitching over 2 is hard, I encourage you to try it before drawing your own conclusion. Personally, I don’t think it’s harder than stitching on Aida; it’s just a little different. When teaching new stitchers, I don’t choose one method over the other. I let the stitcher choose fabric and teach whichever method is required. One possible advantage of stitching over 2 is that fractional stitches are a bit easier; we don’t have to punch through the fabric as on aida. Beyond that, it’s all about personal preference. *********************************************************** 3. WHAT’S NEW AT FUNK & WEBER *********************************************************** It’s August. That means it’s time for the Alaska State Fair. I used to enter our new designs, but when I became Superintendent of Handwork and Needlework, I stopped. Our department accepts knitting, crochet, and embroidery entries, judges them, displays them, and returns them. It’s a big job, but it’s introduced me to like-minded crafters and local guilds, and for that I am forever grateful. After the last newsletter, I heard from Kunni, who wanted to use the complimentary pattern for demonstrations at her county fair. Huzzah, Kunni! I’m thrilled to have our pattern used for such a purpose, and I look forward to hearing how it goes. County and state fairs are wonderful places to exhibit, teach, or volunteer. Check out one near you. ~~~~~~~~~~ NEW PATTERNS are finally up! TAGS FOR BAGS, CLIPS FOR ZIPS: THE BEACH. Beach motifs for tags, key chains, zipper pulls, magnets, and more. Complete instructions for making the tags, from start to finish. These are great grab-and-go projects for public stitching. COMPOSITE CROSS STITCH BRACELETS. Now easier to resize for a perfect fit. Another great grab-and-go project. NIGHT LIGHTS. Bright city lights illuminate this new black-and-white Stitchling. If you ask me what city it is, I’ll say, “Mike-alopolis.” I asked Mike to design a nighttime cityscape and this is what I got. Right now, it’s my favorite in the series—which is strange since I am *not* a city person. See them all at: http://www.funkandweber.com/fw/index.html ~~~~~~~~~~ Registration is now open for our September 19-24 BRACELET BASICS & BEYOND online class. Now that the kids are back in school, treat yourself to something just for you! Visit our web site for details and to register. ~~~~~~~~~~ Remember those 2 activity books I hadn’t yet received contracts for last month? Well, the contracts are signed and—you won’t believe this—the manuscripts are *done*! No kidding. The initial deadline was August 4th. I could have asked for more time, but not a month more, and since my father visits the first 2 weeks of August, it seemed wise to meet the first deadline. What an adventure! I would not have thought it possible, but now I know better. True, I did nothing but work on that project for the past 3 weeks, and even dreamt about it when I slept, but it was SO MUCH FUN! I miss it already. There will be loose ends to tie up, but the real fun is over. The wait to see them on store shelves is less than a year, but let’s be honest: that’s a long time. *********************************************************** 4. MAKE IT YOURS! *********************************************************** You’ve got to see this! Ellen (from Tampa Bay, FL, I believe) stitched DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? to welcome a friend’s baby. She redesigned the bottom illusion to spell the baby’s name. Brilliant! Cheers to Ellen! http://www.funkandweber.com/fw/make_it_yours_ellen.html Have you adapted a pattern to Make It Yours? Tell us about it! mail@funkandweber.com *********************************************************** 5. READERS ASK *********************************************************** Please e-mail me with questions for this section. mail@funkandweber.com Bev asked if I had retired the MAKE IT YOURS section. Nope. It will come and go as reader response dictates. ~~~~~~~~~~ Linda asked what my favorite Alaskan animal is and why. In truth, it’s probably whatever animal is most accommodating at the moment. Having a marten follow me around or come into the cabin to inspect makes the marten a favorite for a time. However, overall I guess I’d say moose are my favorites. Why? Because their size astonishes me every time I get close enough to really discern it; because most of the time they are fairly mellow and tolerant; because they are rather goofy looking with those gigantic droopy noses, floppy dewlaps, and long skinny legs; and because they are the large mammal we see most. I saw two this week while walking to the mailbox. One was a youngish bull with small velvet antlers, the other was a young cow, not yet filled out and looking especially silly with supremely long, gangly legs supporting a shapeless sausage body. She looked like a 6-year-old’s drawing of a moose! What’s not to love? *********************************************************** 6. PUZZLE CONTEST *********************************************************** Play with me! Solve this puzzle, and be entered to win a free Funk & Weber Designs pattern! Winners will be randomly selected from all correct entries. E-mail your answer, with “PUZZLE CONTEST” in the subject line. The deadline for this month’s puzzle is midnight (Alaska time, of course) August 7, 2006. The winner will be selected on August 8, 2006, notified by e-mail (I’m bound to be late again; Dad’s coming for a visit and we’ll be out and about), and announced on our web site and in the next NEEDLEWORK NUTSHELL. To avoid sending e-mail attachments, contest puzzles will be uploaded to our web site. I will provide a link to the puzzle only in THE NEEDLEWORK NUTSHELL. To the puzzle! http://www.funkandweber.com/fw/nutshell/joke.pdf ~~~~~~~~~~ JULY PUZZLE CONTEST WINNER: Mandy from Brea, CA. Answer: Rice and Roll Ripple and Wave Eyelet and Seed Fly and Spider web Blanket and Couch Holbein and Overcast Belgian Cross and Waffle Double Cross and Leviathan *********************************************************** 7. CONTACT FUNK & WEBER DESIGNS *********************************************************** SUBSCRIBE: 57410-subscribe@zinester.com UNSUBSCRIBE: 57410-unsubscribe@zinester.com ARCHIVES: http://archives.zinester.com/57410 Jen Funk Weber mail@funkandweber.com http://www.funkandweber.com Copyright 2006, Funk & Weber Designs |
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