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The Needlework Nutshell—June 1, 2007 Volume 3, Issue 6 June 1, 2007 <*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*> 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 and Brilliant Ideas 3. What’s New at Funk & Weber Designs 4. Readers Ask 5. Puzzle Contest 6. Contact/Subscribe/Unsubscribe *********************************************************** 1. NEEDLEWORK MUSINGS *********************************************************** I hate to rush. Except for spontaneous fun activities, I don’t like to do things at the last minute. It stresses me out. But here I am: with just a few days before the TNNA NeedleArts Market, I’m scrambling to put together a display and handouts for classes I’m teaching. It’s not a result of procrastination; I’ve been plugging away, typing in the car in spite of a motion sickness, getting up early. It’s just life and my chronic “sign me up” disease. As usual, I’m vowing to do better next time and not put myself in this position. I’m determined to work ahead. Is there anyone out there who doesn’t know this feeling? Is there anyone who hasn’t promised himself or herself the same thing? So let’s do it. Graduation gift? Forget it! I’m thinking Christmas. Really. I could make the holiday cards I’ve been vowing for years to make. Or maybe I’ll get started on ornaments for the nephews and niece. Years ago I pieced fabric scraps into squares to make crazy-quilted ornaments. Those squares still await the fun hand stitching. I could dig those out when I get home. How good would it feel in November to have handmade ornaments finished? I don’t have a clue, but I think I’d like to find out. What do you say? Shall we start holiday projects? Want to make a commitment? Email your name and project to me and I’ll post a list in the July issue of The Needlework Nutshell. In November, email again to let us know if you met the challenge. I’ll post the successful stitchers in the December issue. Huh? How about it? Are you game? As for work, after I get through this week, I’m starting work on a fall event: the first Needle and ThREAD contest. I admit that’s not working very far ahead, but it’s farther ahead than *this week*! And while I’m at it, I’ll start thinking about the winter TNNA market. Really. In the meantime, I’m off to print brochures, put together class kits, and organize class handouts. *********************************************************** 2. TIPS AND TRICKS AND BRILLIANT IDEAS *********************************************************** Tapestry needles, sharps, chenille, beading…what’s the point of all those different needles? To make stitching easier, neater, and more enjoyable. Specifically, the needle holds the fiber without crimping it, and opens a hole in the fabric so the fiber can slide through easily. So how do you choose which needle to use? Answering these questions will help you decide. 1. *What kind of fabric are you using?* Tightly woven fabrics (pillow cases, jeans, tablecloths) require sharp needles, while loosely woven fabrics (linen, evenweaves, aida, canvas) require blunt needles. Blunt needles push fibers apart, allowing the needle to pass between them. Sharp needles are more likely to catch and split fibers. 2. *What fiber are you using?* The size of your fiber determines the size eye you need. Are you using wool, pearl cotton, stranded cotton, silk, metallics, beads? 3. *What are you trying to accomplish?* You may be using linen, but if you’re stitching crosses with 3 strands of floss, or backstitching with 1 strand of floss, or stitching a cotton backing to the linen, you’ll need different needles. After you’ve answered these questions, you need to decide the kind and size of needle you need. Here are some of your choices: *Chenille* - Long eyes for threading wools and stranded cotton, sharp points. *Crewel or Embroidery* - Long eye, same length and sharp point as a general sewing needle. *Quilting* - Small eye, shorter than a general sewing needle so that it doesn’t bend and break when taking multiple running stitches at once. *Sharps* - General sewing or quilting needles, small eye, sharp point. *Tapestry* - Long eye, blunt tip. Usually the choice for cross stitch and needlepoint. When you know what kind of needle you want, you then have to choose a size. This is important! It makes a difference. Needle sizes are given as numbers; the higher the number, the smaller the needle. A size 18 tapestry needle has a long shaft and large eye suitable for yarn, while a size 24 tapestry needle is shorter, thinner, with a smaller eye, suitable for stranded cotton. One of the jobs of your needle is to open a hole in your fabric so that the fiber can pass through easily. A needle that is too small will not open a hole large enough, and the fiber will “drag” through the hole, loosening fiber bits and causing it to become fuzzy. A needle that is too big will leave “holes” between stitches. Because of all the different factors influencing how a project is worked, and because of personal preferences, there are no rules when it comes to needle selection, merely suggestions. Ultimately, the best way to determine which needle you need is to experiment, but here are suggestions for where to start: Needlepoint canvas, 10M or Penelope, 10/20 - #18-20 tapestry Needlepoint canvas, 12-14 – #20 tapestry Cross stitch fabric, 14 ct. – #20-22 tapestry Cross stitch fabric, 16-18 ct. – #22-24 Needlepoint canvas, 18 - #22 tapestry Congress cloth, 22 - #24 tapestry Penelope, 12/24 - #24 tapestry Cross stitch fabric, 28-32 ct. - #22-26 tapestry Ribbon, 2-4mm - #22 chenille Ribbon, 7mm - #20 chenille Ribbon, 13mm - #18 chenille *********************************************************** 3. WHAT’S NEW AT FUNK & WEBER *********************************************************** What’s new at Funk & Weber? Lots, but it’s not on the web site. I’m still on the road, and the web site has fallen by the wayside. It’s high on the priority list after the TNNA trade show. ~~~~~~~~~~ We have a logo for the Needle and ThREAD program! We also have a plan for the first Needle and ThREAD bookmark contest which will be held this fall. For those of you who don’t know or don’t remember, the Needle and ThREAD program is our way of Doing Good with needlework: Stitching for Literacy. We will be designing and stitching bookmarks to donate to schools, libraries, and literacy programs. In addition, a portion of profits from sales of Needle and ThREAD products will be donated to literacy projects. The first bookmark pattern is designed, stitched, and printed, but not yet for sale. I’ll be presenting them to shop owners in a class at TNNA when I introduce the program and contest. The contest will “go public” in August. Still much work to be done before the official launch. ~~~~~~~~~~ The Nancy Drew activity books are out! But I *still* haven’t seen them. The publisher sent me copies, but they’re in Alaska and I’m not. ~~~~~~~~~~ LET THERE BE NIGHT Stitchling #11, “Bearly” Night, was introduced at The Needlework Show. It’s still not on the web site. This panda pattern has been in the works for years, but only recently came together in a way we deemed worthy of actually stitching. I love the panda in the tree—the dangling foot in particular. It’s all about details… ~~~~~~~~~~ I’ve decided that the new online class project is a go. Yay! (I’ll be in touch, Mandy!) I’m still making samples, and gathering info for instructions. Then I will have a couple of test pilots take the instructions for a spin. I’m hoping to have the class available this fall. ~~~~~~~~~~ We're blogging! I have a Team Blog with my online critique group. There are 6 of us, from CT to AK, who have been reading and critiquing each other's work for about 3 years. Pairs of us have met in person a few times, but never have we met face-to-face, all together. We hope to meet in Ohio in April 2007. Our focus, of course, is children's writing. http://6writers1story.blogspot.com/ I have *another* blog on my own. Think I can't possibly have that much to say? Remember, I live in rural Alaska and hate to travel in winter. I go for days and weeks without seeing anyone but Mike. I can pretty much talk anyone's ear off! The question is whether or not I have anything worthwhile to say, but I'm not touching that one. http://JenFunkWeber.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~ Due to exceptional busy-ness next summer, we have decided that the next Alaska Stitch-N-Safari will be scheduled for the summer of 2008. Information about these special stitching tours is available on our web site http://www.funkandweber.com/fw/tour.html *********************************************************** 4. READERS ASK *********************************************************** Please e-mail me with questions for this section. mail@funkandweber.com Carol asked if I have any novels she can read. Indeed, Carol, I have an extensive book collection, particularly if you’re interested in children’s literature or 19th century English authors. You’re welcome to borrow any you like, provided you promise to return them. If, however, you’re looking for a novel I’ve written, well then, no. I have written 3 novels and drafted a 4th, but none are published. I don’t generally share unpublished work outside my critique group. You should be glad for that. I am submitting novel #3 to publishers now; novels 1 and 2 are best suited to computer disks. If novel #3 is accepted for publication, you can be sure I’ll shout about it here. No telling what will happen with #4, but I was excited about the rough draft. I already have plans for a 5th novel, but it’s for younger kids, more of a chapter book. To date, my published books are activity books: Clueless in Alaska: Know More!, Nancy Drew: Hollywood Head Scratchers, Nancy Drew: Still Sleuthing. Two more activity books and a picture book are written and accepted by publishers, but not yet in print. Many other stories are making the rounds at publishers, and others are in various stages of development. Thanks for asking! *********************************************************** 5. 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) June 7, 2007. The winner will be selected on June 8, 2007 (or shortly thereafter), notified by e-mail, 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 in THE NEEDLEWORK NUTSHELL. To the puzzle! http://www.funkandweber.com/fw/nutshell/tele607.pdf ~~~~~~~~~~ May PUZZLE CONTEST WINNER: Denise from Chicago, IL. May’s answer: Leigh – bracelet – for fun Cherie - quilt - birth Kate - card - graduation *********************************************************** 6. 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 2007, Funk & Weber Designs |
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