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Canvas: 'Klimt - The Kiss' from Changing Women Designs

In This Issue 1. A Letter From the Owners 2. Upcoming Classes 3. Sales Update 4. Painting Update 5. Finishing Update 6. Stitch of the Month Subscribe Past Issues Translate 7. Thread of the Month 8. Stephen at ANG

A letter from the Owners of Rittenhouse Needlepoint

Hi All,

This is Russell, one of the owners of Rittenhouse Needlepoint and MyNeedlepoint.com. I thought I would say "Hi" and give you an update:

Most of you know that Rittenhouse Needlepoint moved to a new location about a year and a half ago. The new space is almost 7000 square feet of space with 18 feet high ceilings in a building that is on the National Register. It certainly has been an exciting change for us.

Keep reading to find some BIG news...

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The Expert Series Continues

Have you been watching? Stephen and Lami have been working to deliver a stream of new videos. We now have number seven posted, with... about a hundred to go!

Check our Youtube channel for more videos. Hit 'Subscribe' to get updates on future posts.

Upcoming Classes & Events

We are in the process of finalizing our class lineup for 2020. There are lots of exciting things coming your way, including a Fundamentals II series, which will build off of what you learned in Fundamentals I!

Quickly approaching is the Fall edition of our recurring 20/20 class on October 11th & 12th. For those that are new to our newsletter (and there is quite a few of you!), this is, 20 Stitches, 20 Threads: Subscribe Past Issues Translate

(Pictured above: Sneak peak at 10 of the stitches and threads we will be working with!)

We’ve streamlined things a bit – limiting the number of threads and stitches to twenty and reducing the price as well. This allows for more time to focus on the stitches, discuss the threads we're working with, and, of course, have some fun! We're working on some finishing options for this class, as well, so that you can put your finished swatches to good use.

Also in October is the return of our Poinsettia Class, on Oct. 28th & 29th! A little winter magic right before Halloween? Our hope is that this will give you more time to enjoy the wintry theme, (and sparkly threads) through the holidays, when we all want to curl up by the fire and stitch!

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If you're interested in signing up for a class, send an e-mail to Russell @ RittenhouseNeedlepoint.com.

Click Here to See Our Class Listing

Sales: The Canvas Discount Program (CDP) Subscribe Past Issues Translate

Our staff have been working on inventorying all in-store canvases - an endeavor that was quite overdue, but daunting to say the least. There are thousands of canvas designs on our report, many with multiple copies in stock!

About the CDP: As soon as a canvas gets accounted for, it goes on sale, both in-store AND online. These discounted canvases come from a range of designers you probably know, like Whimsy & Grace and Kate Dickerson, as well as some that may be new to you. Some are classics, while others are discontinued. We have brick covers, Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Dogs, YOU NAME IT.

There are two things you should remember about the CDP: One: there are more designs added to the CDP every week - so keep checking back. And two: since these canvases are in stock, they are ready to ship immediately!

If you're in between projects, or want to stitch some last-minute gifts for the holidays, here's your chance to save money while doing it!

Click Here to Shop the CDP

Painting: Heirloom Pet Portraits

**This part of the newsletter is posted in memory of Petunia, who recently passed. We had the

honor of meeting her, and saw what a beautiful and special soul she was.

Our thoughts go out to her family, we know she will be deeply missed and are thankful that we

could help in preserving her memory.** Subscribe Past Issues Translate

Pictured above: Petunia - Left, & Bella the Boxer - Right

If you are familiar with the Painting Department at Rittenhouse Needlepoint, you are probably aware that one of our specialty subjects is dogs. We love to paint dogs! Dog paintings are a great way to immortalize a beloved pup, and we do our best to capture the spirit and personality of your canine companion.

You can send us a picture that you want a straight copy of, or multiple pictures with multiple angles for reference. There’s also some opportunity for creativity, you can have your pet painted in a setting that they enjoy, with a pattern that complements your home, or with items that they love.

These examples of Bella (the boxer) and Petunia (the white one) showcase two different ways you can set up your project. Bella is pictured on a beach, one of her favorite places to be. She was painted exactly from a picture. Petunia is shown against a patterned pillow and blanket that her owner liked, and was painted from a composite of photos of both the patterns and Petunia herself.

As much as we enjoy painting a puppy, we are not limited to just painting dogs. We know there are many other kinds of pets out there that are just as precious and loved. Have a sweet kitty that brightens your life? A particularly energetic hamster? Some bright and colorful fish? Give us a call and we can put together a painting that captures the unique qualities of your special animal pal. Remember, the sky’s the limit with custom painting, if you can think it, we can paint it!

Click Here To Get A Free Painting Estimate

Finishing: Your Burning Belt Questions - ANSWERED!

Needlepoint belts have been gaining popularity or, at least, it certainly seems like we block quite a Subscribe Past Issues Translate few of them in the finishing department these days! Belts are a great, low-key way to show off your love of needlepoint, as well as being functional!

We tend to receive a lot of questions pertaining to sizing and how much to stitch/not stitch, and more, so here are some tips that may be helpful:

(Pictured Above: Where the leather meets the needlepoint canvas)

Belt length: Your needlepoint should be 6-7" shorter than your finished belt size. For example, if you need a 38" belt to fit a 36" waist size, your needlepoint should be 31-32" leaving 1.5" of plain stitching (or stitching you don't mind being covered up) on each end of your belt canvas (included in your finished length) so that no important design elements are lost to the leather ends that hold the belt hardware.

Waste rows: We recommend 2 additional rows on each (long) side to be stitched, as it is necessary during the finishing process for at least 2 rows on each side to be turned over, so if the additional rows are not stitched, some design elements may be lost.

Blocking: Belt canvases have their own unique challenges when blocking, and to make the process easier, as well as give the customer the best possible result, we recommend leaving 1.5-2" of blank canvas/space on each end of the design. Meaning, when a canvas is cut, and the design and stitching Subscribe Past Issues Translate go right to the end of the blank canvas, it makes the blocking process much harder if there is no blank canvas to pull on.

Threads: We recommend stitching your belt canvas in either wool or cotton. You want to use a fiber that is durable and will stand the test of time. Acrylics are difficult to block, and both Acrylics and Silks are not as durable. The finisher in me also suggests that you use colorfast fibers, should your belt-wearer get caught in the rain!

Stitch Suggestions: We recommend working in basketweave or tent stitch for the majority of your belt. Long, decorative stitches are not well-suited to finished pieces that will be subject to bending and twisting. Save those for your fabric-framed pillows and ornaments!

And finally, if you love stitching belts but just have too many in your wardrobe, belt canvases can have more uses than just a belt! We also finish belt trays, bag handles, suspenders, and basically anything else you can think of! Our finishing team can walk you through all the fun options. Let your imagination run wild with the possibilities!

A Note from the Editor on Stitching Belt Canvases:

Hello Readers! I have been working with Rittenhouse in a number of different roles for almost three years. (Three years officially at the end of October.) I got my start as a part time finisher, and eventually found myself running our finishing department. As we saw the need to extend and enhance our digital reach, I moved on to working on our website, which is what I do now. I have also been coordinating our Newsletter for the last 6 months. But! It is almost impossible for me to stay away from the finishing department, and not just because I love their team! The treatment of Needlework will always be a passion of mine. So it should come as no surprise that the finishing article is always my favorite to edit. I may interject from time to time, now that I have Russell's permission. Ha!

I wanted to elaborate a little on our Lead Finisher's suggestions above. Let's talk about waste rows and bound edges... The two recommended waste rows will be turned under to give the long edges of the belt a finished look. There is another way to produce this finished edge, and it is called "The Binding Stitch." I have provided my favorite tutorial on this stitch below. The binding stitch is a great way to add a finished, quite literally bound edge to your needlepoint. (This is actually the stitch we use when we finish rugs as well! And this is the video we show to new finishers to train them on the technique.)

*It is important to remember that binding the edges of your needlepoint will bind the tension in. Once a piece is bound, it is almost (though not completely) impossible to block the skew out of it - especially if it has been stitched in wool, a notoriously hydrophobic fiber. It is best to stitch belt canvases on a scroll frame to help prevent heavy skew in the first place. It is also crucial to pay very close attention to how tightly you pull your stitches, and err on the looser side. Subscribe Past Issues Translate

If you have other techniques for binding your needlepoint, send them my way! I am always astounded by what I can learn from you all.

Nice to meet you!

-H. Marsh Editor

Stitch of the Month: Long Rococo

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This month's featured stitch is the long rococo! It is simlar to the queen stitch, but is slightly more geometric and "stretched" in appearance.

Popular in colonial designs, the long rococo adds texture and movement to backgrounds and architectural details such as roofs and pathways. It can also be worked from side to side for abstract waves! The finished result has a flow not unlike Bargello and should be treated as such. Make sure you really weave in those ends!

There's no reason this stitch must be worked in a pattern, as pictured above. It can be spread out for bold motifs. Why not add some bead work to the shorter stitches for a fun challenge? Subscribe Past Issues Translate

Thread of the Month: Wisper

This month's highlighted thread is Wisper!

Wisper, a facet of Rainbow Gallery, is a blend made up of 70% kid mohair and 30% nylon. It comes 20 yards to a card, and is available in 37 colors - from a range of natural browns, to hot, hot pink. This thread is great for hair texture, and when applied wisely, adds incredible dimension to stitched pieces.

Our recommendation is 1 strand for cross stitch, and 2 strands on 18 count canvas. This thread can also be used in combination with cottons or wools (such as Designer’s Dream (RG), Bella Lusso or Burmilana) to create great effects.

Here are some Suggested stitches/uses for Wisper:

French knots (2.45) hair, beard, animal fur Horizontal Interlocking Gobelin (2.47) animal fur Interlocking Gobelin (2.49) animal fur, hair, beards Long and Short (2.51) dogs, cats, horses, bears Two Color Herringbone (3.67) fur cuff Horizontal Parisian (1.35) v. effective for large animals, fuzzy animal effect Velvet (1.52) for a light wispy effect

Click Here To Shop The Line Subscribe Past Issues Translate Stephen at the ANG Seminar

(Pictured Above: Goldwork Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly by Michele Roberts)

This year's ANG (American Needlepoint Guild) Seminar was held in Houston at the very swanky (and quite large) Marriott Marquis. I have to admit that I wasn't really looking forward to this event too much mostly because I had signed up for a class -- a goldwork butterfly -- for which there was a lot of "pre- stitching" (about which I had been informed when I signed up) but none of which I had completed. I knew that my fellow students would, for sure, be more conscientious than I so I would be starting "behind the eight ball" and that the teacher wasn't likely to take kindly to my casual attitude. Fortunately, both the teacher and the fellow students were more accepting than I had anticipated. The project was also more spectacular than I had remembered so ... things were looking up, that is until I had to assemble my frame stand. Sitting right next to the editor for Needlepointers magazine for whom I write a column on threads. Now, I am embarassed to admit but it has been quite a while since I have put together a lap frame and to be fair to myself I also am genuinely challenged when it comes to spatial perception and putting things together. So, there I was, first day in class, sitting next to my editor, with no pre-stitching, struggling like a one-handed monkey trying to put together this lap frame. I won't go into it but let's just say after a little help from Maureen (my editor) and a monkey wrench (don't ask) the end result was a somewhat rickety, somewhat broken but still serviceable lap frame.

But now I still had my pre-work to accomplish. Fortunately for me I had the bright idea to film with my iPhone the teacher as she demonstrated the various steps involved in stitching the butterfly so in Subscribe Past Issues Translate between shooting I struggled with accomplishing the work that I should have done before I got to Houston. My fellow students -- all of whom were far more accomplished stitchers than I -- would check up on me regularly and give me encouragement (they were very supportive!) but I can tell you one thing -- Congress Cloth is no joke! For those of you not familiar with Congress Cloth, it is somewhere between linen and mono canvas. It measures 24 stitches per inch and so it is difficult to determine the warp and weft threads. Therefore counting can be a challenge and my pre-work involved placing the outline of the butterfly on the canvas and surrounding it with a diamond trellis pattern. The trellis pattern had to be achieved with no "carry threads" showing. In other words, no thread was to be seen from the front side of the canvas in any of the unstitched areas of the canvas. Although this might seem like an easy thing to accomplish (for me) it was not. Transportation around the canvas was a real challenge especially when one is only allowed to operate on the diagonal and of course the goal was to minimize (eliminate?) any area on the back of the canvas where you had to stitch back over a previously stitched section.

The upshot of my struggle is that I spent the three-day class doing the "pre-work". And guess what? I didn't even finish it! Yikes. But it's done now. And now I can begin. But will I? That, my friends, is the $64,000 question. The teacher I can tell you is no doubt certain that I will not which I am hoping will provide me with the necessary motivation to prove her wrong!

(Pictured above: Some of Kelly Clark's exquisite work!)

Of course, the seminar wasn't just about my doomed goldwork butterfly. I also attended a meeting of Needlepointers magazine contributors and I met with Kelly Clark (so generous!) and Jo Ippolito Christensen (ditto). I attended a couple of dinners, took an interesting one-day class with Ann Strite- Subscribe Past Issues Translate Kurz (the author of numerous needlepoint books) on stitch refinement and really enjoyed the seminar exhibition. This is always the highlight of my seminar experience because it is a chance for me to see some amazing needlework up close and personal and to take the time to really appreciate it. The stitchers of the American Needlepoint Guild hold themselves to a very high standard -- and it shows.

If you have never been to a seminar of the American Needlepoint Guild I urge you to consider attending one even if it is only to view the exhibition. Although I may have made it sound as if you have to be an expert stitcher to attend surely my experience proves otherwise. ANG offers classes for all levels and taking classes I find is (almost always) worth the effort.

I encourage you to join the American Needlepoint Guild. It's an association of individuals who are not only passionate about needlepoint but also work to support one another and the craft in general. They publish an informative magazine six times per year which is included with annual membership and they have an extensive online presence.

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