THE 3 NIGHT - 5 COLOR COWL

You can do a couple of these by Christmas! We have a free pattern and the yarn color packs. Find your #10, 24 inch circular needle. Try not to focus on the droopy chin!!!

New colors and patterns from JOJOLAND

 I sold through on the colors of the cowl model, so I reordered those and added a new pair of colors, which didn't photograph very well. They contain blue, teal, rose and purple! 

YUM!

 Then, because I had looked at the three patterns we had purchased and wanted more stimulation (was bored), I bought some new patterns, also.
On the left is a simple lace pattern for a scarf, called TEAL FOREST. You could be a smarty pants and do a provisional cast on and later join the two ends for an infinity scarf or cowl. As shown, 2 balls will create fabric that is 9 by 56 inches.
 

 I love this one! I think my middle name should have been MITER! As shown, you can use 4 balls of one color, or 6 balls if you are using two different colors. I'm going to do this, as soon as I finish my secret project! You know it will be autumn colors!
 

This is another easy lace pattern that takes only two balls. The project yield will be 7 by 53 inches.

I would never name a pattern DUCKWEED. That is the little plant that proliferates in ponds when there is a high level of phosphates present. Nonetheless, I couldn't resist the texture created in this scarf design. Again, it is a 2 ball project and will result in a scarf that measures 8 by 50.

Therapy Cats

My friend's mother is in a rehab center in Northborough, and look who comes to visit!?!

We had a gentleman come by on Thursday wanting to give massages. I'd rather have kitties!

NEW PROJECT FOR JANUARY

This was a teaching project for this designer, and now it will be released to us for retail sales in January. You will have three options:

1. Buy the booklet
2. Participate in a stitch-a-long, available only to people who know what they are doing and are joining the group to share the needlework love, and to have a glass of wine, coffee, tea and a cookie or two. Will meet every other week to encourage progress. This is not a teaching situation, but is a social one. Small fee will be incurred.
3. Class situation - class will meet weekly and you will pay standard weekend class rates. This will be a guided, teaching situation.

I don't know the size of this piece yet, nor how many techniques are included, but the piece looked like none of us will be bored with it. Doing the piece will have nominal expense. Materials will be stretcher bars, Congress cloth and three weights of perle cotton. Start thinking about whether you want white or eggshell. I'm going to glitz mine up with a little gold metallic on my ecru.

You will want to email me about your druthers:  twisinc  at comcast  dot  net

COLORS OF NOVEMBER

While these might not be the cutest thing we have ever sold, they might be the most colorful. (Customers rank the current cutest thing to be "The Last Stitch Cemetary" cross stitch chart by Hinzeit) This unique packaging presents one ounce skeins of five colors, totaling a yardage of 230 yards of superwash merino wool. They have a gauge of 4-5 per inch with a needle range of 7 - 9 inches. 
(Kit # from l to r: 27, 8, 3, 30, and 29.

If you are hooked, you may want to download the pattern
shown to the right from this URL:
http://tinyurl.com/l6yb33d
This little url will take you directly to the free pattern on Frabjous Fiber's web site. Be patient as it took me a while to download and print my copy.

The cowl that is bottom left and the one on the right can each be made from the contents of one of these bags of 5 skeins.

The early bird gets the worm. I only have two bags of each
color.

FASCINATORS ARRIVED TODAY!

NEW KNITTING CHALLENGES FROM JOJOLAND!

We have the choice of three patterns and  quite a number of hand dyed multicolors to use for the patterns. You can get these finished by Christmas.

The LEAF COLLECTION is our model and it takes just three balls each of two different color ways at a yarn expense of $42.

The SHELL SHAWL takes 9 balls of one color, or pick and mix your choice.

The TANGRAM COWL takes four balls each of two colors.

NEW TRUNK SHOW FROM PURPLE PALMS DESIGNS

If you have the doldrums from the rain and chill, come on in and warm up your soul with these canvases:

The show remains here until the end of November. Come early for the best selection!

Just picking out some FAVORITES!

 Aren't these the most sophisticated stars you have ever seen?

I can't stop myself!

 When are you coming in?

If you buy them, I'll get a vicarious thrill and won't have to take them home!

Canvas Display for Whimsey and Grace Show

WHIMSEY AND GRACE CHRISTMAS TRUNK SHOW

 
 On the left are some beautiful, medium sized stocking arrayed about a PARTRIDGE CHRISTMAS PILLOW.

On the right are some of the small "glass" ball, angel and small star ornaments.

Notice that there is a star atop the tree. There are gusset canvases that can be stitched  for the 2 larger sizes of stars in the trunk show.

These are close ups of the two larger sizes of stars, all of which have been finished with gussets so the stars may be used as tree top adornment.

Please click on the images, and they will enlarge for better viewing.

NEW THREADS FOR PLAYING

 FURR/FUZZ/FUNN from Planet Earth. Cards hold 25 yds. of a wool/silk blend. 1-2 ply on 18 count and 2-3 on 13/14. We bought 14 animal colors.

I had a special side trip to Access Commodities and hand selected these silk wrapped purls with matching silk couching threads. YUM!
Oh, yes, we'll have to add colors. Come take a class with me and I'll show you fun things you can do with these. Please click to enlarge.

CHRISTMAS POPSICLES!

Canvas from THE WORLD IN STITCHES, and designed by Kathy Schenkel. 

The thread used was Pepper Pot silk in a nobuko stitch for the ground and Rhodes circles. Shading between the popsicles was a diagonal satin with one row of tent stitch.

The finisher put a darling polka dot ribbon around the edge. Please feel free to click on the pictures to enlarge them.

This was a very fast project.  

J. Child Designs TRUNK SHOW

The J CHILD DESIGNS show is characterized by some  surprising prices on needlepoint canvases. In addition to which, we have an ascending discount, based on the number of pieces that you purchase.  If you cannot physically visit the store to participate, you can view her website and then call in your order during the business day. ( NO STORE HOURS THIS SATURDAY - It's a case of you can't get here from there due to the parade downtown celebrating Littleton's 300th year.) You can also email your order and contact information.

http://jchilddesigns.com

There is a large selection of bookmarks, baby sleeping signs, 4 by 4 quickies, and more as you can see by the images that follow. Remember to click to enlarge.

This show will come down on the afternoon of Sept. 27. Please shop early for the best selection.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

 May you all enjoy this holiday weekend and may all who are on the Eastern Seaboard be safe.

This is my interpretation of "Patchwork of Peace", a stitch source book that I consulted, along with some other books. I started with a blank sandstone 18 count mono canvas and Roberta, at Picture Yourself in Chelmsford center, made it more beautiful.

You can click on these images to enlarge them. I included the bottom left corner as it was the "last hurrah" on my opus.

This is in residence at the store until the end of August when it will be presented to my son.

RAINY DAY FUN!

 It's going to be a rainy Fourth of July. Will you and your children be prepared with activities for the day and for the rest of the summer?

These are the newest children's canvases that have come in. They will be stitched with a double strand of DMC or Anchor Perle #5. One of my students bought one last week for her grand-daughter and the two strands works out just great on the canvases. That and either a size 20 tapestry needle and no threader, or a size 22 with a LoRan needle threader will suffice. 

We have waxed linen bracelet kits that you make using square knots and threaded beads. I started one and the directions are explicit. There is sufficient linen, beads and findings to do two bracelets, if you are making a single knot between each bead. I liked the look of the double knot, so am doing that one. I'll leave it unfinished over summer for demonstration purposes.

Below, right, is a started kit for a bookmark. The pre-drilled bamboo has either a heart shape or a flower. You do cross stitch in the holes...and you don't have to count. You'll feel "So Green" using the renewable resource of bamboo!

There are similar kits for making fobs or zipper pulls.

Every needleworker could use a little thread keeper, so get your kids busy making these for you and your friends. The drilled centers are either a butterfly or  a heart. Thread is supplied in the fob and bookmark kits, but you need to supply your own for the thread keeper.