tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13914337923325270962024-03-14T06:08:44.630-06:00 American Pie Designs by Melanie PinneyMelanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-16159236862036457042015-06-15T16:43:00.001-06:002015-06-15T16:43:19.159-06:00Applique and Embroidery Stitches Made Easy!<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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Have you ever been
reluctant to try a project that features decorative stitches or
hand-embellishing because you weren’t sure how to do the stitches? If so, don't miss out! Decorative stitches are fun and easy, and
I’ve often said that embellishing is my favorite part of creating a new design. Decorative stitches only <i>look</i> complicated, but we’re going to break them down into
individual steps so it’s just a matter of bringing your needle up at one point
and down at another. Before long, you’ll
be happily stitching away and your friends will want to know how you do it!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6triYnzj25WFw1DBRUTMcgc93si0Ujod0Ar3mMZN4MtLYSsTCwAQPpXtKTKyeYvTdSzIhmwxZYamoghuVNlO0_d5VEfYIFJCY-AS0VP5vXMlufwAPFenguitJa2Ox59D-jVq7-PcarUNK/s1600/th11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6triYnzj25WFw1DBRUTMcgc93si0Ujod0Ar3mMZN4MtLYSsTCwAQPpXtKTKyeYvTdSzIhmwxZYamoghuVNlO0_d5VEfYIFJCY-AS0VP5vXMlufwAPFenguitJa2Ox59D-jVq7-PcarUNK/s320/th11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hand-Dyed Pearl Cotton Threads</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><i><u><br /></u></i></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #990000; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><i><u>So
Let’s Get to It</u>!</i></b><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span>There
are hundreds of decorative stitches, but they all boil down to several basic
stitches that are worked with slight variations. We’re going to start with seven of the most
popular, and then I’ll show you more stitches in later tutorials coming next week:</span></div>
</div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Basic
Running Stitch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Back
Stitch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Blanket
Stitch (also known as the Buttonhole Stitch)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">French
Knot</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Cross
Stitch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Herringbone
Stitch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Daisy
Chain (Daisy Stitch; Lazy Daisy; Chain Stitch)</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></u></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Basic Running Stitch</span></u></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b> </b>This is probably the easiest
decorative stitch to learn. It can be
worked in straight or curved lines and is used for outlining and making stems and
vines. Bring your needle up from
underneath. Next, weave the needle in
and out of the fabric, taking two or three evenly-spaced stitches. Pull the needle through and repeat as
desired. If I am working with a quilt or
other material where I am stitching through layers, I like to make one stitch
at a time, rather than loading two or three stitches on my needle at once. Stitching one stitch at a time makes each
stitch look fuller and more finished.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnxPEM0Y7s-6z2sy3vMGZBz_Xgj2b4VFnMkh1FppPsaIQ3QbXC6uF_iSjZrOCT48gzRBcbCN_JTeEHVLEUBWxVISHPJ0RutwMFvdnjBHTFaH4GrF-s-XReaCKZvCvD-nxZf6zl9UNErEI/s1600/RUNNING+STITCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnxPEM0Y7s-6z2sy3vMGZBz_Xgj2b4VFnMkh1FppPsaIQ3QbXC6uF_iSjZrOCT48gzRBcbCN_JTeEHVLEUBWxVISHPJ0RutwMFvdnjBHTFaH4GrF-s-XReaCKZvCvD-nxZf6zl9UNErEI/s200/RUNNING+STITCH.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Running Stitch</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></u></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></u></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Back Stitch</span></u></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b> </b> This stitch is a variation of the basic
running stitch. I use it for outlining,
making stems and vines and anywhere that I want a bolder line. Bring your needle up at A, down at B and back
up again at C. Pull the needle through
and repeat as desired.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8suL9vtErZcTv1xneQ3ay-P4igdCRg827ebSb8IxKxcAVNXVQkbGSJB4kqoHRKHoXbn9o-Bq6pXi_1Sp9YL2bSqMVQkIFrNuGfpkQFiY5sTvLwSfKo3LQtLbSik-jot61MIN6TJc8y2m/s1600/BACK+STITCH+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8suL9vtErZcTv1xneQ3ay-P4igdCRg827ebSb8IxKxcAVNXVQkbGSJB4kqoHRKHoXbn9o-Bq6pXi_1Sp9YL2bSqMVQkIFrNuGfpkQFiY5sTvLwSfKo3LQtLbSik-jot61MIN6TJc8y2m/s200/BACK+STITCH+2.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Back Stitch</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></u></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></u></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Blanket Stitch (also known as the Buttonhole Stitch)</span></u></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b> </b>This popular stitch is often used
to finish the edges of baby blankets and when appliqueing on wool. When worked with small stitches, it can also
be used for outlining. The stitch is
worked from left to right. For a
standard-size stitch, bring your needle up from underneath at the edge of your
patch or template. Move to the right
approximately 1/4”. Push your needle
back down through both the patch and the background at a point about 1/4” from
the edge of the patch and back up again at the edge of the patch. Be sure to loop the thread under the needle
as you complete this stitch. Each stitch
should be about the same length and distance apart. Remember, you can vary the size and width of
your stitch depending on your project.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKazfOHXQRh4_JFJRr1Ik1lRb3sZQtQcyvichwrmf1yDEOdvYuQvqK_nsuh4U6OEY6icbkaurdu4yeNDHPADs_d200Parf2IHKHkYVSM_FdNbviCp0WG1AxtxmHs0l7dEYwohnDgSRfW9/s1600/BLANKET-STITCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKazfOHXQRh4_JFJRr1Ik1lRb3sZQtQcyvichwrmf1yDEOdvYuQvqK_nsuh4U6OEY6icbkaurdu4yeNDHPADs_d200Parf2IHKHkYVSM_FdNbviCp0WG1AxtxmHs0l7dEYwohnDgSRfW9/s1600/BLANKET-STITCH.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Blanket Stitch</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></u></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></u></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">French Knot</span></u></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b> </b>I use french knots for flower centers, bird’s
eyes, etc. It can also be used in
clusters and worked close together to fill an area, which will produce a
textured, nubby result. To make the
french knot, bring your needle up from underneath. Hold the needle in one hand and with the
other hand wrap the thread around the tip of the needle once and pull it snug
around the needle. Wrap the thread
around the tip of the needle a second time, again pulling it snug. I often wrap the thread around the tip of the
needle a third time so I get a bigger knot, but if you are a beginner I suggest
you stick with just two wraps around the needle. Now, while continuing to keep the thread snug
around the needle, re-insert the tip of the needle back down into the fabric
exactly next to where you came up.
Slowly pull the needle through while your other hand keeps the thread taut. Once the needle has pulled all the way
through, use your fingertip to hold the knot in place while you pull the rest
of the thread through the fabric. Snug
it up so it forms a nice knot and you are finished!</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeb58A0L0NR9hyYU_zylw7lCSwDj-l5KCmqPXN8VQkCUNzO6BlEy3QfzVRrgVsoCt0IGreEOUYXwqhU9DeVP0tetuWGgeV4ldECzEti0hAcDaFrIi_Wgx13Sd78VynouRs2Zc_Matxt-9/s1600/FRENCH-KNOT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeb58A0L0NR9hyYU_zylw7lCSwDj-l5KCmqPXN8VQkCUNzO6BlEy3QfzVRrgVsoCt0IGreEOUYXwqhU9DeVP0tetuWGgeV4ldECzEti0hAcDaFrIi_Wgx13Sd78VynouRs2Zc_Matxt-9/s200/FRENCH-KNOT.jpg" width="192" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>French Knot</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Cross Stitch</span></u></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> There is more than one way to complete the
cross stitch. It can be worked one
stitch at a time, or it can be worked in rows such as when embroidering large
areas on a pillowcase or similar project. To work it one stitch at a time, bring your needle up from underneath at
1 and insert it back down through your fabric at 2. Bring need up at 3 and back down at 4. Repeat the sequence as many times as desired. If you want to work rows of cross stitch to
fill an area, work the first half of the stitch all the way along the row and
then return and work the second half of the stitch back to the beginning of the
row.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgax2JYRoPrpSgUZ_3MlRJeLaIkpuNbSxlgq2VZYPNdRY7nGhOAqbX1dWcVnrmkHOKbSLz_1LYsdyVLkuRi8WHDS5Rl_Uldla_bMgeNnh2GvkVeyb2vv_SEnkl8iFoB64wSBM7kxpe_xX-p/s1600/CROSS+STITCH+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgax2JYRoPrpSgUZ_3MlRJeLaIkpuNbSxlgq2VZYPNdRY7nGhOAqbX1dWcVnrmkHOKbSLz_1LYsdyVLkuRi8WHDS5Rl_Uldla_bMgeNnh2GvkVeyb2vv_SEnkl8iFoB64wSBM7kxpe_xX-p/s320/CROSS+STITCH+2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Cross Stitch (Illustrated Singly and in Rows)</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></u></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></u></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Herringbone Stitch</span></u></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b> </b>The herringbone stitch is a
variation of the basic cross stitch. It
is often used to embellish crazy quilts and also often used as a decorative
stitch in borders. Bring your needle up
from underneath at A and insert it back through your fabric at B. Bring your needle to the front again at C and
back down at D. Bring your needle up at
E, down at F and back up again at G. Repeat the sequence as many times as desired.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeB3naCfnL-iF_QOFBqjAH7HqFOhBB5Cdo6HR6mM6kaskuYYPYzENeKRh_dnsa-auM-TorOr8C4okHDYqSHa39A1Xur5WQUsfX-8e5q5LTyO4K_xyI8PH3WvDsRgITILJIvIGrD7BYfsn/s1600/HERRINGBONE-STITCH3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeB3naCfnL-iF_QOFBqjAH7HqFOhBB5Cdo6HR6mM6kaskuYYPYzENeKRh_dnsa-auM-TorOr8C4okHDYqSHa39A1Xur5WQUsfX-8e5q5LTyO4K_xyI8PH3WvDsRgITILJIvIGrD7BYfsn/s200/HERRINGBONE-STITCH3.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Herringbone Stitch</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></u></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></u></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Daisy Chain (also known as the Daisy Stitch, Lazy
Daisy and Chain Stitch</span></u></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b> </b>This is a
very popular decorative stitch used for outlining and can also be used to
create flower stems and other embellishments. If worked in a circular direction, it creates the look of petals on a
flower as shown below. To begin, bring
your needle up at A and then insert your needle back into the same hole and out
at B, carrying your thread under the needle point. Pull your needle on through. Point B is now the beginning point of the
next stitch.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Daisy Stitch; Daisy Chain; Chain Stitch</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><i><u>It Looks Complicated, But It’s Not</u>!</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i> </i></span><i> </i>Like I said, decorative stitches
look complex and hard, but it’s just a matter of bringing your needle up at one
point and down at another--easy peasy! In
no time at all, you’ll be embellishing your quilts, jackets, pillows and other
projects with decorative stitches and your friends will be in awe and wondering
how you do it.</span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><u>Decorative Stitches in my New Design, "Where the Wild Things Grow"</u>:</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i> </i></span><i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">One of my newest designs, "Where the Wild Things Grow", uses three stitches we learned here today, the "Blanket Stitch", "Running Stitch" and "Cross Stitch". The design is based on my childhood memories of wild hollyhocks that grew in the hot sun next to our house, right under the neighbor's window. Does it remind you of your own childhood memories, when you were free and summers lasted forever? "Where the Wild Things Grow" is available as a paper pattern or a complete kit with all the hand-dyed wool you need to finishe the project, including the back of the pillow and the vibrant red piping around the edges. Just click on the picture below for more information . . . </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/patterns1.html" target="_blank">"Where The Wild Things Grow"</a></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><i><u>Be Sure to Check Back Next Week</u>!</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><i style="color: #444444;"> </i><b> I’ll be posting more tutorials on
decorative stitches next week,</b> so if you are a late-comer to this blog you’ll
be able to locate them by typing “stitch tutorial” or “decorative stitches”
into the search box at the top of this blog. I hope you get excited about decorative stitching and embellishing, and
remember to <i>relax and enjoy yourself,
since creating is part of the fun!</i>
In the meantime, Happy Stitchin’! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><i> xoxo -- Melanie</i></span></span><br />
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Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-77093405123784900532015-06-10T11:19:00.000-06:002015-06-10T11:19:01.806-06:00Favorite Things: Pie Birds and Bundles of Hand-Dyed Wool<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't remember who first introduced me to pie birds, but my attraction to these highly collectible pieces was instant, loving and long-lasting. A pie bird is usually made of ceramic and is often shaped like a bird, although many shapes can be found in antique stores and yard sales. The bird is hollow and shaped so the head is raised and in an upright position, with a tiny open mouth that serves as a funnel or steam vent. The pie bird supports the crust and steam vents through the tiny opening, effectively preventing your filling from boiling over and helping you attain a nice, crisp crust. As steam escapes, the bird is said to be "singing" . . .</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Antique Pie Bird</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When assembling your pie, the pie bird is placed in the center of the shell and the filling is placed around the bird. The top crust is then draped over the bird like a tent, so the bird supports and holds the center of the crust, with the beak protruding through the crust. No need to cut vents in your beautiful crust, because as the pie bakes, steam is released through the beak.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Pie Bird Protrudes Through the Crust</i></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Pie birds are available in various shapes, including blackbirds, song birds, chickens, ducks, people and other characters. Whether bird-shaped or not, they are usually tall, narrow and always hollow to allow the steam to flow up and out through the hollow center. Pie birds are also referred to as pie vents, pie funnels, pie chimneys and pie whistles. They are not expensive to collect--even antique pieces are often available on Ebay for $10 to $20.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Antique Pie Birds Found on Ebay</i></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My family and friends know of my love for pie birds, and they watch for them when they visit antique stores and garage sales. Every now and then, a new pie bird makes it's way into my china cupboard whey they'll help me turn out yummy apple, blackberry and rhubarb pies with perfect, crispy crusts for the holidays.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Have you tried pie birds? I think you'll finding yourself collecting them in no time at all, and they'll start mysteriously appearing as lovely little side-gifts in your Christmas stockings and at birthday time. You won't be disappointed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">* * * * *</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Speaking of Fun and Yummy, Have You Tried My New Hand-Dyed Wool Bundles</u>?</i> We often need small pieces of wool, don't we? Just enough to finish or embellish a hand-hooked rug or for wool applique and quilt-making. I'm updating my <a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/" target="_blank"><b>website</b></a> over the next few weeks to include LOTS of new bundles of yummy hand-dyed wool that will be available in 8" x 6" pieces or 16" x 8" pieces, depending on your needs. Until then, you can see these bundles and more in my Etsy shop. Just click on the pictures below . . .</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/235416339/purples-lavenders-yellows-hand-dyed?ref=shop_home_active_12" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDA58HemJEOlZJDoeA6b8NTQdoDuSF0cjYjnelFQ4unz40GE32se9bDSmSLecEKClQZ3h7ndQCxA6TJ1O2sw2YEOpAegHburOGo-XH7RHtwXyWeHbYG0zpf3Y_cLe0p1vmxJy_sWwjMk1/s320/PURPLESYELLOWS-800.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444;">Click to See this Bundle in my Etsy Shop</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">How about vibrant pumpkins, greens and browns? Can you imagine these soft, hand-dyed wools in your next rug hooking or applique project?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/234061871/pumpkins-on-the-vine-hand-dyed-felted?ref=shop_home_active_21" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRM-OYvwDeIWF0rV33xbxL9Zek0TBmFl2GdQsuTM-5ZRqAaCzCg0i1pFNiKnrerPmTZNKuwW93bmo_Xg15VD85K-c9n01VTSXVq7ln6JsH8MRQZi8gJox-IhzNAw7NaesX7lQkvs1IMP4/s320/PUMPKINSONTHEVINE-800.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/234061871/pumpkins-on-the-vine-hand-dyed-felted?ref=shop_home_active_21" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">"Pumpkins on the Vine" Bundle on Etsy</span></a></i></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Earthy browns and greens, anyone? These rich wools are perfect for leaves, stems and backgrounds. And remember, any of the colors you see in these bundles are also available from my <a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/" target="_blank"><b>website</b></a> in generous fat-quarter, half-yard and full-yard sizes . . .</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/234801031/earthy-browns-and-greens-hand-dyed?ref=shop_home_active_11" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKgxvJuPR7aVpG2OIWVv4tUbRMYHWGbWNUhwBpu2rG40jbQngqvkPloINKJFT4U9BaT_k_vSh_hJZEcLwz_Rr2UFuuBsxB4wfW18VYtIx9j3b5EdZwvRVfA2xukXV7xtwPmJaoM1V8574/s320/green.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/234801031/earthy-browns-and-greens-hand-dyed?ref=shop_home_active_11" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">Earthy Browns and Greens Bundle on Etsy</span></a></i></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What are you working on now? A quilt, a hand-hooked rug, punch needle? Are you working with cottons, wools, hand-dyed threads? How does your current project make you feel? I hope you find peace and enjoyment as you hook or stitch, and as I head back to my worktable, I hope this post finds you happy and well. <i>Happy Stitchin'!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <i>xoxo--Melanie</i></span><br />
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<br />Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-42725061755644063082015-06-05T16:41:00.004-06:002015-06-05T16:42:54.320-06:00Blog Re-Design and New Punch Needle Pattern<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My friend, Yvonne Buss of <a href="http://vintageheartprimitives.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Vintage Heart Primitives</b></a>, complains I blog too little, while she is a shining example of how to keep in touch with people who follow her work. Yvonne posts regularly with beautiful pictures of her work, describing in intimate detail how she arrives at ideas for new designs with pictorials from the French countryside or vintage works of art. <i>Sigh.</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So I began to scrutinize my blog, carefully examining my old posts and pictures, wondering as I wandered why I hesitated to post more often. I explained to myself that I was very busy, and that excuse made me feel much better until I realized Yvonne is just as busy. <i>Darn. </i>Then I decided I had trouble finding something to say, but that quickly went by the wayside. <i>Anyone who knows me realizes talking is my first and favorite hobby. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Then it hit me. My blog didn't feel like "home". The colors were all wrong and the logo at the top was garish and boring. I hated all the links and the noise and confusion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So I spent a few days creating a new theme that really rings my bell, so to speak, and I changed the color scheme and the background wallpaper. I whacked out all the messy links and made my posts simple and clear. I used some of my favorite wools for my new logo <i>(what do you think?) . . .</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eXGzRA6wdVGNQ20wBgqAZECH0ZIJlupYRcI_1YZinsU8Bkolb1doPSS9d_6qb2mwsMyjSNH52s5HcOufHF0ted8OH_WVjkYiGfU4he8vSYFGpSm7xOf4kJgdKUscVjKwD7Egwp90ySs5/s1600/LOGOWITHCARD-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eXGzRA6wdVGNQ20wBgqAZECH0ZIJlupYRcI_1YZinsU8Bkolb1doPSS9d_6qb2mwsMyjSNH52s5HcOufHF0ted8OH_WVjkYiGfU4he8vSYFGpSm7xOf4kJgdKUscVjKwD7Egwp90ySs5/s400/LOGOWITHCARD-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>. . . </i>and settled on this yummy new border background that somehow reminds me of blackbirds and apple pie:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMgAK73_vlBMrE2rFXBTEpDzIjFApBvx_OuDtJnUJMVa-sA6Gtpwu6vQ6Hjkqb-H6KkSA0A-bIXJghPtm3FtcAiYEHzd4n9Q0QTcbZrUyG_IKAftZd4_ySGDPSjqHDo0q5NiK4slr9TQ_/s1600/green13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMgAK73_vlBMrE2rFXBTEpDzIjFApBvx_OuDtJnUJMVa-sA6Gtpwu6vQ6Hjkqb-H6KkSA0A-bIXJghPtm3FtcAiYEHzd4n9Q0QTcbZrUyG_IKAftZd4_ySGDPSjqHDo0q5NiK4slr9TQ_/s320/green13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So what do you think? Are you comfortable here? I hope this blog is full of ideas and inspiration and you always leave with more than you came with. So let's get cookin'!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><u style="font-weight: bold;">Do You Enjoy Punch Needle</u><b>?</b> </i>Have you tried it yet? I became acquainted with this hand-art several years ago, but the equipment was crummy and there were few patterns and ideas on the market. Now punch needle is booming, particularly because materials are easier to find and due to the availability of a great punch needle tool, the Ultra-Punch. It used to be called the "Cameo" and it's by far the best punch needle tool on the market. I've tried other brands readily available at my local fabric store </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(Boye, Clover, etc.)</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, but the Ultra-Punch is the only needle I recommend. Why? Because it comes with three needles (small, medium and large), is simple to use, and makes </span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">consistent loops.</i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> In my opinion, no other punch needle on the market makes the same, consistent loops. If you'd like to try the Ultra-Punch, just </span><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/supplies-tools.html" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank"><b>click here</b></a><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and I'll drop one in the mail to you by fassssst delivery. You won't be disappointed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbPfjyiO8iIanx4NKYArqOP97-OR3RlxULLghhxacEfs5sznoGkbUDXZN_pLGEaj2wEgCnhlzuTar2V7RVFphlTE0-56gCoQw30VMAKfvqiG4v6nsG1WLgo0_ITh9dwJtgofBgfpgaO-7/s1600/ULTRAPUNCHNEEDLE-LARGE-72DPI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbPfjyiO8iIanx4NKYArqOP97-OR3RlxULLghhxacEfs5sznoGkbUDXZN_pLGEaj2wEgCnhlzuTar2V7RVFphlTE0-56gCoQw30VMAKfvqiG4v6nsG1WLgo0_ITh9dwJtgofBgfpgaO-7/s400/ULTRAPUNCHNEEDLE-LARGE-72DPI.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Would you like some simple punch needle instruction? Just <a href="http://americanpiedesigns.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-skinny-on-punch-needle-have-you.html" target="_blank"><b>click here</b></a> for the skinny on punch needle. And when you order a punch needle pattern or kit from me, you always get nice, full-color printed instructions on how to punch. See? I want you to leave with more than you came with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><u style="font-weight: bold;">How About a New Design</u><b>? </b> </i>I went crazy last weekend and designed three new punch needle patterns. I wanted something with movement and I was definitely tired of the same old primitive designs with a lamb, a star and a flower. <i>Sigh again.</i> A couple of evenings ago, while the hubby had old western movies blaring, I began punching this sweet little design . . .</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0_QQODBscknD2PzZKDEWSmwexj-Y4SGqSXCIdNLsSiLFFT__iGusk1NSxxxhk1RWv9RHrmfurbE0Flgg5NHL7zOqPPJhzY5ay50mTKnyZD2pDikBUeoG8zmbXIa3bymaHyi5ED0Y74k2/s1600/SDC14259-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0_QQODBscknD2PzZKDEWSmwexj-Y4SGqSXCIdNLsSiLFFT__iGusk1NSxxxhk1RWv9RHrmfurbE0Flgg5NHL7zOqPPJhzY5ay50mTKnyZD2pDikBUeoG8zmbXIa3bymaHyi5ED0Y74k2/s400/SDC14259-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">. . . which I will finish tonight and is yet to be named. I love-love it and will offer it next week on my website and in my Etsy store, drawn on good weavers cloth or as a full kit with over-dyed threads. What do you think? Does it have enough movement? Does it evoke feelings of hot summer and happiness under the sun?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, I'm headed back to my worktable and back to my wools and threads and, yes, my punch needle. I hope this finds you happy and well. Give me a holler and let me know what's going on in your neck of the woods. In the meantime, <i>Happy Stitchin'.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i> --xoxo Melanie</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-27102750348538763212014-08-14T17:10:00.001-06:002015-05-27T16:54:58.681-06:00The Lesson of YOLO [You Only Live Once]<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Had lunch with a good friend yesterday and over our meals of quiche and garden salad, I complained bitterly (and in my whiny voice) about my always-frantic schedule. I'm usually up by 5:00am working on the computer, filling orders or keeping up my bookkeeping responsibilities for my husband's electrical business. Two hours later, it's time for a quick shower and on to my day job in the city, and then back home that evening where my pattern designs, rug hooking and wool dyeing are waiting, not to mention the laundry, vacuuming, a hungry hubby and two schnauzer dogs.</span><br />
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I have to clarify here that even though I am wantonly complaining, there is no way am I willing to give up my day job. I believe a gal needs mad money, and besides, it gives me an excuse to buy clothes.</span><br />
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So it happened that a couple evenings ago, I was in the back yard with the hubby going over the measurements for a small shop so I can dye wool this winter without the rain and snow falling on my head. As Paul concentrated on the measurements for the trusses and roofing materials, I <i>accidentally</i> stretched out on the grass and looked straight up into the blue evening sky. One minute turned into five as I imagined how luxurious it would be to spend summer evenings in our back yard, prone and comfortable under the shade trees or curled up on the patio swing with a glass of iced tea or vino.</span><br />
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And that's when everything snapped and the sky began falling. It wasn't that I was tired of the long hours or my busy schedule, because if there's anything I know about myself, it's that <i>I continue to create this type of life because I enjoy it.</i></span><br />
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I realized in that instant I wasn't tired of hooking rugs or dyeing wool or appliqueing and quilting. No, to the contrary, I spend precious life-hours doing those things because I truly enjoy them. But I also enjoy Jeeping and four-wheeling and our tiny cabin in the woods, and I would certainly enjoy a few minutes now and then to sit on my patio or dig through my berry garden.</span><br />
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And that's how I ended up at lunch with my friend, enjoying some stolen time finished with hot apple pie and vanilla ice cream. As I ranted to her about my busy schedule, all the while fidgeting and twisting my hair all over my head, she suddenly stopped me and said, <i>"What do you love?"</i> In that moment, everything stopped and my mouth dropped open as I pondered her question. She elaborated, <i>"YOLO. It means "You-Only-Live-Once." If you could choose to spend your time doing what you really love, what would it be?"</i> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL59zCZO-TnyM6i0Lm0ZBqnDpYnTsxyl_TpEQqs428mbPM5u6GMq5qA-2-tUhKbYwcfv0CTV-n06xKd8QSA0TRha0TK9VvpmPE_Rkpu0-MufIsr49l1w2_FMRdCeVEc6W5-pYXNuRjeEMb/s1600/13891_772654462791701_3054481661976406906_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL59zCZO-TnyM6i0Lm0ZBqnDpYnTsxyl_TpEQqs428mbPM5u6GMq5qA-2-tUhKbYwcfv0CTV-n06xKd8QSA0TRha0TK9VvpmPE_Rkpu0-MufIsr49l1w2_FMRdCeVEc6W5-pYXNuRjeEMb/s1600/13891_772654462791701_3054481661976406906_n.jpg" width="246" /></span></a></div>
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So I began to ask myself what kinds of things really ring my bell. At the top of my list is Jeeping with my hubby, camping, spending weekends at our rustic cabin, wild trips to Las Vegas and working in my flower and berry gardens. Those things were easy to choose; it has never been hard to decide how to spend my <i>free</i> time. What has come harder to decide is how to spend my <i>business</i> time. <i>What things do I really love?</i> I love designing rug hooking patterns. And wool applique. And dyeing wool and creating punch needle designs. But I don't like getting mired down mailing tons of wool swatches or maintaining mailing lists or dyeing wool at 5:00am in order to meet a self-imposed deadline of releasing six new colors that week. I can name a million things I do each day that are probably not necessary but somehow feel vaguely important.</span><br />
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So my friends, what kinds of things make you happy? Play time with your children? Sewing or rug hooking? Spending time with a good cup of coffee? Think about things you spend life-hours doing that don't ring your bell, and then ask yourself if they are absolutely necessary and what would happen if you discontinue them.</span><br />
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As for me, I'm going to sit down with a glass of cheap vino this weekend and do as my friend suggests--I'm starting a list of the things I really love and things I don't want to continue. I'm going to make time for new rug hooking designs and trash some old ideas that I'm not entirely happy with. I'm going to work in time for my hubby and my berry garden and trips to Las Vegas. Life is short and precious, and it's time to clear out the cobwebs and make time for things that matter.</span><br />
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As my friend says, <i>"Remember </i><i>YOLO." --xoxo, Melanie</i></span>Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-6342356422145012622014-07-15T16:31:00.001-06:002015-06-05T15:08:16.259-06:00The Skinny on Punch Needle - Have You Tried it Yet?<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Have you ever tried punch needle? There's a good amount of instruction on the internet on
this fun craft, and I have to admit I spent a fair amount of time (uh, $$)
following bad instruction. Since we’re friends
here, I want to help you avoid frustration, so I've prepared this little introduction to punch needle. As always, if you have additional questions (and you might), don't hesitate to make a comment on the blog or drop me an email at <a href="mailto:melanie@americanpiedesigns.com"><span style="color: #660000;"><u>melanie@americanpiedesigns.com</u></span></a>.</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/patterns1.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/images/CISFORCAT-340.jpg" height="272" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/patterns1.html" target="_blank">Punch Needle Pattern "C is for Cat" (www.americanpiedesigns.com)</a></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u>Three Little Guidelines</u>:</i></b></span><br />
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I've got three little guidelines I always follow. You'll probably try your own methods and equipment and that's fine, but I bet you'll eventually stop pulling your hair out and come full-swing back to these suggestions:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Number one</u>, you will have a superior result if you use “weavers
cloth” for your punching foundation. Anyone
who tells you to punch on aida cloth, evenweave, muslin or an old sheet isn’t
telling you how much difficulty you are going to have or how crummy your
finished project will look. If your
loops are uneven or missing in places, chances are you are not using weaver’s
cloth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><u>Number two</u>, use an “Ultra-Punch</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">”
brand needle (sometimes called a “Cameo” punch needle). I’ve used Boye, Clover, Dimensions and many
other brands (and I hope I don’t make those nice folks mad), but Ultra-Punch</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> is the only brand I recommend and offer on my website. Why?
Hey, it’s simple--I want my loops to look good!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><u>Number three</u>, don’t try to use
a standard embroidery hoop to hold your foundation cloth--it just doesn't work. Instead, I use an inexpensive Morgan
interlocking hoop. There are also lap frames
made especially for punch needle embroidery which work very well, but they are
more expensive.</span></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">A Little Preparation</span></u><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">:</span></span></b></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Now, the first thing you will notice about a punch needle pattern is it is drawn <u>backwards</u> on the paper or weavers cloth. That’s because you’ll punch from the back side of your project, so the pattern is intentionally “reversed” or is a mirror image of the completed design. Don’t worry, your finished loops will appear on the underside of your hoop or frame and your completed design will look exactly as it's supposed to. Also:</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">I use standard DMC<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-text-raise: 3.0pt; position: relative; top: -3.0pt;">®</span> embroidery floss. You can use the colors shown in whatever pattern you use or you can choose your own color combinations. Embroidery floss is not
expensive and goes a long way in punch needle projects.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">Thread
your needle with 6 strands of embroidery floss (just follow the easy
instructions that come with your punch needle).
Then, I recommend setting your needle in the #2 position (</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">Ultra-Punch</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;"> needles are easy to adjust and lock into position). You can play around with other settings and
see what you think, but I personally love the height of my loops with the
#2 setting.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">Be sure to stretch the
weaver’s cloth drum-tight in your hoop
or frame. The fabric should “thump” when you flick it with your fingertip. To get nice loops, it is essential to
keep the fabric tight at all times. Don’t
worry if your piece of weavers cloth is not big enough to fit your hoop or
frame--just machine stitch some waste fabric to the sides and then stretch it
over your frame. You can cut away
the waste fabric later.</span></li>
</ul>
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<u><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><i><b>So Here We Go!</b></i></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="height: 60px; left: 0px; margin-left: 271px; margin-top: 272px; mso-ignore: vglayout; position: absolute; width: 226px; z-index: 251727870;"></span><!--[endif]--></span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1. You’ll notice the tip of your
punch needle has an open, scooped side. Normally,
the scooped side should face in the direction you want to punch your
stitches, but I often rotate the needle a bit so I am punching with the scooped
side facing sideways (or towards my thumb):</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzFCvSXskkvUNtKYNhDi65RDr0NDMLHAl215BBysLpFo-bCEv9IaWfv-fNonlhKvbFAGZmAcQRk3IN0Al9q8oqgF_0s5rCbOXYIe1bAHNEEXqnKMYxyxEOJqxf3uVWiAuHrWjHxDYFnX0/s1600/PN1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzFCvSXskkvUNtKYNhDi65RDr0NDMLHAl215BBysLpFo-bCEv9IaWfv-fNonlhKvbFAGZmAcQRk3IN0Al9q8oqgF_0s5rCbOXYIe1bAHNEEXqnKMYxyxEOJqxf3uVWiAuHrWjHxDYFnX0/s1600/PN1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Tip of "Ultra-Punch" Brand Punch Needle</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">2. </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">Hold
your punch needle like a pencil and keep it straight up and down (not at an
angle). If you are right-handed, you
should punch from right to left.
If you are left-handed, punch from left to right.</span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWXUmZuXMFjGS50VU-V_WQowNUnrLul4hjV8Njlvo4OJWIWwsjyxbQkYsri_avbweftjKDSWs3-lXxYQe2pME_v5W3m-lw1TE0ht5H5a1Npi97bqbAvddQGEzfvXV_8DfCWJGL-pcxsxS/s1600/PN2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWXUmZuXMFjGS50VU-V_WQowNUnrLul4hjV8Njlvo4OJWIWwsjyxbQkYsri_avbweftjKDSWs3-lXxYQe2pME_v5W3m-lw1TE0ht5H5a1Npi97bqbAvddQGEzfvXV_8DfCWJGL-pcxsxS/s1600/PN2.jpg" width="165" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt; text-indent: 0in;">3. </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt; text-indent: 0in;">The Ultra Punch needle comes with three different size needles: small, medium and large. For my patterns, I use the medium tip. </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">Following the
manufacturer’s instructions, thread the needle with six strands of embroidery floss.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">4. You can start punching anywhere in the design that you like, except always
punch the outline of each shape and then fill it in. To begin, punch your needle down through the
fabric as far as it will go (you will hear a “popping” sound if your fabric is
tight enough in the frame) and slowly pull your needle back up until it barely
emerges from the fabric. <u>Leave a
short 1/4” tail of floss sticking up from your work--don’t worry; this will not
unravel later</u>. Slide the tip over
the fabric by about the width of your needle and punch it down again. Try to keep the tip of the needle in contact
with the fabric at all times. Punch down
through the fabric again, slowly lift, slide, punch, slowly lift, slide, punch .
. . that’s all there is to it! </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt; text-indent: 0in;">Do this until you are familiar
with the movement and then you will pick up speed very quickly. You’ll notice loops forming on the underside
(this is actually the front) and small running stitches appearing on the side facing
you (this is the back). </span></span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj62pJ4midzN8f1mSHVUiZmqdrbTdvv1MnNE30RJGbUf6n4BWWfP9aazEDpQLoE2MhnJ0ukxb8DpqrPpgyBm51LemW4sQhcYrQ8kneDzpZ_ylOclyN7pGroPLvJIM5EGGD7myVrT3ccPtx/s1600/PN3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj62pJ4midzN8f1mSHVUiZmqdrbTdvv1MnNE30RJGbUf6n4BWWfP9aazEDpQLoE2MhnJ0ukxb8DpqrPpgyBm51LemW4sQhcYrQ8kneDzpZ_ylOclyN7pGroPLvJIM5EGGD7myVrT3ccPtx/s1600/PN3.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Punch Down Through Foundation Fabric</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkZZrRGuUtvyens1Q47ZxTmnFT_66mnGURRFbaK1LRd3kEDXSUSN559tX7QIYl3Dis-JYr5rSzjYyTnrz-tZFZ99DGaGxW5-VxVtL1yhdGvwXJcL7mJL6gRv8PB-hD9IspmJdSFMnPJyj/s1600/PN4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkZZrRGuUtvyens1Q47ZxTmnFT_66mnGURRFbaK1LRd3kEDXSUSN559tX7QIYl3Dis-JYr5rSzjYyTnrz-tZFZ99DGaGxW5-VxVtL1yhdGvwXJcL7mJL6gRv8PB-hD9IspmJdSFMnPJyj/s1600/PN4.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Slowly Lift . . .</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhycrNP8kQksR1J2cAJGscaRNK46ZbRzlbLIdhO4YPN-lR4te8RIsUusRzI3XzULedsiBIm0xHv1BRHnkg8cPi8ovR88DFbm6-PYXLvJseowXhBd7u1gSfPsneZ-wQYGrDUZySIlXEHfcN/s1600/PN5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhycrNP8kQksR1J2cAJGscaRNK46ZbRzlbLIdhO4YPN-lR4te8RIsUusRzI3XzULedsiBIm0xHv1BRHnkg8cPi8ovR88DFbm6-PYXLvJseowXhBd7u1gSfPsneZ-wQYGrDUZySIlXEHfcN/s1600/PN5.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Slide . . .</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6hcRRSpulOcn2B4k5zX8vYOkHkBeAsY__f_Kn3kSrnDFLVPV47LeiF_-xYH_ViqGzrWYjFC15MSEAP7j5Nj_dIs5iHKrQ2y4rXLZ7OZS0LGioNCslnDeSjDSW0pH4Xpl5bOj-NaM7_43/s1600/PN6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6hcRRSpulOcn2B4k5zX8vYOkHkBeAsY__f_Kn3kSrnDFLVPV47LeiF_-xYH_ViqGzrWYjFC15MSEAP7j5Nj_dIs5iHKrQ2y4rXLZ7OZS0LGioNCslnDeSjDSW0pH4Xpl5bOj-NaM7_43/s1600/PN6.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Punch Again!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">5. Once you have punched at
least a 1” square, you’ll notice your stitches are beginning to “lock” into
each other on the right side, forming a nice, soft, textured surface where your
stitches will not pull out later.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">6. When you come to the end or want to change thread color, place your fingertip firmly against the last stitch to hold it in place. Pull the needle gently up and away from the fabric and cut the floss, </span><u style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">leaving an approximate 1/4” tail sticking up from your work (this tail will not unravel later</u><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">):</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4mJE-ieCqTy2zhniPirz8Y_eWl8K_GHMjOlu44lV98j_EFbnS6VSKHFy89zRmShVoBnUS7GxMuII7O-pcUqlgXGu4dwd8Ot5Z4vKde6Kp-PExQGojp85e4iU-3juOxyzRZnUJnEHL6fh/s1600/PN7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4mJE-ieCqTy2zhniPirz8Y_eWl8K_GHMjOlu44lV98j_EFbnS6VSKHFy89zRmShVoBnUS7GxMuII7O-pcUqlgXGu4dwd8Ot5Z4vKde6Kp-PExQGojp85e4iU-3juOxyzRZnUJnEHL6fh/s1600/PN7.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<i><b><span style="color: #660000;"><u style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">Tips and Tricks</u><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">:</span></span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">I always begin each project by punching a single row of dense, tightly‑packed loops
around the entire outside border of my design (this frames my project and helps
keep the edges square). Although not
required, I usually continue by punching the shapes that appear in the f</span><u style="text-indent: 0in;">oreground</u><span style="text-indent: 0in;">
first. For example, if a design
has lettering in it, I punch the letters first and then punch the
background. Whatever order you punch the
design, always punch the outline of each shape and then fill it in. The background should be the very last
thing you hook. I usually punch a
couple of rows around everything in the main background color and then a row of
a secondary detail color here and there to add depth and interest to the
background.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">If you reach a
corner or need to change direction, stop with your needle in the down position,
rotate your hoop or frame, and then continue to punch.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">Remember, your stitches should
be about a needle’s width in </span><i style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">length</i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">
and your rows of punching should be about a needle’s width </span><i style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">apart</i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">. If the stitches or rows
are packed much tighter, your finished project will “hump” and the edges will
tend to curl under when you remove your design from the hoop.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">If you are not
happy with a punched row, simply pull out the thread, gently scrape your nail
over the weaver's cloth to close the holes, and re-punch.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">Although
you should usually hold your punch needle straight up and down, there is an
exception when punching a row immediately next to another color. In that case, </span><u style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">slightly angle your needle
down and away from the other row of color</u><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">.
This will minimize the chance the different colors tangle with each
other and will create nice clean shapes on the front side of your project.</span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><i><u><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"><br /></span></u></i></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #660000;"><i><u><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">Finishing Your Punch Needle</span></u><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">:</span></i></span></b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">Sometimes you'll notice some of your loops have tangled with others and
strayed where they shouldn't be. To fix this, take the tip of your punch needle and simply
push the loops around to where you want them. Taking that extra step will make your
lines clear and well‑defined. </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Here is a <u>bad</u> example of colors
tangling with each other . . .</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8rqdU-aSI2YiHXg0jdLOtcPUdD08IzpiLzf_IGvYqNhpV1BiBB4xxxzTRxu_INNrsv-r7vAjTlQ9CXNpeSMuVFv7qgZyaK43G4Yb85ZgY6JDMw7retlqY4yqgVIDqftd5ME3gKB8tw_s/s1600/PN8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8rqdU-aSI2YiHXg0jdLOtcPUdD08IzpiLzf_IGvYqNhpV1BiBB4xxxzTRxu_INNrsv-r7vAjTlQ9CXNpeSMuVFv7qgZyaK43G4Yb85ZgY6JDMw7retlqY4yqgVIDqftd5ME3gKB8tw_s/s1600/PN8.jpg" width="195" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>This looks messy . . .uh, no-no!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">. . . versus the <u>correct way</u> to punch and clean up
your work . . .</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghv7DkB7vqgeJ5_zte1dgQIqK6tfpsuYFe2Thvq2V5Wb_nmE_R1hix_Hib282zgrrx-HuRcMwlZTFQtd40VKFrJn_OrSteLcXt9bw6lqnA4K5lQr1bLD6siIZB0wew5vcr1CIgp3f6j8j1/s1600/PN9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghv7DkB7vqgeJ5_zte1dgQIqK6tfpsuYFe2Thvq2V5Wb_nmE_R1hix_Hib282zgrrx-HuRcMwlZTFQtd40VKFrJn_OrSteLcXt9bw6lqnA4K5lQr1bLD6siIZB0wew5vcr1CIgp3f6j8j1/s1600/PN9.jpg" width="313" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Nice and clean . . . yes-yes!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: -0.2pt; text-indent: 0in;">When
your hooking is complete, remove the design from your hoop. If you have any loops or threads
sticking up too far on the front side, just snip them off with your scissors
(don’t worry, your design will not unravel).</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 22.5pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt;">If
you packed your rows a bit too tight and your project “humps” a little or the
edges tend to curl under, </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">place it <u>face
down</u> on an old terry cloth towel and gently steam the back with an
iron. (Caution: <u>Use more “steam” than
pressure. If you apply much pressure,
your loops will permanently flatten</u>.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 22.5pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<i><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">Finishing Ideas</u><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">:</span></span></b></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3999999761581421px;">Some punchers like to antique their projects and make them look old and worn. One way to do this is to mix two or three tablespoons of instant coffee in hot water and dab it onto your project with a sponge. Allow it to dry and then reapply if you want it darker. If it is too dark, carefully rinse some of the coffee away with cool water and allow your punch needle to air dry.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3999999761581421px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;"><u>If you want to
finish your design as a pillow or pin keep</u></span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-indent: 0in;">,
trim the excess weavers cloth approximately 1” away from your last row of
loops. Place your punch needle </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">face down with right sides together onto muslin or
other fabric you chose for the back.
Stitch the front and back together using a zipper foot on your sewing
machine (a zipper foot will let you stitch as close as possible to the outside
row of punched loops). If you do not
have a zipper foot, get as close as possible to the last row of loops without
getting them caught in your seam line.
Stitch all the way around, leaving about a 2-1/2” opening at the bottom
for turning. Trim the excess fabric to
approximately 1/4” from your stitched seam.
Turn your design right-side-out and stuff it </span><u style="text-indent: 0in;">very firmly</u><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> with
polyester fiberfill. Finish the bottom
by joining the opening together with tiny hidden stitches.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>To finish
your design as a little mat for your table or under a candle</u>, trim the excess weavers cloth approximately 1/2”
away from your last row of hoops. Fold
that seam allowance toward the back side and <u>gently</u> steam press it in
place, being careful not to flatten your loops on the front side. Cut a piece
of wool craft felt the same size as your finished design and pin it to the back. Using a needle and single strand of thread,
whipstitch or blanket stitch around the outside edges.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
I hope this information gets you excited to start your own punch needle project! As always, feel free to leave me a comment or send me an email if you have questions or would like additional info. In the meantime, <i>Happy Stitchin'! xoxo--Melanie</i></span></div>
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Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-40088398349934896992014-04-11T15:24:00.001-06:002015-05-28T13:18:41.017-06:00FREE PATTERN! - Check Out the Jelly Roll Jam Quilt!<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">My town is filled to the brim with springtime tulips, bluebells and forsythia, and I thought now is a good time to share a beautiful FREE quilt pattern for the "Jelly Roll Jam Quilt" developed by Sherri McConnell for </span><a href="http://www.fatquartershop.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><u>The Fat Quarter Shop</u></span></b></a><span style="color: #444444;"> (you can find a link to the pattern near the bottom of this post).</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">Sherri used a "jelly roll" fabric pack called </span><i><u><b><a href="http://www.fatquartershop.com/moda-fabric/giggles-me-my-sister-designs-moda-fabrics/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #660000;">Giggles</span></a></b></u></i><span style="color: #444444;"> by Me & My Sister at Moda, or your can also cut forty 2-1/2-inch wide strips from your favorite Moda fabrics . . .</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Jelly Roll Jam Quilt Pattern by Fat Quarter Shop for Moda</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Jelly Roll Jam Quilt is a shortcut quilt that is fast and easy to assemble and looks bright and full of spring. Don't you agree? It's also a great project to use up small pieces of Moda fabric from your stash! I love Sherri McConnell's fabric selections and combinations, and I think these quilts would look wonderful on a table with a bouquet of flowers or in a child's crib. Here's some up-close pics of two versions of the quilt by Sherri:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Jelly Roll Jam Quilt in Pinks and also Blues</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Close-Up of Jelly Roll Jam Quilt in Pinks and Yellows</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Close-Up of Jelly Roll Jam Quilt in Blues/Greens</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">If you are like me, I always learn better when I can watch a video. If that also applies to you, you can see the video of how to make the Jelly Roll Jam Quilt </span><span style="color: #660000;"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_xW0j_YQQI&feature=c4-overview&list=UU545XVmRhNmi3UBJ7RYid9g" target="_blank">here</a></u>,</span><span style="color: #444444;"> or you can click on the television screen below!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="260" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/L_xW0j_YQQI?feature=player_embedded" width="340"></iframe> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, if you are ready to check out the Jelly Roll Jam Quilt, just click on the image below and get started . . .</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/images/JELLY-ROLL-QUILT-PATTERN.pdf" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHOL2O8cKIMJmyW3XH0ux3wTEZmBELyTyxTmvjeC1StNF9JIMeM_Yledjgw8Qx0LzROwbMxuUmtHTucD9b7BGvjlgUqwZ_hpebm36E8COGGkzHb-k2Ems1go9V1NcpD0oJmkmp5Olr3rO/s1600/JELLY-ROLL-QUILT-PATTERN_Page_1.jpg" width="308" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/images/JELLY-ROLL-QUILT-PATTERN.pdf" target="_blank">Click Here for Free Pattern for "Jelly Roll Jam Quilt"</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope this has inspired you to get excited about a new quilting project, and see how easy it is to use jelly roll fabric packs! I'm headed back to my workroom to pull out some fabrics and see what color combinations will look best for my own Jelly Roll Jam Quilt. In the meantime, <i>Happy Stitchin'!</i> --xoxo, Melanie</span></div>
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Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-68380377863892226182014-04-09T17:15:00.000-06:002015-05-28T13:19:00.432-06:00New Patterns and New Wool!<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In my neck of the world, it's turning into a beautiful spring! There's a street in the old part of town called Harrison Boulevard, which is home to hundred-year-old mansions that line both sides of the road for almost two miles. The center of Harrison Boulevard is neatly divided by manicured islands of grass and trees, and down each side grow tulips, bright yellow forsythia and flowering cherry and plum trees. Our town is encircled by rolling foothills, and higher above, by mountainous peaks. Although here in the valley we're getting temperatures of 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, you can still see snow high above and the area's favorite resort, Bogus Basin, is open and promises powdered slopes for skiers and snowboarders.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">With spring bustin' around me, it's hard not to sneak in a stitch or two on one of my new crochet designs for a cute giraffe you can make for your children or grandkids. Below, you can see the beginnings of his head and fat snout . . .</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">. . . and then his fat belly to which I will add a loooong neck . . .</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">The giraffe will have long legs and arms, and the best part is he is all done in single crochet. The pattern will be available soon for only $4.85 in my other Etsy shop, </span><span style="color: #660000;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/lollypoppers?ref=ss_profile" target="_blank">Lollypoppers</a>,</span><span style="color: #444444;"> and also on my American Pie Website. I'll keep everyone posted when the pattern is completed!</span></span><br />
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<u><span style="color: #660000;"><b>Coming in May: New Line of Hand-Dyed Wools for Rug Hooking and Wool Applique! </b></span></u><span style="color: #444444;">I've been working with a fellow designer, Yvonne Buus of </span><span style="color: #660000;"><a href="http://vintageheartprimitives.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #660000;">Vintage Heart Primitives</span></a>,</span><span style="color: #444444;"> who does incredible rug hooking designs. (If you are a rug hooker, you should check out her patterns--you will feel right at home around her beautiful work!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">Yvonne has encouraged me to release my own signature collection of hand-dyed wool that will appear on my </span><span style="color: #660000;"><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/wool1.html" target="_blank">website</a></span><span style="color: #444444;"> in early May. Most of my collection comes from vintage dye recipes and will be soft, richly colored and consistent. My website will undergo complete reconstruction (which will not please those of you who hate change), and is necessary in order to bring you a great experience when you visit my site. You are going to love the quality and beauty of these hand-dyed wools, and I think you will also like my grand-opening celebration when the wools are released. More about that later!</span></span><br />
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<u><b><span style="color: #660000;">Spring is About Turkey Hunting (Uh, Sorta)!</span></b></u><span style="color: #444444;"> When my hubby and I are done playing in the snow in about a week, we head to the mountains where spring is abundant. My husband hunts turkeys, which he dearly loves, but I always joke I won't hunt that hard for a piece of bird breast. Instead, I spend my days at the motor home with our two schnauzers, watching the creek run by and photographing hen turkeys that walk into camp. Hen turkeys are safe from hunters, so I get really great pics of the huge birds as they strut past my lawn chair. The best part of my hubby's turkey hunting is I get to spend every weekend for six weeks tending the campfire, eating chips and salsa and working on my hooked rugs, punch needle and wool applique! It is a wonderful time for me, as the hubby comes back to camp around evening, just about the time I am ready to start dinner and build up the fire. It's a wonderful way to spend my weekends, and should result in completion of a few more designs I hope you will like.</span></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #660000;">Chairman Meow is Almost Finished!</span></u></b><span style="color: #444444;"> I've posted a couple sneaker pics of my newest rug hooking design, "Chairman Meow", which is loosely based on a grumpy old cat we had for several years. I have the rug about two-thirds complete and hope to release the pattern by the end of this weekend. I love Chairman Meow and think you will enjoy the pattern as much as I do!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">Well, I'm headed back to my worktable, and I hope you have a great week. In the meantime, <i>Happy Stitchin'!</i> --xoxo, Melanie</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-18192456865397356612013-11-22T16:22:00.000-07:002015-05-28T13:19:25.085-06:00New Pattern Releases and This Month's Winners of the Birthday Club!<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I have new rug hooking designs to share with you, along with a cute little 14" standing Santa you can make from wool or wool felt. I mentioned in a <a href="http://americanpiedesigns.blogspot.com/2013/11/for-love-of-pomegranates.html"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><u>previous post</u></span></b></a> how much I loved sharing pomegranates with my mother when I was a child, so I decided to work that wonderful memory into three rug hooking designs for a bench runner, a table mat and a floor rug. These patterns will come to you pre-drawn on either monks cloth or beautiful hairless linen and you can also get them as a complete kit--just click on the pictures for more information. The bench runner works up real fast and the original model is sitting on a pine bench in our hallway. I'm hoping the in-laws will reek with jealousy when when arrive for Thanksgiving.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Just sayin' . . .</span><br />
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The round table mat is on my rug hooking frame right now and I can't wait for it to be done! I think it would look great in the center of a table with a jar candle in the middle? This design is also available pre-drawn as a round candle mat or as a full-size floor rug on monks cloth or linen and also as complete kit (again, just click on the pics if you want details).</span><br />
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</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/143-oldecolonypomegranatefrakturtablemat.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_bjWBmJ-VUnh59T5udE56dL7GdGhu_wEps2tjvC0RfwnfiqKkdJzHzXynSCy9DrvFJNxOzEeWWnHg1YJ4TvfLw8lmpPPezPKT0iK7KcsOET8laCqxyK1gAMDUOtyMKRsmO57aaqx1ZaJ/s400/OLDECOLONYPOMEGRANATEFRAKTURTABLEMAT-1-LARGE-72DPI.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/143-oldecolonypomegranatefrakturtablemat.html" target="_blank"><b>Olde Colony Pomegranate Fraktur Table Mat (14" Round)</b></a></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/142-oldecolonypomegranatefrakturrug.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuGc4GR5qwN0Dwga14LGEQ-ALa2H2P1Pjg6rMdADSBRFl8wm1243gBg-9JrN_eibtZ2Rbio0TUWpZFluvHYQBoGnyHEeKUfRVLZCNlk_KQx7lI8gakYQ9mHyHqcLGifMTk3AfCyl6WXXG/s400/OLDECOLONYPOMEGRANATEFRAKTURRUG-LARGE-72DPI.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/142-oldecolonypomegranatefrakturrug.html" target="_blank"><b>Olde Colony Pomegranate Fraktur Rug (20"x30" Rectangle)</b></a></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I also want to officially introduce "<a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/patterns1.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><u>Belsnickel Christmas</u></b></span></a>" my pattern for a cute 14" standing Santa you can make from wool or wool felt. I released this as a test pattern in my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/americanpiedesigns"><u><b><span style="color: #660000;">Etsy Shop</span></b></u></a> a short time ago and it has done well, so now I think it's time to let everyone have a go at it. All the templates are included in the pattern, as well as instructions for "boxing" his bottom so he'll stand up straight, and I hope you enjoy making him as much as I did!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/140-belsnickelchristmas.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIbaR6KXNs13cbWvJHiAlVInczYz5246kth04Am3ZQrUnyD-pxWCIPIlIB4bVtMbX35CEfDH7XH5rpO8iuqO8wLl0Q-dRoMbU1bHSjFpUZnEN55ZLQZooiX7k0tRO_AlqeyeGYv4keroV/s400/BELSNICKELCHRISTMAS-LARGE-72DPI.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/140-belsnickelchristmas.html" target="_blank"><b>"<u>Belsnickel Christmas</u>" (14" Standing Santa)</b></a></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And now the news you've been waiting for! If you're not already a member of my <a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/join.html" target="_blank" title=""><span style="color: #660000;"><b><u>Birthday Club</u></b></span></a><span style="color: #444444;">, </span>I hope you'll join! You'll receive a <u><b>WHOPPING 25% OFF ALL PATTERNS AND KITS DURING YOUR BIRTHDAY MONTH</b></u><b>! </b> Plus, <u><b>winners are drawn each month</b></u> from all Club Members with a birthday that month! It's <i>sooooo</i> easy to join and costs you absolutely nothing--it's just my way of saying "thank you" to all my friends.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
<b><span style="color: #660000;">So Who Are November's Winners?</span></b> I'm in the holiday mood, so I'm doing an extra-special giveaway in November and December. This month, TWO LUCKY WINNERS have won their choice of (1) <u>any</u> pattern, (2) <u>any</u> kit, or (3) <u>any</u> rug hooking pattern from my <a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><u>website</u></span></b></a>, drawn on their choice of monks cloth or linen! Those winners are Kathryn Worley and Paige Hamblin--congratulations ladies! I'll be running another giveaway for Birthday Club members in early December, so be sure to click <a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/jointheclub.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><u>here</u></span></b></a> to become a member!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
Well, I'm headed back to my worktable. I'm working on a crazy-cute wool applique penny rug that I think you'll love, plus my rug hooking projects are wrestling for attention. I'll bet your life is just as hectic, and I hope you are safe and happy. Until next time, <i>Happy Stitchin'! xoxo--Melanie</i></span>
Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-74270798447994921242013-11-07T13:35:00.000-07:002015-05-28T13:19:37.895-06:00For the Love of Pomegranates . . .<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gal-friends, you have probably figured out I’m a bit
eclectic and compulsive, which is why I jump from one type of handwork to
another. I go from rug hooking one day to working on wool applique the next and
stitching happily away on a quilt two days later. Are you like that too? Or is
your personality a bit more organized, letting you concentrate all your time
and love on one pursuit?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you follow me on <b><span style="color: #660000;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/americanpiedesigns"><u><span style="color: #660000;">Facebook</span></u></a>,</span></b> you know that lately I've been rug
hooking and will be releasing three new designs this weekend, along with a
great giveaway for all my <a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/join.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><u>Birthday Club</u></span></b></a> members. The thing I find different
about rug hooking from all other handwork is that the images we hook usually reflect
strong memories and our favorite things. Rug hookers rarely choose a design
based solely on how cute it is. Instead,
our rugs invoke some special feeling or memory and they often tell a story, like
a small snapshot from our lives. All
three designs I’m releasing this weekend tell a story about my childhood love
of pomegranates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7USp2GY8Isq9zfkhP5NHbUzYFYpNdwyyQyJIUAiGblVc6qtddKOw8U2qZ8GJV456bJW6x9v4LhTujjZKnxDx-DVySF4Mje_B3hHEJhcQRzECoF2QlZukVxiQh0y_2hbeGraKVC1VUPve/s1600/SDC13181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7USp2GY8Isq9zfkhP5NHbUzYFYpNdwyyQyJIUAiGblVc6qtddKOw8U2qZ8GJV456bJW6x9v4LhTujjZKnxDx-DVySF4Mje_B3hHEJhcQRzECoF2QlZukVxiQh0y_2hbeGraKVC1VUPve/s400/SDC13181.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">[Unnamed] Pomegranate Bench Runner</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As I worked along, I remembered how, just after the first
frosts arrived, my mother would bring home deep red pomegranates and share them
with me. We both loved pulling the fruit apart to reveal hundreds of glistening
red jewels that were both sweet and tart, and our fingers and lips became
stained as we popped the tiny orbs into our mouths. My father didn’t share in our appreciation of
this fruit and my husband is the same, so now when I bring home pomegranates I
have the memory all to myself, except for tiny tidbits I am forced to share
with our greedy schnauzers, Lucy and Baxter.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUKO3op07o_cDK30izD9WSCkq2cocVASUGlsThwVYIdgCRJ8ZFUaEbrIrtJSGOnMwefo2DzyuE2V3mhjScnYmBd_kbIIbvc00gLsOsjj4bK2RyRAf5o8c_Xa0B2C045q9dQV9T3fSkIL9/s1600/SDC13187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUKO3op07o_cDK30izD9WSCkq2cocVASUGlsThwVYIdgCRJ8ZFUaEbrIrtJSGOnMwefo2DzyuE2V3mhjScnYmBd_kbIIbvc00gLsOsjj4bK2RyRAf5o8c_Xa0B2C045q9dQV9T3fSkIL9/s400/SDC13187.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">[Unnamed] Pomegranate Bench Runner</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As we create our rugs, our hands busy with the wool and
hook, a sort of deep calm comes over us where our thoughts are allowed to travel
and memories are beckoned. I don’t think
of worries or bills while I hook; instead, my mind often moves to things that make
me happy, such as my parents’ love, my home and marriage, and the warmth of the
fire and hot tea I am sharing while I hook.
I think this mental “wandering” that takes place when we hook is what
attracts us to this hand-art, more so than the mere desire to create something
that will decorate our walls and floors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What kinds of rug designs do you hook? Can you see bits and
parts of yourself in your rugs? I bet if you’re hooking a rug with animals, you
or someone you love has strong attachments to our natural world of flora and
fauna, and if you’re hooking a homestead with fields and flowers, it invokes
memories or desires for the comforts and safety of home. I believe we are what we hook, and that is
why once we begin rug hooking, it is a hand-art we naturally return to again
and again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, I’m headed back to my worktable to finish my hooked
rug bench runner and put the finishing touches on my November giveaway that starts
this weekend. Since we’re revving up for
the holidays here in the US, my November and December giveaways are going to
be extra special and you won’t want to miss out. If you haven’t done so
already, I hope you’ll join my <a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/jointheclub.html"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><u>American Pie Birthday Club</u></b></span></a> so you are
automatically entered to win. In the
meantime, drop me a comment and <i>Happy
Stitchin’. xoxo--Melanie <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<br /></div>
Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-82521697840714101832013-11-04T06:14:00.000-07:002015-05-28T13:19:58.346-06:00Rug Hooking: Choosing the Right Backing for Your Next Project!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">I’ll
admit choosing which backing to use for your rug hooking project can be
daunting. Rug hookers use all types of
backing materials with names like burlap, Scottish burlap, monks cloth, linen
and rug warp, and to further complicate things, some terms used to describe the
backing materials are used interchangeably.
In the beginning, I didn’t know what all those names meant,
and with some backings costing upwards of $25-$27 a yard, I didn’t want to make
any mistakes! In addition to my
confusion over different weaves and levels of coarseness, I also became
confused by the multitude of colors that backings come in, ranging from white
to tan and gray, as well as the words used to describe those colors, such as
bleached, natural and unbleached. I
worried I might not be using the “right” backing and my work would look
amateurish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">So, I
scoured the internet and books on rug hooking, ran polls on Facebook, and even
emailed rug designers to ask what everyone was using. Do you know what I found? <i>There’s
no right answer! </i> That’s right,
you’re not doing anything wrong by picking monks cloth over linen, or picking rug
warp over Scottish burlap. There are
pros and cons to each type of backing, including how much you invest and where
you intend to display your finished piece, but there are no hard and fast <i>“rules”!</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOfufmwV2UOVlIBjmsCCLGj__FgZlHU6aEkiBGTbqDUT0V23GS3sxi1wb3jmbEAnP1RbZuN4jocn_a0NbZ2sj9ibKSAfgEd4guHpLlzLmh7xIR18UNrsQLZaGwtB7YMgXUIO8hrg7QbdL/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOfufmwV2UOVlIBjmsCCLGj__FgZlHU6aEkiBGTbqDUT0V23GS3sxi1wb3jmbEAnP1RbZuN4jocn_a0NbZ2sj9ibKSAfgEd4guHpLlzLmh7xIR18UNrsQLZaGwtB7YMgXUIO8hrg7QbdL/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 8pt; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;">Scottish Burlap in Tan
and Gray (Foreground) and 100% Linen (Background)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">So where
do you begin? How do you choose? Let’s take a look at the good, the bad and
the ugly of the most popular types of backing for your hooked rug:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><i>Burlap, Natural Burlap, Angus Burlap, Root Ball Burlap</i>:</span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Many rug hookers
begin with this type of backing because it is inexpensive (about $3 to $6 a
yard) and can be found at Walmart and other department stores. It is made from jute and is nearly identical
to burlap used for feed sacks, which incidentally, colonial women often used
for backing material. There are several different grades; for
example, angus burlap is made with a flatter fiber and has a more uneven weave
and Scotch or Scottish burlap is woven with a rounder fiber and is more
consistently even.<span class="apple-converted-space"> Burlap is often used for </span>primitive
hooking (meaning hooking with wool strips that are at least 1/4” wide). It is very coarse and rough to the feel, and
the threads, sizing, space and coloration are often irregular. Obviously, since feed sacks were not designed
to last forever, rugs made with burlap backing sometimes disintegrated over
time and as a result, very few of the rugs hooked during colonial times are
still around today. If you are making a
rug you want to last a long time or which will receive considerable wear, you
may want to choose a different backing material.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pbWH9gdonP5jq9UoyXyZKIETjTPz9NLdeaUjPxtITgjIfhr0Bd3kZoJMeok2pJHeE8gS82CNEMv0ccaqJNayAOLUDZwJ3iC3XPQhFStIjdGVxnL78jgZLWQbL9EOUgueSCW5YmPGx_V4/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pbWH9gdonP5jq9UoyXyZKIETjTPz9NLdeaUjPxtITgjIfhr0Bd3kZoJMeok2pJHeE8gS82CNEMv0ccaqJNayAOLUDZwJ3iC3XPQhFStIjdGVxnL78jgZLWQbL9EOUgueSCW5YmPGx_V4/s400/2.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Burlap; Natural Burlap; Angus Burlap; Root Ball Burlap</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><u><br /></u></span></b>
<b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><u>Scotch Burlap, Scottish
Burlap, Premium Scottish Burlap</u>: </span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Also made from jute but
much better quality than angus or root ball burlap, this backing is usually
available in 48” and 60” widths and is easy to use and economical
(approximately $15 to $17 a yard for 60” widths). The threads are pretty much uniform and it is
a stable backing. This backing is
popular with rug hookers and works well for primitive hooking (hooking with
wool strips that are at least 1/4” wide), is rough to the feel and "sheds"
little fibers. It comes in colors
ranging from light tan to off-white and gray.
If you are confused as to whether you are getting Scottish burlap, ask
your supplier about the feel and texture of the backing--it should be somewhat rough
to the feel and “shed” little fibers. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.75in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjru0mch4TVJJgmfVqJM6vFkcYBcupbTbowRm5vxjwsQ37Mk4X14TEvvt0joo9_6V-5AJ6Y8CvGeVLKcxb7Vxapcu13QP6LF7idqkYoRViMHqYbwCZ0hFp0S_ZPftjUdqEmFASiUWgQ3osk/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjru0mch4TVJJgmfVqJM6vFkcYBcupbTbowRm5vxjwsQ37Mk4X14TEvvt0joo9_6V-5AJ6Y8CvGeVLKcxb7Vxapcu13QP6LF7idqkYoRViMHqYbwCZ0hFp0S_ZPftjUdqEmFASiUWgQ3osk/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Scotch Burlap; Scottish Burlap; Premium Scottish Burlap</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><u><br /></u></span></b>
<b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><u>Monks Cloth</u>:</span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Made of cotton, this backing is very popular
with rug hookers because it is good quality and economical. It stretches more than burlap, so you
can pull it tightly across your rug hooking frame. If you hook without a frame, this backing can
be more of a challenge for the beginner.
It is stronger and more durable than burlap, and is soft and pliable. It has an even weave and is available in
widths from 72” to 144”. It does not
“shed” little fibers as you work. Unfortunately,
huck weaving cloth is sometimes sold as monks cloth, but you can tell the
difference by the “grid” thread woven at regular intervals in monks cloth (see
the white line woven into the monks cloth in the photo?). With monks cloth, it is essential to give
your piece a good iron steaming when finished so it lays flat, particularly if
you pack your hooking a little tight. You
can use monk's cloth for fine or primitive hooking and it sells for approximately
$15 to $17 a yard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIYh3IdEI4N2OgHz2fgyUJntF7w-76EAoktQAHkyE8EubpfqLt2MHJoURTbW2UaUmjnR1468HLDWqh2QDXcL6FUzy8KWpxSuGadXgKjdVAB8zXIB1MIurPuWjYh-5GhwftPWxbwGmX0oM/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIYh3IdEI4N2OgHz2fgyUJntF7w-76EAoktQAHkyE8EubpfqLt2MHJoURTbW2UaUmjnR1468HLDWqh2QDXcL6FUzy8KWpxSuGadXgKjdVAB8zXIB1MIurPuWjYh-5GhwftPWxbwGmX0oM/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Monks Cloth with its Characteristic White "Grid" Thread</span></i></td></tr>
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<b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><u><br /></u></span></b>
<b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><u>Rug Warp, Rug Warp Cloth</u>: </span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Woven with single strands of tightly twisted 100%
cotton, it resembles woven string. Rug
warp is one of the heaviest backings available for rug hooking, which can be a disadvantage, especially when working
on a large piece. It enables you to hook with both wide and narrow strips
of wool or yarn, and suppliers state it allows you to hook without
skipping spaces. Although rug warp is a
good quality backing and exceptionally strong, it is heavy. Some rug hookers prefer the weight, as they
claim it won’t allow their rugs to buckle or ripple. Rug warp usually comes in 60” widths for
about $20 a yard.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqaDcNEvdC-onI5emDyFADTPE_e2HvOAJcxHTEkn_3ymaz8-0otWtkUNAl5QeL2Oom1iSwuxHR61sdY3ouj-xoO39B51h6Hc2frMnQREzANsBFtGLOjBm4qP3Ye25-7U2fQPbAkZO1xN9/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqaDcNEvdC-onI5emDyFADTPE_e2HvOAJcxHTEkn_3ymaz8-0otWtkUNAl5QeL2Oom1iSwuxHR61sdY3ouj-xoO39B51h6Hc2frMnQREzANsBFtGLOjBm4qP3Ye25-7U2fQPbAkZO1xN9/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Rug Warp; Rug Warp Cloth</i></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><u><br /></u></span></b>
<b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><u>Linen, Scottish Linen,
Natural Linen</u>: </span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Linen is the most expensive of the backing fabrics and can be
found bleached (off-white) and unbleached (tan or grayish). It is usually sold in 60” widths for for
$25 to $27 a yard. It is an even-weave
material that enables you to hook with both wide and narrow strips of wool. It is very strong, soft, flexible and easy to
work with. You will notice a quality
difference immediately if you place it against Scottish burlap, and many rug
hookers refuse to hook on anything but linen.
Most experienced rug hookers claim it will probably outlast other
backings. In my experience, good quality
linen is very soft, does not shed a great deal and has a slight “sheen” to
it (if your linen is not soft and
relatively smooth, you may have received an inferior sample or the supplier has
it confused with Scottish burlap). Linen
can “beard”, meaning small fibers may
poke to the top of your work while hooking, which is especially noticeable when
hooking with darker wools. These fibers
may be simply trimmed with scissors or picked off with a pair of tweezers. Do not store linen folded, as folds can
weaken and split the fibers over a period of time (it is best to roll it on a
tube for storage).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-_vbcYKQ4Xfs9hRQK0ab6oEzL2Ov_Z0Xk-MIuUVFvlta8U94mxP4RQhsVGofkbaRDBVsZm-T2c5yWwN3tegoqxJoteWxZj89SlBVSLqqCrrUOSAotR8cSXRovuCH4uiMU_EA2tLLbpQK/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-_vbcYKQ4Xfs9hRQK0ab6oEzL2Ov_Z0Xk-MIuUVFvlta8U94mxP4RQhsVGofkbaRDBVsZm-T2c5yWwN3tegoqxJoteWxZj89SlBVSLqqCrrUOSAotR8cSXRovuCH4uiMU_EA2tLLbpQK/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Linen; Scottish Linen; Natural Linen</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I hope this helps clear the muddy water so you can choose the right type of backing for your next rug hooking project. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions, or leave me a comment if you'd just like to say "hi!" In the meantime, <i>Happy Stitchin'! xoxo--Melanie</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-24178643196151018312013-10-07T12:49:00.003-06:002015-05-28T13:20:09.169-06:00October Winner and a Brand New Newsletter from American Pie!<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And the winner is . . . <b>Karrie Milheim</b>, who hails from Florida! Karrie has won her choice of my "<a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/patterns1.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><u>Ghoultime Friends</u></b></span></a>" or "<a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/patterns1.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><u>Snow Days</u></b></span></a>" kit, which comes complete with the full pattern and all the National Nonwovens Woolfelt she needs to complete her project!</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCi-Jk_0fYZsXGZKfOm5leGJu1B8k0rDQfZG5uIKCckvUxkLNmjcVtTyR5CyI7wT8h7tTjMAwsCgAQS6hqw6_-RL90tMs_cbaQ3InUpa5vFwKHQGjBSTzh85_3MpWRCg-GBnSFGsqwEpXw/s1600/GF-SD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCi-Jk_0fYZsXGZKfOm5leGJu1B8k0rDQfZG5uIKCckvUxkLNmjcVtTyR5CyI7wT8h7tTjMAwsCgAQS6hqw6_-RL90tMs_cbaQ3InUpa5vFwKHQGjBSTzh85_3MpWRCg-GBnSFGsqwEpXw/s400/GF-SD.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>"Ghoultime Friends" "Snow Days" </i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Karrie is a member of my <a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/join.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><u>American Pie Birthday Club</u></b></span></a>, so she is automatically entered to win in my monthly giveaways, plus she gets a coupon for 25 PERCENT OFF anything on my website during her birthday month. This giveaway was also open to all "likers" of my Facebook page, "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/americanpiedesigns"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><u>American Pie Designs</u></b></span></a>", so just remember, you've got to enter to win.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Members of my Birthday Club also receive my new newsletter that contains special monthly coupons for discounts on patterns and kits, as well as links to free patterns by special "Guest Designers". My October 1 newsletter contained a code for 15% OFF your purchase, plus a free pattern from Hayley Crouse of Welcome to the Mouse House for appliqued towels. If you haven't joined my Birthday Club, there's no "downside", because I don't share your information with anyone else, you get discounts and free patterns, and you are always automatically entered to win my monthly giveaways. I hope you'll join!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87h8j80E663LG8ILSsMlADbWYvGmmn0Khokqz_QUaYptcRJfmwTRZbZwB5hgFvY-vyRQ2xulqhOBYxNtYLz_3AZXDrQEUUM5MCXt2RlxH5vMSpx9LFivrWxN9yZmaismU6b2wrw-a8m3y/s1600/junk_Page_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87h8j80E663LG8ILSsMlADbWYvGmmn0Khokqz_QUaYptcRJfmwTRZbZwB5hgFvY-vyRQ2xulqhOBYxNtYLz_3AZXDrQEUUM5MCXt2RlxH5vMSpx9LFivrWxN9yZmaismU6b2wrw-a8m3y/s400/junk_Page_1.jpg" width="306" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Sample October Newsletter from American Pie!</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span>
<span style="color: #660000;"><b><u>So What's Coming Next</u>?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My rug-hooking friends will be pleased to know I'm breaking my long rug-hooking hiatus and releasing three new designs during the first week of November. The designs (a rug, a bench runner and a table mat) will all be offered pre-drawn on linen or monks cloth and will also be offered as kits, complete with all the wonderful hand-dyed wool you need to finish the project. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Well, I'm back to the drawing board, gal-friends, and in the meantime, <i>Happy Stitchin'! --xoxo--Melanie</i></span><br />
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Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-7637296093044211812013-10-04T11:13:00.000-06:002014-07-15T17:00:52.090-06:00Want Great Hand-Dyed Wool?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>NEWS UPDATE (June, 2014): </b> I'm sorry, gals, but Christy Mason, who was previously showcased in this blog post, encountered some health problems this spring. I wish her the best of luck and full recovery. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, I got busy with the dye pot and introduced a line of beautiful hand-dyed wools you can find on my website at<span style="color: #660000;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="color: #660000;"><b><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/wool1.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/wool1.html</a>.</b></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Visit me to see samples of "Some Like it Hot", "Red Riding Hood" or "No Moon Tonight" and many other colors, or email me for free swatches!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-79773008818460960632013-09-17T22:22:00.001-06:002014-07-15T17:02:08.281-06:00Two New Projects That Combine 100% Wool and National Nonwovens Woolfelt!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you like to work with wool or woolfelt? I certainly do! You might remember from some of my earlier
posts that I have trouble choosing which to use for my projects, since I love
the luxurious feel and colors associated with hand-dyed 100% wool, but am also
crazy excited when I get to work with National Nonwovens Woolfelt</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">®</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (sometimes
referred to as “craft felt” in your local fabric store). Both 100% wool and Woolfelt have their own </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">benefits and drawbacks, and I know I'm not alone when I have trouble
choosing!</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;"><u>What's the Difference Between Wool and Woolfelt</u>?</span></b><span style="color: #444444;">
When I buy hand-dyed 100% wool, it comes pre-felted. That means the wool was
placed in a warm or hot bath and then dried (usually in a dryer). This
causes the wool to shrink or "felt", as the industry calls it.
The "felted" wool can now be cut for rug hooking, quilts,
applique templates and just about anything, because it can no longer fray.
That's wonderful, because now you don't have to worry about turning the
edges under, which opens up a whole world of creative possibilities. </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There
are many advantages to using 100% wool, and the most important are (1)
unlimited color possibilities and natural mottling variations, (2) durability,
and (3) it is washable. Once wool has been properly felted, you don't have to
worry about further shrinking, so you can wash it and give it a little steaming
to return your project to brand new. The main disadvantage is hand-dyed 100%
wool is expensive and can ultimately run $30 to $50 a yard depending on where
you get it. However, if I am working on an heirloom project that I want to last
for 300 years, then 100% wool is my choice.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rWkMZbYGDWsaSnGh6hBnUkw41SefmM82qKnxESaz9kN6OdxN0yWM8vb1u11kxIIKJYnFU5gARJH5O50Fl2OlIUHFYegakqNsW0c0DgLucFW685WFajraHoH6ny6L6sHeVFNCStpz57Y7/s1600/SORBET+BUNDLE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rWkMZbYGDWsaSnGh6hBnUkw41SefmM82qKnxESaz9kN6OdxN0yWM8vb1u11kxIIKJYnFU5gARJH5O50Fl2OlIUHFYegakqNsW0c0DgLucFW685WFajraHoH6ny6L6sHeVFNCStpz57Y7/s400/SORBET+BUNDLE.jpg" height="400" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Sorbet Bundle by Bunnyhill Designs<br />(www.bunnyhilldesigns.com)</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><u>Woolfelt
is a Whole Different Animal</u>!</span></b><span style="color: #444444;"> Here in the United
States, woolfelt is manufactured primarily by National Nonwovens in
Massachusetts. There are many retail distributors of woolfelt, one of
which is </span><a href="http://www.commonwealthfelt.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><i><u>Commonwealth Felt</u></i></span></b></a><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #444444;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;"><span class="apple-converted-space">(if you are buying in large quantities)</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and another is</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #444444;"> </span><a href="http://www.woolfeltcentral.com/" style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><i><u>Woolfelt Central</u></i></a><b style="color: #990000;"> </b><span style="color: #444444;">(a perfect source for smaller quantities). The woolfelt I use is a 20/80 blend or 35/65 blend of wool and
rayon. The advantages are (1) it is inexpensive, (2) it comes in lots of
delicious colors, and (3) it is already felted and ready to use. Unfortunately, woolfelt
should not be put in a washing machine and is not suitable for projects that
will get heavy use in your home, like a bed quilt or a hooked rug.
However, woolfelt is great for table runners, candle mats, wall quilts, penny
rugs, etc!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRi7fakhufZqXrzzAY4JYQMm9mXwoS26UVlJNf1YMYVuByDhZGzXKZy01BB_hmjyZB3nWIj2w46Wa9UVSm-1NoJEOsw3RYob81f2_CSCRdxhDwGYaF3uR-d6oaMCHD83lEp6IdIk_p0ELk/s1600/AUTUMN+ACCENTS+-+NATIONAL+NONWOVENS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRi7fakhufZqXrzzAY4JYQMm9mXwoS26UVlJNf1YMYVuByDhZGzXKZy01BB_hmjyZB3nWIj2w46Wa9UVSm-1NoJEOsw3RYob81f2_CSCRdxhDwGYaF3uR-d6oaMCHD83lEp6IdIk_p0ELk/s320/AUTUMN+ACCENTS+-+NATIONAL+NONWOVENS.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Autumn Accents by National Nonwovens</i></span></td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #990000;">Woolfelt for Quilting!</span></span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> Yes, that’s right—I love to combine fabrics
and wools together in the same project! One
of my newest designs, </span><i><b><span style="color: #990000;">“</span><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/patterns1.html" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #660000;">Bee-Haven</span></u></a><span style="color: #990000;">”,</span></b></i><span style="color: #444444;"> is a cute little 17” x 19” table quilt/candle
mat which combines my love of quilting fabrics with National Nonwovens Woolfelt</span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">®</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. No matter if you’re an experienced quilter or
a beginner, because you’re sure to learn something new with this easy
project. It’s embellished with lots of
fun embroidery stitches, and my pattern goes into full detail on how to
complete the stitches, together with easy diagrams. I have to admit I had so much fun making this
quilt that I was disappointed when it was time to call it quilts and lay it out
on my entryway table!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnORHl9_0qaaS6GGk9XubbI2XQ1bcLDNyPbZoywVwwl4pX6yDez2fMO8QtXvofbf_O5_l9dGiUc1X8iqmQ4fPzwL5VCtuXcvki0ZPksNKbFELtnG-3kFc2pmfN-dVMIGIeIXHIvgqnpRDO/s1600/PATTERN+PHOTO+(REDUCED+TO+800X600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnORHl9_0qaaS6GGk9XubbI2XQ1bcLDNyPbZoywVwwl4pX6yDez2fMO8QtXvofbf_O5_l9dGiUc1X8iqmQ4fPzwL5VCtuXcvki0ZPksNKbFELtnG-3kFc2pmfN-dVMIGIeIXHIvgqnpRDO/s400/PATTERN+PHOTO+(REDUCED+TO+800X600).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>"Bee-Haven" by American Pie Designs<br />(www.americanpiedesigns.com)</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #990000;"><u>How About Combining 100% Wool
with Woolfelt</u>?</span></span></b><span style="color: #444444;"> I couldn’t
find any reason not to combine both of my favorite materials, 100% hand-dyed
wools and National Nonwovens® woolfelt, in the same project. Check out my new pattern, </span><i><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/patterns1.html" target="_blank"><b><u><span style="color: #660000;">“Ghoultime Friends”</span></u></b></a><span style="color: #990000;">,</span></i><span style="color: #444444;">
a cute little 16” candle mat that combines wool with woolfelt in the same great
project. Woolfelt was the perfect choice
for the background and backing for the mat, because it has a wonderful texture
and is inexpensive to use for large areas.
I switched to 100% hand-dyed wool for the skeleton, pumpkin, vampire and
Halloween cat, and was very pleased with the result! Again, my pattern explains the decorative stitches
in full detail, and the best part is you don’t need a sewing machine to
complete your project. You can get the
pattern alone or you can also get it in a kit with all the National Nonwovens Woolfelt</span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">®</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> you’ll need to complete your own “Ghoultime Friends”!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYl_hOnJfSQ8WeaUMuUMIyTnwK5TG5Q6T6u-GAUV3i2g63zbEStfr3VqRAfMAq-gZ_-4-rv9YyF0cs-teQPR-4M-yyGztAUW7J0WNoVvhDNfS-fmYmpaP1mFmfyB__WhVGhHT2ktK72RH/s1600/GHOULTIMEFRIENDS-LARGE-72DPI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYl_hOnJfSQ8WeaUMuUMIyTnwK5TG5Q6T6u-GAUV3i2g63zbEStfr3VqRAfMAq-gZ_-4-rv9YyF0cs-teQPR-4M-yyGztAUW7J0WNoVvhDNfS-fmYmpaP1mFmfyB__WhVGhHT2ktK72RH/s400/GHOULTIMEFRIENDS-LARGE-72DPI.jpg" height="400" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>"Ghoultime Friends" by American Pie Designs<br />(www.americanpiedesigns.com)</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We’ll, gal-friends, I’m back to the drawin’ board working on
new ideas on how to combine fabrics with wool and woolfelt, and I’ve also got a
hooked rug design running around my head.
Don’t forget to drop me a line or a comment, and I hope your week is
busy and bright! In the meantime, </span><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Stitchin’! xoxo--Melanie</span></i></div>
Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-79363161619836769232013-07-27T05:50:00.001-06:002014-07-15T17:03:42.129-06:00How to Make Decorative Embroidery Stitches for Quilts and Applique<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></i></span></u></b><b><u><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">This is Part One (additional tutorials follow next week) - for a printable version, </span><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/DECORATIVE%20STITCHES%20-%20PART%20ONE%20TUTORIAL%20(PDF).pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #990000;"><u>click here</u></span></a></span></i></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Have you ever been
reluctant to try a project that features decorative stitches or
hand-embellishing because you weren’t sure how to do the stitches? If so, you’ve been missing out! Decorative stitches are fun and easy, and
I’ve often said that embellishing is my favorite part of creating a new design. Decorative stitches only <i>look</i> complicated, but we’re going to break them down into
individual steps so it’s just a matter of bringing your needle up at one point
and down at another. Before long, you’ll
be happily stitching away and your friends will want to know how you do it! But first, let’s quickly cover the types of
threads to use:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFRNtsP1LTf-Mza03PP0ce5cmF4gA0IjZpj8QYjbwfZRscr_0UfFrVUWSgffapiNF6EN1DtNuM5d18MYdZ9bYMVyO0n4gokLlxObh4DfDU9tx2jj4R8KksV14w6n0sbJVzk8ON1KLV3q1/s1600/FLOSS+PIC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFRNtsP1LTf-Mza03PP0ce5cmF4gA0IjZpj8QYjbwfZRscr_0UfFrVUWSgffapiNF6EN1DtNuM5d18MYdZ9bYMVyO0n4gokLlxObh4DfDU9tx2jj4R8KksV14w6n0sbJVzk8ON1KLV3q1/s400/FLOSS+PIC.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.666666984558105px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Hand-Dyed Embroidery Threads by Barefoot Shepherdess</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Threads come in all
types of fibers, including cotton, wool, polyester and silk, to name a
few. You can also use metallic threads,
yarn and just about anything you can string through the eye of a needle. I’ve been asked many times what threads I use
for my patterns, so here’s my secret: I
use plain old embroidery floss I buy at my local craft or fabric store (yep,
that’s as secret it gets). I use
embroidery floss because it’s cheap, comes in a gazillion colors and creates a beautiful
result, but mostly because I already have a huge basket of it in my
workroom. Now, I’ll admit I sometimes
get a little fancy and use hand-dyed embroidery floss or lovely threads by
Valdini like you’ll see below, but I usually stick to whatever is in my floss
basket. If you’d like to learn how to
dye your own embroidery floss (called “overdyeing”), you can find a nice
tutorial on my blog at </span><a href="http://americanpiedesigns.blogspot.com/2013/02/new-tutorial-how-to-over-dye-embroidery.html"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><u>http://americanpiedesigns.blogspot.com/2013/02/new-tutorial-how-to-over-dye-embroidery.html</u></b></span></a><span style="color: #444444;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRdUgjQgJAbpW-w1XdFiGmAWsP-0dRD9RhJIwtwPK66mBtchA57IoRZmAJ3jfPWZxdOFvnNe_obPPnTj4mxxqa9zvGVY2SC3S-kN20Dksnq6EdqBXZQkxveDRBTuT08oRBzJCp6KiBmlV/s1600/VALDINI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRdUgjQgJAbpW-w1XdFiGmAWsP-0dRD9RhJIwtwPK66mBtchA57IoRZmAJ3jfPWZxdOFvnNe_obPPnTj4mxxqa9zvGVY2SC3S-kN20Dksnq6EdqBXZQkxveDRBTuT08oRBzJCp6KiBmlV/s400/VALDINI.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Valdini Threads</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u>So
Let’s Get to It</u>!</b><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span><span style="color: #444444; text-align: left;">There
are hundreds of decorative stitches, but they all boil down to several basic
stitches that are worked with slight variations. We’re going to start with seven of the most
popular, and then I’ll show you more stitches in later tutorials coming next </span><span style="color: #444444; text-align: left;">week:</span></span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Basic
Running Stitch</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back
Stitch</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blanket
Stitch (also known as the Buttonhole Stitch)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">French
Knot</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cross
Stitch</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Herringbone
Stitch</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daisy
Chain (Daisy Stitch; Lazy Daisy; Chain Stitch)</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="color: #444444;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Basic Running Stitch</span></u></i><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: </span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> This is probably the easiest
decorative stitch to learn. It can be
worked in straight or curved lines and is used for outlining and making stems and
vines. Bring your needle up from
underneath. Next, weave the needle in
and out of the fabric, taking two or three evenly-spaced stitches. Pull the needle through and repeat as
desired. If I am working with a quilt or
other material where I am stitching through layers, I like to make one stitch
at a time, rather than loading two or three stitches on my needle at once. Stitching one stitch at a time makes each
stitch look fuller and more finished.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnxPEM0Y7s-6z2sy3vMGZBz_Xgj2b4VFnMkh1FppPsaIQ3QbXC6uF_iSjZrOCT48gzRBcbCN_JTeEHVLEUBWxVISHPJ0RutwMFvdnjBHTFaH4GrF-s-XReaCKZvCvD-nxZf6zl9UNErEI/s1600/RUNNING+STITCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnxPEM0Y7s-6z2sy3vMGZBz_Xgj2b4VFnMkh1FppPsaIQ3QbXC6uF_iSjZrOCT48gzRBcbCN_JTeEHVLEUBWxVISHPJ0RutwMFvdnjBHTFaH4GrF-s-XReaCKZvCvD-nxZf6zl9UNErEI/s200/RUNNING+STITCH.jpg" height="123" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Running Stitch</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="color: #444444;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Back Stitch</span></u></i><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">:</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> This stitch is a variation of the basic
running stitch. I use it for outlining,
making stems and vines and anywhere that I want a bolder line. Bring your needle up at A, down at B and back
up again at C. Pull the needle through
and repeat as desired.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8suL9vtErZcTv1xneQ3ay-P4igdCRg827ebSb8IxKxcAVNXVQkbGSJB4kqoHRKHoXbn9o-Bq6pXi_1Sp9YL2bSqMVQkIFrNuGfpkQFiY5sTvLwSfKo3LQtLbSik-jot61MIN6TJc8y2m/s1600/BACK+STITCH+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8suL9vtErZcTv1xneQ3ay-P4igdCRg827ebSb8IxKxcAVNXVQkbGSJB4kqoHRKHoXbn9o-Bq6pXi_1Sp9YL2bSqMVQkIFrNuGfpkQFiY5sTvLwSfKo3LQtLbSik-jot61MIN6TJc8y2m/s200/BACK+STITCH+2.jpg" height="100" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Back Stitch</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="color: #444444;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Blanket Stitch (also known as the Buttonhole Stitch)</span></u></i><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: </span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> This popular stitch is often used
to finish the edges of baby blankets and when appliqueing on wool. When worked with small stitches, it can also
be used for outlining. The stitch is
worked from left to right. For a
standard-size stitch, bring your needle up from underneath at the edge of your
patch or template. Move to the right
approximately 1/4”. Push your needle
back down through both the patch and the background at a point about 1/4” from
the edge of the patch and back up again at the edge of the patch. Be sure to loop the thread under the needle
as you complete this stitch. Each stitch
should be about the same length and distance apart. Remember, you can vary the size and width of
your stitch depending on your project.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKazfOHXQRh4_JFJRr1Ik1lRb3sZQtQcyvichwrmf1yDEOdvYuQvqK_nsuh4U6OEY6icbkaurdu4yeNDHPADs_d200Parf2IHKHkYVSM_FdNbviCp0WG1AxtxmHs0l7dEYwohnDgSRfW9/s1600/BLANKET-STITCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKazfOHXQRh4_JFJRr1Ik1lRb3sZQtQcyvichwrmf1yDEOdvYuQvqK_nsuh4U6OEY6icbkaurdu4yeNDHPADs_d200Parf2IHKHkYVSM_FdNbviCp0WG1AxtxmHs0l7dEYwohnDgSRfW9/s1600/BLANKET-STITCH.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Blanket Stitch</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="color: #444444;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">French Knot</span></u></i><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">:</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> I use french knots for flower centers, bird’s
eyes, etc. It can also be used in
clusters and worked close together to fill an area, which will produce a
textured, nubby result. To make the
french knot, bring your needle up from underneath. Hold the needle in one hand and with the
other hand wrap the thread around the tip of the needle once and pull it snug
around the needle. Wrap the thread
around the tip of the needle a second time, again pulling it snug. I often wrap the thread around the tip of the
needle a third time so I get a bigger knot, but if you are a beginner I suggest
you stick with just two wraps around the needle. Now, while continuing to keep the thread snug
around the needle, re-insert the tip of the needle back down into the fabric
exactly next to where you came up.
Slowly pull the needle through while your other hand keeps the thread taut. Once the needle has pulled all the way
through, use your fingertip to hold the knot in place while you pull the rest
of the thread through the fabric. Snug
it up so it forms a nice knot and you are finished!</span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeb58A0L0NR9hyYU_zylw7lCSwDj-l5KCmqPXN8VQkCUNzO6BlEy3QfzVRrgVsoCt0IGreEOUYXwqhU9DeVP0tetuWGgeV4ldECzEti0hAcDaFrIi_Wgx13Sd78VynouRs2Zc_Matxt-9/s1600/FRENCH-KNOT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeb58A0L0NR9hyYU_zylw7lCSwDj-l5KCmqPXN8VQkCUNzO6BlEy3QfzVRrgVsoCt0IGreEOUYXwqhU9DeVP0tetuWGgeV4ldECzEti0hAcDaFrIi_Wgx13Sd78VynouRs2Zc_Matxt-9/s200/FRENCH-KNOT.jpg" height="200" width="192" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>French Knot</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Cross Stitch</span></u></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">:</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> There is more than one way to complete the
cross stitch. It can be worked one
stitch at a time, or it can be worked in rows such as when embroidering large
areas on a pillowcase or similar project. To work it one stitch at a time, bring your needle up from underneath at
1 and insert it back down through your fabric at 2. Bring need up at 3 and back down at 4. Repeat the sequence as many times as desired. If you want to work rows of cross stitch to
fill an area, work the first half of the stitch all the way along the row and
then return and work the second half of the stitch back to the beginning of the
row.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgax2JYRoPrpSgUZ_3MlRJeLaIkpuNbSxlgq2VZYPNdRY7nGhOAqbX1dWcVnrmkHOKbSLz_1LYsdyVLkuRi8WHDS5Rl_Uldla_bMgeNnh2GvkVeyb2vv_SEnkl8iFoB64wSBM7kxpe_xX-p/s1600/CROSS+STITCH+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgax2JYRoPrpSgUZ_3MlRJeLaIkpuNbSxlgq2VZYPNdRY7nGhOAqbX1dWcVnrmkHOKbSLz_1LYsdyVLkuRi8WHDS5Rl_Uldla_bMgeNnh2GvkVeyb2vv_SEnkl8iFoB64wSBM7kxpe_xX-p/s320/CROSS+STITCH+2.jpg" height="259" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Cross Stitch (Illustrated Singly and in Rows)</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="color: #444444;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Herringbone Stitch</span></u></i><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">:</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> The herringbone stitch is a
variation of the basic cross stitch. It
is often used to embellish crazy quilts and also often used as a decorative
stitch in borders. Bring your needle up
from underneath at A and insert it back through your fabric at B. Bring your needle to the front again at C and
back down at D. Bring your needle up at
E, down at F and back up again at G. Repeat the sequence as many times as desired.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeB3naCfnL-iF_QOFBqjAH7HqFOhBB5Cdo6HR6mM6kaskuYYPYzENeKRh_dnsa-auM-TorOr8C4okHDYqSHa39A1Xur5WQUsfX-8e5q5LTyO4K_xyI8PH3WvDsRgITILJIvIGrD7BYfsn/s1600/HERRINGBONE-STITCH3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeB3naCfnL-iF_QOFBqjAH7HqFOhBB5Cdo6HR6mM6kaskuYYPYzENeKRh_dnsa-auM-TorOr8C4okHDYqSHa39A1Xur5WQUsfX-8e5q5LTyO4K_xyI8PH3WvDsRgITILJIvIGrD7BYfsn/s200/HERRINGBONE-STITCH3.jpg" height="65" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Herringbone Stitch</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="color: #444444;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Daisy Chain (also known as the Daisy Stitch, Lazy
Daisy and Chain Stitch</span></u></i><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">:</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> This is a
very popular decorative stitch used for outlining and can also be used to
create flower stems and other embellishments. If worked in a circular direction, it creates the look of petals on a
flower as shown below. To begin, bring
your needle up at A and then insert your needle back into the same hole and out
at B, carrying your thread under the needle point. Pull your needle on through. Point B is now the beginning point of the
next stitch.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhd2Nbvn6czx-opJiBAbsDQPKujVhKvPsz30Ccq5YN6K6uR1ruWbKJ7cdd16vscdoLZlnSv_RscuisWGTNArv7k0WvlG7ooytW9PAQqgO5xJdDO8qauPzPpekS7WbA1c8yQ9w7dqd0CSB/s1600/CHAIN+STITCH+(DAISY+STITCH).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhd2Nbvn6czx-opJiBAbsDQPKujVhKvPsz30Ccq5YN6K6uR1ruWbKJ7cdd16vscdoLZlnSv_RscuisWGTNArv7k0WvlG7ooytW9PAQqgO5xJdDO8qauPzPpekS7WbA1c8yQ9w7dqd0CSB/s200/CHAIN+STITCH+(DAISY+STITCH).jpg" height="188" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Daisy Stitch; Daisy Chain; Chain Stitch</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gqegMi82AEnjci9LOrSUvUWhE8G7FbidR-cZxWts3Cb4giJcaBGG6mo_z1040fWhco1cagOsU3gfjg7yunIBNsfCz4V0y-tmrE50T8IWFZ_ZB1FEx6l_sCwA94C23zXiD1lVSsPvxB2d/s1600/LAZY-DAISY+STITCH+IN+A+CIRCLE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gqegMi82AEnjci9LOrSUvUWhE8G7FbidR-cZxWts3Cb4giJcaBGG6mo_z1040fWhco1cagOsU3gfjg7yunIBNsfCz4V0y-tmrE50T8IWFZ_ZB1FEx6l_sCwA94C23zXiD1lVSsPvxB2d/s320/LAZY-DAISY+STITCH+IN+A+CIRCLE.jpg" height="150" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Lazy Daisy</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><u>It Looks Complicated, But It’s Not</u>!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #990000;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;"> Like I said, decorative stitches
look complex and hard, but it’s just a matter of bringing your needle up at one
point and down at another--easy peasy! In
no time at all, you’ll be embellishing your quilts, jackets, pillows and other
projects with decorative stitches and your friends will be in awe and wondering
how you do it. If you’d like to share
your secret, there’s a full-color printable version of these instructions </span><i><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/DECORATIVE%20STITCHES%20-%20PART%20ONE%20TUTORIAL%20(PDF).pdf" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><u>here</u></span></b></a></i><span style="color: #444444;">, and of course you like to share,
right?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><u>Be Sure to Check Back Next Week</u>!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #444444;"> <b> I’ll be posting more tutorials on
decorative stitches next week,</b> so if you are a late-comer to this blog you’ll
be able to locate them by typing “stitch tutorial” or “decorative stitches”
into the search box at the top of this blog. I hope you get excited about decorative stitching and embellishing, and
remember to <i>relax and enjoy yourself,
since creating is part of the fun!</i>
In the meantime, Happy Stitchin’!
<i>xoxo -- Melanie</i></span></span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
</div>
Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-25251062118487907482013-07-19T10:16:00.003-06:002013-07-19T10:16:47.820-06:00Do You Wanna Applique? Here's the Easy Way!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My worktable is topped off with a new design
I'm going to release soon that features easy wool applique combined with small doses
of traditional applique. This pattern will be great if you want a fun, fast
project or if you are new to applique and want to get your feet wet.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioE3VkKAfw2ydZTTB-VyVxzuKSqtuEbugdm5Kg_pz42K4okj7cSuaJj6-n3gLf6fgmp5R8o7yAkszn-MFwx-NHpi5GECaOs4JagALfGj1aP9_XCZic5gp5c1-cn1Y0n3xIkF2kw3t7S3s_/s1600/SDC13049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioE3VkKAfw2ydZTTB-VyVxzuKSqtuEbugdm5Kg_pz42K4okj7cSuaJj6-n3gLf6fgmp5R8o7yAkszn-MFwx-NHpi5GECaOs4JagALfGj1aP9_XCZic5gp5c1-cn1Y0n3xIkF2kw3t7S3s_/s400/SDC13049.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I mentioned applique on Facebook recently, I received several comments
asking about my applique methods. There are all types of applique,
depending on the fabrics and materials you choose, and I'm going to show two of my favorites. There are lots of tutorials on the internet explaining the craft, but many of the techniques and instructions are vague or produce <i>naaaasty</i> results.
I'm going to let you in on my secrets to produce perfect applique every time.
For ease, I'm breaking my methods into two sections, so you can easily skip up
or down this post to the type of applique you're interested in:</span></span></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Freezer Paper Applique</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hand-Applique with Wool or Woolfelt</span></li>
</ol>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Freezer Paper Applique</u></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I want to do traditional hand applique with
quilting fabrics, I always use the freezer paper method. It is simple to do and
produces perfect results every time. Some gals like a similar method called
"Needle-Turn Applique" (where you turn the edge of the patch under
with the tip of your needle as you stitch along), but in my opinion, the simple
freezer paper method is the only way to fly. Like anything else, there are lots
of ways to do freezer paper applique, but I've found the following is the
simplest method and achieves the best results:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></u></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Making the Patches</span></u><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #660000;">: </span><span style="color: #444444;">Trace your pattern template onto the non-shiny side of freezer
paper. Carefully cut it out along the traced line and then position it with the </span><b>wax-side-up</b><span style="color: #444444;"> against the </span><b>wrong side</b><span style="color: #444444;"> of your
quilt fabric. Use a </span><span style="color: #444444;">small</span><span style="color: #444444;"> dab of <u>washable</u> glue to
temporarily tack the freezer paper to the fabric. </span></span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot of tutorials recommend expensive fabric glue, but I've had great success with plain old washable glue sticks I find in the crayon section of my local department store.</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cut around the template, leaving a scant 1/4"
margin of fabric on all sides.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beginning along one edge, use your
fingertip to fold the edge of the fabric over onto the freezer paper, following
your fingertip with the point of a hot, dry iron. You may need to
carefully clip any curves or points as you work along. The fabric will
temporarily fuse to the freezer paper as you work your way around the
shape. Leave the freezer paper there for now; you will remove it in a
later step.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><u><br /></u></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><u>Appliqueing the Patches</u>:</span><span style="color: #444444;"> I recommend using a small, fine
needle (sometimes called a “straw needle”) and a single strand of thread. I go against convention by recommending you use thread that closely matches the </span><b>background fabric,</b><span style="color: #444444;"> rather than the
patch. Using thread that matches your background fabric tricks the eye and
causes it to skip over and miss the stitches, making them nearly
invisible. In the picture below, I used a single strand of cream thread for my applique, and it's nearly impossible to see my stitches. If I had used blue thread, it would have shown up against the cream background <i>(no-no!):</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Begin by tying a small knot in the end of your thread. I often use plain old embroidery floss, because it comes in almost
unlimited colors and I have a huge basket of it in my workroom. Come up from the back and bring your
needle up through the background fabric at a point </span><b>just
exactly next to</b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the patch. Take your needle back down
through the very edge of the applique patch, <b>catching only a thread or two of the
edge of the patch. </b>Working from right to left so you can see where to
next place your needle, move over approximately 2/8” and come back up through
just exactly next to the patch, and then back down, again catching just the
very edge of the patch with your needle. The intent is to make tiny,
controlled stitches for nearly invisible applique. You are going to get a
nice rhythm in a very short period of time and you'll find it takes no time at
all to finish stitching around your patch with perfect results.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #444444;">You might notice that I ask you to <b>come up</b> from underneath the patch and then back down through the edge of the patch. Again, I'm going against convention here, but I find that this method ensures the patch fits snugly and evenly against the background.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #660000;"><u>Removing the Freezer Paper Backing</u>:</span><span style="color: #444444;"> When you are done stitching
all the patches to the background, turn your project over so it is face down
and cut a small slit in the background fabric just behind each appliqued patch.
With tweezers, reach through the slit and remove the freezer paper (if you
tug carefully, the freezer paper should come out in one piece). Use a fine
needle and a single strand of thread to whip-stitch the slit closed.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><u>Hand-Applique with Wool or Woolfelt</u></b></span><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The easiest method of applique is wool applique, which is often used for folkart and primitive projects. You can buy 100% wool off the bolt or internet, or you can recycle it from used clothing. 100% wool needs to be prepared so it does not fray (you can prepare 100% wool by washing it in very warm water, rinsing in cold, and then placing it in the dryer on warm setting until dry). I also like to use a product called "Woolfelt" for projects like the one shown at the top of this post. Woolfelt is a wool/rayon blend fabric I purchase through </span><a href="http://www.prairiepointjunction.com/woolfeltpatterns.html"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><u>Wool Felt Central</u></span></b></a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Woolfelt does not need any preparation, is ready to use as-is, and comes in many colors.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Making the Patches</span></u><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #660000;">: </span><span style="color: #444444;"> To applique with wool or Woolfelt, place your pattern template pieces <b>face down</b> onto the <b>non‑shiny side</b> of freezer paper (freezer paper has a wax coating on one side and you can usually find it alongside plastic wrap in your local grocery store). Trace around the template pieces and then loosely cut around them, leaving a small waste margin around each piece. Place the freezer paper pieces with the <b>wax-side-down</b> onto the wool or Woolfelt and use a fairly warm iron to briefly bond the freezer paper to the wool. The freezer paper will temporarily stick to the wool, but will not leave a permanent residue. Once the pieces are ironed to the wool, carefully cut out each piece along the traced lines and peel away the freezer paper.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lay out your wool pieces against the the fabric you have chosen for the background. When you are satisfied with the layout, use washable glue to temporarily tack the pieces into place so you can stitch around them. A</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">gain, you can use expensive fabric glue from your quilting store, but I've had great success with plain old washable glue sticks I find in the crayon section of my local department store. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you make a mistake, carefully remove the wool patch and dab the back with a warm washcloth to remove the glue.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVTgpNOKgqbcY6-Mt07uqLHZXZ3cARgn7OSqZ7WJ6vhyv1EKwTUDIGXsUGcBHdChauM2N1uVaNIOhL2PJJEUuQFkK2eBfSQLZpw6MKlrd0xpgE2b61jzRrTFBuLzGIfPlPhGZdWzxWrHJ/s1600/PATTERN+PIC+1+-+CROPPED+FOR+ETSY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVTgpNOKgqbcY6-Mt07uqLHZXZ3cARgn7OSqZ7WJ6vhyv1EKwTUDIGXsUGcBHdChauM2N1uVaNIOhL2PJJEUuQFkK2eBfSQLZpw6MKlrd0xpgE2b61jzRrTFBuLzGIfPlPhGZdWzxWrHJ/s400/PATTERN+PIC+1+-+CROPPED+FOR+ETSY.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Appliqueing the Patches</span></u><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #660000;">: </span><span style="color: #444444;">The wool patches are attached to the background with one or two strands of your favorite threads. I like to use two strands of embroidery floss, wool thread or Valdini brand threads. I most often use the "blanket stitch" around the outside edge of each piece, which you can see in the photo above and as illustrated below. The blanket stitch is worked from left to right. Bring your needle up from underneath at the edge of your patch. Move to the right approximately 1/4”. Push your needle back down through both the patch and the background at a point about 1/4" from the edge of the patch and then come back up again at the edge of the patch. Be sure to loop the thread under the needle as you complete the stitch. Each stitch should be about the same length and distance apart:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFq-Zjf9E3iYdRvvDBLKpRcx9MtgqapFpFUa_U2EWXagPwDbS8SS7OZpVaCVCLejVnK8xk4uIU3DqGXJVpyPsTXFEIBFsT9xPxFCPPPAK8Ea1yUj51DLKrIyvw34kIUGsKnws12nh1xN1/s1600/blanket+stitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFq-Zjf9E3iYdRvvDBLKpRcx9MtgqapFpFUa_U2EWXagPwDbS8SS7OZpVaCVCLejVnK8xk4uIU3DqGXJVpyPsTXFEIBFsT9xPxFCPPPAK8Ea1yUj51DLKrIyvw34kIUGsKnws12nh1xN1/s1600/blanket+stitch.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I finish by embellishing the patches and background with charms, buttons and decorative embroidery stitches:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><u>That Sums It Up</u> . . .</b></span><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Except . . . you might be wondering how do do
all the decorative stitches that are often used to embellish applique,
particularly if you are working with wool. A lot of ladies tell me they
don't choose projects that need much embellishing, because they are not sure
how to do the stitches. Coming next week, I'll do some picture tutorials
showing you several of the most commonly used stitches, such as the daisy
chain, running stitch, feather stitch and many more.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Stay tuned, and leave me a comment or </span><a href="mailto:melanie@americanpiedesigns.com" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><u>email me</u></span></b></a><span style="color: #444444;"> if you have any questions. In the meantime, Happy Stitchin'! </span><i style="color: #444444;">xoxo--Melanie</i></span></div>
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Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-29578920922225829672013-06-25T21:34:00.000-06:002014-07-15T17:13:40.292-06:00How To Make Your Husband Really Mad: A Decoupage Adventure<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">If you follow my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/americanpiedesigns" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><u>Facebook</u></span></b></a><span style="color: #444444;"> page, you know the hubby and I have been in the middle of a huge remodel that encompassed almost the entire second floor of our home. It included a complete gutting of my workroom and the hubby's office, removal of a wall to let the light flow in, and renovation of a long stairway that we now like to joke "leads to heaven". This is the story of how that all went very wrong.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although the hubby is an electrician and I'm not a stranger to construction, I'll admit I was naive about the extent of what we'd endure for <i>almost a month.</i> I figured we'd cut out the wall with a hacksaw, move some outlets and light fixtures around, and Shazam! the remodel would be finished. In fact, I admit I relentlessly nagged my poor hubby to get started, since I was sure he could bang out the remodel in about a week. <i>Righhht.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While hubby labored to remove old wall coverings, tear up flooring and refinish our stairway in hardwood, I puttered happily along in what was left of my demolished workroom, refinishing some old file cabinets and creating messages from wood letters I hoped would inspire me during periods of lagging creativity. The words "Dream", "Imagine" and "Create" were going to adorn the walls, and although I was pretty sure my efforts at decoupage would be successful, I had no idea how I was going to actually attach 18 wood letters from the alphabet to the walls. I bullied forward, figuring I'd jump that hurdle later.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found the letters at Michael's craft store and was pleased at how inexpensive they were (most were only a dollar or two each). However, by the time I added fancy printed papers to my shopping cart, a couple bottles of decoupage goop, some colorful paint and foam brushes, I checked out nearly a hundred bucks poorer. I should have known then I was headed down a hard path.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first step was to paint the sides of the letters to match the pretty papers I wanted to decoupage to the wood. Other than getting paint on all ten fingers and on one of my toenails, this part of the project went pretty smooth:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next, I was supposed to place the wood pieces face down on the back of the pretty papers and trace around them. I followed by cutting out the shapes with sharp scissors, and <i>then</i> noticed I'd left pencil marks on the sides of most of the freshly-painted letters. I could hear the hubby swearing at the carpet he was removing from the hallway, but I pushed fearlessly on, knowing the next step in my project would be the "fun part." I hurried and got my foam brush ready.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I applied decoupage goop to the front of each letter. The instructions said that to avoid warping and bubbles in my finished project, I needed to apply a healthy coat of decoupage, and I swear I followed the instructions. Once the wood was coated, I was supposed to place the paper cutout on top of the goop, smooth out all the bumps and squiggles and <i>"let it dry thoroughly."</i> The manufacturer of the goop promised (via videos they produced on YouTube) that if I coated the surface with enough product, made sure the paper was smooth and <i>let it dry thoroughly, </i>the result would be "bubble-free". I can definitely say I used enough product. It was all over my hands, my worktable and even in my hair, which unfortunately I didn't notice until [much] later. I can also say with certainty that I <i>let it dry thoroughly,</i> because it was at least 90 degrees in my workroom and I left to cook dinner and do a few loads of wash.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was now time for the next step. I reviewed my handiwork and happily noted there was not a bubble or bump in sight. The instructions said to apply another healthy coat to the surface. Okie-dokie now, I was cooking with gas! Forty-five minutes later I finished slathering on the second coat and stepped back to admire my work. <i>Boy-Oh-Boy,</i> I said to myself, <i>my part of the remodel is going good!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then I saw them . . .</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giant, dime-sized humps on the surface of my letters. The big "D" in "Dream" had a particularly nasty bubble and the "C" in "Create" looked amateurish. The really horrific part was that since I had <i>let it dry thoroughly, </i>it was going to be next-to-impossible to get the bubbles out.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, despite the manufacturer's assurances there would be no bubbles, I noticed they had recorded yet another handy little YouTube video about how to correct the problem. Nearly three hours later, I finished popping all the bubbles with a straight pin and injecting even more decoupage goop underneath the surface, and finished off the entire mess by mashing it all down with my thumb and applying another healthy coat of goop. By now, the swearing coming from my husband's area was nothing compared to the distressing noises I was making.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next morning, I padded into my demolished workroom in a fuzzy robe and slippers, ready to hurl the whole mess outside with the rest of the construction debris, but lo and behold, I couldn't believe my eyes. <i>The letters looked almost perfect, </i>as long as I squinted just a tiny bit and didn't look too close. Yes, the letters were keepers!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And now I've reached the title of my whole story: <b>"How to Make your Husband Really Mad". </b> Looking back, I honestly don't know what my hubby thought I was going to do with all those letters. Maybe he thought I was going to arrange them haphazardly on a bookshelf, or maybe he thought I was going to leave them on my worktable as some kind of crummy decoration. I now know it was clear to me (but not to him) <i>that I was going to attach all 18 letters to to the freshly painted walls in my workroom.</i> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I went out and I bought some of those Scotch-brand double-sided sticky squares--you know, the kind you use to hang paintings? I covertly borrowed my hubby's level from the garage and drew light little pencil lines on the wall so I could make sure everything was straight. And then, I started sticking the letters on my freshly-painted walls, and as I worked, <i>I noticed that Scotch-brand double-sided sticky squares sure do stick good!</i> I was humming along, already done with "Create" and "Imagine" and right down to the wire with the last four letters in "Dream", when the hubby walked in to see what I was doing.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I gotta' tell you, he nearly had a stroke. I don't remember the entire conversation, but I do recall him saying things about how I'd ruined everything and we'd have to re-texture the walls when I got tired of the letters, and many other nasty hubby-like comments. He never remotely said anything about how nice the letters looked or how pretty the paper was. I also remember that his face turned the color of a bright purple beet and I decided it was time to head to the fridge for a cold one.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Somebody needs to let the Scotch-brand people know how good their sticky squares are, because I found that just the tiniest bit really makes those letters stick like crazy to a new paint job. And somebody should also remind my hubby that the teeny-weeny bit of damage I did is nothing compared to all the woodwork the carpet guy destroyed or the fact I can't get the dang paint from the upstairs hallway out of my hair and my pedicure is destroyed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if you've been thinking about decoupaging anything, take my advice and <i>buy a picture or a mirror instead.</i> They don't come with bubbles or bumps and you can hang them with one little ol' nail that the hubby can fill with spackle when you move out. Or when he moves out. <i>Whatever.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until next time, Happy Stitchin'! <i>xoxo -- Melanie</i></span></div>
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Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-74646892986853668832013-05-13T13:39:00.000-06:002013-06-25T15:03:26.443-06:00New Crochet Patterns and Golden Rum Cake!<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought it would be great to share a new recipe today and also show you my newest crochet pattern available through my Etsy Shop, plus give you a sneak preview for a second pattern that will be released in a few short days. If you're a regular follower of my blogs, you know I'm a bit eclectic and jump from one type of project to another, from rug hooking to punch needle to crochet to quilting and so on. Are you like that, or do you tend to stick to one or two types of handcrafting that you particularly enjoy?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm excited about my newest crochet pattern, "Tutti Frutti", which is a super-cute crocheted purse for a favorite little girl in your life. It's easy to complete, because I include lots of simple instruction and over 50 step-by-step color photographs, all wrapped up nice and pretty in an easy instant download:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">I crochet when I'm watching television in the evenings with my hubby or when I'm on the road and can't take big projects with me. I'll bet you've been on car trips or camping or stuck in a hotel room wishing you could be doing </span><i style="color: #444444;">something--anything </i><span style="color: #444444;">with your hands, and my crochet patterns are just the trick! You can get your own "Tutti Frutti" instructions in my Etsy shop called </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lollypoppers" target="_blank"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>Lollypoppers</b></span></a><span style="color: #444444;">, and I hope you enjoy it!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, in all that free time I have (not!), I am just finishing up a crochet pattern for another child's purse called "Tropical Fruit". Here's a pic of the flap for the front of the purse, which will be embellished with colorful beads, hearts and other things little girls <i>love.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3Obf2dMzzsZSC09j9svx2PORrnyNBhWxNMyTNZnOWybazFu3IpnkbQuxwCirKlnYO8XwQ4v2UDWoKX5habqabeg1-MnH1n3Kxst0XdETzCieeL0VSE65T0FjTnLQvd4thSuK-_Q5jEr0/s1600/JUNK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3Obf2dMzzsZSC09j9svx2PORrnyNBhWxNMyTNZnOWybazFu3IpnkbQuxwCirKlnYO8XwQ4v2UDWoKX5habqabeg1-MnH1n3Kxst0XdETzCieeL0VSE65T0FjTnLQvd4thSuK-_Q5jEr0/s400/JUNK.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">This pattern will also be available in my </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lollypoppers" target="_blank"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>Lollypoppers</b></span></a><span style="color: #444444;"> shop on Etsy in just a couple more days, so be sure and check back!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Drumroll, Please</u> . . .</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's time for a new recipe that I cannot resist! I'm fond of cakes, and in particular <i>very moist cakes,</i> and this Golden Rum Cake fits the bill. I found this recipe courtesy of Souchef Secrets and I hope you enjoy it!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Golden Rum Cake</u> (Yum!)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Ingredients</u></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup chopped walnuts</span><br />
<span arial="" color:="" font-family:="" helvetica="" sans-serif="" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup water</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup vegetable oil</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup dark rum</span><br />
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<font-family: arial="" helvetica="" sans-serif=""><u><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glaze</span></u></font-family:><br />
<font-family: arial="" helvetica="" sans-serif=""><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup butter</span></font-family:><br />
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1/2 cup dark rum</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Directions</u></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan. Sprinkle chopped nuts evenly over the bottom of the pan.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a large bowl, combine cake mix and pudding mix. Mix in the eggs, 1/2 cup water, oil and 1/2 cup rum. Blend well. Pour batter over chopped nuts in the pan.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Let sit for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto serving plate.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make Glaze: In a saucepan, combine butter, 1/4 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat and continue to boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup rum.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;" /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brush glaze over top and sides. Allow cake to absorb glaze and repeat until all glaze is used.</span><br />
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<b style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>That's It For Today</u>!</b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm headed back to my worktable to finish up my newest crochet pattern and also bang away at a hooked rug I've been working on that I hope you'll like. I hope you are enjoying life wherever you are, and in the meantime, <i>Happy Stitchin'! xoxo--Melanie</i></span></div>
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<br />Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-23368022559711326102013-03-11T09:10:00.001-06:002014-07-15T17:16:40.059-06:00New Design "Krazy Kats" and Part 2 Tutorial on How to Make It!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of you heard about my latest design, <b><span style="color: #660000;"><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/patterns1.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #660000;">"Krazy Kats,"</span></a> </span></b>a great little 15" candle mat. The pattern and kit are ready! This 15" candle mat is fun to make and works up quickly because there aren't a lot of little pieces you need to stitch around (the smallest pieces are bonded on with fusible webbing). The pattern is $9.99 or the kit/pattern combo is $27.99, you can get them both <a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/137-krazykats.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;">here</span></b></a> with a special 10% off this week. Just enter the code <b>"10 PERCENT"</b> when you check out through the shopping cart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Depending on your pocketbook, you can make the candle mat in 100% wool or in Woolfelt (a wool/rayon blend), and either way it turns out great. If you're no good at choosing colors or simply don't have the time, remember I'm offering a <a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/137-krazykats.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Krazy Kats Kit</span></b></a> containing the pattern and all the National Nonwovens Woolfelt you need to make your own Krazy Kats. I've simplified this candle mat pattern with a new and improved template for the scalloped background, and I created the other templates in a computer graphics program so they are accurate and easy to cut out. Also, as you see in Part 2 of my tutorial below, the smallest pieces are bonded on with fusible webbing and the stitches are simplified so you don't get mired down with tiny details.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So are you ready for the final Part 2 of my tutorial on how to make "Krazy Kats"? In <a href="http://americanpiedesigns.blogspot.com/2013/02/tutorial-for-new-krazy-kats-candle-mat.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Part 1</span></b></a>, I showed you how I use freezer paper to stabilize the wool, make the scalloped background piece and temporarily attach the template pieces with washable fabric glue. Now I'm going to show you how to embellish it and complete your candle mat. Here we go!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u><b>Tutorial Part 2 - Finishing Your Candle Mat</b></u><b>!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://americanpiedesigns.blogspot.com/2013/02/tutorial-for-new-krazy-kats-candle-mat.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>Click Here for Part 1</b></span></a></i></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Stop Those Mice</u>! </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the pattern pieces, like the mice the cat eyes, can't get lost easily and are too small to stitch around. I solve that with the use of fusible webbing, such as Heat-n-Bond that you can find in your local fabric store. Simply trace the smallest template pieces on the paper side of fusible webbing and then gently iron them into place. That keeps the those small pieces from fraying and moving and also alleviates the need to stitch those tiny parts down! I follow that with a little trick I've developed using scotch tape. I've found that the edges of some of the smaller pieces tend to fray as I repeatedly handle the candle mat while applying my embellishing stitches that I'll discuss later. I solve that by applying a couple pieces of scotch tape over the top of the mice, small flowers, the bird and other small pieces that tend to fray. I leave the scotch tape in place until I'm done stitching everything else and then remove it and embellish those pieces: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>Let's Get Stitchin'</b></u><b>!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I never make any secret of the fact that my favorite part of working with wool is the hand-stitching and embellishing. I love to sit in front of a warm fire in the evenings and do some stitching while the hubby dials through the television schedule, and even I've been known to take my stitching along for when the fishing is bad! Some gals tell me the embellishing part is a little fearful for them because they are not sure how to do the stitches or it feels tedious. My pattern gives very good detail on how to do the three simple stitches used in this project, (1) the blanket stitch, (2) the french knot, and (3) the simple cross stitch. Not only are there diagrams so you can see how the stitches should look, but I've included good detail on how to complete them. You're going to whip through this in no time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The stitch used the most in Krazy Kats is the blanket stitch. It's also sometimes called the buttonhole stitch (depending upon your, <i>uh,</i> age, and what part of the country you come from). The blanket stitch is very easy to master and you can get a good rhythm in a short time, and I love the way it nicely finishes the edges of the template pieces. I used two strands of brown embroidery floss and the blanket stitch around the edge of each cat and around their noses, tongues, hair bows, etc. I also used it around the birds and all around the outside edge of the mat, which we'll go into later. You can see how I worked my way around some of these pieces:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>Details, Details</b></u><b> . . .</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my opinion, it's the little details that make your candle mat a stunning success and the envy of your friends and in-laws. Once the basic pieces are stitched into place, anchor the eyes, the centers of the flowers and the mouse noses with a simple "x" in the center. They were already fused into place using the fusible webbing in one of the previous steps, so a tiny cross stitch in the center is all that is needed to secure them and make them decorative. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At first I was going to use a detailed stem stitch to make the lines underneath the cats' noses, and then realized a single, simple stitch was all that was needed to divide the cheeks, so to speak. Just bring your needle loaded with black embroidery floss up directly under the nose and then back down again at chin level. Take out the slack and secure your stitch on the back side with a knot and you are done!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And what about them kitty whiskers? Simple french knots done with three strands of black embroidery floss. Easy-peasy and fun to do!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>Does Your Candle Mat Look Lumpy and Bumpy</b></u><b>?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mine did too! You'll notice your wool pieces look lumpy and my stitches appear uneven and distorted. Don't get discouraged, because it's easy to make your candle mat look smooth and your stitches appear perfect! The solution is to cover your candle mat with a thin protective cloth, like an old dish towel or pillow case, and then use a hot steam iron<b> </b>to press out all the lumps and bumps. Instantly, your mat will smooth out and your stitches will look professional!</span></div>
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<u><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Finishing Touches</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>(or How to Make Your Sister-in-Law Jealous)</b></u><b>!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my little joys in life is to make my in-laws jealous and wish they had a cute Krazy Kats candle mat in their houses too! The finishing touches on your candle mat are easy and fast to complete. My pattern instructs you to make two scalloped background pieces, one for the front of the mat and one for the back. If you refer to <a href="http://americanpiedesigns.blogspot.com/2013/02/tutorial-for-new-krazy-kats-candle-mat.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Part 1 of my Krazy Kats Tutorial</span></b></a>, you'll see how we used freezer paper you can find in your grocery store to easily transfer the scalloped background template onto your wool or Woolfelt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place the front and back scalloped pieces with <b>wrong sides together </b>and pin them together with straight pins. Since you handled the front a lot during the stitching and embellishing process, it might not exactly match the scalloped backing piece, but don't worry. Simply adjust the edges as you pin them together, and make a <i>slight</i> snip here and there with your scissors where necessary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We'll finish the scalloped edge with the blanket stitch, which will make your candle mat look finished and wonderful. I used four strands of light brown embroidery floss, but you can use whatever color you like. It might even be nice to pick up the light blue of the bird around the outside edge of your mat. The choice is yours!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfEP8TeeqwFqQljmMqCwRFmRxg5f8aZrUuiml8O4sMIgpXQvU_1UNVipeIB6wFqHhYGQ_Wgc4hAREBh8GRgzHgMotbbZUheqvdlPuDTWIzABjkZTlR-iYvSvzKRwkPBMWDiOgtFrWMbpE/s1600/SDC12261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfEP8TeeqwFqQljmMqCwRFmRxg5f8aZrUuiml8O4sMIgpXQvU_1UNVipeIB6wFqHhYGQ_Wgc4hAREBh8GRgzHgMotbbZUheqvdlPuDTWIzABjkZTlR-iYvSvzKRwkPBMWDiOgtFrWMbpE/s400/SDC12261.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>Play it Again, Sam</b></u><b>!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's right, repeat giving your candle mat another good pressing with a hot steam iron and a protective cloth and you are ready to put it with the other things you love on your kitchen table or china hutch!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>Get 10% Off Krazy Kats</b></u><b>!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember that during this introductory week, you can order the pattern or kit <b><span style="color: #660000;"><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/137-krazykats.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #660000;">here</span></a> </span></b>with <b>10% OFF!</b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just enter the code <b>"10 PERCENT"</b> when you check out through the shopping cart!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> If you are already a wool-lover and have your own stash of lovely hand-dyed wools, then ordering just the </span><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/patterns1.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Krazy Kats Pattern</span></b></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ($9.99) is right for you. If you don't have a large stash of wool or want to keep things simple, I'm also offering my </span><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/patterns1.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Krazy Kats Kit</span></b></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> for $27.95 which contains the pattern and all the National Nonwovens Woolfelt you need to complete your own candle mat. (National Nonwovens Woolfelt is a blend of rayon and pure wool that does a very nice, inexpensive job on your candle mat).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><u>Don't Forget to Join the American Pie Birthday Club</u>!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">I've yacked before about the Birthday Club and the great benefits you'll get when you join, and the response has been overwhelming! I've added a new 10% off coupon when you join, and here's the new details:</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's free to join (always and forever).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You get an INSTANT COUPON FOR 10% OFF everything on my website.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When your birthday time comes around, you'll receive a SPECIAL COUPON GOOD FOR 15% OFF all during your birthday month.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">You are automatically entered in current and future contest to WIN FREE PATTERNS AND OTHER PRIZES!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">You are always FIRST TO KNOW when new patterns are available so you can take advantage of special sales and discounts.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Just click </span><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/join.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" target="_blank"><b><u><span style="color: #660000;">here</span></u></b></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">, enter your name and email address (yes, it's confidential) and in a few seconds you'll be a member. I hope you'll join!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">That's it for today. I hope you enjoy these tutorials and they make creating your own "Krazy Kats" candle mat a fun project. Please don't hesitate to leave me a comment or email me if you have any questions. In the meantime, <i>Happy Stitchin'! xoxo--Melanie</i></span><br />
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Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-75978697232070637442013-03-09T08:39:00.000-07:002014-07-15T17:16:54.246-06:00An Easy Way to Know How Much Wool You Need for your Hooked Rug!<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Guessing and then hoping for the best. When it comes to rug hooking, we've all done it--<i>guessing</i> how much wool we need to finish hooking an area and then <i>hoping</i> we're right and we don't have to start over or choose from substitutions. Here's a time-tested method for calculating how much wool you'll need!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The whole key to figuring wool is to "square off" the portion you want to hook, like a square or rectangle. Let's say you're hooking a horse in the center of your design. Simply measure the <b>height</b> of the horse and then the <b>width, </b>and then <b>multiply those two numbers together.</b> We then multiply that number by the strip size number shown below.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let's say you are using a #8 cut of wool (wool strips cut to approximately 1/4" wide) and your horse is roughly 6" tall by 10" wide, or a total of 60". You would simply multiply 60 by the <b>strip size number</b> below to know how many total inches of wool you need to finish your horse. In this case, I would multiply 60 by 6 to arrive at 360 inches of wool to finish my horse:</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u><b>Cut of Wool</b></u> : <u><b>Strip Size Number</b></u><b>:</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">#3 or #4 (up to 1/8" Wide) 4</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">#5 or #6 (up to 6/32" Wide) 5</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">#7 or #8 (up to 1/4" Wide) 6</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">#9 or #10 (up to 1/2" Wide) 8</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You then take the total (in this case we've arrived at 360) and use it to see how much yardage we'll need to complete the horse. Using the handy cheat sheet below, I know I'll need roughly a quarter yard of washed, pre-cut wool:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>If you need up to 52 inches,</b> you'll need 1/32 yard (a 3.25" x 16" piece or a 6.5" x 8" piece)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>If you need up to 104 inches, </b>you'll need 1/16 yard (a 6.5" x 16" piece or an 8" x 13" piece of wool)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>If you need up to 208 inches, </b>you'll need 1/8 yard (a 13" x 16" piece of wool)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>If you need up to 416 inches, </b>you'll need 1/4 yard (a 16" x 26" piece of wool)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>If you need up to 832 inches, </b>you'll need 1/2 yard (a 26" x 32" piece of wool)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>If you need up to 1,248 inches, </b>you'll need 3/4 yard</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>If you need up to 1,664 inches, </b>you'll need 1 yard (a 32" x 52" piece of wool)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know that 1/4 yard of wool is probably a little more than I will need to finish my horse, but my RULE OF THUMB is to <b>always calculate in a little more wool than I need, especially if I am hooking a background.</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hope this gets you well on your way to easily figuring how much wool you need to hook your next rug. I'm back to my work table this morning to finish up the last bit of stitching on my new "Krazy Kats" candle mat design I promised to release this week. Check out <a href="http://americanpiedesigns.blogspot.com/2013/02/tutorial-for-new-krazy-kats-candle-mat.html" target="_blank">Part 1 of my tutorial</a> on making "Krazy Kats", with the final Part 2 tutorial coming in a couple of days. In the meantime, <i>Happy Stitchin'! xoxo--Melanie</i></span></span></span><br />
Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-20222221127221667022013-02-27T11:51:00.001-07:002013-03-11T09:15:34.978-06:00Tutorial for New "Krazy Kats" Candle Mat - Part 1 of 2<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My newest design is well underway, called <b>"Krazy Kats"</b>, for a 15-inch candle mat I'm making in both 100% wool and also with National Nonwovens Woolfelt (a wool/rayon blend that looks and acts a lot like 100% wool). You'll find that National Nonwovens Woolfelt
is inexpensive, comes in many wonderful colors and is ready to use as-is (it
won’t fray). You can usually find both
regular 100% wool (hand or factory dyed) and National Nonwovens Woolfelt at
your local fabric or quilt shop and in many places on the internet. However, </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you don't enjoy shopping for wool or would rather have everything in one place, I'll also be offering a kit next week on </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this blog and through my website at </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">www.americanpiedesigns.com</a><span style="color: #444444;">,</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">I promised a tutorial for <b>"Krazy Kats"</b> while I'm developing the full pattern, and I </span><span style="color: #444444;">wanted to get you started with how easy and fun this candle mat is to make. Unfortunately, you might not get away with making just one when your in-laws see how cute your alley cats turn out! So let's begin . . .</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Photo of Unfinished Candle Mat</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97TjXcD_cbTDesLd-C75wrcZ8avH-wg1fxhjKZHiWxBzysyD0kU-RtSOJxAWSk_c30G-wJvfvmXB11DUjL9V_wc9Cq02WehuLN-i6QyRDpZaZb-80rc1eQt1q3oWeAVKj0f7uVx3U88RI/s1600/SDC12191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97TjXcD_cbTDesLd-C75wrcZ8avH-wg1fxhjKZHiWxBzysyD0kU-RtSOJxAWSk_c30G-wJvfvmXB11DUjL9V_wc9Cq02WehuLN-i6QyRDpZaZb-80rc1eQt1q3oWeAVKj0f7uVx3U88RI/s400/SDC12191.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #444444;">Here's How it Looks on the Drawing Board!</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #660000;">Step 1 - The Scalloped Background</span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the pattern I'm releasing next week, you'll find a template for the scalloped background pieces you'll make for the front and back of your candle mat. The first step in creating your mat is to trace the scalloped template onto the non-shiny side of common freezer paper you can find in your grocery store. We use freezer paper because (1) it's cheap and readily available, (2) we can iron it to our wool or Woolfelt and it won't leave a sticky residue, and (3) it stabilizes the wool while you cut out your templates.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place the freezer paper against your wool or Woolfelt with the shiny side facing the wool and iron it to your wool with a fairly hot iron:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With a pair of sharp scissors, cut out your background piece along the traced lines and then peel away the freezer paper to reveal your perfect background piece. Repeat for the back of the candle mat and then set these pieces aside for now. <i>Remember not to worry, because the freezer paper peels away without leaving any residue on your wool!</i></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Step 2 - Let's Make Some Cats</u>!</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The full paper pattern will also supply you with all the templates you need to make the cats and their little friends, the mice and birds. Remember, if you don't enjoy shopping for wool or would rather have everything in one place, I'll also be offering a kit next week with all the National Nonwovens Woolfelt you'll need to create your own candle mat.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As with the scalloped background, you'll just need to trace those templates onto the non-shiny side of freezer paper and then cut them out with sharp scissors. The following photo shows you what your freezer paper looks like when it is ironed to the wool. Again, the freezer paper will easily peel away and won't leave a residue!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u> Step 3 - Arranging the Pieces on the Background</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once you are done cutting out all the pieces, just peel the freezer paper away and position them on the background. In my pattern, I will provide a full-color photograph of the finished candle mat, as well as a master diagram so you can see how to easily position your template pieces. Some are small (like the eyes and noses), so if you are
like me this will be the most time-consuming part of completing your candle
mat, but it's still fun!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you are satisfied with the layout, we'll use <u>washable</u> fabric glue to temporarily tack the pieces into place. If you make a mistake, remove the template piece and dab it with a warm washcloth to remove the glue.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>Looks Hard, But It's Simple!</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can see by now that by breaking this candle mat down into simple steps, it makes it very easy to complete your own candle mat that will look adorable on your table or china hutch. And remember not to panic if you're no good at picking colors or if you don't want to shop for your own wool or Woolfelt, because the kit will be available next week too!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Step 4 - What's Coming Up Next </u>. . .</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Here's how our candle mat looks so far. In </span><a href="http://americanpiedesigns.blogspot.com/2013/03/new-design-krazy-kats-and-part-2.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Part 2 of my Tutorial</span></b></a><span style="color: #444444;">, I show you how to embellish and finish your candle mat with simple stitches, and we'll add the eyes, face details and some other surprises along the way. And I do mean the stitches will be simple! If you've never done embroidery stitches before like the blanket stitch or the french knot, my pattern will have very complete details on how to do these stitches, along with diagrams so you can get them just right.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeudboSa0TindjonjMjXf05of6xYAOwPMm7Ppo9UQDNieol4tSGB-jrpRzLuJ0dCCwrsBRHWEPMF0HXNxYdNBXFCtokmn7Mj1lDoSAasWkuV89fXF-0zWhUn8xUSPlGJqIr21g7La4hj2/s1600/SDC12217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeudboSa0TindjonjMjXf05of6xYAOwPMm7Ppo9UQDNieol4tSGB-jrpRzLuJ0dCCwrsBRHWEPMF0HXNxYdNBXFCtokmn7Mj1lDoSAasWkuV89fXF-0zWhUn8xUSPlGJqIr21g7La4hj2/s400/SDC12217.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you've enjoyed Part 1 of my tutorial for <b>"Krazy Kats".</b> Stay tuned for the final Part 2 coming in a couple of days and for the pattern and kit release next week. Please leave me a post if you have any questions or if there is something you would like to see added to this tutorial. In the meantime, have a great week, and <i>Happy Stitchin'! xoxo--Melanie</i></span></div>
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Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-13056136348756717372013-02-22T12:42:00.001-07:002013-02-22T12:42:57.185-07:00For Rug Hookers: "What the Heck is a #8 Cut" (and Other Musings of a Beginner Rug Hooker)<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I first started rug hooking, I remember being confused by the "cuts" referred to for wool strips. The cuts refer to the <i>width</i> of a wool strip. Since I don't have a mathematical mind and never successfully committed the cuts to memory, I keep this handy chart posted on a bulletin board in my workshop:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#2 Cut</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2/32-inch</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/16-inch</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#3 Cut</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/32-inch</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#4 Cut</span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4/32-inch</span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/8-inch</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#5 Cut</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5/32-inch</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#6 Cut</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6/32-inch</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#7 Cut</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7/32-inch</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#8 Cut</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8/32-inch</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4-inch</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#9 Cut</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12/32-inch</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/8-inch</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#10 Cut</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16/32-inch</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2-Inch</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most common width used by beginning and experienced rug hookers alike is the #8 cut, which is 1/4" wide. This cut is often used for folk-art-style or primitive pieces because it is an easy width to work with on the hook and you can fill the canvas in a reasonable amount of time. To this day, the #8 cut remains my favorite width and the one I use most often in my patterns:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoA4KyjbW242mQFIAFcm8m4VDNczt2Or_cUg7XISfxme-pt-P5R_8-A_aXa7VFieqYllbkgNGElQPRLmo2jJzYc32AWSbO2oXCGZ12lJS_thmOMq-XZtHGV87p_C8aMsjQSTyTvQwWcm9/s1600/SUMMERSOLSTICE-EBAY2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoA4KyjbW242mQFIAFcm8m4VDNczt2Or_cUg7XISfxme-pt-P5R_8-A_aXa7VFieqYllbkgNGElQPRLmo2jJzYc32AWSbO2oXCGZ12lJS_thmOMq-XZtHGV87p_C8aMsjQSTyTvQwWcm9/s400/SUMMERSOLSTICE-EBAY2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are creating a very primitive rug, I suggest you use a #9 or #10 wool strip. Primitive rugs are charming in that they don't have a lot of fine detail and they are fun to hook because the canvas fills quickly. And last, for a finely-shaded rug, I recommend you use a #2, #3 or #4 cut. These cuts are very thin and allow you to hook a great deal of shading and detail into your piece.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">How Long Should You Cut Your Strips?</span></b><span style="color: #444444;"> The length of your strips does not have to be absolute. For me, it often depends on how big the piece of wool is that I am working with (obviously I can't get an 18" strip from a 12"x12" piece of wool). Conventional lengths are 16" to 18", but I have worked with strips from 26" to 30" long. The thing to keep in mind is short strips must be ended and started more often (which allows you to build more color/shading variations into your rug) and long strips let you hook longer without stopping and starting (alas, less color/shading variations). Remember, there are no right or wrong choices here and the rug police are not watching. Just grab your hook and go!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Speaking of Hooks . . .</b> </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are many types of hooks available and you might be confused as to what to choose. Very generally speaking, if you are working with a fine cut of wool, say a #2 or #3 cut, I recommend you use a fine-tipped hook like the ones you see below. They have a small shaft and you can grab the wool strip easily with the small head:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguK_ForA1KnyMuHA9stAgWA3THv8aSnXE4Ms4RUY-xinQOeqnyhqwQCclSHPI8kJ8Kj9WhQOwR7Wrla8dGOxttNBFvZ5D66IE-0Kvubl0FWbiw5fb5JBENqwsT3B5h1Wbv6bL-6A5hsqUV/s1600/hooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguK_ForA1KnyMuHA9stAgWA3THv8aSnXE4Ms4RUY-xinQOeqnyhqwQCclSHPI8kJ8Kj9WhQOwR7Wrla8dGOxttNBFvZ5D66IE-0Kvubl0FWbiw5fb5JBENqwsT3B5h1Wbv6bL-6A5hsqUV/s200/hooks.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For primitive pieces using a #9 or #10 cut (up to 1/2" wide), you might choose a hook something like the ones you see in the lower-left-hand-side of the picture below. These types of hooks allow you to grab the wool and pull the loops up through your canvas with a minimum amount of effort:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUZEfEyPYuxklLIf9DL6Sp1wI2csWwdBn2iHvnVq2tBLfnePzlztKuFY4IGysbHlGumwdJbUPnXVnc5bPMCYknNs5iuQsz8kF1B_WzafrbNzEjuv69-qev16-ydPRcSwBlwJyPRMCLLTC/s1600/hooks2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUZEfEyPYuxklLIf9DL6Sp1wI2csWwdBn2iHvnVq2tBLfnePzlztKuFY4IGysbHlGumwdJbUPnXVnc5bPMCYknNs5iuQsz8kF1B_WzafrbNzEjuv69-qev16-ydPRcSwBlwJyPRMCLLTC/s320/hooks2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, my all-time favorite hooks are bent hooks. Like most people, I started with a straight hook and held it like a pencil. Unfortunately, I noticed lots of strain in my wrist and my arm would tire easily. First, I changed to "palming" my hook, meaning I held the hook as one would grip a bicycle handle so the top of my clenched hand was facing up toward me. And then finally, I combined the palming method with the use of a bent hook, as the bend naturally lessens the amount of work my wrist and arm has to do:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope this information helps you with understanding cuts and hook choices. Next week, in addition to showing the beginning tutorials for a new wool applique candle mat pattern, I'll post a guide on how to figure how much wool you need for your rug hooking projects. Please feel free to post a comment or just let me know how you're doing! In the meantime, <i>Happy Stitchin'! xoxo--Melanie</i></span><br />
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Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-47853224469115757272013-02-21T16:57:00.002-07:002013-02-21T16:57:56.475-07:00I'm Having a ONE-DAY FLASH SALE!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Just a quick post today to announce my </span><b><span style="color: #660000;">ONE-DAY FLASH SALE FOR 15% OFF EVERYTHING ON MY WEBSITE!</span></b><span style="color: #444444;"> The sale begins when the clock ticks to February 22, 2013, in your part of the world and ends when the clock moves to February 23, 2013! This is a special FLASH SALE that's good on all my patterns and kits, so if there's something you've been wanting, this is a good time to take advantage!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">To participate, visit my website at </span><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;">www.americanpiedesigns.com</span></b></a><span style="color: #444444;"> and add the items you want to your shopping cart. During checkout, enter the special code below and you will automatically receive 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #444444;">If you don't want to check out through my website, just email me at </span><a href="mailto:melanie@americanpiedesigns.com" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><u>melanie@americanpiedesigns.com</u></span></b></a><span style="color: #444444;"> and I'll personally arrange for your discount.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's it for today (I'll have a longer post tomorrow). In the meantime, <i>Happy Stitchin'! xoxo--Melanie</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-75882193819480737882013-02-19T10:57:00.003-07:002014-07-15T17:19:08.048-06:00My Spring Gift: FREE Images for Scrapbooking, Greeting Cards, Baby Clothes, Etc!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Your loyalty and friendship is so important to me I thought I would post some of my favorite spring and Easter images as my spring gift to you! To the best of my knowledge, these images were created during the late 1800's or early 1900's and are copyright free and in the public domain. That means you can </span><i style="color: #444444;">share them</i><span style="color: #444444;">, use them for scrapbooking, transfer them to children's t-shirts and other clothing and use them for greeting cards and other projects. </span><i><u><span style="color: #444444;">If these images are not high enough resolution for your projects, just email me at </span><a href="mailto:melanie@americanpiedesigns.com" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #660000;">melanie@americanpiedesigns.com</span></b></a><span style="color: #444444;"> and I'll be happy to send you the images in high-resolution format so they will print and transfer nicely</span></u><span style="color: #444444;">!</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These first three images were created by Beatrix Potter for her <i>Tales of Peter Rabbit</i> children's books in the early 1900s. I think these images would be darling on a baby's bib or onesie. I love the the use of simple springtime colors in these pics . . .</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These next two images are collages of old greeting cards or trade cards I collected from the late 1800's(?). If you email me, I can send you these collages in better resolution so you can cut, paste and print them as you like for your projects. I think these would make wonderful scrapbooking images or cards to send to friends . . .</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last two images I have for today are from old greeting cards. Again, I think they would be great for scrapbooking or for your own greeting cards to send to family and friends . . .</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>Don't Forget my "2013 Spring Contest" on Facebook!</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though winter is still hovering in my neck of the woods here in Idaho, it's still time for three things: <i><b>First,</b> </i> it's time for a new contest, <b><i>second,</i> </b>it's time to show off your creativity, and <i><b>third,</b></i> it's time to look forward to EASTER and SPRING! I couldn't think of a better way to combine all those wonderful things than to start my "2013 Spring Contest", and I encourage you to enter. The winner will receive a bundle containing FOUR beautiful pieces of hand-dyed wool (each piece is approximately 6-7" wide and 16-18" long), and they are in wonderful butternut browns . . .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Just </span><a href="mailto:melanie@americanpiedesigns.com"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><u>email me</u></span></b></a> <span style="color: #444444;">a picture of your favorite SPRING or EASTER-THEMED project you personally made (it does not have to be your own pattern and it can be hooked rugs, quilts, dolls, painted items, etc). I'll post it to my Facebook page, tally up all the "LIKES" or "COMMENTS" on each photo, and ANNOUNCE THE WINNER ON MARCH 25! To see the current entries, just visit my "2013 Spring Contest" on my Facebook album page at </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.550465438298767.130455.152773834734598&type=3"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><u>www.facebook.com/americanpiedesigns.com</u></b></span></a><span style="color: #444444;">. Enter and win some wool!</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"><span style="color: #660000;"><u>THE <a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/jointheclub.html"><span style="color: #660000;">AMERICAN PIE BIRTHDAY CLUB</span></a> HAS CHANGED!</u> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Remember the great benefits you'll get when you join, including an instant 10% off coupon when you join, and here's the new details:</span></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's free to join (always and forever).</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You get an INSTANT COUPON FOR 10% OFF everything on my website.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When your birthday time comes around, you'll receive a SPECIAL COUPON GOOD FOR 15% OFF all during your birthday month.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">You are automatically entered in current and future contest to WIN FREE PATTERNS AND OTHER PRIZES!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">You are always FIRST TO KNOW when new patterns are available so you can take advantage of special sales and discounts.</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Just click </span><a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/join.html" style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" target="_blank"><b><u>here</u></b></a><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">, enter your name and email address (yes, it's confidential) and in a few seconds you'll be a member. I hope you'll join!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's it for today! I'm sorry for this short post, but I promised I would get these images to you in time for your spring projects. Later today, I'm beginning work in earnest on a new candle mat design that I will post pictures and tutorials of during progress. In the meantime, <i>Happy Stitchin'! xoxo--Melanie</i></span></div>
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Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-39642421210210453382013-02-11T14:04:00.000-07:002014-07-15T17:20:26.184-06:00New Pattern "Crazy Neighbors" and Tutorial for "How to Clean a Wool Rug with Snow"<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #660000;">Do You Have "Crazy Neighbors"</span></u><span style="color: #660000;">?</span></b><span style="color: #444444;"> I'm not talking about the kind that live next door with the barking dogs. I'm talking about the kind of neighbors you'll see in my latest release, </span><b><span style="color: #660000;">"<a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/patterns1.html" target="_blank">Crazy Neighbors</a>"</span></b><span style="color: #444444;">, a wool applique pillow that features the crazy quilt technique! </span><i style="color: #444444;">I had so much fun making this 12" pillow that I plan to introduce this technique in other patterns too!</i><span style="color: #444444;"> The crazy quilt technique is fun, it uses up small pieces of wool from your scrap basket, and it's forgiving (there's no hard-and-fast seam allowances, so you can jiggle the template pieces around).</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWGu8kpmV-XGywt2FLtrZqY6fdDEhjd_fpxhFkumuUp68SEoi0OReRImQRPfWM_OlE5wYQk5IrPNqgt_SnXzE7ktZoBfLs5OLa_dqGJ7T75zgN7OCEC5Ew7aKw8lY7l_iRXIeXybu1qjS/s1600/CRAZY+NEIGHBORS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWGu8kpmV-XGywt2FLtrZqY6fdDEhjd_fpxhFkumuUp68SEoi0OReRImQRPfWM_OlE5wYQk5IrPNqgt_SnXzE7ktZoBfLs5OLa_dqGJ7T75zgN7OCEC5Ew7aKw8lY7l_iRXIeXybu1qjS/s400/CRAZY+NEIGHBORS.JPG" height="296" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pattern comes with complete instructions, including detailed info on how to complete several decorative embroidery stitches such as the herringbone stitch, the blanket stitch, the french knot, and others. It's so new that's it is not quite on my website yet, so from now until Friday, February 15, 2013, I'm offering an</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"> <u style="font-weight: bold;">INSTANT 10% OFF</u></span><span style="color: #444444;"> this pattern! Just </span><span style="color: #444444;">drop me an email at </span><a href="mailto:melanie@americanpiedesigns.com"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><u>melanie@americanpiedesigns.com</u></span></b></a><span style="color: #444444;"> and let me know you want it and I'll give you the 10% off!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy "Crazy Neighbors"! Drop me a comment and let me know what you think!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Special Tutorial for my Blog Followers</u>:</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>How to Clean a Wool Rug with Snow</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever spent weeks, months (or years!) hooking a rug, only to find yourself afraid to lay it on the floor, to let it be walked upon, because <i>it will get dirty?</i> Have you ever cleaned a rug in the bathtub, only to find it weighs 800 pounds soaking wet and takes two weeks to dry? Having your rugs professionally cleaned can be costly, and many cleaners use petroleum distillates that may also remove the wool's natural oil content and your beautiful colors along with the dirt.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfHllV6G2Xj0wNCN5HFe03Xro3Rv75g0OVbpJ6lcC9iKA8WmCPSxGAZlzYin4ntf_suG2xQT2fMHC_0FaU9lkXSUq0vVyg8gPq925Of98m0rw-6OQt2l0aCqXLY7WOFhLPvwn3Sv8FdAi/s1600/HOOKEDRUG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfHllV6G2Xj0wNCN5HFe03Xro3Rv75g0OVbpJ6lcC9iKA8WmCPSxGAZlzYin4ntf_suG2xQT2fMHC_0FaU9lkXSUq0vVyg8gPq925Of98m0rw-6OQt2l0aCqXLY7WOFhLPvwn3Sv8FdAi/s400/HOOKEDRUG.jpg" height="394" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lucky are those who live in areas where winter abounds! The same cold, snowy weather that makes you want to snuggle up in wool provides a great way to clean your wool hooked rugs. Here are the steps to cleaning your hooked rugs with snow:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cleaning is best done when it's <i>verrrry</i> cold outside, at least 25 degrees farenheight or colder.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You need new, powdery snow (or powdery snow that has been in the shade). Very fine, windblown powder that is several inches deep works well. Although I don't usually get snow like that in my back yard, I don't live far from an a ski area that gets <i>really great</i> powder several times a year.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Step 1</u>: Put your rug outside in the cold for half an hour or so. Why? Because the little bits of greasy dirt that have collected on your rug will harden and break up at below-freezing temps. Also, snow won't melt on a chilly rug, which is important in a later step.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Step 2</u>: Spread your rug out and cover it with clean snow. Tramp on the rug (yes, you want to tramp enough that the fine particles of snow work their way into the loops of wool).</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Step 3</u>: Turn the rug over, cover it with snow and beat the back broom.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Step 4</u>: Turn the rug over and beat it with the broom again.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Step 5</u>: Sweep the snow from the rug.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Step 6</u>: Move the rug to a fresh area and repeat the process until you are satisfied with the result, making sure you clean both sides of the rug. When finished, brush off any remaining snow and allow your rug to dry indoors. Since your rug was not immersed in water, it will dry in a snap!</span></li>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I understand the Scandinavians use this method for cleaning wool rugs during winter. The deep freeze of the snow kills smelly bacteria and loosens dirt and grime. Sweeping the tiny snow crystals from the rug removes grease and dirt buildup and results in a clean, deodorized rug.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the next time I start to whine about how cold it gets here in Idaho, I'm going to remember the old adage, <i>There's a silver lining in every cloud (snow cloud, that is!).</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's it for today! I hope you are enjoying these posts and getting some interesting information from them. More to come later this week. In the meantime, <i>Happy Stitchin'! xoxo--Melanie</i></span>Melanie Pinney and American Piehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377627267550841352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391433792332527096.post-58639446794649037742013-02-08T08:29:00.003-07:002014-07-15T17:21:45.351-06:00It's Time for Birthday Club Members to Win a Pattern!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's right, it's time for a little contest for <u>members-only</u> of my Birthday Club! From now through sometime this coming Wednesday morning (February 13) (right after I have my coffee), all members of my Birthday Club are AUTOMATICALLY ENTERED to win a free pattern that I purchased from my friend, Cheryl Gunn of Waltzing with Bears. Cheryl is a talented designer and I loved her cute little wool-and-fabric purse design so much that I picked it up when I visited my local fabric store . . .</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember, if you are already a member, that's wonderful and you are automatically entered and don't have to do anything. If you are not already a member, I do hope you'll join, as you'll get:</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #444444;">An </span><u><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>INSTANT COUPON FOR 10% OFF</b></span></u><span style="color: #444444;"> anything you order from my website!</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">A whopping 1</span><u><b><span style="color: #741b47;">5% OFF</span></b></u><span style="color: #444444;"> anything from my website during your birthday month!</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">You are automatically entered in current and future contests to </span><b><span style="color: #741b47;"><u>WIN FREE PATTERNS AND OTHER PRIZES</u>!</span></b></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">You are always </span><u><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>FIRST TO KNOW</b></span></u><span style="color: #444444;"> when new patterns are available so you can take advantage of special sales and discounts!</span></li>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just <a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/join.html" target="_blank">click here</a> and you'll see your 10% OFF COUPON in a few seconds (you'll also get a confirmation email). Then when your birthday time comes around, you'll automatically receive a special 15% off coupon good all during your birthday month!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b><span style="color: #741b47;"><u>So What's Coming Up</u>?</span></b><span style="color: #444444;"> Next week I'll be posting </span><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>BEAUTIFUL IMAGES YOU CAN DOWNLOAD</b></span><span style="color: #444444;"> and use for greeting cards, stamping, children's clothing and other great projects They are from vintage artwork done in the late 1800's and to the best of my belief they are copyright-free and open to the public domain. There will be images from Beatrix Potter, who wrote and illustrated the "Peter Rabbit" children's books, as well as images from vintage postcards and other media from the 1800's. I hope you enjoy them!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">I'll also be releasing my new design, </span><b><span style="color: #741b47;"><i>"<a href="http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/patterns1.html" target="_blank">Crazy Neighbors</a>"</i></span><span style="color: #444444;">,</span></b><span style="color: #444444;"> a 12"x12" wool applique pillow done with the "crazy quilt" method. If you've never tried the crazy quilt method, you are going to love how easy and fun it is to get into this new craze. And since crazy quilting usually uses lots of vintage embroidery stitches for embellishment, my pattern will include </span><span style="color: #444444;"><u>detailed</u></span><span style="color: #444444;"><u> pictures and instructions</u> on how to complete some of the old stitches like the herringbone and the traditional blanket stitch.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">That's it for now! Be sure to join the Birthday Club below to get your chance at winning the pattern from Waltzing with Bears. Until next week, <i>Happy Stitchin'! xoxo--Melanie</i></span></span><script src="http://www.emailmeform.com/builder/forms/jsform/4tMaBT8IaeAKR2gcc0sbQ6" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
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