Seasonal Napkin Rings

Looking back on this blog, I haven't really shown much on the napkin rings I did last year and the year before. However, you can see them on the other blog, Freebies, etc., by clicking on the label "napkin rings" on that site.

This picture is one I took last year of some I had designed, and Pat Miller of Needleartnut had stitched for me and finished, as well.

My grandchildren were enchanted with them - and found that paper towels work as well as damask. Anyway, after pulling out the swag of pearls to aid me in recovery from serious PPD (this is shown in the previous post on this blog), my mind started whirling again about more napkin rings. (or bracelets for those who wish).

The projects are small and simple, and one can really enjoy a bit of overkill and "goop" with threads, etc. You can see the entire range of Halloween as well as the "jeweled" series and lots of other rather seasonal things, and they can be printed out for you to use.

My latest idea for myself is to try out new threads and stitches - and also create wonderful embellished effects with the TAST stitches presented on PINTANGLE each Tuesday (as well as others on her Band Sampler) It's never wasted effort, as festive napkin rings are always fun for setting a table.

Choosing Threads for a Small Project (quick cure for PPD)

When I finished the big Celadon canvas, I was really tired of it, even though it wasn't a boring piece. I always have a letdown (Post Project Depression) after finishing any big endeavor - either stitching or painting, and need something fast to divert and entertain me.

I was digging around in a drawer of things I had painted a while back for the blogs, and found the "jeweled" napin rings (which can also be bracelets if elongated). For some reason, I had always been fond of this one - with "pearls." This is one of those things I wonder about now - what was the inspiration, and what was going on in my mind? I'm not nearly this clever this week.

Anyway, although the paint is a bit brighter than the Petite Very Velvet I chose, I like the soft, velvety background. If I had used anything else, basketweave would have shown as texture, whereas stitches with PVV hardly show at all.. Besides, the gleam of the Kreinik 002V braid is gorgeous against it!

Normally, the little picot edge would have beads inserted for a little extra sparkle and shine, but in this case, I didn't want that, as it wouldn't look right with the surface of the pearls. it would just have been a lot of white dots to fight with the "string of pearls." The pearls are just a "bump" stitch over 3 x 3 stitches with Renaissance Shimmer.

The edge is done, as usual, with long-armed cross stitch, and with the 002V Kreinik, it is rather Baroque looking - a great effect! I like using this stitch on bracelets, belts, and napkin rings, as it folds over nicely and makes the finishing neater.

The left end of the napkin ring, not quite finished, shows where I decided to extend it one thread, as the pearl meets the one on the other end, and in finishing, they would run together with no separation.

It's such a mathematical process putting these on canvas - very simple, really - that it didn't occur to me to separate them. Probably nobody sitting at a table and using it would notice, but I would.

Since long-armed cross stitch works from left to right, I turned the canvas upside down so I could see what it would look like sooner. I believe these are on my Freebies, etc. blog where you could download the pattern - also check the label on this blog for it - it's been a while, and I don't remember where I put it.

Sparkling Tartan/Plaid for a Napkin Ring

First showing the napkin ring "finished" - but not yet professionally done. I simply steam pressed it and put it together with masking tape to see how it would look. ("Haste is the enemy of perfection.")

Also, my fine white napkins are packed in a box somewhere, so I had to resort to a paper towel - the ultimate tacky, so my mother would say.

This napkin ring began life as Alpine Meadows tartan, a gorgeous green one I chose a while back to illustrate adapting an actual tartan to needlepoint. It has relatively few colors and rather small setts, which makes it quite versatile for this use.

To repeat my "disclaimer" - I checked with the Scottish National Registry, and while it's illegal to sell "patterns" made from these tartans, it's O.K. to adapt them for one's own personal use. Anyway, setting up a pattern for use requres knowing for what it will be used - size and shape of project, canvas mesh size, many different factors. It makes a difference in the number of threads used for the width of each stripe.

The first "stitching" picture shows how it looks barely begun. You can see where I marked the stripes with colored Sharpie pens for guidance. The arrow is showing where I cheated and turned the canvas upside down to continue the red stripe instead of ending off and beginning again at the top. This is not good practice, but on this small piece, it did no harm.

The second photo shows the weft stripes started - and this is where it becomes very entertaining and hard to put down, as the pattern begins to emerge. On this fun piece, I chose to use Kreinik metallics for the gold, red, and white stripes, substituting the red for the pink on the original tartan. 032, of course, provides the sparkling touch of white!

Last - the napkin ring almost finished. There are instructions for drawing the basic size and shape for these things on my Freebies, etc. blog under "napkin rings" - as well as a bracelet. You could also do belts this way, maybe from your own family tartan, as it's the same width as a needlepoint belt - and what fun for the Holiday Season!!

Outlining the Cross and Choosing Threads

I decided to go ahead and start stitching on the first of the new Talavera mini-crosses - I might even finish one or two, as they're small and bright, so I'm not likely to get bored or distracted.

Anyway, my dilemma with these things has been that they are so lively in color and pattern, they can't take a lot of glitz, sparkle, and beads, but definitely need something to jazz them up for use as ornaments. I very rarely paint anything of mine that I'm going to stitch, as it not only takes time, but I enjoy the process of seeing the piece come alive by adding color. (painting with a needle and thread).

Incidentally, I have some tutorials going on at Freebies, Etc. (the other blog) on the canvas preparation process - beginning with the pens, so don't miss it if you want to try it on your own.

On one of them I am explaining why I used a light blue drawing pen for the fret at the top, which I have now covered with Kreinik 032 metallic white - so nothing of the line shows through. You can see it coming alive with the blue background started around it.

On the Talavera ceramics, as on the Japanese Imari porcelains, most of the design motifs are outlined in dark navy - so I used the Kreinik navy #018HL, as it has just the right amount of sparkle. Speaking of outlining, a friend wrote me this morning to say she had seen someone on a blog advise against outlining, "as it is continental stitch." I'm afraid I was ROTFLOL at this, as my first and immediate thought was those gorgeous designs of Mindy's I was working on - all three of them have lots and lots of outlining on them. The beautiful flowers, especially, as well as the leaves on the Asian design.

Outlining is not continental stitch, as that stitch travels horizontally in a straight line. Outlining is simply tent stitch, and there is no reason not to outline on a canvas where the design requires it. As I said, the majority of the antique Oriental porcelains I have designed from for almost 40 years, have the pattern motifs outlined. (Another reason for outlining is to confine an area of pattern that's to be worked in a textured stitch, as this prevents ragged, unsightly edges against the background.)

Now back to the subject: My intent on this little canvas is to use Kreinik metallics, blending filament included for a very subtle sparkle, and cotton and Satin floss. I used a red drawing pen to mark where the flower petals will be stitched in red so I won't have to figure it out as I go. Looks much nicer than black ink would have, and is less likely to show through the thread, as I'm not painting it.


I also started, a few days ago, when I was a bit bored, one of my "jeweled" napkin rings. This is an example of how a painted canvas really comes to life with threads. I'm using one of my favorite combinations here - the Petite Very Velvet with Kreinik 002V metallic braid and the addition of glittering beads. (haven't gotten to those yet.)



The edge stitch (so it'll roll over neatly in the finishing) is long-armed cross stitch. Very easy to do, and sooooo effective here. This thing, once the beads are placed on the diamonds and emeralds, looks like an elegant bracelet - but this one is only the length of a napkin ring (5 1/2") Notice that the jewels are also outlined - had to do it here!

Halloween Stuff in Needlepoint

If you haven't looked at Freebies, Etc. lately, go over and see my latest madness - napkin rings for a spooky table setting. My grandsons approve.

Needlepoint Napkin Rings - "Jeweled"

I just finished with a post on the Freebies, etc. blog on more napkin rings - "jeweled" ones inspired by my birthday Crazy Quilt hearts. I need to do a set myself!! Just click on "my other blog" on the side bar and go see!