New Needlepoint Pillow

6 years ago

It's not really cross stitch but I had to show my latest finished project and cross stitching is closer to what it is rather than "quilting"!

It's a piece from a company in England, Cleopatra's Needle.

I just picked it up today and I am so pleased with how it turned out.

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Comments (3)

msmeow
6 years ago
It's really pretty, Martha! You did the needlepoint? Did you also make it into a pillow?

I haven't done any needlepoint in years. (I haven't done any cross stitch lately, either LOL.)

Donna
User
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes. I started needlepointing when I first married (and I still have a few pieces from that time). DD came along and it got pushed to the back burner for a VERY LONG TIME. In 2011 we took our first transatlantic cruise and with 2 weeks at sea, I felt I had to do "something" besides bring a small ibrary of heavy books so I went to my favorite needlepoint shop (which was still in business after not going for 30 years) and bought a canvas. I finished it before we left for home so I bought another in england. I am being very disciplined and won't buy canvases just because I like them . .So I don't have a drawer of projects waiting for me. . I wait until I'm almost finished and then will get another. At around $100 per canvas (which includes yarn), they are expensive. But since it takes me several months to complete one, the cost per month or per hour for my hobby, isn't bad. I do block the canvases but I do not finish them. I prefer to have professionals finish them. All that work needs a professional finish IMO. I also do needlepoint Christmas ornaments for my two granddaughters every year. Those I do finish myself for they're smaller and easier. And I think $100 for a pillow is expensive -- Christmas ornaments are $50 to $60 each and then you have to buy the thread! (And I don't want to spend another $75 to $100 to finish them) My DD thinks it's sweet I make her daughters an ornament for Christmas. I don't think she would be too happy to know how much they really cost. So it's my little secret.
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Hi Oakleyok....I've looked at your three possible choices for your needlepoint project. I'm not keen on the 'blue toile irises' as the description is vague and it looks a bit disappointing. The other two however, 'fleur de lis' and 'lady and unicorn', look fabulous. Yes, 10 holes-per-inch is the same as 10-mesh....however when you see a penelope canvas it is made up of double rows in each direction. If you stitch around these rows it is 10 stitches per inch and called needlepoint. If you stitch between each row you are stitching 20 stitches per inch and this is petitpoint. The description of the 'fleur de lis' says 10/20 and I'm hoping it means 10 stitches per inch and not 20, making it petitpoint and daunting. You may want to call for clarification on that one. But I know the 'lady and unicorn' is 10 per inch and I have stitched painted canvases similar to this one. This design is called a 'cluny'. Some artistic folks can paint their own canvas and then stitch them, kind of like writing the song and performing it too. You can also find patterns requiring you to transfer the stitches to the canvas by counting it out on the grid of your canvas while stitching, very ambitious. Or you can stitch on a prepainted or trammed canvas, whereas someone else writes the song and you perform it. Since I'm not artistic, I'm happy just giving a good performance because many of these canvases are copied from museum pieces and are quite beautiful, like the 'lady and the unicorn'. The needlepoints shown by 'adoptedbygreyhounds' are gorgeous and she's framed and displayed them so beautifully. Here's hoping this helps and you order a tapestry and have it completed in your home before too long.
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I see your post has had no replies - have you tried posting on the embroidery forum? I have not done much needlepoint, and the last one I did I had professionally framed so I didn't have to mess with blocking it! With cross stitch, I pin the piece wrong side up to a padded surface and make sure it is straight and square, then cover with a wet cloth and press till the cloth is dry. I leave the stitchery pinned in place until it is completely dry. Donna
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User
6 years ago
Very handsome. The pastel blue looks just right as background. I never would have thought of that color!

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New Needlepoint Pillow

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msmeow

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New Needlepoint Pillow

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msmeow

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