Let’s have some fun with creating and stitching a lovely small colourful heart pattern!

Since Christmas is later this month, this would make a fast project for gift giving. We’re featuring both red and green as colours in this pattern. I think it’s a great way to get into the holiday spirit!

How Was This Colourful Heart Stitched

Our heart is composed of a variety of stitches, many using Colour #187 in size 5 Perle cotton. A couple of stitches included in the design are a rice stitch and a Milanese stitch. The heart measures about 3-inches on an 18-count canvas. 

While the sample features leftover bits of threads in reds, you will also see purples and yellows. Perhaps you might like to add some great. Use up whatever threads you have!

This would be a fun project to celebrate the season. Perhaps a gift for a stitching friend or enlarge the design for a Hearts For Hospice.

Have fun with this pattern and let me know what you come up with!

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I featured a stained glass heart design previously and today is a take-off of the design showcasing a vertical row pattern using scotch stitch. 

I mentioned previously that Dominique wanted to experiment with some stained glass designs. This is the second variation that uses up various bits of thread colours leftover from previous projects. All are size 5 Perle cotton.

Want To Know More About This Vertical Row Pattern?

The heart measures about 4-inches and is completed with vertical rows of the scotch stitch. She randomly chose all the colours and ALL the threads were leftover from previously stitch projects. She did add some rows of basketweaves in black to give the appearance of stained glass divisions.

While the colours used were simply scraps and bits of leftover thread from other projects, the way they were carefully laid out perfectly comes together to create this beautiful stained-glass effect. This is a perfect example that you don’t necessarily need to spend a ton of planning to create something beautiful! In this case, using leftover pieces made for a really wonderful and beautifully made pattern!

Remember, while this design was a heart you don’t necessarily need to stitch a heart shape. Perhaps you would like to stitch a circle or rectangle. You can even recreate this pattern on something a little more simple – even a linen canvas! If you do end up using this pattern on a shape, it would make for a wonderful Christmas ornament. No one would even know that leftover threads were used!

This is another great example of using up and re-purposing your left-over stash!

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Last year Dominique had mentioned she wanted to experiment with some stained glass hearts. 

She had an idea but really hadn’t decided how to execute it at that time. Since she had been stitching a number of cross stitch samples using my threads, she had accumulated quite a collection of leftover length of flosses.  Her idea involved coming up with a slightly different design to use up these bits, while also creating the effect of stained glass.

A Closer Look At The Stained Glass Hearts

With that, she created a beautiful collection of stained glass hearts.  All are randomly stitched with floss. The pattern is created by stitching lines using a solid colour floss, either black or dark green. The pattern develops by using various colours of floss while also being careful of the placement (to create that unique stained glass effect).    

I must admit, after seeing the results, these are some of my favourite designs to date!

If your preference is to stitch with size 5 Perle cotton, here are a few options on my website. While the pattern looks quite intricate, in reality, these designs are excellent for beginner stitchers. 

You don’t necessarily need to stitch using a heart shape neither. Diamonds, squares, octagons, triangles or other shapes are perfect as well! What about stitching some triangular shape Christmas tree ornaments? Or, perhaps some gift tags? 

This is just another great way to use your left-over stash! 

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Who says you need to be an expert needle worker to create a stunning design? Today’s heart demonstrates the use of very simple stitches. 

I have talked about using bands in designs previously and this is another great example. While there is no specific pattern used, this is an adaptation of a design featured in the January/February 2019 issue of Needlepoint Now.

What Simple Stitches Were Used To Create This Design

The central band is much wider than the original design stitched with a diamond pattern created by alternating Rhodes stitches with cross stitches and beads bordered with metallic braid. The purple borders are diagonal Gobelin bands with a metallic ribbon couched in place with cross stitches. Scotch stitch and byzantine are used for the outer borders.

All these stitches are very suitable for a beginner.  The Colour Complements colours used are:

• Colour #54 – since discontinued but you could substitute Colour #71
• Colour #183
• Colour #55
• Colour #46

A great example of combining simple stitches and of course, COLOUR!

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Can you see the squares and crosses pattern in this heart?

There is no specific printed pattern for the heart shown today. The design starts with a central cross created with alternating Smyrna stitches in two different colours and threads. The grid for the small squares is created using a metallic braid which has been couched with a cross-stitch. The small squares are scotch stitch using either 2 or 3 strands of floss. A secondary pattern is created simply by the placement of colours.  

Colours Used To Create This Square & Cross Pattern

You can definitely use specific colours to achieve a similar square and cross pattern. But what I love about this particular design is that it’s also perfect for when you need to use up leftover bits of floss from previous projects.  I have shown a selection of floss colours used in the design above. These include the following:

• Colour #48
• Colour #50
• Colour #191
• Colour #61
• Colour #60 – substitute Colour #50

I could easily see repeating this pattern in another project such as a Christmas ornament.  Simple enough for a beginner to tackle!

If you are interested in learning more about the Hearts For Hospice project you can learn more HERE.

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When I sent threads to my stitch group earlier in the year I included some bits of ric rac trim to see how they would use this in needlepoint (and specifically the hearts). 

It took me quite some time to source this particularly ric rac.  When I was in San Bernardino a number of years ago, I had the pleasure of spending several days with Anne Davies.  Anne specializes in silk ribbon embroidery and I wanted some expert tutoring at the time. 

Anne had some narrow rayon ric rac which she used to demonstrate how to create a ric rac rose to add to my crazy quilting.  I’d not seen it previously so I started researching on my return home.  While I have not created many roses, I do use the ric rac in various seam treatments in my CQ.

My ric rac is rayon therefore it absorbs the dyes beautifully with a slight sheen.  It is also narrow versus the wider cotton ric rac found in quilting shops.  It is a great addition for any of you wool applique enthusiasts for Sue Spargo or Wendy Williams projects.  I sell it in meter lengths (a meter is slightly longer than a yard) so customers can purchase as little or as much as they choose. 

How Was Ric Rac Trim Added To This Needlepoint Heart

Anyway, getting back to the heart above.  Not only was ric rac trim used, the zig-zag design that is unique to ric rac echoes in the stitching. If you look even closer the heart design has been repeated – there’s even a heart IN a heart! 

There was no pattern used for this beautiful design, it was just the use of creativity and imagination!

Just a note that Anne has several published patterns found on the Inspirations website.  Here is her beehive but simply type in her name in the search box and you’ll find a few more.

Thanks again Anne for the two most enjoyable days in your lovely home and thank you to Dominique for your creativity with this heart.     

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It’s not always easy to figure out the title of my blog posts but I chose, cross my heart for this particular needlepoint design!

By looking at the design itself, it’s quite easy to understand why!

Here’s How The Cross My Heart Needlepoint Design Was Made

This particular design was the result of what can occur when you draw from different inspiration.

Dominique opted to select various “parts” of different patterns – whatever she had in her stash of magazines and combined them to create a new and unique design. Most of the colours used were solids with the exception Colour #191 –a blend of colours seen in wheat which is shown in floss in the sprat’s head stitches. She started with an off-centre cross using an aqua shade of floss then added woven cross stitch in two shades of grey.

After the cross was complete, she simply started adding rows to each of the four sections created. Although the overall design may look rather intricate, in reality achieving this pattern simply requires repetitive stitching, so it’s quite easy to achieve.

I can’t quite make it out but she has used either 3 or 4 strands of floss for all of the stitching. 

I am particularly fond of this colour scheme. This combination offers a twist on a traditional complementary scheme of blue and orange substituting aqua for the blue which really brightens up the entire design. I also love the addition of grey to create a neutral and subtle contrast from the brighter colour scheme.

Just goes to show what you can create with simple stitches and colour!

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So let’s talk about needlepoint bands, GLORIOUS NEEDLEPOINT BANDS!

Earlier this year I talked about bands in needlepoint in this blog post. The design from the January/February 2019 issue of Needlepoint Now shows bands and this blog post features a further interpretation of the same design.  Once again, there is no specific pattern for this heart but I believe most of you will be able to discern details around the stitches on close examination.

Tips on Achieving This Design

I think the key to working with bands is varying the width. You will note both narrow, medium and wide bands in this design as well as layering.  A great example is the centre band which has a row of open stitches (where the canvas shows through) bordered with two identical rows in the same band on either side. 

Many colours, all little bits of both size 5 Perle cotton and floss were used.

Colour #50, #53 and #48 were some of the colours used to stitch this beautiful needlepoint band.  I will mention some of the stitches I recognize like sheaf stitch, maltese cross, herringbone and Smyrna.  Again, all simple stitches, it’s simply how you combine them.

Another fun, fast and easy stitch!  Enjoy

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Gem coloured threads are always very popular in my shop for needlework projects. Blue, green and purple in particular seem to always sell out. It’s clear from this heart design why! 

The design inspiration for this heart is from the featured heart in the January/February 2019 issue of Needlepoint Now.  Some time ago I posted about my Diamonds Heart which has many similarities to this one. The differences are in the colours, threads used and stitch choices.

Here’s a Closer Look at this Gem Coloured Needlework Pattern

Most of this design was stitched with Colour #120 which is my blue/green/purple blend.  While the diamond bargello central pattern is the same as the diamond design heart, it differs in the material that were used. This particular design uses cotton floss versus perle cotton. The solid purple background blends seamlessly and the soft shade does a great job in giving the small diamond patterns more “pop” in the overall design.

Colour #30 was chosen to highlight the central border as well as one stripe on the left side of the heart. It was also the perfect contrasting shade against the cool colour combination of blue, green and purple.

This heart will likely be donated to our local hospice but remember you can find out more about the Hearts for Hospice project on the Greater Kansas City Needlepoint Guild site.

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Yes, today is all about COLOUR, bold and glorious colour!  You know I am all about colour by now!

This is a very BOLD example of using a selection of leftover bits of threads, both variegated and solids.

Several years ago I sold sampler packs of 10 meter skeins of size 5 perle cotton. I list these in the shop every once and awhile as “mixed” samplers so make sure you check and see if there are any. I think there just may be a couple remaining!

My idea at the time was packs for wool applique enthusiasts as I had started a wool applique project myself.  There were a variety, all mixed colour combinations. Susan had purchased several of these packs and decided to sort through the stash one day in stitch group.  She asked Dominique if she wanted to use some to experiment and this is the result. 

There is no pattern for this heart, simply curved bands with all sorts of stitches on 18 count canvas.  The entire design is solid stitching so any colour of canvas could be used. Once again, just goes to demonstrate how leftover bits of threads are ideal for projects such as this one. AND, I know we all have those leftover bits. Get your canvas out!  

This would make a very fun heart to stitch for the Hearts for Hospice program. Check it out.

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