Basket of Blooms Punch Needle - Two Colorways, Two Sizes

Just released, my newest punch needle pattern, Basket of Blooms, has two colorways included, as well as two sizes for each colorway. When I designed the pattern, I couldn't decide which colorway, so I decided to just make both. I made the larger sized version (9" x 12") with red and green on a black background:

Basket of Blooms Punch Needle

I made the smaller version, with a size of 6" x 7 3/4", in the lighter colorway, with the shades of red and green to emulate the colors of a faded antique hooked rug:

Basket of Blooms Punch Needle

Both of the Basket of Blooms tapestries are punched entirely using the beautifully variegated Valdani threads.

For the larger Basket of Blooms, I needed a frame instead of a hoop. At first I purchased carding strips and made my own, but I wasn't happy with it. After using it for awhile, I decided to purchase this beautifully handcrafted 18" x 18" frame on Etsy, from the shop Beecreekltd:

I added the handle so that I could turn the frame with ease, as well as pick it up to move it around. Those carding strips can be sharp! A second handle on an adjacent side would have been even better, but at the time, I was anxious to get my tapestry completed.

When punching the design, I place the frame on a low, plastic top table. I can turn the frame around easily, as it just slides on the plastic, and I don't have to worry about harming a different surface, such as wood.

The pattern is available as a paper pattern mailed to you, or as a PDF download.

 

Until next time!

Martha

Simply Vintage No. 39 - My pattern!

 BLOOMING HEARTS

You'll find my new punchneedle pattern, "Blooming Hearts" featured in this summer's Simply Vintage magazine No. 39.

 

Blooming Hearts by Martha Walker

Simply Vintage magazine No. 39

I used beautiful Valdani 3 strand embroidery floss for the entirety of the piece and I will be selling thread kits for "Blooming Hearts" on my website in just a few days, once they arrive. 

The "Blooming Hearts" punched piece is mounted on black wool. The year 1860 is the birth year of one of my great great grandmothers, but feel free to personalize "Blooming Hearts" with a year that may have meaning to you!

Until next time,

Martha
 

Punch Needle for Spring

Spring is finally here, and I was definitely thinking spring when I stitched my new punchneedle pattern, Faded Blooms. I'll use the pattern for teaching punchneedle embroidery, so I designed it to be rather simple, but using beautiful Valdani threads can make a simple design something special.

Faded Blooms Punch Needle

I'm often asked where I get the frames I use for framing my stitchery. A beautiful frame can enhance any work, and I'm always on the lookout for nice frames when I'm out and about. I've found many beautiful frames at cross stitch/needlework shops, and if I fall in love with a frame, I'll buy it then, even if I don't have a project in mind. Another good place to find frames is antique shops. I've found frames that have already been "upgraded" with a fresh coat of paint. Just a few weeks ago I purchased a very nice frame that I will be painting myself.

The frame I used for "Faded Blooms" is one that I put together myself. I had some leftover wood rope molding and glued it to a purchased frame from a hobby shop. I needed a little bit of caulk in a few spots where the pieces of molding joined, so I mixed together a small amount of white glue and baking soda for a do-it-yourself caulk. I then chalk painted the frame and added a coat of dark wax.

One thing to look for when purchasing a frame, is the depth of the opening. I like to use a frame that has a depth of at least 3/8" so that it can accommodate foam core board as a surface to attach my stitchery. Refer to my previous post to see how I frame my needlework archivally:

https://wagonswestdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/03/new-punchneedle-patterns-and-how-i.html

Even though my frame for Faded Blooms has a rectangular opening, and the punchneedle itself is square, I was able to fill in the space with some vintage buttons stitched to a scrap of beautiful hand dyed Weeks Dye Works parchment linen, and cross stitched to the fabric background. You can always fill in a not quite perfect space with some creative layering of wool, and fabric. So many options!

Until next time!

Martha

Betsy's Scrapbag

Today is the first official release day of my new book, Betsy's Scrapbag! It's now on our website, and we have a lot of work to do to get it out and about to your favorite quilt shops.

The first of my Scrapbag Girl TM series began with Annie's Scrapbag, a pattern book of quilts and projects inspired by my fictional seamstress, Annie, a girl living in the early homesteading days of the American frontier.

Annie's Scrapbag

Book 2, Betsy's Scrapbag, follows with quilts and projects inspired by the American Revolution, and Betsy's story of her family's role in the fight for American independence.  And just as in Annie's Scrapbag, Betsy's Scrapbag includes FULL size applique placement diagrams for all of the projects, including the wool applique projects. No drafting on your part needed - whew!

Betsy's Scrapbag

Just like in Annie's Scrapbag, Betsy's Scrapbag includes patterns for quilts, wool applique, and this time a punch needle project, Lady Liberty, one of my favorites! Lady Liberty is made primarily with Valdani 3-ply floss, with the addition of DMC embroidery floss. I also have instructions for my easy method for finishing punchneedle, that "stiffens" it for hanging or applying to a platform, such as a box, or basket, but it's archival, meaning no glues are used.

Lady Liberty

Autumn Stars is one of the five quilts in the book, and is the largest quilt, - a queen size 89" x 89". 

Autumn Stars

There are 10 projects in all, with four wool applique projects, one of which is the Liberty pillow, appliqued using my favorite Aurifil Lana wool threads, which you can also find on our website:

Liberty pillow

To celebrate it's release, I'm having a giveaway for one copy of Betsy's Scrapbag! Just follow the directions in the Rafflecopter box below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, and I hope you find Betsy's Scrapbag soon at a quilt shop near you! I will announce the winner of the giveaway on Monday, March 21st!

Until then,

Martha 

New punchneedle patterns and how I frame needlework

Sleepytown Sentinels and Party Girl are two of my newest patterns for punchneedle. They were so much fun to make!

Sleepytown Sentinels

Party Girl punchneedle pattern

Sleepytown Sentinels is stitched with a combination of Valdani hand-dyed three strand floss, Weeks Dye Works hand-dyed embroidery floss, and DMC embroidery floss. 
And Party Girl is stitched with Valdani hand-dyed three strand floss and DMC embroidery floss.

Both patterns are now up on the website and I'll have some kits for both of them up soon, as well as for Happy Harvest punchneedle. All of the patterns include the pre-printed weaver's cloth.

I also thought I would take this opportunity to show you how I frame my needlework, whether it be punchneedle, cross stitch, embroidery, etc.

I came up with this method of framing my needlework so that it is archival - no glues to yellow the needlework or attract insects.

You will need a frame, acid-free foam core board and a sharp awl.

If your frame needs a hanger, make sure you attach that first before you begin.

Cut a piece of foam core board to fit the inside of the frame snugly.

 

Next, use the awl to poke holes around the perimeter of the foam core board.

Cut your mounted needlework the same size as the foam core board. 

Place your needlework on top of the foam core board and use binder clips to stretch it taut.

Use a needle and thread to stitch the needlework to the foam core board, poking the needle through the holes in the back, coming up to the front, then around the foam core board to the back and through the next hole. 

As you stitch around, remove the binder clips as you come to them.

Here is the finished mounted stitchery before being placed into the frame.

For a bit of added padding, you can add a layer of thin cotton batting between the stitchery and the foam core board, which is what I did with this piece.

Just pop it into your frame and it's ready to hang! It probably won't be loose, but you can add glazier points just in case.

If you start your Fall and Halloween stitchery now, it will be ready for the season! Happy stitching and framing!

Until next time,

Martha