Morgan No-Slip Hoop

I inherited a set of plastic embroidery hoops from my grandma. They are in good shape, but I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with embroidery hoops. They never keep the fabric tight enough, and I constantly need to adjust the fabric.

To do French knots and punchneedle embroidery successfully, you need tight fabric in the hoop. I think it’s the fact that you’re continually putting pressure on the fabric and it slips more and more as you work.

I needed a larger hoop besides, so I did some online searching and found the Morgan 12″ No-Slip Hoop. It has a groove in the middle that keeps the hoop from coming apart until you loosen the wingnut. (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

It does have a taller profile than the usual embroidery hoop, but I didn’t find it to be uncomfortable or heavy to work with.

I had cut my fabric too close since I thought a 10″ hoop would work, so I sewed on some additional fabric.

I tightened the fabric in the new hoop.

I stitched a few rows and could already tell the difference. The fabric was tighter than I had been able to get it in the regular hoop and it stayed taut the entire time I stitched. Hooray!!!! 

Categories: Needlework - French knot rugs
May 29, 2013 | 0 comments

Baby Z Lap Frame

Working with French knots is different from working in cross-stitch or petit point in that it is easier if you have both hands free. I’ve been working on the Bees and Trees rug without a lap frame, and it’s hard not to start hunching forward as you work, balancing the hoop on your lap and completing each knot…not at all comfortable for long periods of time.

I bought a Baby Z Lap Frame since some fellow stitchers were talking about lap frames recently. Though the instructions for assembly were minimal, it went together easily enough. I did have to sand it in a few rough areas, but all in all the quality is good. It’s a solid frame and has a base just 11.5″ wide, so it is a comfortable weight and width for me.

It has a tray in the base for holding yarns and scissors.

Plus, it is adjustable in height, folding relatively flat for transport.

So far, I really like the frame. It will definitely save being hunched over while stitching. Here’s a photo of me sitting with the frame. I keep the knobs of the clamp facing downward so they stay out of the way when stitching.

Categories: Needlework - French knot rugs
May 14, 2013 | 0 comments

Blue medallion rug – completed

I have finished binding the blue medallion rug, and it is ready to take its place in The Artist’s Studio.

Cross-stitching time was 154.5 hours on 32 count Jobelan.

Final finishing took only a couple of hours.  The final measurements are 7 7/8″ long by 4 5/8″ wide.

It fits well with the furnishings, though I will need to add feet to the daybed and whimsical cabinet to make them level.

It’s such a striking design, which is what drew me in when I first saw it. The chart came from Jorge Cubells’s blog, though if you plan to make one for yourself, please write to Jorge for the half chart since the one listed on his blog is missing a column in the pattern. My final rug has this error, but it’s not noticeable.

Categories: Needlework - French knot rugs, The Artist's Studio
April 12, 2013 | 0 comments

Blue medallion rug – introduction

I found this beautiful rug on Jorge Cubells’s blog, and he was kind enough to upload a larger picture so I could stitch one for myself. I will be using colors very similar to his. I mounted a piece of 32ct Jobelan on a wood frame, and my threads are all from my existing stash…though I do need a better dark green than the one I have. The background will be ivory – DMC 712 – which I will do most of after the border and medallion are in place. I want to limit the chances of the ivory being soiled as I work on the darker designs.

Update 9-9-2012: I noticed a small issue with the pattern. It seems there is a column missing from the middle of the design on the pattern I downloaded, so there are two lines of stitching missing in my rug as I’ve stitched it. From Jorge’s photo, I see the violet flowers are uniform all the way around, but on my rug as I followed the chart, my middle violet flower is smaller than the two on either side…and the blue decoration in the border runs together where there should be a space between them. I realized it was off when I taped the pattern together but thought it was just a design element. It wasn’t until I looked at the photo of the finished rug again that I saw the pattern was off.

But, I am not starting over after 34.75 hours of work! Unless you are familiar with the original, you don’t even notice. Looking at my rug, nothing appears obviously off; it just differs from Jorge’s original. I still love it, and I am forging ahead!

Categories: Needlework - French knot rugs, The Artist's Studio
August 23, 2012 | 0 comments

Navajo rug – completed

I finished stitching around the edges of the Navajo rug and completed the backing! As noted before, I didn’t count the finishing time, just the cross-stitch time. The stitching time was 189.5 hours, and the rug was stitched on 32 count Jobelan in parchment. The finished size is 5 3/16″ x 8 7/16″.

I had estimated stitching time to be 204 hours, so I am pleased to have finished ahead of schedule by 14.5 hours.

This project was based on a contemporary Navajo original weaving, shown here with Steve Getzwiller.

Natalia Frank did a wonderful job of charting it for me (see below photo), and I send a huge thank you to Natalia, who is not only a gifted artist but a very classy lady. I made some minor alterations to Natalia’s chart for my final rug, including choosing my own coloration and changing some design elements such as the center medallions.

I’ve set up a quick scene to show it in a room setting. I don’t know if any of these pieces will stay with the rug in its future home, but it gives a good view of the texture and scale.

Anyone care to join me in the sitting room?  I’ve poured us each a Scotch.

Categories: Needlework - French knot rugs
August 11, 2012 | 0 comments