TUTORIAL ON CREATING A NEELDE LACE PILLOW

Greetings to Everyone, 

I am venturing out a bit to learn the art of Needle Lace.  In my last post I showed you a wee green leaf which was very difficult to create in an embroidery hoop.  So hence, I asked two fellow needle lace makers how they created their Needle Lace Pillows and they referred me to their blogs.  Lenore who is from SW Michigan was very helpful and her blog is called,  tatt3r'slacystuff. Click on Lenore's blog to see how she created her Needle Lace Pillow.  Also Britt from Perth Western Australia also shows her Needle Lace Pillows on her blog called "Stitchety Grub".  Both sites were very inspirational.   

So I started off searching for a container to use.  I found a Bungee Cord container like Lenore had in our basement so I used it too.  I wrapped it with blue foam I found in the sports department at Meijer's. It is approximately 1/4 inch thick. I applied the foam to the bottle with E-6000 Glue and then tied a string around it and let it set for 24 hours.

In the above photo it shows the fabrics I decided to use for this project.  I have endless supplies of fabrics so I decided on some batiks fabrics I bought years ago.  It was time to use them.  I also Crazy Quilt Pieced a CD Pincushion top and started stitching on it while the glued was drying on my container.  The tutorial for the CD Pincushion is on Lisa's blog called,

 "Ivory Blush Rose".  Lisa's blog is very lovely and she is a very talented and creative stitcher.

I then wrapped the plastic container with two layers of "Warm and Natural Batting"  and hand stitched the seams together.  My Needle Lace Pillow is approximately 9 inches long and 18 inches around with the batting on it.

Then I added my Orange Batik fabric and made it approximately 18 inches long so I had plenty of lenght to fold over both ends and make a casing.  On one end I pulled it tight and tie it off.  This is the end I plan to add the CD Pincushion too.  The other end I left a bit of room too.  The cap of the container can still be unscrewed to put my needle lace supplies into for storage.

Then I added my second layer to fabric all away around. It is very loosely added so I can place a wooden dowel under this area.

In the above photo you will see my completed CD Pincushion and I am now ready to stitch it to the closed end of my Needle Lace Pillow.

Here is a photo of my CD Seascape Pincushion fully attached to My Needle Lace Pillow.

To make the wood Needle Lace Dowel, I had to recruit "My Sweetie" whose has a passion for woodworking. Lucky Moi!!!  But first, I went to Menards and bought a Wooden Dowel that was 1 1/4 inch thick. It was the largest they had available.  Then My Sweetie took it to his wood shop and started creating my Needle Lace Dowel. The total lenght of the dowel is  9 1/4 inches long.  He cut the fancy end on it to make it easier for me to pull on it. Then he spray painted it with a primer, the aqua paint was next and he put a sealer over it. It is now nice and smooth so it will not catch on my fabric.

So this is a photo of My Completed Needle Lace Pillow with CD Seascape Pincushion.  You can see in the background My Sweet Grand Daughter Chloe.  She will soon be 4 years old.

Because stitching is my first passion I thought I would show you all the Seascape Stitching I put on the top of My CD Pincushion. I never really have a plan when I start.  I just pull lots of flosses and beads and start stitching away.  I have recently in the last year learned how to do the "Drizzle Stitch" and "Open and Close Woven Picot Stitches" so I like using them often.  vbg 

 Some of the flosses I used was "Kreninik Metallics Medium #16 Braid", "Mouline DMC Variations" in the aqua and oranges, "DMC Cotton Perle" in variegated colors, "Valdani Pearl Cotton", "Necessities, Over Dyed Floss" "River Silks" hand dyed Silk Ribbon and "Flair" tubular Ribbon and "Frosty Rays" which I scrunched up to look like seaweed.

The colors and fabric I choose for the project is not in my comfort zone.  I rarely use these colors.  I truly enjoy the stitching and at time I find myself having a difficult time stopping.  You can see I did leave a wee bit of space for the pins.     

This is a photo of my completed CD Seascape Pincushion.

The above photo is of two vintage Needle Lace books I bought recently.  I am very anxious to start learning the art of Needle Lace. 

My Friend Ann an Expert Needle Lace Maker from England advised me she uses "Pearsall's Embroidery Silk" which is made in England. The above photo is my recent purchase of this silk floss.  I can hardly wait to use it. 

I am going to the Mid Michigan Lace Maker's Guild Meeting this coming Saturday and I am taking their class called "Pin Lace".  I am looking forward to it.  In My Next Posting I will share with you all photos of this meeting and what kind of Lace I create.

During the mean time I would like to thank all my blogging friends for visiting My Blog and leaving lovely comments for me to read.  They are all greatly appreciated. 

Our weather has been so glorious that My Flower Gardens our sprouting and blooming everywhere.  "Spring" is my Most Favorite time of year. 

When I was at my favorite book store I found the "April Issue of British Country Living". Oh, how I love this Magazine.  This issue was special because it was the "Garden Issue.  I instantely bought it and when I got home I went to the sunroom cuddle up in my easy chair and immerised myself in all the truly beautiful photos of gardens around the world.  .  Looking at all these gardens photos made me smile and made my heart feel very happy.   

Take care My Friends and I will chat again soon. 

Hugs