|
(c) Jane's son Joe's exuberant, expressionist
artwork is both colorful and fun. The imaginative "fringe" is the
perfect
complement to Joe's art and is easy to make from fabric
scraps.
To Make "Art Pillows" You Will Need:
Needlepoint Supplies
Artwork, preferably signed and
dated
Needlepoint
canvas, 14-count mesh, at least 4" larger than
artwork
Masking tape
Your
choice of yarn:
No. 3 perle cotton
OR
Paternayan Persian wool
OR
Appleton crewel wool
Tapestry
needle, Size 20
If painting
canvas:
Tracing paper
Black
medium-tip felt marker
Permanent,
waterproof fine-tip marker, black
or brown
Acrylic paints in colors to match
artwork
Artists'
brushes
Or, if using "Quick Chart" (see directions)
Graph
paper, 10- or 14-count mesh (available at needlework stores)
Black
medium-tip felt marker
Counted Cross-stitch
Supplies
Artwork,
preferably signed and dated
"Quick
Chart" (see directions)
Graph
paper, 10- or 14-count
mesh (available at needlework stores)
Black medium-tip
felt
marker
Evenweave fabric in count compatible with graph paper at least 4"
larger than artwork
Embroidery floss in colors to match
artwork
Tapestry
needle, Size 18 or 20, depending on mesh count of
fabric
Masking tapeGetting The Goods
For custom needlepoint canvases, Jane Armstrong Gibb, 4142 S. Rivershore Dr., Moorhead, MN 56560.
|
|
![]()
Project Designed And Crafted By Jane Armstrong Gibb
(a) Endearing pillows preserve a child's naiveté—bridge the fridge's often
temporary display. (b) With her degree in art, Jane found an outlet
for her talent designing and painting canvases for a needlework shop. Ever
watchful for innovative art to interpret on canvas, she was drawn to the
colorful, uninhibited drawings of children. Her daughter Elizabeth provided the
artwork and inspiration for this pillow.
Turn Your Kids' Into Art Pillows
ANY PROUD PARENT WILL TELL YOU THAT TIME FLIES, but artist Jane Armstrong
Gibb found a way to capture images from those precious years. Use her easy
instructions to transfer your children's impromptu—and sometimes
perishable—artwork to a more durable canvas. "Art pillows" are a fun project as
well as a good way to learn basic needlework and sewing techniques.
"Quick Chart"
We developed a "Quick Chart" which can be used
by
cross-stitchers and by those needlepointers who prefer to work from
a printed
chart rather than a painted canvas. All you need is graph
paper in desired count
mesh, the artwork you wish to chart, and access
to a color copy center.
1. Have clear transparency made of the graph paper.*
2. If you wish to
enlarge or reduce size of artwork, have color copy made to desired size.
3.
Lay transparency of graph paper over artwork aligning edges.
4. Make a color
copy of the transparency overlaying the artwork. If your transparency is not
large enough to cover the artwork, be sure to mark two alignment points at
intersections of major grid lines and use them to realign transparency to a
shifted location to maintain uniform grid registration among your copies.
5.
Mark outline of finished needlework edges with black marker onto color
copy.
6. You may wish to make a list of symbols for your yarn/floss colors
and mark each color on the copy with the corresponding symbol to make the chart
easier to follow.
*The clear transparency of the graph paper can be used
again and again to chart any uncopyrighted art.
For Needlepoint
1. Adjust size of artwork at copy center if desired.
2.
Cut needlepoint canvas to the size of the desired finished work plus 2 inches on
each side. Tape edges of canvas or zigzag on sewing machine to prevent raveling.
3. If you use a "Quick Chart" rather than painting your canvas, you are
ready to stitch. Skip to Step 8.
4. Trace artwork, including outline of
finished needlework edges, with black marker onto tracing paper.
5. Tape
tracing to a window. Center needlepoint canvas over tracing and tape to window.
Trace outline of design onto needlepoint canvas using permanent fine-tip marker.
Remove canvas to a flat work surface.
6. Paint canvas, filling in outlined
areas. Use the original artwork as a guide matching colors and techniques
(watercolor, scribble, etc.). Paint may need to be thinned with water so that
the paint is the consistency of heavy cream. (You don't want to block the holes
in the canvas.)
7. When paint is dry, you are ready to stitch.
8. The most
popular stitch to use is a tent stitch, either the continental or the basket
weave. Decorative stitches may be used to emphasize special areas or for
background stitches. The background may also be left unstitched giving a nice
effect. Blending two different adjoining colors together in the needle gives a
watercolor illusion and is good for shading.
For Counted Cross-stitch
1. Mark center of evenweave fabric and center of
"Quick Chart."
2. Fold under the raw edges of evenweave fabric and baste to
prevent fraying.
3. Begin stitching at center marking.
Finishing
1. After stitching, the needlework may be somewhat distorted and
need to be blocked. Use the tracing you made of the artwork or the "Quick Chart"
for the guide. Tape the guide to a piece of board with masking tape and cover
with plastic wrap.
2. To block, lightly dampen needlework with cool water.
Tack or staple, face down, onto piece of wood over the guide, matching outlines.
Let dry one or two days.
3. Your needlework may be finished many ways. There
are trays, boxes, and other accessories available at needlework and craft shops.
Pillows are great, particularly if fun fabrics and edgings are used. Edging
ideas include torn fabric strips as fringe, prairie points, rickrack, and other
edgings available at fabric and craft stores. One treatment to try is using your
child's words as a frame around the needlework, sewn onto muslin strips for the
border. Have the words you wish to use enlarged on a copier and use the tracing
method described in Step 5 of needlepoint instructions. (c)
 Stumble It!
archive »
|
