Gentle Readers and Dear Friends another rainy day - brisk cool winds blowing around the rain makes it extra special - just writing down the words you really can't hear the sarcasm, but I bet you can see it!!! :) Yesterday morning after I posted we had a huge downpour of hail/rain mix that was really loud. By the weekend it is supposed to clear up so there might just be some Estate Sale/Thrift Shopping in the near future- fingers crossed
__________
The post title today is from some postings and discussions I have been reading on other forums/boards. I guess we all get attached to the needle we use - and for me it is the John James 28 gold petits. It seems that lots of stitchers don't care for the JJ brand. I have always liked them and find them to be great needles. For me I will use the same couple of needles for many projects. I can only think of a couple of needles that broke, usually the eyes will get bent so that a piece of floss will no longer go through. Then I toss it out an pick up another one. I also like Piecemakers needles but they do not come in the Petit size. So when I use one of these it feels that I am using a harpoon to stitch with - smooth as silk but too big. I guess the needle discussion is a little "tempest in a teapot" - we use what we like and whats most comfortable.
_________
I have been seeing all over the place the little sneak peeks from the Nashville Market and have already put in a couple of little orders. As usual there are a few things that I want and will add to the stash, but no where near as many things as I usually want to get. I wonder if tastes and styles are just changing or my stash is so far beyond SABLE that I am becoming a bit more selective? There are a couple of must haves for me - including "Ann Grant" from Theresa over at Shakespeare's Peddler - ( I couldn't make this Blogger thing download a snap so you will have to click to see it) I am really loving this sampler!!! - and - I am also adding the Blackbird Designs newest Book "A Stitchers Journey." (click on over to see the cover). There are a few other things, but I am finding that not nearly as much "Must haves" as in years past. What I am finding is my addiction to the e(vil)Bay and the Cross Stitching Secondary Market - with my obsessive chasing OOP things. There is more there that is "old" than new things coming out that I want and feel are must haves, or at least for me that is the case. Is anyone else feeling the same way or am I out here as a minority stitcher????
I think that's about it for today. I do thank you stopping by - do come again!!
Take care,
edgar
I have used John James petit golds in the past and love them. My problem, very tense stitcher so I end up snapping my needles. I now use piecemakers and do find them a bit long. Oh well!! I am with you on the OOP charts. I need'm, I want'm and I hunt,m down. Seems to me that everything current is starting to look very similar.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean Edgar, I used to have a long list of things I couldn't wait to get when it was market but this year there's not many at all. My favourite one is The Flood by Plum Street and like you I think the BBD book looks rather nice.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite needles are Piecemaker 28s, but I've just ordered some Bohins (28s again) as I've heard good things about them.
ReplyDeleteI've hardly seen anything I want so far from Nashville previews, very disappointing this year. I hope when all the releases are out that there might be a couple of things to catch my eye.
Edgar... I agree about Shakespeare's peddler, I love Ann Grant Sampler and I'm partial to the Jenny Bean Creation... Also want the BBD Stitchers Journey! I'm loving Klemscott's Woven Scissors and the thistle needle minder. I also like Elizabeth Jackson 1824 Sampler by Samplers Revisited.
ReplyDeleteI think the Ebay OOP is an illness, you probably won't recover... I've recently caught the bug too (ever since you posted the pic of the oop sheepish designs that you did!) thanks, I think I caught it from you!!! lol hope it warms up for you.
Oh I laughed about the OOP things. I'm the same way. Maybe it's human nature - the thrill of the hunt and all! I'm not a very good hunter though! *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about this Market. I want those 2 that you mentioned and maybe a few others but they can wait. I'm much more toned down about it. Plus I usually don't get things from Market (via mail) until one month after so by then others have stitched the ones I want to stitch and the enthusiasm has gone way down!
As to needles, if you are used to petits it's hard to go with another brand with bigger size. I use the regular needles and was using JJ but now find I am liking the Bohin brand.
I too am a fan of the JJ petites but not the gold. I rarely ever have issues with breakage and tend to use the same needles for ever.
ReplyDeleteAnd your top picks of the new market things are mine too - trying not to "see" to many things but those two pieces are must haves.
I have the snapping the needle problem with the JJ's. My favorite needle is 28 Bohin, wonderful smooth needles.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about market, I do have a small list but nothing like in the past. And there are pieces I thought I'd love that I don't? On the other hand I am super excited about Ann Grant, all the Blackbird pieces and I am still waiting to see the new releases from Little by Little and Chessie and Me.
I like the Bohin 28s and the Piecemaker 28s.
ReplyDeleteYou read my mind-- there is NOT much in the way of Must haves this year, I remember pages of lists, this year the Ann Grant you mention and BBD booklet, some others, maybe 10 items. Strange, this is the time our poor wallets go into hiding!!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I am sure many feel the same way.
OOP charts are more fun too-- because of the hunt :) When you find them, your heart starts to flutter!!!! LOL
I was gifted two packages of Peacemakers needles and really like them . They are a bit long though. I have a package of John James that were given to me and I love the size, however, two of the three broke right away, so I am having doubts that I'll ever buy them. I like a few new and a few old charts that I would like to add to my stash, but for some reason, I haven't been in too much of stitchy mood. Have no idea where that is coming from other than I have this continous slight headache from a cronic eye condition that is a bit distracting. For me, nothing shoots the mood down faster than that.
ReplyDeleteI like John James needles too. I used a, I think, platinum needle once. I can't remember if it was John James or Piecemakers, but talk about gliding through the fabric!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you're a minority stitcher, but I'm feeling the same way. There are a few new designs I would like to have, but I love some of the older designs and OOPs, and they are fun to hunt - and stitch!
I'm a Bohin 28 fan all the way. I am so happy there isn't a lot of items from Market calling my name. I'll get the BBD book but am on the fence about Ann Grant and The Flood.
ReplyDeleteEdgar, I kind of agree with you on the Nashville market. There are some pieces I want but not a heck of a lot !!! Ann Grant is a must for me and certainly the BBD book. I also like Creation Sampler and Plenty and Grace by Primitive Traditions.
ReplyDeleteI guess I will use any needle I can to stitch. I am not really picky about them. I think the ones I have are Bohin.
I'm a Bohin 28 girl. I can't use the gold needles. I wear off the gold! I'm trying to spend less and stash stitch more, so I'm staying away from the market previews as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you Edgar when it comes to pursuing many of the older charts now over the brand new ones...Yes, I love several of the samplers that are releasing bts....Theresa has put together a couple of nice ones for sure. And BBD will always capture me...I am in a reproductive samplers state of mind here lately (Guess that is why I have 2 older sampler wips finished this year..)
ReplyDeleteAs for my needle of choice, I love Bohin's size 28's..they are most versitile for me and I dont go through them as quickly...I am not a person to toss a needle though..I will literally use it until it wears out! I do prefer a petit needle...Isnt it funny when you pick up something else how utterly different it pulls???
Got long winded..sorry...have a great weekend and yes! we are expecting some "spring fever" here in the Carolinas also!!
Always, Faye
I'm not over the moon either with what I've seen from Market but do have Ann Grant on my list. Nevermind that I haven't even started Sarah Woodham which is kitted up and ready to go LOL. I'm a little relieved actually that I don't have a lot to add to my wish list this time since like most of you I already have way too much. However I do like to support the designers...sometimes I'll end up caving in once I see someone else stitching it and then I'm hooked.
ReplyDeleteSo are the JJ 28 petite golds better than just plain JJ 28 petites? I always just use the plain ones. Are the gold ones better? Last longer? Maybe I should try them.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about market -- not as many must haves, although we seem to share the same must have list. lol!
I have used the JJ gold petites for a long time now. I just broke the eye of one a few days ago and peeled out a new one to take it's place. I always have two of them on my needleminder. I use threads down the last inch. My masterchief often comments on how he sees me practically bending a needle to use every bit of the thread! Needless to say it takes FOREVER to fill an ORT jar!
ReplyDeleteI tried using the petite needles, but my nails are too long, so it is Bohin 28's for me. I buy them in bulk from Anita's Little Stitches.
ReplyDeleteI always use 28 needles, but not the petites. They fit my hands and go through the fabby so much easier. Petites are harder for me to grab when they come out of the fabric. I have used DMC golds but they aren't "smooth". And the gold eventually comes off. I keep my needles in a little case by my seat and sometimes use more than one needle per piece. I am SO picky about my needles!
ReplyDeleteI love Bohin needles, either 26 or 28's. I have never had good luck with JJ. I couldn't agree more about this years Nashville stuff. Not that much that I like. I will get the BBD designs and Plenty and grace by Primitive Designs.
ReplyDeleteI'm a JJ Petite 26 and 28 gal. I use the regular though, not the gold. The gold ones seem to drag a bit.
ReplyDeleteI have the same Market list as you have, which is fine by me. I've so many samplers in my stash I want to stitch. I really don't need to add any more.
I also like Ann Grant and there is also a Rosewood Manor Sampler that has caught my eye. What I do is make a folder of all the samplers I want to stitch and then pick the ones I want to do first or more. If I look at the new designs objectivly like this it's often the 'old designs' that I want to stitch first and so I shouldn't get caught up in Nashville fever!
ReplyDeleteI'm the same about Market. I do love Carmen's new releases, too--but pretty much what you've mentioned and others have mentioned are on my list. I'm kind of relieved because I have a stash that I love and want to stitch from more than I already do. I say that and then will probably be looking to sell one of my kids to pay for new stash once I see everything that's new when the market reports come out! ;)
ReplyDeleteI have a mix of needles that I use--I can't settle on one that's an absolute must-use. As long as it's 28, I'm okay.
I know what you mean about the OOPs. All I can say is thank God I have friends that have better taste than I did when I was stitching cutesie stuff! In most cases, I've been lucky enough to borrow from them. There are some Mary Garry charts that I'd love but they always seem to get snapped up.
I like Mary Arden or Piecemaker, both in 28. JJ's break at the eyes on me. You know, you're supposed to start each project with a "fresh" needle!
ReplyDeleteRegarding market, there are some lovely things waiting that haven't been revealed yet. Although I agree, as a NWP (needlework professional and LNS mgr/mktr) this year's Nashville Show might not be as rich as shows in year's past. A pitiful economy is most likely to blame.
Please support your brick and mortar stores, especially your local stores. Smaller merchants find it hard to compete with the warehouse, mega-web merchants who offer "reduced" prices yet make up for it in jacked up shipping costs or in other ways.
I just like a nice needle with a decent size eye. I can't use those teeny tiny eyes any more so I shop for needles by size of eyes now.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about Market. I have seen very little that has peeked my gotta have nature and I usually want to break the bank at Market time. Like you, I find myself looking at older and OOP charts.
I'm not too picky about needles but I've just ordered some JJ gold so maybe I will become addicted once I try them! I am very picky about linen, though.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think it's fun to stitch what everyone else is stitching, and sometimes I like to find something out of the ordinary. It's loads of fun to track down obscure charts. Having said that, I think "A Stitcher's Journey" is a must have!!! And two non-chart items I gotta hafta have are the Eiffel Tower and Thistle needle minders!!!
I think these things go in cycles for me. Sometimes I just get acquisitive and other times things feel so superfluous! My tastes change rather quickly sometimes too so that if I jump on something I could end up regretting it. Mostly I wait before buying and if I keep on wanting it that is a sure sign.
ReplyDeleteHi Edgar, I usually lurk on your blog, but I can't help but agree with that becoming more selective. I had a long list from the St. Charles market,but I only have BBD book on my list so far. I am interested in SP's creation sampler and home spings eternal.
ReplyDeleteI sure wish I could be at the Nashville Market. I went for several years and am getting my design business going again so I can go back. I'm a JJ petite lover too.
ReplyDeletefromtheheartneedleart.blogspot.com
On needles: I am with you on the petites. I love the JJ 28 petites, too. Back in the day, I actually used to use quilting sharps to cross stitch because the tapestry needles available at the time were just so darn long. (Can you tell I'm a floss miser? I'll stitch right down to the end of the strand. :) )
ReplyDeleteOn OOP charts and eBay: I've spent a small fortune over the last few weeks because it has suddenly become my life mission to stitch up the BBB 2008 mystery sampler. Did I have a single one of those charts in my overflowing stash? Of course not! And drawing from misinformation gathered on the internet/blogs I ended up buying some charts that don't even include what I want, they only MENTION the mystery sampler. *heavy sigh* And once you buy one item you just HAVE to look at the seller's other offerings because they'll combine shipping... It's a vicious cycle. I reached SABLE about 25 years ago, but I keep buying more. Yikes!