Here’s another miniature needlework stand for a doll’s house

Last week on my website I launched five new designs for needlework stand kits, to be stitched on 40 count silk gauze using tent and basketweave stitch (like half cross stitch). You can see them in the online shop here.

There are some ‘picture designs’, for various styles and eras in your doll’s house. And there are also three ‘work in progress’ designs for what would be ‘3-D’ items in real life. So, the embroiderer in your doll’s house can now be seen to be working on a project such as a pair of slippers, a handbag or a doorstop!

Each needlework stand kit contains a generous amount of 40 count silk gauze, Anchor stranded cotton threads, the mahogany frame pieces, a colour block chart (the design is not printed on the fabric), detailed instructions and a suitable needle. The stand measures two and three eighths of an inch wide by three and three quarters high (6cm by 9cm) when finished.

This needlework stand is stitched on 40 count silk gauze, from a kit. The design is called ‘Flower Bowl’.

There is one new design that wasn’t quite ready last week, so it’s been added to the selection now: it’s a Victorian design of a bowl of summer flowers, on a striking black background. Not surprisingly, it’s called ‘Flower Bowl’.

If you are a beginner to mini-stitching and are unsure as to whether you would be able to make one of these needlework stands, there are FREE ONLINE TUTORIALS to show you what to do. The tutorial for the needlework stands guides you through every stage of stitching and finishing the needlework stand, with detailed photos to show you exactly what you need to do. You’ll see just how easy they are to make!

The kits cost 19.95 GBP each, and postage & packing is free worldwide on any orders from my website of 10 GBP or over (under 10 GBP, a flat rate charge of 1.25 GBP applies).

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NEW miniature needlework stand kits, for the embroiderer in your doll’s house!

If you love embroidery, then surely the lady dolls in your doll’s house do as well! I’ve just launched kits for these  needlework stands, to be stitched on 40 count silk gauze using tent stitch (like half cross stitch). Components for the finely turned mahogany frame are included in the kit.

There are several ‘picture designs’, for various styles and eras in your doll’s house in the range. There are also several ‘work in progress’ designs for what would be ‘3-D’ items in real life. So, the embroiderer in your doll’s house can now be seen to be working on a project such as a pair of slippers, a handbag or a doorstop!

Three ‘work in progress’ designs, available as kits to be stitched on 40 count silk gauze (doorstop, slippers and handbag designs)

Each needlework stand kit contains a piece of 40 count silk gauze, Anchor stranded cotton threads, the mahogany frame pieces, a colour block chart (the design is not printed on the fabric), detailed instructions and a suitable needle. The stand measures two and three eighths of an inch wide by three and three quarters high (6cm by 9cm) when finished. An optional Mahogany Wax Finishing Pack is also available, so that you can wax polish the stand if you wish.

If you are a beginner to mini-stitching and are unsure as to whether you would be able to make one of these needlework stands, then have a look at the free online tutorial section of my website first. It guides you through every stage of stitching and finishing the needlework stand, with detailed photos to show you exactly what you need to do. You’ll see just how easy they are to make!

Even if you don’t own a doll’s house, these cute needlework stands make lovely ornaments, or gifts for stitching friends.

The kits are available from here on my website.

Each needlework stand kit costs £19.95. The optional Mahogany Wax Finishing Pack is £5.95. P&P is £1 per order if placed by post, or p&p FREE worldwide if ordered via the website. I take VISA, Mastercard and Paypal (online only), or you can make your Sterling cheque payable to Janet Granger, and post it to me at:

Janet Granger Designs, Rose Cottage, Leek Road, Waterhouses, Staffordshire, ST10 3JS England

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Arabic calligraphy on an embroidered box lid

During the winter, I’ve been gradually stitching designs onto a selection of box lids. They are all Sufi-themed designs (because I follow the Universal Sufi spiritual path, and I wanted to make a range of stitched items to sell at the Summer School that I go to in Germany each year, in the ‘market’ that is held on the Wednesday afternoon).

This design is based on the phrase ‘Allaho Akbar’ in Arabic calligraphy, which means ‘God / Unity is greater than all things’. I transferred the design onto the fabric using tissue paper with the design drawn on in pencil – then I tacked through the tracing onto the fabric, and ripped off the tissue to leave the sewing thread outline on the fabric. I unpicked these threads as I stitched the actual design. I only traced the main outlines, not the squiggles – I added those by eye, to complete the design.

‘Allaho Akbar’ text embroidered round linen-covered box with lid

Starting at the lower edge of each motif, I worked stem stitch in rows along the shape, adapting how many rows were necessary as I went. I used a space dyed thread from Oliver Twists – Fine Cotton, shade 004 – which was very smooth to stitch with, and the shading was lovely – very soft colour changes. The little squiggles between the main letters were worked using whatever embroidery stitch seemed right: twisted chain, fly stitch, stem stitch, and French knots.

Close-up of the stitching

The box is about three inches in diameter, and linen-covered on the outside, with a pale matching cotton fabric on the inside. I bought it from Viking Loom of York, who sell a wide range of these boxes, in several shapes and colours (satin as well as linen).

I don’t usually stitch with these earthy shades, but I’m very pleased with how this one came out.

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I’m just going to have to make this….!

The pincushion doll by Giulia Punti Antichi, as shown on her website (I’m going to make my own, honest!!)

I was surfing last night for ideas for *one of* my next stitching projects – you can never have too many, in my opinion – and I came across this amazing pincushion doll with a cross stitched skirt. The chart is by Giulia Punti Antichi, from Italy, although she has stockists in various countries, and the half doll is sold by Helen Copland of  Belle Bambole Dolls, in Australia (the actual half doll is called Florence, and is on page seven of her half doll range).

The half doll from Belle Bambole Dolls

Through the wonders of the internet, in one evening, I managed to discuss with both Giulia and Helen about how I could (a) buy the chart, (b) find a half doll EXACTLY like the one in Giulia’s picture on her website and (c) get the correct thread shades of Waterlilies variegated threads for the stitching, and (d) order the lot. I ended up wondering how I’d ever have managed all that before the invention of the internet. Not just the speed of it, but the possibility of being able to find and buy such a lovely, unusual thing from outside my own country (England).

Helen is now going to arrange to send me a half doll with the colours of the bodice matched to the thread colours I have chosen.  The other half dolls she sells are all beautiful, too – well worth a look.

Have a look at Giulia’s other items, too – several other pincushion dolls, lots of sewing etui (my passion at the moment), and other interesting sewing ‘smalls’.

One day, I’ll even post an image on here of MY stitched version of this pincushion doll!

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