I recently had a chance to visit a wonderful little needlepoint shop called The Playful Needle, located right smack downtown in Portland, Oregon.

Just as an FYI, I usually avoid driving in any downtown, no matter where I am visiting.

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A NEW free pattern for summer has been posted!

Sail Away to another place as you stitch a regatta of summer sailboats in needlepoint.

This free pattern uses just 7 colors of thread - green, blue, yellow, red, orange, white and gray. The design measures approximately 10 x 11" when worked on 11-count needlepoint canvas.

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I received an email today asking about using embroidery floss in a needlepoint project, and it's a good one!

Some stitchers will not use embroidery floss, believing that it frays easily when working needlepoint.

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This past week I had a chance to visit Gussie Shubert and her shop, Needlepoint Etc., during my annual work/play trip to Hawaii.

Seeing what's new in Gussie's shop is one of the highlights of my trip, and I can hardly wait until next year's visit.

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A new stitch and Stitch Journal Page has been added today!

The Jacquard Stitch is a needlepoint filling stitch worked in diagonal, stepped rows of both broad and narrow stitches.

Multiple colors can be used in this versatile stitch. Three colors are shown in this sample, but any number of color combinations are possible.

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Are your needlepoint thread odds-and-ends building up and it's time for a cleanout?

Gather your scraps of needlepoint thread and stitch this Super Summer Scrap Buster FREE needlepoint pattern!

This simple, repeating geometric design can be stitched using any number of thread colors on your favorite mesh count or type of needlepoint canvas.

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New to the Stitch List this week are two textured needlepoint stitches.

Each stitch is worked in diagonal rows that can be either a single color, or in alternating rows of color.

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Inchies, one-inch nuggets of stitching possibilities, and Twinchies worked in two-inch squares, have really caught on with both needlepoint and embroidery stitchers.

Working a stitch, design or experimental combination of stitches in a 1-inch or 2-inch format allows needlepoint stitchers the opportunity to try a variety of different things in one project. It's also a terrific way to try different stitches from the Needlepoint Stitch List!

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I've added two more stitches for you to print, stitch and add to your Needlepoint Stitch Journal!

Stitching and pasting stitch samples worked with canvas and thread odds-and-ends into a notebook is a great way to learn a new needlepoint stitch, and you'll have a sample handy for the next time you are looking for the perfect stitch for your next project.

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Feeling lucky?

If so, you'll be interested in the new contest posted over at the DMC site, offered in conjunction with A.C. Moore craft stores!

The contest just posted today, and the winner receives a basket full of needlework goodies and a gift certificate.

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