Beginner hardanger advice

I'm still most comfortable in familiar territory such as XS or
needlepoint, but recently spotted a couple of cute hardanger kits [at
least it's still counted! I'm by far happier with something I have a
fighting chance of having come out decently :-)] at LNS [Fuzzy
Penguin, for those near Sacramento], and they're now in stash waiting
for me to do them. I'm nervous. :-)

One problem is which one to do first. The candidates are Nordic
Needle's emery cushion kit [designed by Roz Watnemo], which is rather
more complex, but the instructions seem much clearer, and a bookmark
kit from Permin of Copenhagen [designer's name is lamentably not
given], which appears to be simpler work, but the instructions mostly
consist of a chart and a few sparse, terse phrases in a variety of
languages [fortunately for me, English is on the list. My Spanish
isn't that good yet, the relatives I have who have any knowledge of
Dutch don't do needlework, and I hate to bug Karen for translations of
German or French :-)]. I have NEVER tackled hardanger before!

I did find a couple of reasonably useful Web sites [printed out one
with some very nice diagrams], but could use all the advice I can get.
I do already have suitable scissors in stash [Karen helped me select
from some bins at Goodwill of various small scissors, nail clippers,
etc. We guess that these were items confiscated at the airport. I
tried searching the public library catalog and struck out [the only
book I could find was a Spanish translation of a work originally
published in German! :-)]

Any advice, Web site references, etc. [keeping in mind I don't yet
know if I like hardanger enough to spend some of my very limited funds
on books :-)] would be greatly appreciated.

--
"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be
doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding.
:-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL

An excellent book on Hardanger is Janice Loves' "Basics and Beyond' I have
seen it several time for sale on eBay, second hand copies, at very
reasonable prices. You might want to get a copy if you are able. It is the
clearest and easiest book I have seen on hardanger technique. It also
contains some patterns.
Ruby
"Seanette Blaylock" wrote in
message ...
I'm still most comfortable in familiar territory such as XS or
needlepoint, but recently spotted a couple of cute hardanger kits [at
least it's still counted! I'm by far happier with something I have a
fighting chance of having come out decently :-)] at LNS [Fuzzy
Penguin, for those near Sacramento], and they're now in stash waiting
for me to do them. I'm nervous. :-)

One problem is which one to do first. The candidates are Nordic
Needle's emery cushion kit [designed by Roz Watnemo], which is rather
more complex, but the instructions seem much clearer, and a bookmark
kit from Permin of Copenhagen [designer's name is lamentably not
given], which appears to be simpler work, but the instructions mostly
consist of a chart and a few sparse, terse phrases in a variety of
languages [fortunately for me, English is on the list. My Spanish
isn't that good yet, the relatives I have who have any knowledge of
Dutch don't do needlework, and I hate to bug Karen for translations of
German or French :-)]. I have NEVER tackled hardanger before!

I did find a couple of reasonably useful Web sites [printed out one
with some very nice diagrams], but could use all the advice I can get.
I do already have suitable scissors in stash [Karen helped me select
from some bins at Goodwill of various small scissors, nail clippers,
etc. We guess that these were items confiscated at the airport. I
tried searching the public library catalog and struck out [the only
book I could find was a Spanish translation of a work originally
published in German! :-)]

Any advice, Web site references, etc. [keeping in mind I don't yet
know if I like hardanger enough to spend some of my very limited funds
on books :-)] would be greatly appreciated.

--
"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be
doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding.
:-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL

I second Ruby's recommendation of Janice Love's book. Read it first, then
refer to it each step of the way. Also, I would suggest sticking with the
Nordic Needle piece since the directions are much better. It may *look*
more complex but in reality it's probably just bigger. Other than some of
the filling stitches, hardanger basically the same regardless of the size of
the piece.

Most of all, have fun! Hardanger is much easier than it looks, and very
enjoyable. If you have specific questions, please ask here!

--
Jacqueline
Carmichaels PA
"Ruby" wrote in message
...
An excellent book on Hardanger is Janice Loves' "Basics and Beyond' I
have
seen it several time for sale on eBay, second hand copies, at very
reasonable prices. You might want to get a copy if you are able. It is
the
clearest and easiest book I have seen on hardanger technique. It also
contains some patterns.
Ruby
"Seanette Blaylock" wrote in
message ...
I'm still most comfortable in familiar territory such as XS or
needlepoint, but recently spotted a couple of cute hardanger kits [at
least it's still counted! I'm by far happier with something I have a
fighting chance of having come out decently :-)] at LNS [Fuzzy
Penguin, for those near Sacramento], and they're now in stash waiting
for me to do them. I'm nervous. :-)

One problem is which one to do first. The candidates are Nordic
Needle's emery cushion kit [designed by Roz Watnemo], which is rather
more complex, but the instructions seem much clearer, and a bookmark
kit from Permin of Copenhagen [designer's name is lamentably not
given], which appears to be simpler work, but the instructions mostly
consist of a chart and a few sparse, terse phrases in a variety of
languages [fortunately for me, English is on the list. My Spanish
isn't that good yet, the relatives I have who have any knowledge of
Dutch don't do needlework, and I hate to bug Karen for translations of
German or French :-)]. I have NEVER tackled hardanger before!

I did find a couple of reasonably useful Web sites [printed out one
with some very nice diagrams], but could use all the advice I can get.
I do already have suitable scissors in stash [Karen helped me select
from some bins at Goodwill of various small scissors, nail clippers,
etc. We guess that these were items confiscated at the airport. I
tried searching the public library catalog and struck out [the only
book I could find was a Spanish translation of a work originally
published in German! :-)]

Any advice, Web site references, etc. [keeping in mind I don't yet
know if I like hardanger enough to spend some of my very limited funds
on books :-)] would be greatly appreciated.

--
"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be
doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding.
:-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL

You could also try Nordic Needle's website. (www.nordicneedle.com - I
think) I believe they have some basic tutorials available there for
free.

But yes, Janice Love's book is excellent.

There is a book on Hardanger that I wrote, but because I don't want to
push it here publicly - not quite quite! - if you want details, email
me privately. Nordic Needle stock it, I believe.

Yvette
Sydney, Australia
www.embroidery.more.at
www.mountmellick.how.to

Coincidentally, I was wondering about Hardanger embroidery as well. I'll
certainly have a look into the book you mentioned. My new mother-in-law
knows how to do it...given that Norway is the home of Hardanger embroidery.
But I'm still shy around her, so I thought I'd try to learn a little bit
before going to ask her.

Because knowing is half the battle...
Becky A.


"Jacqueline" skrev i melding
...
I second Ruby's recommendation of Janice Love's book. Read it first, then
refer to it each step of the way. Also, I would suggest sticking with the
Nordic Needle piece since the directions are much better. It may *look*
more complex but in reality it's probably just bigger. Other than some of
the filling stitches, hardanger basically the same regardless of the size
of
the piece.

Most of all, have fun! Hardanger is much easier than it looks, and very
enjoyable. If you have specific questions, please ask here!

--
Jacqueline
Carmichaels PA
"Ruby" wrote in message
...
An excellent book on Hardanger is Janice Loves' "Basics and Beyond' I
have
seen it several time for sale on eBay, second hand copies, at very
reasonable prices. You might want to get a copy if you are able. It is
the
clearest and easiest book I have seen on hardanger technique. It also
contains some patterns.
Ruby
"Seanette Blaylock" wrote in
message ...
I'm still most comfortable in familiar territory such as XS or
needlepoint, but recently spotted a couple of cute hardanger kits [at
least it's still counted! I'm by far happier with something I have a
fighting chance of having come out decently :-)] at LNS [Fuzzy
Penguin, for those near Sacramento], and they're now in stash waiting
for me to do them. I'm nervous. :-)

One problem is which one to do first. The candidates are Nordic
Needle's emery cushion kit [designed by Roz Watnemo], which is rather
more complex, but the instructions seem much clearer, and a bookmark
kit from Permin of Copenhagen [designer's name is lamentably not
given], which appears to be simpler work, but the instructions mostly
consist of a chart and a few sparse, terse phrases in a variety of
languages [fortunately for me, English is on the list. My Spanish
isn't that good yet, the relatives I have who have any knowledge of
Dutch don't do needlework, and I hate to bug Karen for translations of
German or French :-)]. I have NEVER tackled hardanger before!

I did find a couple of reasonably useful Web sites [printed out one
with some very nice diagrams], but could use all the advice I can get.
I do already have suitable scissors in stash [Karen helped me select
from some bins at Goodwill of various small scissors, nail clippers,
etc. We guess that these were items confiscated at the airport. I
tried searching the public library catalog and struck out [the only
book I could find was a Spanish translation of a work originally
published in German! :-)]

Any advice, Web site references, etc. [keeping in mind I don't yet
know if I like hardanger enough to spend some of my very limited funds
on books :-)] would be greatly appreciated.

--
"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be
doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding.
:-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL