DMC Thread Giveaway

Have you ever stitched with Satin? If not you are missing the boat, it is a completely different sensory experience than the plain old ho hum of cotton floss. Satin has a unique feel and sound when it pierces the fabric that really makes my heart happy.

Truth be told my favorite part of stitching is the listening to the sound of the needle and thread moving through the fabric. I feel as if I am conducting a symphony of stitches that only I can hear. It makes me giggle when I think about it but it is true non the less, I am addicted to the sounds and feel of thread.

DMC Satin Floss is quite amazing. With a range of 36 radient colors to choose from, you can really make your piece pop with color while enjoying the feel and sheen of the floss while you stitch.

Win all 36 shades FREE from Loose Thread Stitchers!

One lucky Loose Thread Stitchers member will win all 36 shades of DMC satin threads.

You must be a member of Loose Thread Stitchers to win this giveaway. Membership is FREE ~ click here for more info


So how can you win? Glad you asked!

Fan the Loose Thread Stitchers facebook page and when we reach 750 fans, we will randomly choose a winner to receive all 36 DMC satin threads.

Want additional ways to enter? You will receive an additional entry for each of the following (for a total of 4 entries):

1 ~ Blog about the giveaway and post the link in your comment on our blog

2 ~ Twitter it and include @LTSneedlework (our twitter ID) and a link to the blog

3 ~ Stumble it and post the link to our blog or website

4 ~ Add the Loose Thread Stitchers facebook page to your favorites Page (instructions can be found under the discussions tab on the LTS facebook page) and send the link to your facebook friends


Each entry will be assigned a number. The winner will be chosen by a random number generator. We will contact the winner as soon as we hit 750 members. Good luck to you all!

Monday Munchies ~ Broccoli Bake

Each Monday we will kick off the week with a Must have recipe to help get you out of the kitchen and back stitching ASAP!

Broccoli Bake ~ My kiddies LOVE pasta and HATE veggies. I think it is a rule for kids to make it difficult for mom's to add veggies to their daily diet. I know they stay up late at night and plan strategies to avoid veggies at all costs. I almost flew the while flag....then I found this recipe! Broccoli Bake has broken their resolve and the fact that it is quick and easy to make just makes it even better!

Broccoli Bake

Ingredients ~ Serves 6
1 box pasta shells
2 tsp olive oil
4 short cut bacon rashers, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2.5 cups broccoli
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup cream
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar

Directions
1 ~ Preheat oven to 350°F.

2 ~ Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Drain, return to the pan.

3 ~ While pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and add the bacon and onion. Cook, until soft and lightly browned, then add garlic

4 ~ Break the broccoli into small florets. Cook the broccoli and peas in a steamer or in the microwave until tender.

5 ~ Use a fork to mix the cream and eggs together in a jug.

6 ~ Add bacon, onion, broccoli, peas and the cream along with 1 cup cheddar to the pasta. Stir.

7 ~ Spoon into an 8X8 ovenproof dish. Sprinkle remaining cheddar.

8 ~ Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until golden

Whip it Up Wednesday ~ Sprat's Head Stitch

Each Wednesday we will choose a stitch to explore and post stitch diagram(s) to help you practice and master each.

Sprat's Head ~ This stitch produces a unique triangle type design that offers a unique twist when creating trees and corners for your projects.

Steps ~ Start in the lower left hand corner and go up 3 threads and over 3 threads to the right and go down through the fabric. From behind the fabric go down 3 threads and over 3 threads to the right and come up through the fabric. Go up 3 threads and over 3 threads to the left and go down through the fabric. From behind the fabric go over 1 thread and down 1 thread to the left and come up through the fabric. Go over 3 threads and down 2 threads to the right and go down through the fabric. From behind the fabric go up 2 threads and over 1 thread to the left and come up through the fabric. Go over 3 threads and down 2 threads to the left and go down through the fabric. From behind the fabric go up 1 thread and come through the fabric. Go over 3 threads and down 1 thread to the right and go down through the fabric. From behind the fabric go over 1 thread and up 1 thread to the right and come up through the fabric. Go over 3 threads and down 1 thread to the left and go down through the fabric.

Sprat's Head Stitch

View diagrams below for a Sprat's Head Variations. The first showcases a larger Sprat's Head while the second showcases a vertical variation.

Sprat's Head (Large Scale)

Vertical Sprat's Head Stitch

Monday Munchies ~ Tex Mex Chicken Tacos

Each Monday we will kick off the week with a Must have recipe to help get you out of the kitchen and back stitching ASAP!

Tex Mex Chicken Tacos Recipe

Ingredients

12 ounces chicken, breast is best

½ cup orange juice

¼ cup cilantro

1 teaspoon lime peel

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 jalapeno pepper

3 cloves of minced garlic

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoon cooking oil

1 medium red bell pepper

1 cup whole kernel frozen corn

1 and ½ teaspoons cornstarch

8 medium corn tortillas

½ cup light or fat-free sour cream

Directions

1. Place chicken in a plastic bag placed in a shallow dish. To create the marinade, place in a small bowl to combine orange juice, cilantro, lime peel, lime juice, jalapeno pepper, garlic, salt and black pepper. Pour marinade over chicken and seal the bag. Marinate for up to 2 hours in the fridge and turn the bag occasionally.

2. Remove chicken from marinade and set aside marinade. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add sweet peppers, stir and cook until crisp. Remove sweet peppers from skillet.

3. Add the chicken to the skillet. For 3 or 4 minutes, cook and stir the chicken until it is tender and not pink. Add the corn and heat through. Combine corn starch and marinade to the chicken mixture. Cook and continue to stir until the mixture thickens and bubbles. Turn down heat, cook and stir for 2 additional minutes and return sweet peppers to skillets, stir to combine.

4. Wrap tortillas in paper towels. Microwave on high for 45 to 60 seconds. Add chicken mixture to tortillas and top with sour cream. Fold tortillas over chicken mixture and enjoy!

Find it Friday ~ Celebrate at your Local Needlework or Local Yarn Shop
Each Friday we will showcase a product, service, offering or event that is a MUST to check out!

Any 2009 Holiday

Cindy, owner of Sit 'N Stitch in California, has created a fun way to celebrate your birthday, holiday or any special occasion. HAVE A STITCHING PARTY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We heard Becky's party was a blast! She had approximately 20 people for dinner and champagne. She celebrated her birthday with lots of gifts, cake and ice cream. Becky treated everyone to a scarf project with yarns from Southwest Trading company and instructions with our knitting teacher.

How fun is that? Say good bye to the standard birthday dinner and boxed cake. Sit 'N Stitch has stepped it up a notch! I absolutely love this idea! Now you can combine the celebration of your special day in your favorite LNS/LYS with your favorite stitching friends doing what you love to do best ~ STITCH! It can't get any better than that!

Have you already celebrated your birthday this year? Don't let that stop you. It doesn't have to be your birthday to have a party! Do you love Halloween? Christmas? Valentines? St. Patty's Day? Celebrate in style! Are one of your girlfriends getting married or having a baby? Have a group of moms (grandmoms) who want a mother / daughter (grand daughter) day? Do you know a stitcher who is starting a new career, new to the area, recently completed a difficult stitching piece or you just want to celebrate your stitching friends? This is the way to do it!

KNIT/CROCHET OR NEEDLEPOINT/CROSS-STICH PARTIES ~ Call your Local Needlework or Yarn shop and ask them to coordinate it for you. I am sure they would be happy to help. Visit the Loose Thread Stitchers website for hundreds of LNS / LYS listings across the US and around the world.

Sit 'N Stitch would be more than happy to coordinate your next stitching party.
(2) hour party $175.00, maximum 10 guests,each additional guest $30.00.
(3) hour party $275.00, maximum 10 guests,each additional guest $30.00.
Sit 'N Stitch is available most days and evenings for private parties. Please call for more details 818-760-9330 or email us at info@sitnstitch.com.

Let us know about your next stitching party and be sure to send pictures! We can't wait to see how you choose to celebrate with your stitching friends!

Whip it Up Wednesday ~ Crossed Corners Cushion

Each Wednesday we will choose a stitch to explore and post stitch diagram(s) to help you practice and master each.

Step 1 ~ (white stitches) Start at the top left and come up through the fabric, go up 1 and over 1 to the right and come down through the fabric. From behind the fabric go down 2 threads and over 1 thread to the left and come up through the fabric. Go up 2 threads and over 2 threads to the right and go through the fabric. From behind the fabric go down 3 threads and over 2 threads to the left and come up through the fabric. Go up 3 threads and over 3 threads to the right and go through the fabric. From behind the fabric go down 4 and over 3 threads to the left and come up through the fabric. Go up 4 threads and over 4 threads to the right and go through the fabric. From behind the fabric go down 4 threads and over 3 threads to the left and come up through the fabric. Go up 3 threads and over 3 threads to the right and go down through the fabric. From behind the fabric go down 3 threads and over 2 threads to the right and come up through the fabric. Go up 2 threads and over 2 threads to the right and go down through the fabric. From behind the fabric go down 2 threads and over 1 thread and come up through the fabric. Go up one thread and over 1 thread and go down through the fabric.

Step 2 ~ (Grey Stitches starting from the last stitch from the white stitches) From the back of the fabric go over 1 thread to the right and come up thought the fabric. Go up 4 threads and over 4 threads to the left and go though the fabric. From the back of the fabric go down 4 threads and over 3 threads to the right and come up through the fabric. Go up 3 threads and over 3 threads to the left and go down through the fabric. From behind the fabric go down 3 threads and over 2 threads to the right and come up through the fabric. Go up 2 threads and over 2 threads and go down through the fabric. From behind the fabric go down 2 threads and over 1 thread to the right and come up through the fabric. Go up 1 thread and over 1 thread to the left and go down through the fabric.

Repeat Steps 1 and 2 as necessary.

Cross Corners Cushion

This stitch can be completed with a single solid thread, multi-color threads, variegated threads or 2 different types of threads (white diagram/grey diagram). This stitch can also be reversed (white diagram can be switched to right to left/top to bottom and the grey diagram can be switched to left to right/bottom to top) to create the mirror image of the diagrams shown above. Be creative and try to add this stitch to your next piece to give it a bit of pizazz!

SALE ~ Bag Smith ~ SALE

Project bag is $25 till midnight August 6

Ok so excited! I just got word we can offer The Bag Smith project bag for LTS members for $25 instead of the regular $32. ~ Offer ends 8/6/09 ~ the LTS link is below ~ this is a great bag for all your knitting, stitching, sewing...basically ANYTHING for needles, this bag has you covered.