Ladybug Lane Designs Giveaway

Let Freedom Sing!
A great piece to stitch for Independence Day, or just because you're feeling patriotic!

I just love stitching Americanna. As I write this in my home office, I realize it is filled with designs proclaiming "Liberty and Justice for All" or " To the Red, White and Blue, I will always be True." I am ever so thankful to our troops and their families who sacrifice so much so that I am able to live in such a wonderful country.

July 4th is right around the corner and I really wanted to stitch a little red, white and blue sampler. My fingers have been itching to find just the right one. I had been talking with Jennifer of Ladybug Lane Designs about specialty stitches and she let me know she had a project in the works that might fit the bill.

When Jen showed me the sampler 2 weeks ago, I jumped right in my car and off to my LNS I went. I mean a girls gotta stitch right? I love starting new projects, pulling threads and fabric, getting everything set up just right. It brings such a happiness to my heart ~ I know you know the feeling (:

I called Jen to let her know how much I loved the new design and the creative way she showcased the American flag and brought a new twist on an old favorite. The fabulous mix of specialty stitches (her diagrams are clear and easy to follow, no worries), hand dyed threads and fabric and fabulously yummy buttons make this design a MUST STITCH!

and the best part....a few days later Jen sent me 3 charts so we could give them away to our members, HOW FABULOUS IS THAT!!!

Design Specs:

Fabric: 28-count hand-dyed Jobelan from Wichelt in "Bluebell" stitched over two threads, with explanations for all 10 areas of specialty stitches.

Design Size: 5.7" w x 5.6" h

Count: 80w x 78h

Threads: Crescent Colours, Weeks Dye Works, DMC and some Kreinik blending filament

Embellishments: JHB Ladybug included in chart pack. Several buttons from Just Another Button Company, small beads from Mill Hill.

Frame: By Starla's Stitch 'n Frame

Giveaway Info

Three lucky stitchers will win a copy of Let Freedom Sing. ADDED bonus ~ Jennifer, the fabulous designer behind LLD autographed the charts! How cool is that! The giveaway runs Wednesday, June 24th to Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 at 5:00pm EST.

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!
Check out Ladybug Lane Designs and tell us another design you like and why

Want additional ways to enter? You will receive an additional entry for each of the following (for a total of 5 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 ~ Join our Facebook group. We are in the business section under Loose Thread Stitchers
Each entry will be assigned a number. The winner will be chosen by a random number generator. We will contact the winner on Wednesday, July 1st and announce in our blog posting that week. Good luck to you all!

Whip it Up Wednesday ~ Rice Stitch
Each Wednesday we will choose a stitch to explore and post stitch diagram(s) to help you practice and master each one.

Rice Stitch ~ also known as the William and Mary Stitch or a Crossed Corners Cross

Steps ~ This stitch is worked from left to right. Come up through the fabric on the left hand side and go over 2 threads, up 2 threads to the right and go down through the fabric. From behind the fabric go down 2 threads and come up through the fabric. Cross over 2 threads and up 2 threads to the left and go down through the fabric. From behind the fabric go over 1 thread to the right and come up through the fabric. Cross over and down 1 thread to the right and go through the fabric. From behind the fabric go over 2 threads to the left and come up through the fabric. Cross up and over 1 thread to the right and go down through the fabric. From behind the fabric go down 2 threads and come up through the fabric. Cross over and up 1 thread to the left and go through the fabric. From behind the fabric cross over 2 threads to the right and come up through the fabric. Cross over and down 1 thread to the right and go through the fabric.

Rice Stitch over 2

A Rice Stitch can be stitched in horizontally as well as vertically. It can also showcase 2 different colored fibers to create a stand out effect. View diagrams below for different Rice Stitch effects.


Two-Color Vertical Rice Stitch

Triple Rice Stitch

Find it Friday ~ Sit and Stitch Trunk Show

Each Friday we will showcase a product, service, offering or event that is a MUST to check out!

Cindy of Sit and Stitch in Toluca Lake, California just called to tell me she was hosting a trunk show for Painted Pony Needlepoint Designs and told me I just HAD to check it out. I am so glad I did.


Debbie, of Painted Pony Needlepoint Designs, began designing needlepoint in 1989, after working for several years in a needlepoint shop in Austin, Texas. After designing custom canvases for the store’s customers, she was asked to develop a line to show at the store’s annual Christmas-In-July event. She did - the designs were a hit - and the line was born.

Great story right? It gets even better! Each Canvas INCLUDES a stitch guide! How fabulous is that! Susan, the model-maker, has created several wonderful stitch guides for their designs. Stitch-guides are automatically included with the sale of the corresponding canvas, so you do not have to order the guide in addition to the piece you are purchasing. Each guide has a colored photograph of the finished model, as well as a thread and embellishment list. Susan is also working on a series of stitch guide books based on some of our collections.

Be sure to stop by Sit and Stitch for this fabulous trunk show ~ it runs from June 28th to July 26th and includes ~ Cute little painted canvases, angels with charms, snowman, seasonal, twelve days of Christmas, stockings.

Show dates: June 28th - July 26, 2008

Whip it Up Wednesday ~ Barrier Stitch

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

Barrier Stitch ~ also known as Reverse Bosnia or Fence Stitch

Steps ~ This stitch is worked from left to right. Come up through the fabric on the left hand side and go up 2 threads and go thought the fabric. From under the fabric cross over 2 threads and down 2 threads to the right and come up through the fabric. Repeat as Necessary. Work your way back through the stitch by coming up through the fabric on the bottom right hand side, go up and over 2 threads to the left and go through the fabric. From behind the fabric go down two threads and come up through the fabric. Repeat as necessary.

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Find it Friday ~ Purse of Many Colors

Each Friday we will showcase a product, service, offering or event that is a MUST to check out!

The Purse of Many Colors ~ This purse rocks! I love that it is funky, it is functional and it is affordable. I can't tell you how many times I see great purses and think Oh I just CANNOT spend that kind of money. Not this purse, I scooped one of these up right away! Not only do I LOVE the affordability of the bag, how roomy it is and how great it is going to look with my fall outfits, I love that I am able to make it myself! Now instead of carrying a label I will be carrying my own work of art! How great is that!

This kit features yarn made of strips of recycled silk fabric from Nepal and Indonesia, and the purchase of this product provides safe shelter, health care and education for families in those countries. Strips of fabric are tied together mixing a variety of colors and textures. Also included in the kit are a a spool of nylon cord, leather liner, leather strap, five African brass beads and instructions for knitting and crocheting the bag. The photo features the crocheted version. For the crocheted version, you will need our Big Stitch S hook. For the knit version, you will need our Big Stitch size 35 needles in the 20” length. $60.00

The finished dimension of the bag is 13” W x 8” H x 2.5” D.

Learn a Stitch Monday ~ Bosnia Stitch

Bosnia Stitch


Bosnia Stitch ~ also known as reverse Barrier or Fence Stitch

Steps ~ This stitch is worked from right to left. Come up through the fabric on the right hand side and go up 2 threads and go thought the fabric. From under the fabric cross over 2 threads and down 2 threads to the left and come up through the fabric. Repeat as Necessary. Work your way back through the stitch by coming up through the fabric on the bottom left hand side, go up and over 2 threads to the right and go through the fabric. From behind the fabric go down two threads and come up through the fabric. Repeat as necessary.

LTS Server Maintenance

Due to the tremendous growth of the LTS website over the past few months, we have been experiencing a few technical difficulties.

In order to increase the speed of the site, increase our directory content and enable additional needlework professionals to join the site we need to make some changes.

The site will be under construction to switch our server from 10PM Friday May 29th to 10PM Monday, June 1st.

We ask you to please be patient as you may experience a few service interruptions during this time. Needlework Professionals ~ please do NOT add information during the switch as it may not save. Please send LTS your changes and we will add them for you.

If you have any questions, or need more information, please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to next week and the opportunity to continue to build the needlework community one LOOSE THREAD at a time ~all we need is you!

In Stitches,

Colleen