Needlepoint Instagram
Using social media to revive interest in a longtime hobby
I’ve been needlepointing for a long time, y’all. If you can believe it, my first needlepoint project was way back in 1994; a belt to coordinate with my sorority jersey. Needlepoint belts were huge at my college; it felt like every girl at Transylvania worked on a belt for herself, her boyfriend, or her dad.
Over the years, I’ve tried a lot of crafty hobbies. I’ve learned to knit and cross-stitch; while I enjoy both of these, I always come back to needlepoint. It’s one of my very favorite stress-relievers, and I love the creative forms that so many needlepoint projects take. I started needlepointing seriously again a couple of years ago. I started back into it by making a few belts for Bob, including this University of Kentucky campus belt and this black Lab Christmas ornament.
Around the time I started to get interested in needlepoint again, I started to notice that a lot of folks were spending their free time stitching as well. I ran across an article that coined the utterly wonderful term “grandmillenial”, and I soon found a social media community of other folks who enjoy needlepoint as much as I do. I created a HerKentucky Stitches Instagram account a few months ago just for needlework projects; I didn’t want to bore my Instagram followers with a ton of needlepoint-related content. In addition to my ongoing needlepoint and cross-stitch projects, I decided this would be a fun place to post photos of the gorgeous quilts my grandmother has made for me over the years.
Y’all, I’ve had so much fun with needlepoint Instagram. I’ve discovered so many fun new techniques and ideas that have improved the quality of my needlepoint projects. There are so many needlepoint stitches that I didn’t know about, and a whole world of needlepoint designers and shops that have passionate followings. It’s so nice to take a hobby I’ve had for years and learn ways that I can improve!
I’ve also found myself learning to use Instagram in a totally new way. I’m less concerned with being a “content creator” for this small, niche account, and more interested in learning from others’ ideas. Did you know that you can save others’ Instagram posts and sort them into collections? Even better, these saved posts are completely private — nobody sees your saved posts! It’s like your own private Pinterest! I save stitch ideas, ornament ideas, etc., on my needlepoint account for future reference. It’s a great time-saver!
It’s so fun to use social media to renew my interest in a longtime favorite hobby and to learn new tips! If needlepoint is your thing, join me at HerKentucky Stitches!
Holiday Gift Guide for the Small Business Shopper
The best local gifts for Kentuckians!
This year, I’ve decided to do something a little different. Rather than typical blogger gift guides — we all know that you can get Diptyque candles at Nordstrom if you care to spend that much for them — I’ve put together a set of gift guides that speak to the interests of HerKentucky fans. No link in this post generate affiliate income. I do have a professional relationship with many of the businesses mentioned in this post and may have received products for promotional consideration in the past. However, no placements in this list were in exchange for payment or product. As always, I appreciate all businesses that help keep HerKentucky running, and all opinions are my own.}
It’s Small Business Saturday, a day celebrating the important role of independently owned businesses. I’ve put together a list of products and services from some of my very favorite Kentucky small businesses. Some of these are HerKentucky business partners; all are places where we personally shop.
Logan’s of Lexington: Logan’s is known for fine menswear and fabulous UK gear. While they’re technically a store for guys, I find plenty of great stuff for myself every time I visit. This Barbour merino-cashmere tartan scarf is one of Bob’s most-worn accessories!
Quest Outdoors: Louisville’s classic outdoor outfitter. My Barbour Beadnell Polarquilt Jacket is from Quest; they were fantastic about placing a special order in the size and color that worked for me! BARBOUR WOMEN'S BEADNELL POLARQUILT JACKET
Craft(s) Gallery and Mercantile: This Louisville-based gallery and boutique is co-owned by one of my dearest friends. They carry a sophisticated assortment of art and gifts. I love this piece, Houston Llew Spiritiles – 052 ‘Ms.’
Anchal: I love the women of Anchal. I adore their commitment to improving the lives of women. And their products are simply exquisite, like this triangle quilt throw.
Allsports: Lexington’s locally-owned sports store. The sweetest staff, and the best UK athleisure pieces! I’m all about this Ladies Kentucky Columbia Mountainside Fleece.
Stoneware & Co: I’ve collected Stoneware for as long as I can remember. I love visiting the showroom and seeing local artisans hand-paint each piece. I always find that the holidays are a great time to ask for pieces in my Bachelor Button pattern, like this 12" Salad Bowl.
Needlepoint by Laura : A great Lexington-based needlepoint canvas company! I promise, if someone on your list loves to needlepoint, then one of Laura’s canvases would be a great gift. this horse racing cuff bracelet kit is a great, self-finishing kit!
Campus Quilt: A t-shirt memory quilt from Campus Quilt is an incredible gift. Your favorite tees are transformed into the highest-quality quilt you can imagine. I love mine!
Joseph Beth: It’s truly not a trip to Lexington without a trip to Joseph-Beth. Their selection of Kentucky-themed books and gifts is outstanding! A Joseph-Beth gift card is great for nearly anyone on your list!
Magnolia Aesthetics: The absolute prettiest place to get pretty. Who wouldn’t want a facial for Christmas — or for herself?
Peppermint Palm: With locations in Lexington and Louisville, The Peppermint Palm is Kentucky’s locally-owned Lily Pulitzer Signature Store. My mom always loves the silk Elsa top or the Skipper popover!
Sweet Mash Goods: The cutest boutique in Lawrenceburg! The exclusive Bourbon & Boweties Barrel Bangle is my go-to bourbon-tasting bracelet.
Steepleton: If you’re in the market for a billiard table, jacuzzi, or Big Green Egg, then this is your place! We had a fantastic experience with purchasing our Egg and its accessories from Steepleton!
Plehn’s: Plehn’s Bakery has been a Louisville staple for 96 years. I love taking a Plehn’s cake to holiday events; everyone loves them!
Pappy & Co and Maizie Clarke: Every time I walk into Pappy & Co, I want one of everything. The lifestyle brand for storied Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon has some of the most elegant and beautiful local pieces I’ve seen. The hand-illustrated Pappy & Company holiday ceramic ornament by Louisville artist Maizie Clarke (who is as sweet as she is talented!) is the most delightful collaboration!
Volare Italian Ristorante: Volare is, hands down, my favorite restaurant in Louisville. Beyond their excellent pasta, you can count on amazing fish specials and the best steak in town. A gift card to Volare would be a fabulous gift for any Kentucky foodie.
For Pete’s Sake Pottery: For Pete’s Sake Pottery features beautiful pieces fired in a backyard kiln right here in St. Matthews! I love this Blue and White Floral Ceramic Pitcher.
Elva Fields: I’m obsessed with Elva Fields jewelry, not only because the pieces are unique and amazing, but also because owner-designer Emily Maynard is one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met. Elva necklaces are show-stoppers; I treasure mine.
St Matthews Feed & Seed: The Feed & Seed has been in business for 99 years, and they’re the absolute best place for plants and garden decor. They’re also our friends and neighbors; there’s something pretty special about a place where everyone stops to pet our dogs as we walk by!
Joseph’s Salon: I can’t say enough about the amazing service I get at Joseph’s Salon. Order a gift card and see for yourself!
Rockcastle River Trading Company Jon Carloftis is one of my very favorite people. Visit his family farm or order his limited edition Stoneware & Co planters.
Ouita Michel Restaurants: Give the gift of central Kentucky’s best food. Gift Cards aren’t available online; credit card orders are taken by phone, (859) 469-8234, or Email.
Please & Thank You: Take some of Louisville’s best chocolate chip cookies to your next holiday party.
Castle & Key: I see a lot of bourbon gear. This Apolis Support Farmers Market Bag from Castle & Key is the best piece I’ve seen this year.
Hi-Five Doughnuts: The best doughnuts. The best people. Bring a dozen to any gathering and I promise you’ll be everyone’s favorite person.
What’s on y’all’s local shopping gift list?
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How to Make a Needlepoint Belt, Part One
Step-by-Step guide to creating a needlepoint belt.
Over the past year or so, I’ve found myself really interested in needlepoint. It’s a hobby I’ve picked up time and again for well over 20 years, since my undergrad days at Transylvania. I absolutely love making needlepoint belts. They're such a fun project to undertake, and they make incredible gifts!
Over on Instagram, I’ve posted some photos of belts I’ve made or works in progress, and have had a lot of questions about how to get started. Today, I’ve teamed up with NeedlePaint, a custom needlepoint company, to give you a step-by-step guide!
Step 1: Determine your project!
Are you making a belt, dog collar, key chain, or sunglass strap? These questions weigh heavily into how much time and money you’ll spend on the project. It might be best to start with something small like a dog collar, or a pattern that doesn’t involve a lot of tiny detail. You’ll probably find that you get the hang of it in a hurry and are ready to move on to a more complex project fairly quickly!
What materials are used in your belt kit? I can’t stress this enough. If it’s your first belt, then you’ll want to purchase a kit that has all of your materials together! As a general rule, the folks who sell the canvas are going to be better at selecting the appropriate threads and needles than you are. Let them kit your thread so that you have the correct colors, and the appropriate thread and needle sizes. Here are a few things you’ll need to know about the materials:
The canvas comes pre-painted on a mesh canvas. Mesh is graded into different sizes. The number on the mesh is determined by the number of holes per inch. So, an 18 mesh canvas has more holes per inch than a 14 mesh or a 12 mesh. This, in turn, determines the type of thread you’ll use. You may use DMC brand thread in Pearl Cotton sizes 3, 5, or embroidery floss size 25. These threads are also denoted by a color number. It’s a lot to learn, and it’s way easier to let the professionals choose the threads for you. If you have an option to choose the mesh (Needlepaint has a great blog about this here!), you should consider that a very small canvas (i.e., an 18 mesh) is going to take a longer time to complete and may be more difficult for someone who is very far-sighted or has a history of tendonitis or carpal tunnel in their dominant wrist. (I learned the hard way that I need to wear a wrist brace if I’m going to do a lot of needlepointing!) Don't be shy about asking your needlepoint shop for specific details. You can contact NeedlePaint here to ask more questions about your project, and you can rest assured that their products have a 100% satisfaction guarantee!
Step 2: Choose Your Pattern!
This is the fun part! You’ll want to pick out a pattern that really speaks to your recipient’s personality. This is a keepsake, so you probably want to go with an interest or hobby that is important to the person who’ll be wearing the belt. Some folks love to go with the customized hobby/ memory belt that commemorates several of the wearer’s hobbies; I’ve made one like that for my dad.
As for this project, I’ve made UK logo belts for Bob in the past, as well as a Bourbon Trail theme. This time, I went with a lovely, intricate pattern that depicts UK’s campus. Since both Bob’s law degree and his MBA are from the University of Kentucky, it seemed like both a fun commemoration and a clever way to show team spirit. I love that they combined images of older buildings like Bowman Hall and Memorial Hall with the sports stadiums — both Rupp Arena and Kroger Field! — as well as newer buildings like the WT Young Library and landmarks like the Arboretum. It really is a great design for someone who loves UK’s campus!
Now that you and your needlepoint store are on the same page about everything — the pattern, the colors, the initials, etc., there’s just one more thing to do before checkout: Measure Again!!! You’ll want to make sure you’re working with the vendor to ensure a properly fitting belt. NeedlePaint does a great job explaining their sizing system here.
Step 3: Start Stitching!
You basically are just going to do a single, diagonal stitch in correspondence with the painted design on your belt canvas. The only stitch you have to know is the continental stitch (This guide from DMC explains it way better than I ever could!), but I often add in a basketweave for stability. You can find a lot of great information on the internet, and the NeedlePaint blog has a wealth of information. I love that my NeedlePaint canvas not only has the design painted on the canvas, but also includes a full pattern that lets you know which color of thread to use on every single hole. As you can imagine, the UK campus belt utilizes several shades of blue. The pattern guarantees that I select the right thread for every stitch!!
I’ll post Part Two, How to Finish and Leather Your Belt, soon! Thanks so much to NeedlePaint for partnering with me on this project!
Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever made a needlepoint belt!