Updated December 20, 2019.
This eight-pointed star pattern has everything going for it as a way to test color combinations and threads in needlepoint. It’s easy (just one stitch), fast (you can stitch it a couple of hours (even if you are slow or distracted), and it can be the basis of many variations (look in quilt books for some of them)>
On 18 mesh, you can finish it easily in a 3″ round ornament frame, such as the ones from Lee. On Congress Cloth, you can finish it on 2.5″ button forms. The finished ones pictured here were all done this way.
I’ve made versions of this star for years as a test bed for needlepoint. Once year I made 20 of them using various color combinations in Silk & Ivory and metals and gave them as Christmas presents. Another year I used some variations in red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July, pictured above.
The chart, pictured above, is really simple. To make this variation, one color is the solid lines. The other color is the open lines. By stitching them in two threads, you get a good feel for how they both behave.
Think of this little project the next time you need to test something in needlepoint.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
I recently started using facebook and am wondering if you would consider adding facebook and similar buttons under your posts.
I will look into what I need to do to add this.
Keep Stitching,
Janet
I really love the striped star. Such a great idea!
Thanks, Lorraine!
Keep stitching,
Janet
Thanks to you! I have been enjoying these so much!
Keep stitching,
Janet