A NEEDLEPOINT PINCUSHION
COMBINING CELTIC AND CONTEMPORARY DESIGN

Our Celtic pincushion called ‘CELTIC TRI-COULEUR’ … was designed exclusively for our TWENTY-NINTH FREE VIVA ZIVA ! Newsletter #2129.

Subscribe now to ZIVA’s free newsletter ... to be released in October 2021 and stitch our free pincushion design.

 

WHO ARE THE ANCIENT CELTS?

Ruling over a big part of Europe during the Iron Age and the Medieval Period, the ancient Celts had a unique way of life in every meaning, from their ethical codes, artworks, jewelry, building techniques, blacksmithing, farming and diplomacy skills to their folklore and beliefs.

 

In addition to resources written by the ancient Greeks and Romans, artworks and other cultural remnants of the ancient Celts help a great deal in providing insight into their traditions, customs, spirituality and belief.

SYMBOLISM IN ANCIENT CELTIC CULTURE -
THE TRISKELE 

You can see the triskele from a simple shape (left) to the more intricate in ancient Celtic culture.

The triskele can be thought to represent motion as all three legs are positioned to make it appear as if it is moving outwards from its center.

What do these three legs symbolize?

There are so many variations - Some of these connotations include:

life-death-rebirth, spirit-mind-body, mother-father-child, past-present-future, land-sea-sky, to name but a few.

Movement, or motion, is believed to signify energies, in particular within this Celtic Symbol the motion of action, cycles, progress, revolution and competition.

The number 3 holds a special symbolism within the triskele (also known as ‘the triple spiral’)…..

AND THIS IS WHERE WE GOT OUR IDEA FOR OUR FREE DESIGN!

CELTIC PINCUSHION DESIGN CONCEPT 

Let’s take the triskele motif using the THREE PRIMARY COLOURS from the colour wheel, red, yellow and blue, to create a bolder contemporary design ….

and yet still be in keeping with ancient Celtic Symbolism.

ET VOILA! A perfect combination of basic Colour Theory and Celtic Symbolism!

 

TWO DIFFERENT WAYS TO CREATE YOUR CELTIC TRI-COULEUR PINCUSHION

FIRST PINCUSHION IDEA

We used the small Sudberry House (https://www.sudberry.com) Pincushion Base (complete with foam cushion), to customize the pincushon’s size to their 3 ¾” design area.

We added a red border (in fabric or stitched) to add a little extra zip!

Or, with the same size stitched area, you could use their larger sewing tray for your threads, thimbles, etc….. and this time we added a blue border!

Perfect for having all your sewing notions in one place!

SECOND PINCUSHION IDEA

Why not make a Wrist Pincushion?

With the same design size, this time we created a wrist pincushion, easily sewn with a backing fabric and padding…..

very handy when you need a pin or needle in the middle of sewing a seam!

We’ll give you tips on making both of them up in our ZIVA #29 Newsletter!

 

 

FEATURE TECHNIQUE -  

  CREATING CURVES IN NEEDLEPOINT

 

It’s always difficult to create a curve from small squares!

But we face it every day when stitch painting!

First thing to remember the smaller the gauge the easier to make a curve in needlepoint… particularly with small items like our new pincushion at 18 hpi!

To give you an example how to do curves on 14 hpi canvas, we’re showing you (below) a part of our Red Planet clutch bag close up stitched and, for easy viewing, how that same stitching looks in chart form of a circle and a large curve.

We’ve numbered the number of stitches at the end of each row so you can see the symmetry required to create a perfect circle!

VIVA ZIVA NEWSLETTER FEATURES

What’s in the ZIVA Newsletter:

• The twenty-ninth VIVA ZIVA! Newsletter updates you about our latest paintings and latest new designs!

• A needlepoint chart and instructions on how to do the free Celtic pincushion design, ‘Celtic Tri-Couleur’

• A list of readily available yarn colours and the size and type of canvas to purchase.
• I also answer your FAQs and more!

 

Go to the Subscription Page for more detail about the newsletters.

OR YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE HERE!

 

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Go from this Celtic pincushion design, have a look at other free needlepoint designs included in VIVA ZIVA newsletters!

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