I love making large needlepoint pieces such as wall hangings etc. and I would like to be making things I can leave to my children as heirlooms. I know the American market will differ from the English to some extent but can anyone give me any advice as to the type of needlepoint that is most likely to be of any value in the future. Is it considered a disadvantage for the piece to be made from a commercial pattern or should I be concentrating more on my own designs? Thank you so much for any advice you can give.
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I love that you're making these gifts for your relatives. Every year, my grandmother-in-law always makes my husband and me a needlepointed Christmas ornament of her own design. Apart from sheer sentimental value, I would think that noncommercial designs would be worth more one day. Signing and dating them would probably help, too.
I would think that WHAT it's made from is important too!... I think most needlepoint people still use mainly wool, but these days, there's so much to choose from! I'd think that 100% wool would be best & the most long lasting when it comes to rugs, chair covers & things used daily... But you DO have to store it properly because of those nasty little moths! Cotton tends to fade somewhat... But when I buy anything needlepoint (at thrift stores) I'm partial to wool for it's durability... But, that's just me. You may want to e-mail or call a person that specializes in buying & selling lace & old textiles, They'll know the scoop!
---> I agree with adding the date somewhere on the design. If you have the time, Rugs, (especially older wool rugs) can be worth a small fortune!... Wall hangings or table runners are nice too... Also, I'd think about color... I think that one of these would be the most sought after colors: Multi colors (as in floral) Neutrals: like black, brown beige, white, grays & shades of green (they go with ANY decor) or shades of Blue (most people's favorite color)
---> I think you'd just have to know what your kids like... Some like more modern fare, like geometry, angles & cube shapes (like M.C. Escher) Some like Tribal type designs like North American Indian, African or Aborigine... Simple prefer nature scenes like Leaf vines... Then there's folks like me, I like the more tradition things like floral boquets.
* I'm making a small wool rug for my son's well-loved camper van. His van's colors are a soft yellow, brown, tan & blue, so that's what colors I'm using... But I did have to easy on the yellow, as it gets dirty so easily! I lived in a house in 1990 that had the original 100% wool carpeting in it from when the house was built (1948)... So the carpeting was 40 years old! .... The carpeting still looked like brand new!... Boy! That wool REALLY holds up well!
CHECK THIS OUT: It's a "VIRTUAL BEAD LOOM" which can be used to help you design needle point as well as Bead-Loom patterns!
www.rpi.edu/
www.rpi.edu/
FREE GRAPH PAPER SITES:
Here's several sites where you can print your own graph paper to help in designing your projects.
www.printfreegraphpaper.com/
www.thepcmanwebsite.com/
www.mathematicshelpcentral.com/
incompetech.com/
* Fancy pattern knitting designs (like fair isle, etc.) & patterns made for knitting machines & punched or hooked rug patterns along with bead loom patterns have wonderful designs that can be converted to needle point!
I made my sons and others needlepoint Christmas stockings. I also gave them to some who just had babies. I used a commercial kit for two, but really think the ones I designed myself were more special. I used stripes on some, an argyle pattern on another, and a patchwork of different stiches on another.
I am not sure what kinds of patterns or colors will be "worth" more in the future, but one thing to consider when making heirlooms for your family is the quality of the materials you use. With any type of craft there are good, medium, and low grade materials. If you want your items to stand up to the test of time make sure you use the highest quality materials you can afford.
If you want your needlework to have rarity value and therefore resale value, your own original designs are worth more. Don't forget to sign and date your work.
If I were collecting needlepoint in the future, I think I'd look for (1) unique, original designs, (2) signed and dated by the maker, and (3) top-quality materials. After all, it won't last long enough to become an heirloom if it's not made of top-quality fabric and yarn. If you watch Antiques Roadshow, you know that quality, unique items are the most valuable. Finding a one-of-a-kind item with good provenance seems to be what those wonderful experts live for.
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