Twenty-Four Brass Tacks

Brass thumb tacks are a Bargello needlepoint essential. As a result, I constantly extol their virtues.

This being the case, you can imagine that I most likely will use a “ton” of these thumb tacks to frame 365 squares of 6″ needlepoint canvas this year.

I use 24 brass thumb tacks for each 2010 Bargello Challenge project. I estimate I will use as many as 4,380, which equals 73 packages if I use each package twice. The number of brass tacks increases significantly to 8,760, if I am only able to use them once.

So far, I’ve only used about 360 tacks (several years ago I invested in high quality Japanese brass tacks; so I’m able to use one package per 5 projects.

Since I will be spending a lot of time with 24 brass tacks, I couldn’t resist having some fun by composing an “ode”. Here it is for your enjoyment.

Twenty Four Brass Tacks

by Althea DeBrule

Twenty-Four Brass Tacks shining bright
Flickering in my needlepoint light
Stretching the Bargello project nice and tight
They are such a comforting sight.


Twenty-Four Brass Tacks lying neatly in a row
Getting the canvas ready to sew
No rust residue or tales of woe
They’re on the ball and ready to go


Twenty-Four Brass Tacks, push and pull, bend and break
Taking all the pressure I can make
Working continually to help me create
Beautiful Bargello for my father’s sake.


Twenty-Four Brass Tacks, six on each side
Help my hands to move and glide
Over the canvas threads they slide
As Bargello patterns take shape and open wide.


Twenty-Four Brass Tacks are all I need
To keep my hands nimble and freed
To stitch well and accomplish the deed
If you want the same… take heed.

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