If you like crewel embroidery, you're bound to like this - or if you don't like crewel embroidery, you might this version anyway! A reader sent me a terrific link this morning that I just have to share, and I hope it makes you smile!

This is a whole new take on crewel embroidery! (Did I say "take"? I meant.... cake!)



This comes from Cake Wrecks - a blog devoted to "professional cakes that go horribly, hilariously wrong." If you visit the original post (Sunday Sweets: That Takes the Cake part 1), you can click on the photo of the crewel cake and see a magnificent larger version. Too funny!

I tried everything to refrain from saying this, but I can't help it:

Sweeeeet!!

Labels: crewel work, embroidery for fun, miscellaneous embroidery musings

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Sunday, March 14, 2010
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Sometimes, I call it the Embroidery Blues. Sometimes, I call it a Needlework Dilemma. Right now, though, I think I'll call it utter-and-total-complete-indecision-with-a-bit-of-guilt-on-the-side.

The problem? I want to start a new embroidery project, but I'm stuck in the Worlds of In-Between and Not Finished.

Don't you ever get this way? It's kind of like inspirational glut: I have a million ideas that I'd like to move towards, and yet I know I can't start anything big, and yet, I know I want to be doing something, and yet I have plenty to do, and yet I can't make up my mind.

And yet.... there's a pretty good line-up of ready-to-do embroidery projects just waiting to happen:



I want to work Trish Burr's lilac-breasted roller. It's so darned beautiful. I want to make it. I want to hang it on my wall.



I want to take the embroidery design I posted the other day and translate it into a goldwork project. I'm even thinking I want to stitch it on velvet. I'm also thinking I'm a glutton for punishment.



I'm also thinking I want to start this project, but there isn't really a buuurrrrning desire to start it. It's not sparking anything right now, if you know what I mean. Do you know what it is? Can you guess? It was a gift - I was enrolled in "university!" But it's not a project I can blog step-by-step without violating an ethical code, so I am rather hesitant to launch into this one. I could certainly update you on progress with pictures, I suppose, since it's my embroidery, but I do like to venture into instructional points when I blog, and that wouldn't be quite right. Any idea what it is? I'll give you ten points if you guess right.



Oh. He just HAD to sneak in here! This is the Side Dish of Guilt in my present state of indecision. He must be finished. I've circled the parts that need to be done - it isn't much! I know I'll feel better about everything once I conquer this rascally rooster. (And hey - I've thought of a good use for him, too - but more on that later...)



I want to make this next needlebook from the French Maid Needlebook series designed by Bobbi Chase and distributed by Access Commodities. I really loved making and finishing the last needlebook, and I'm kind of eager to translate this one into a surface embroidery design, too. On top of that, they've come out with the fourth one in the series. I'm sure I'm going to want to make it, too.



Remember this? I started it last year, with my niece working on her own copy of it at the same time. Neither of us has finished. Working on this right now isn't un-appealing. I'm kind of in the mood for the simplicity of a charted design.



But then there's this - I'm dying to get back to some Schwalm work and actually FINISH a piece. Luzine Happel, author of Basic Principles of Schwalm Whitework, sent me this printed piece of linen, which is ready to stitch. Not only do I want to do the central section of this cloth, but I want to work some fancy hems around the outside (using Luzine's book, Fancy Hems). What to do?



I could take up something very small, like this crewel small. I enjoyed working on the crewel pomegranate small and the other crewel flower small - they were quick weekend projects that satisfied. But if I'm going to do crewel work, you know and I know that it must be the rooster first.

In fact, if I'm going to do anything, we all know it has to be the rooster first.

There's one other thing that's tempting me, and it's rather silly and inconsequential - but it would be a fun and relaxing project for the next week or so. Remember the spring corner I embroidered on a towel, to line an Easter basket last year? I want to make another one, with a different design, but in spring colors, for the same purpose. I have a terrific corner flower design to use - it's fun and crowded and casual and versatile, and it would be really bright and colorful. I think the grey winter weather is leaning me more and more in the direction of THIS idea.

So this is where I am, in the throes of a jolly bout of indecisiveness.

How about you make the decision for me and put me out of my misery?!

Labels: embroidery kits, Embroidery Projects, miscellaneous embroidery musings, pictures

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Saturday, February 13, 2010
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I've been sketching up my next embroidery project. My sketching skills aren't exactly fantastic, to say the least, but I'm hoping they are decent enough to translate into a hand embroidery pattern that can be used for a variety of embroidery techniques. You see, I have a plan...

At first, my plan involved sketching a Very Simple Embroidery Pattern. When I'm starting from scratch, and especially for the project I have in mind, simple is always better. I'm not sure what happened. I've ended up with a monster, something I know will not stitch up quickly, regardless of the technique.



This is it, and it's too much, and it's not quite right, either.

I did want something that would fit within a 6" square, but it didn't have to be round, and I'm not sure how it became round. I'm not sold on that Swishy Circle Something that's evolving on the lower right of the circle. In fact, I'm not sold on any of it.

My plan is to set up several (the numbers aren't clear yet) projects with the same design on them, and to stitch each project in a different technique, to show comparisons between various approaches to hand embroidery. Because there are so many approaches to hand embroidery! I think it would be helpful and even interesting to see how a design is reinterpreted depending on the approach the embroiderer takes with it. Needless to say, I wouldn't employ every embroidery technique under the sun. Instead, I wanted to concentrate on about four techniques.

And so, I need an original design. Something.... something.....oooooh.... Something just right. I've squizzed through innumerable design books, magazines, a bunch of vintage and antique flyers and catalogs, many of the tried-and-true oldies but goodies (Dillmont, etc.) ... but the Muse just never bit.

What I really want is something more akin to the simplicity of the crewel smalls I worked recently from Tristan Brooks Designs - this one, which is a very simplified something (I'm not sure it's exactly a flower), and this one, which is a simplified pomegranate design.

I've tried to make myself pin down what I have in mind. A stylized flower? Yes, kind of - but nothing too "cutesy." Formal or casual embroidery? Something that could be interpreted either way, and would change, depending on the techniques and materials used. Detailed or Very Plain? Starting plain, but with the option of details.

The pathetic thing is that this has been flopping around in my head for well over a month - since before Christmas, actually. And yet, all it does is flop.

I started flipping through my sketch books. I don't sketch often, and that's part of my problem. Doodling? Sure. Sketching? Not much. And you can't get good at something if you don't practice. I tell myself that all the time!



Speaking of doodling, I've always wanted to take this type of thing and translate the idea into a free-style embroidery design. I think it'd be fun to stitch up something similar - in black and white, or in color.

And so my mind wanders on to other things, and my sketching falls short of my plans, and my next project remains distantly foggy in my head.

That's the same head, by the way, where a nagging voice keeps saying something about a rooster.

Labels: embroidery design, Embroidery Projects, miscellaneous embroidery musings

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, February 10, 2010
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I'm not sure who decides these things, but in the US, there are a plethora of bizarre "celebrations" and strange acknowledgements that be-speckle our calendar. For example, February is not only "National Embroidery Month," but it is also "National Canned Food Month." Additionally, it's National Grapefruit Month, National Snack Food Month, National Weddings Month (shouldn't that be June?), Responsible Pet Owner Month, and my favorite: International Twit Award Month.

I received an e-mail yesterday, February 1st, asking if I am going to celebrate National Embroidery Month in a special way on Needle 'n Thread.



My answer is pretty simple - during the month of February:

I'm not going out of my way to eat canned foods.

I'm not going out of my way to eat grapefruit.

I'm not going out of my way to eat snack foods.

I'm pretty darned certain I'm not going out of my way to get married.

I'm not doing anything different with my pet than I ever do.

If I receive an International Twit Award, I'm not telling anyone about it.

And as far as embroidery goes, I will probably just keep doing what I do.

Happy National Embroidery Month!

Labels: miscellaneous embroidery musings

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, February 02, 2010
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Were you one of the lucky ones that made it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art before the end of April, 2009, to see the exhibit "Twixt Art and Nature"? I am still kicking myself that I didn't make more of an effort to go, though in reality, I couldn't have. The exhibit was well-covered in the news, more so than any other needlework exhibit I've ever heard about, anyway. And sprouting from the exhibit came a book....

English Embroidery from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1580 - 1700: 'Twixt Art and Nature is the name of the book. Despite the heavy title and the hefty size of the book, keep in mind that the era studied by the book is just slightly over 100 years of needlework! But what a fascinating era!



The book has been reviewed online on a number of needlework blogs and websites, so I'm not out to do a review here. I haven't actually finished reading it yet, and I always like to read the books I review from cover-to-cover. (It's a whole lot easier with stitch dictionaries and picture technique books - there isn't as much reading involved!) From what I've read so far, the book is fascinating - those interested in historical embroidery who like to read in-depth scholarly work will enjoy it. Those who are more interested in technique specifics and instruction might not enjoy it as well. Anyone interested in pictures of historical embroidery from this era will love it, but will want even more photos. The photos are beautiful.

I was reading the book the other day, and came upon part of a passage that brought to mind a good friend of mine, and made me think (with overwhelming enthusiasm!) that he would really enjoy this book. The passage was an insightful comment on history and art and I wish I had written it down. Anyway - a great wave of generosity swept over me, and I thought, "I am going to buy this book for him. He will like it."

Last year, I sent copies of this book out to a couple friends as gifts (hey, gals - I hope you Really Like It!). For me, I bought mine used last year, for about $35. And heck, it's been six months, right? Used ones will probably be less expensive now, right? But I was willing to spend $35. Really. I'm just that nice.

But I'm only that nice.

I checked this page on Amazon first, and after the initial heart attack, I moved on to ABE Books. (Though you can find a slightly "less expensive" copy on this page at Amazon - around $140).

Is it only me, or are the prices asked for these books just slightly a bit much? I mean, the book is good. But... but.... but...???!!!

Needless to say, those momentary warm fuzzy feelings of generosity sapped right out of me!

If you're looking for the book at a more reasonable price, Hedgehog Handworks does carry it, and right now, it's $55.25 (on sale through January). I don't know how many they have in stock, but at least you know they are available through booksellers besides used book sources for ridiculous prices! You can also find it at The Mad Samplar for $65 right now.

If you aren't quite ready to invest that type of money in a book, you can get a glimpse of some of the pieces in the exhibit in this nice little promotional video from last year:



Though I didn't make it to the exhibit, I'm happy I have my book.

And I'm happy I got it used.

For $35.

Labels: book review, embroidery resources, historical needlework, miscellaneous embroidery musings

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Saturday, January 09, 2010
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Happy New Year to All! I wish you all a wonderful 2010, full of many blessings for you and yours! This morning, I'm looking back a bit on 2009, ahead a bit for 2010, and revising yesterday's rooster.

In 2009, I didn't really have any huge embroidery finishes! Looking back on the year, I managed a lot of little things mostly geared towards publishing here on Needle 'n Thread, but I didn't really finish anything big. In fact, anything big I started, I didn't finish. I wonder if this is a way to measure success? If it truly is... oh golly. I'm such a loser! Some things that transpired on Needle 'n Thread in 2009:



In January, I concentrated a lot on Goldwork, for an article in CQMag Online. (You can still find the goldwork article online at CQMag!)



In February, I focused quite a bit on drawn thread embroidery and whitework, in this embroidery sampler, which - well, yes, I admit it! - I never finished. Another project took over, and I had to use the frame, so once I unframed this piece, I never got back to it. You can find the tutorials that accompanied this project under the Tips and Tricks for Hand Embroidery.



In March, the drawn thread sampler continued, and I did actually manage a finish on something else. Whoo hoo! It's not exactly a big finish, but I enjoyed working this miniature embroidery piece, and it's one of my favorite little framed pieces in my house. Lots of free hand embroidery patterns were posted on Needle 'n Thread in March, too.



In April, I started working on this Long Dog Sampler titled Angel Pavement. It was a project that my niece and I began working on together - we set up two samplers, bought double charts, supplies, and whatnot... Neither of us have finished! But we're still working on it now and then! The sampler is stitched on 28 ct fabric, over one.



In May, besides sifting through stash stuff and starting a new project and going Needlework Shop Hopping, I did manage to post one useful tutorial on Drawn Thread Embroidery on Gingham. Oh, and this can be counted as a finish, too!



In June, I hand embroidered this pall as a gift. It counts as a finish! June was also a month full of guest articles here on Needle 'n Thread, because I went on vacation for a few weeks. That was fun!



In July, I worked my first Temari ball. That can be counted as a finish, can't it? I also reviewed the needlework shops I visited while on vacation, and spent a lot of time preparing the Long and Short Stitch Shading Lessons that got into full swing a bit later.



August saw the Long and Short Stitch Shading Lessons in full swing, though they definitely carried on past August!



In September, the Long and Short Stitch Shading Lessons continued, I didn't do a whole lot of personal embroidery, I did dig out an old embroidery project to reconsider how to finish it (and got nowhere at the time!), and I gave away a lot of good stuff in September, like Jane Nicholas's stumpwork books and some Trish Burr kits! September is always a difficult month to make progress on personal projects, since school is starting and a new routine is taking over.



October saw the beginning of the hand embroidered lettering and text tutorials, which would last into December! It was also another month with few personal projects due to the demands of the school year.



November saw the bulk of the Lettering tutorials, as well as the beginning of a needlebook. I gave away some stuff, and started posting a new monogram alphabet, which I haven't finished yet!



December was a fairly productive month, for being one of the busier months of the year! I finished a needlebook, the lettering sampler, and a little crewel piece. I've gotten on a crewel kick here, so I've been writing a bit for upcoming posts on crewel work, comparing threads, and so forth. Also during December, I managed a lot of behind-the-scenes work here on Needle 'n Thread, working on a couple projects that will be launched in the early parts of 2010. December was indeed a productive month!

Resolutions and Looking Ahead

For 2010, I have some personal embroidery-related goals: use more stash, finish more projects! I also have some plans for Needle 'n Thread! I've been compiling a list of tutorials and topics that I hope you will enjoy throughout 2010. The video camera has also been occupied lately, so you can look forward to some video-related productions, too.

And the Rooster

Yesterday, I posted a rooster pattern for crewel work that will be my first "New Year" project here. I've since revised the pattern, so if it is something you were thinking of stitching along with, I thought I'd let you know there's a new version available on yesterday's post.

Happy New Year, one and all! I'm looking forward to 2010, and I hope you are, too!

Labels: miscellaneous embroidery musings, website news

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, January 01, 2010
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Elena over at Coeur de Freesia contacted me a couple weeks ago regarding last year's tutorial series on long and short stitch lessons. She generously offered to translate the lessons into French, something that I jumped on with enthusiasm....

Elena will be posting highlighted lessons in the series on her website, Coeur de Freesia, with my permission. The lessons are available in PDF format for those who wish to have a copy in French. She's got the first long and short stitch lesson up already!



For those of you who speak French would like an accurate translation of the lessons, please do visit Elena at Coeur de Freesia! Thanks, Elena!

Other News & Musings

I would never think to blame you all for a lack of sleep. But last night, I barely slept a wink, thinking of your ideas that you posted in the comments section, in answer to my request for input on contents for 2010 on Needle 'n Thread. I should never let myself think too hard about these things before bedtime! Some readers have suggested some very good ideas, so I've been working out several ways to pursue them.

If you've got ideas of topics you'd like to see on Needle 'n Thread but haven't left a comment or dropped me an e-mail yet, feel free to do either!

Christmas is just around the corner! Aaack! Can someone please tell me how that happened?! I haven't decorated (the tree is not up, nor the nativity scene - no lights on the house - nothing), and today I'm going Christmas shopping for the first time. I haven't baked a thing, I haven't thought ahead to doing anything fun with nieces and nephews.... nothing. I am, in short, behind.

All that being said, this coming week, I'm planning on a great Give-Away, courtesy of Trish Burr. I received in the post yesterday a couple copies of her new CD of Long and Short Stitch Projects! Thank you, Trish! The CDs contain step by step instructions for various projects featured in her books and in kit form on her website, as well as the full-size patterns, materials lists, etc. The only things not included to finish the projects are the materials, which you supply. However, I do have one of Trish's kits that I'll be giving away with a CD, so that's coming up - look for it next week!

In between preparations for Christmas, I also have to finish my needlebook this coming week, so I hope to be able to share the finish with you on that, too.

What else is coming up? I suppose you'll have to wait and see. And so will I, actually!

Enjoy your weekend!

Labels: embroidery resources, long and short stitch, miscellaneous embroidery musings, needlework websites

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Saturday, December 19, 2009
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Access Commodities has announced two enticing new needlework goodies that I thought I'd point out to you. One is especially suited to fans of historical needlework and the other is perfect for those of us who like pretty accessories!

First up, if you've been a follower of the Plimoth Plantation Jacket project which was unveiled last week, you may be particularly inclined towards this beautiful set of threads now available. It's a Plimoth Plantation Thread Pack, and it includes the various colors of silks used on the jacket, as well as a wee jar of spangles.



You can read all about the Plimoth Plantation thread collection on the Access Commodities Blog, where you'll also find the contact information for ordering these beautiful threads!



The other new item just out is Germaine, the third needlebook in the series of French Maid Needlebooks designed by Roberta Chase and packaged and distributed by Access Commodities. The needlebook I'm currently working on (called "Nichole") is from this same series. These kits have some Major Points that make them desirable, in my mind: 1. The designs are charming; 2. the instructions for creating the needlebooks are wonderfully clear; 3. the supplies are The Best - fabric, threads, ribbons, needles are all top quality - the kit is complete with everything you need to make the needlebook; 4. the reproduction fabrics used as the lining and inside pocket are pretty and unique!

I've never actually been a 'collector' of series items, but I love this series of needlebooks, and I'm pretty... uh... certain at this point that I'm going to be avidly waiting for each kit. I don't know how many are projected, but I do believe there is at least a fourth planned.

You can read about Germaine on the Access Commodities blog. If you want to order the kit, I suggest ordering through The Mad Samplar - they are apparently carrying the kit in stock, and their whole ordering process on their website is very easy. In my experience, they have have excellent customer service, too - and who knows? You might even be able to get it before Christmas, if the shipping gods are on your side!

The more I learn about Access Commodities (which is a company not directly accessible to us retail shoppers, but is a wholesale distributor and manufacturer of fine needlework supplies), the more I'm impressed with what they do. The availability of some very fine needlework supplies here in the US is thanks to Access Commodities. From Au Ver a Soie products, Trebizond, Appleton wool, goldwork threads, Legacy linen, Hardwicke Manor hoops, slate frames, and so forth, we have access to them (no pun intended) because this company has a vision of supplying the best in needlework products. If you shop at your local needlework store and find that they carry Access Commodities products (such as Trebizond or Au Ver a Soie threads), and you are interested in other products (like Hardwicke Manor hoops and so forth), you can probably ask for a special order. I think it would be worth it to ask - it would benefit you, your local needlework shop, and the stitching public in general, because it would demonstrate customer interest in other fine products. I'm all for supporting the industry, especially when it means keeping quality needlework supplies available for all of us!

Ok, I'm off my soap box!

Christmas vacation officially begins for me tomorrow morning! I'm working on two Very Exciting Projects during the break, but I can't share them with you until all the kinks are worked out and I'm positive that they will happen. But once I'm positive they'll happen, I will be jumping up and down and shouting about them from the rooftops. (I'll give you a hint: it's about time - I'm going to produce something!) (I suppose that wasn't much of a hint!) Anyway, you all will be the FIRST to know.

Besides those Big Looming Scary Projects, I've got a bunch of small things I must work on for sanity's sake, plus a few tutorial ideas that I want to develop for you.

Can I have your input? I'm open to ANY ideas of things YOU want to see, that I can feasibly manage to do for you here on Needle 'n Thread. Do you have any ideas? Any topics or techniques you'd like to see discussed? Hearing from you will help me shape content to your interests, so don't be shy! It will also help me set a direction for 2010. I want your input! I need your input! I appreciate your input! So please - input!

Have a terrific day with your needle and thread!

Labels: Embroidery Projects, embroidery resources, miscellaneous embroidery musings, silk, supplies, website news

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, December 17, 2009
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Ready to go browsing with me through favorite needlework haunts, blogs, shops, and so forth? When time allows it, I like to browse the online world to see what's going on in the needlework field - and heck, even when time doesn't allow it, I find it's a great way to procrastinate! So - grab your coffee and come procrastinate with me!

I categorize my online browsing in my head this way: Needlework Inspiration, Needlework Supplies, and Needlework Desires and Longings (or what should more accurately be called, "The Danger Zone").

Needlework Inspiration

There's been a heap of inspirational stuff online lately. Lots of it is holiday-related, and I admit I've shied away from glutting on Christmas embroidery ideas this year. No, I'm not a Scrooge. I just haven't had time to stitch on this particular theme, so the things that have really caught my eye have been entirely non-holiday-related embroidery items.



First, there's the big unveiling of "Faith" - the 17th century embroidered jacket - over at Thistle Threads for Plimoth Plantation. If you haven't seen the pictures yet or read up on the last days and weeks before the project was presented to the public, do jump over to The Embroiderers' Story and rest your eyes on an amazing and laudable achievement! Beautiful does not say enough about it! I remember first blogging about the whole project two years ago, after it had been underway for a good year - I was so excited about it and loved following along with the whole project! Now that it's over, it seems to me that we have all benefited from the jacket project in a lot of ways - one tangible way is the fact that we have Gilt Sylke Twist available on the market. Lucky us!



Now how about something springy? Allison Aller's been doing punchneedle ribbon embroidery on some CQ squares. Have you seen her results? Well, you should! It's a great take on ribbon embroidery - and there's nothing like looking at beautiful flowers when your feet and nose are frozen.



Speaking of flowers, colors, and so forth, I introduced you last week to Sandy Vass's new blog, Gold n' Stitches. Uh. WOW. She didn't crawl into blogging, here - she leapt in, and has put up some absolutely wonderful projects that she's working on. I'm totally hooked, and I'm afraid I'm going to be drooling over her blog daily. Take a look at her latest Jane Nicholas project, and her circular Or Nue design! What think you of this? Doesn't it just make you melt into a sea of gold and silk contentedness? I want to do what she is doing! And I want to do it Now! My green eyes are getting the better of me, as Shakespeare would say (or something along those lines.)



I keep up with what's going on over at Needleprint, because, though I don't do a lot of counted work, the kind of counted work I do like is this stuff with the historical twist to it. I really like the Quaker motifs, and I'm still fiddling with turning some more of them into Quaker Surface Motifs. In the meantime, though, Needleprint isn't devoted just to counted work - oh my, no! There's this gorgeous piece of needle painted art posted last week that completely bowled me over. The pomegranate in this piece is downright scrumptious looking. If I were Persephone, I'd not stop at six seeds...

Speaking of doing the things I want to do, Meri's been plugging away at Schwalm work, and although it's been a while since she posted this one, you should go see her project! We're both working on the same project - and she's leaps and bounds ahead of me.

I'm hoping to catch up this vacation. Look out, Meri! But - better than the Schwalm whitework as far as resources go, do check out Meri's Multi-Lingual Picture Stitch Glossary that she put together. You'll find pictures of embroidery stitches accompanied by the name of the stitch in many languages. You can download it and save it to your computer as an excellent reference work.

Over on Coeur de Freesia, you must see this beautiful blue embroidery project that Elena has been working on. Scroll through all the posts, so that you can see this piece as it is developing. I love it! I want it! I want to make that. I don't. I don't have time. Stop.

Over on Maureen Greeson's blog, Vintage Acquisitions, she's been working up some ribbon embroidery flowers as well, like the ones in this vintage basket design (she's got the pattern there, too, if you want it!). I love the flowers. They look like mums. While you're there, she's also got an informative post on using silk chenille for hand embroidery.



Have you seen what Carol-Anne is doing over at Threads Across the Web? I love watching her Japanese embroidery projects unfold. They always looks so sharp, crisp, and beautiful. Her current project is particularly enchanting - I love the different patterns and colors of the cords!

Needlework Supplies



Every needleworker needs needles. Needleworkers need needles. Say that ten times fast! There are needles, and then there are needles. Bohin needles are fast becoming my faves. I'd LIKE to find them in size 10, 11, and 12 crewel. But in the meantime, Sharon over at Threads in Bloom has a small shipment of Bohin Needles - Milliners, Chenille, and Tapestry - available in assorted sizes. Get them now, before they're gone. And hope she gets more soon!

Are you looking for coton a broder in colors? You can find a set of #25 coton a broder (in 18 colors) from Vaune French Heirloom Sewing and Smocking supplies. I haven't ever ordered from them, but this is rather enticing... I just wish they had a picture of it on their website.

The Danger Zone

The Danger Zone is comprised of things I've come across that I have added to a wish list. Some of them, I will probably never purchase. But some are definites for the upcoming year. Now, if you think you might succumb, and you don't want to succumb, just stop reading now.... just move on. Click the X. Close your browser. Don't let me lead you astray!

There are some books coming out in 2010 that look intriguing - Country Bumpkin's Flowers for Elizabeth is on my list. I always get in trouble when I start wandering around the Country Bumpkin website!

Going back to the subject of colors, Hedgehog Handworks has added "Silk Collections" to their website. These are packs of different types of threads, grouped by color. They include silks and metallics, and they all look pretty sumptuous. The prices are reasonable, too. They range from $18.50 - $25-ish, depending on the number of thread types in the pack (some have as many as 10 different types of threads grouped together). You can also find that Thread of Threads Beyond Compare at Hedgehog - Gilt Sylke Twist - in all the colors that are currently available, at the most reasonable online price you'll find. I've got to get some of that Gawdie Grene. I don't have that color yet, and the name intrigues me. I think I should put it in my Christmas stocking. As a stuffer. From me. (Pathetic, isn't it?)

Ok, enough?! For now, yes! I have over-procrastinated! I hope I didn't distract you too much from what you should be doing, too...!!

Have a great day with your needle and thread!

Labels: embroidery resources, miscellaneous embroidery musings, needlework news, needlework websites, pictures

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, November 03, 2009
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I've really been itching to do some goldwork lately, but I've got so many projects already going and several projects that I need to get started on, that all I can do when it comes to goldwork right now is dream. You know how that is, don't you? This one particular design has be besotted...

BibliOdyssey is one of those places I go to get inspired, and last week when I visited, I wasn't disappointed - there was no lack of inspirational stuff floating about the website. This post on The Tudor Pattern Book really caught my eye, and this one pattern in particular struck me as particularly suitable for goldwork.



When considering an picture or design that is not made specifically for embroidery, I usually try to isolate the elements within the design that would work as an embroidered image. So I took this picture from BibliOdyssey, opened it in Photoshop and got rid of the background. I didn't spand a lot of time cleaning the thing up - just a few button clicks - but I did at least isolate the part I like.

At this point, I figured I could trace the image in Inkscape or a similar program, to end up with a crisp line drawing, but instead, I started playing with a couple very basic filters in Photoshop and reduced the image to this:



For some reason, a black and white image is my preferred format for any kind of potential embroidery design. I seem to see more possibilities when I can reduce the image to outlines with a bit of shading but no color.

With this piece, I'm thinking in terms of a combination of silk shading and goldwork.

So what do you think? Should I just chuck everything else and launch into a completely senseless goldwork project?

Oh well! Since "chucking" everything else right now probably isn't prudent, I suppose I'll just stay the present course. However, if I do drift off...

... you'll know what I'm doing!

Labels: embroidery design, free embroidery patterns, goldwork, miscellaneous embroidery musings

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, October 29, 2009
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Frequently, e-mails show up in my inbox requesting pointers on how to hand embroider text or lettering. Here are a few of the questions on this subject that have shown up in the last couple years:

What stitches should I use to embroider a name?

I'm hand embroidering a poem on a quilt. What type of lettering should I use and how do I stitch it?

How many strands of thread should I use to embroider text on a baby blanket?

I want to hand embroider a baseball cap but I don't know what stitches to use. Can you help me?

I'm using stem stitch to embroider a poem, but my stem stitch looks bad especially when I go around corners. Any ideas how I can fix it?

To answer all these questions and more, I've developed a plan...

... and I plan to work on the plan over this weekend. In the upcoming weeks here on Needle 'n Thread, I'll be presenting some short tutorials on embroidering lettering or text by hand.



Not to be confused with stitching monograms, embroidering text or lettering - especially multiple words - so that it looks good and is clear to read can be daunting. I want to address the subject so that beginners especially can get the hang of hand embroidered lettering without suffering too much grief along the way.

Do you have any questions about the subject that you would like to see particularly addressed? If so, now's your opportunity to bring them up, so I can address them in the tutorials!

If you've embroidered lettering before, I'd love to know what your favorite stitch is for lettering!

What do you think? Will this be a worth-while series of short tutorials? Any thoughts or suggestions?

Labels: beginner embroidery, hand embroidered lettering, hand embroidery information, Hand embroidery stitches, miscellaneous embroidery musings, needlework tutorials

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, October 09, 2009
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Some of the earliest articles that featured photos of my own hand embroidery here on Needle 'n Thread were two posts that examined a project worked with silk threads on silk fabric. The two articles focused on one half of an embroidered stole worked predominantly in satin stitch and stem stitch filling. The first article featurs close-up pictures of the stole, and the second article featurs a photo of the whole stole.

This past weekend, at the request of a friend, I pulled the embroidery project out again, including the second half of the stole, which has been laced up on a scroll frame, neglected for many years.

In revisiting this project, I've had the opportunity to rethink a few things about it.



This is the beginning of the second half of the stole. In my mind, I remembered being about a third of the way finished with this half of the project. I'm not sure why I thought I was so far along. It's discouraging, actually, to see that I finished so little on the second half!

What slowed me down on this project? Why did I resign it to the shelf?

The first thing that happened was that Life got in the way. I remember frantically applying myself to the first half of the stole, and, after about 3 months, finishing it, setting up the second half, and making a start on it. But it was the middle of the school year by then, and things just got busy. So the project was set aside for a time.

Then, one day, I had visitors, a lady and a little girl. And the lady wanted to see my current embroidery project. The little girl - about six years old - was playing outside when I took the piece down. I looked at the piece with the lady, and had just turned away from it, when the little girl came in. I didn't think to pay close attention to her - her dirty hands were wet and sticky and a little muddy. And she made a bee-line for the frame. Before the thought could formulate in my head (I don't think I got beyond the internal "Noooooooooooooooooooooo!"), she had applied one particularly grimey finger to the fabric and threads, leaving a big, wet, dark spot on both the embroidery and the ground fabric.

Do you know how it is, when you have a "big" obstacle to overcome in a needlework project, and the obstacle kind of takes the wind out of your enthusiastic sails? This was the case for me. At the end of that day, I wrapped the frame up in a cloth, and tucked the whole thing away on the highest shelf, in a box. And it has been there ever since.

But in taking it out again this past weekend, I discovered several things.



First, I discovered that the way in which I originally transferred the design had been a good idea, for the image has withstood the test of time magnificently. On the soft gold silk ground fabric, I had used white dressmaker's carbon. The white, once embroidered over, is not visible at all - even if a little fringe of it is left beyond the embroidery. And yet, it is clearly visible on the silk ground fabric, due to its light white-ness and its matte finish against the shiny silk.

Dressmaker's carbon can be an excellent way to transfer a design on smooth fabric. You can find transfer paper in the sewing notions section of fabric stores. Saral Transfer Paper is a good brand to use if you can find it. The variety packs come with a sheet each of red, white, yellow, blue, and graphite (greyish black). The sheets can be used many times over. If you can't find Saral, Dritz also makes a wax-free dressmaker's transfer paper in five colors. It is probably more commonly available at sewing stores, and the size is actually perfect for a project like this stole, which is long and narrow. It comes in 5.5" x 19.5" sheets.

Though the frame for the stole was wrapped in fabric that rested against the design, and then packed again in a box with other stuff, and put on a top shelf for several years, the design is still crisp and fresh and hardly smudged at all. I'm glad to see that.



The next thing I learned is that I tend to exaggerate in my mind how serious a "flaw" is on a piece of needlework. The wet, dark smudge (that I thought could never be cleaned away) was right here, between these two "petals" on the embroidery. Where is it now? Did time take it away? Or was the flaw not quite as bad as I had worked it up in my mind to be? Whatever the case, that excuse for shelving the project is now completely gone. There was only the slightest sign of a bit of dirt on the silk threads in the top petal. A little scratch with the fingernail, and it was completely gone.



I've learned a lot more about embroidery in general, ecclesiastical embroidery in particular, and individual stitching techniques since I embroidered this piece. In my mind, I recall this piece as being a "beginning" step in my pursuit of serious embroidery. As a beginning step, I somehow had adopted the impression, over the years, that I didn't do a very good job on the piece. But in looking at it (and this isn't to honk my own horn - just to make a point), my satin stitching was actually pretty darned good. Had I convinced myself that it wasn't up to par, as a further excuse not to return to this project? It is Certainly Possible!



I can't help thinking that I might be hard-pressed, now, to replicate this satin stitching!



Finally, there is the question of this frame. When I first started this project, I would've killed for a slate frame (not literally, but...). I looked high and low, here and there, and absolutely everywhere for one. I settled for a scroll frame, because it was the only thing that could accommodate the silk, keep it relatively taut, and roll up the excess fabric.

But in looking at the framed up piece now, I can confirm that I was right about my lousy lacing job. And, on top of that, using masking tape to "finish" the edge was probably just downright stupid (though there is actually about 6" of excess fabric on each side of the design).



In my mind, whenever I thought of this project (because it does still hang over my head now and then, and I think on it with regret...), this lousy lacing job and the tape fiasco were obstacles to completing the piece. But are they, in reality, obstacles? Not really. It would be nothing, now, to take this frame apart, remount the piece on a slate frame using proper fabric edges, and tighten it up to work on it.



Going back to the original first half of the stole, I took some photos of it again. Since that first post on the subject oh-so-long ago, I've had two different cameras, each progressively better, and I've learned a bit about light, and also a bit about photo editing programs.



I can't help looking at images of the original finished half of the stole and asking myself if it would be worth revisiting this project and even finishing it.

But now that some serious time has passed since I shelved the project, some serious issues have arisen that are truly obstacles. Of course, obstacles exist in order to be overcome!

The greatest obstacle is that of thread: the original piece was worked with Au Ver a Soie's Soie d'Alger. Though I had, at the time, purchased enough of the same dye lots for both sides of the stole, over the years, I have used those threads. Can I match them closely enough in order to finish the second half of the stole? Maybe. It is worth looking in to, but can't be done until I visit a shop that carries the threads.

There are several - actually, many - things that I would do differently now, if I were making this stole from the beginning. And this is another obstacle for me! It is more of a mental obstacle, though - which are the worst types of obstacles, because they require overcoming self, rather than overcoming something tangible outside of one's self.

I can't guarantee what I will do with this - whether I will finish it or not. Most of the trivial barriers that I had built up in my head regarding the whole project are gone, but a few serious ones still linger.

So, those are my musings on this project from the past. What would YOU do at this point? How would you come to a decision about whether or not to finish such a project?

Labels: ecclesiastical embroidery, Embroidery Projects, miscellaneous embroidery musings, needlework pictures, pictures, silk

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, September 29, 2009
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Mains & Merveilles Point de Croix is a French needlework magazine that I subscribe to. I often forget what needlework magazines I subscribe to, actually, because needlework magazines are notoriously (and understandably) far-spaced when it comes to yearly output. But the other day, I was reminded of my subscription to this particular magazine when it arrived in the mail. It is a cross stitch magazine.

I've written about this magazine company here on Needle 'n Thread in the past, when telling you about the Mains & Merveilles iron-on transfer collections that are very pretty (and used to be available at Hedgehog Handworks, but are no longer available there...)

Well, the company that put out those very nice iron-on transfer collections (Les Éditions de Saxe) also produces some Very Nice embroidery magazines: Embroidery, Creative Embroidery, and Cross Stitch (my translations of the titles). I only have a subscription right now to the Point de Croix line, having subscribed a little over a year ago because they were running a series I wanted to watch develop. Eventually, I'll pick up the other two subscriptions and probably let this one drop - when the others fit into the budget!

The needlework magazines from Les Éditions de Saxe have a distinctive European flair to them, and they are quality magazines - very pretty to look at, printed on good paper, filled with informative and interesting articles, and featuring a large paper pull out pattern section for all their featured projects. And the projects are generally beautiful. The magazines are printed entirely in French. If you don't read French, though, the content is still worthwhile - the patterns are beautiful, the instructions usually include step-by-step photos, and the pictures overall are simply worth looking at! I'd say the magazines rival Inspirations, as far as quality goes, though they don't have as much in them as each individual Inspirations magazine, and the projects differ a bit in flavor.

Getting back to the latest edition of Mains & Merveilles Point de Croix, three articles struck me in this latest issue (#74).

The first was a project article for these pretty paisley table and household linens that just look fun to embroider!



The paisleys are worked in various pinks and reds, entirely in surface embroidery stitches.



Of course, the color scheme can always be changed to match your own home! I think they're cute, and perfect for a casual, fun setting.

The next article that caught my eye was focused mostly on whitework and drawn thread techniques. As one of their regular features ("Passion Broderie"), this article shows the work of Jocelyne Dubois, who always has embroidery at her fingertips!



The whitework photos that accompany the article are gorgeous - the pieces are so impressive! What a talented embroiderer!



Her edgings are intricate and perfect. And while I don't normally pour over this particular magazine and attempt to read it, I found myself engrossed in this article (accompanied by my French-English dictionary from college days!) I was thrilled to open the magazine and find this article!

But, you know, while these two features excited me more than usual, the publishers had one more thing in store for me when I finished the whitework article. Flipping the page, I came across this layout:



There was a whole feature article on a currently running ecclesiastical embroidery exhibition that honors the work of the Visitation nuns in Europe, dating from the 17th century to the present day. And this being one of my favorite topics - historical ecclesiastical embroidery - I was really excited about this article! Better yet... I've got to go to France! NOW. The exhibition lasts until November 28, 2009, at the Museum of the Visitation (convent?) in Moulins, France. I'm ... I'm so stuck in Kansas, it isn't even funny! Anyway, I'm stuck - but if you happen to be in the area of Moulins, France, through November 28th, I bet this will be an exhibit that will knock your embroidery-loving socks off! Even if you aren't inclined towards the religious aspects of church embroidery, it cannot be denied that it is among the most beautiful embroidery work on the planet. The Visitation nuns were known for their exquisite work - the collection will certainly be worth seeing.

(If you happen to go, may I live vicariously through you?)

So I was really pleased with this last edition of Mains & Merveilles Point de Croix from Les Éditions de Saxe. While I normally just flip through the photos once and note the things that may interest me later (or my nieces or friends), this time, I spent quite a bit of time pouring over the articles and trying to get over my rusty French. It was fun - and it was the first time I really appreciated my subscription to this magazine!

Do you subscribe to any needlework magazines? If so, which ones? What's your favorite? Are you generally thrilled to get them, or do they just strike your fancy once in a while? That seems to be the case for me often, with all my magazine subscriptions (Inspirations, Pieceworks, Sampler & Antique Needlework, and M&M). Sometimes, they just don't grab me, but then suddenly - wow! They bamboozle me with magnificent content, and that's when I most appreciate the subscription. What about you? What's your experience with needlework magazine subscriptions?

Labels: ecclesiastical embroidery, embroidery resources, miscellaneous embroidery musings, needlework magazines

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, September 15, 2009
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