Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, September 19, 2007
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Stash, glorious stash! If you dabble in needlework as a hobby or even as a "serious" pursuit, chances are, you've built a stash. That's a great part of the fun of needlework - setting in your supplies! It's also a part of the creative process - exploring new items, seeing how you can integrate them into your techniques, or just plain playing around with "stuff" because it looks fun! I love stash! But it has its downsides...

An obvious downside of stashing a lot of stuff is organization. Organization of supplies is a huge topic, and since most people have their own approach, it's kind of hard to go into it thoroughly. Suffice it to say, if you're going to invest in "stash," you should develop a system to keep it organized, so that you know what you have and can access it when you want it.

Another downside is that you can end up spending a lot of money, often unnecessarily, simply because something catches your eye. Oh golly. I've done that a lot. You can regulate this by setting up a "budget" for your hobbies. In your regular budget, make a little concession for your hobbies, and add to it a little at a time as you can. Then, when you have the opportunity for one of those "fun days out," when you go visit a favorite store (or even a website!), or you go explore a new store, you know how much you can spend and you are cautious about what you buy. Set your limits and don't go beyond them. Think of things you know you want or that you'll really use, and try not to get distracted by Peripheral Stuff. Avoid impulse buying, just for the sake of buying! You'll feel better later about your superior sense of self-control, and you'll avoid "buyer's remorse"!

All that having been said, I thought I'd share some photos of goods I added to my stash this past summer when I had the opportunity to visit a few needlework shops I had never been to. I'll also share with you a couple of observations and one big mistake!



Here's the general colorful pile. You can note the things in the pile that are typical of me, if you've read my website: silk floss (soie d'alger) in a couple colors I like and will use and some Caron Collections waterlilies (silk) and watercolors (cotton). There's also, in the far background, barely visible, some little white cotton lace trim, perfect for linens. Ribbons, ric-rac, and a big blob of Sari Silk yarn.... some of these were definitely impulse items, and one was just plain a big mistake!



The Sari Silk yarn was actually not a mistake - when I came across it at one shop, I was delighted, because I've wanted to play around with it for a while, but the one time I had tried to place an order for it, the place was out of it. So here it was in person, I could touch it, examine it up close, and consider seriously whether or not the $14.00 was worth it. I thought, in the long-run, it would be - if not for me, for one of my nieces who crochets or one who knits, or even for my mom. Is it suitable for embroidery? Well, I want to see how it couches, just out of curiosity. So I will do that someday!



These are Rajmahal Art Silks. I've never actually worked with this thread, but I've always wanted to. It's from Australia, in fact, and it isn't silk! When I came across it that fateful day, I was already familiar with what it is, and in fact, I had one skein on hand, and I figured this was a good opportunity to expand to a few, so that I could give them a good test.

This particular shop experience was one of "those" experiences. You can always tell what store clerks know or don't know about embroidery by certain things they say. In this particularly fine store, which focuses more on "unique" supplies, antique ribbons, and various antique needlework items - a beautiful and rather ritzy store - the clerk greeted us at the door with the "warm" enthusiasm of someone who would not mind taking the time showing us around, if she had to! She was dressed sleekly, in a skilled imitation of "haute couture" fashion. I was duly impressed and let her show me around, although I pretty much knew where my interests lay once I walked in. I asked if she were the owner - no, no. But she and the owner, she told me, are both artists - textile artists, actually. She pointed out several of the focal points of the shop, including antique buttons and beads, antique ribbons, "modern" ribbons, some fun trims, and whatnot. I wanted to take a closer look at the real antiques they had on display - a beautiful shawl all worked over in goldwork, and a fantastic Victorian crazy quilt behind glass, covered in gorgeous stitchery - and many other items of delectable interest! I asked if I could take pictures of the shop, and it was the first retail place where I'd ever been told "no." (Next time, I'll contact them in advance and speak to the owner instead of the clerk!)

Then, as she warmed up a bit and realized that I wasn't there to pilfer the shop or to ask "stupid questions," she asked me if I was a textile artist. Textile artist is a strange phrase - I wouldn't use it to describe me at all, because it's far to professional and polished, (especially when you're in a store like that!), and none of my degrees are in the study of textiles by a long stretch!
"No, I just dabble in embroidery," said I. "I'm particularly interested in goldwork."
"Oh," was her rather non-committal reply.
"That's why I wanted to take a photo of that shawl."
"What shawl?"
"The goldwork shawl?"
"I'm not exactly sure what you mean by goldwork."
So I explained. "I've never really heard of goldwork. I'm sure Gretchen has." (Apparently, the shop owner...)
Then I mentioned I like working with silk. "OOOHHH - we have some marvelous silk thread here." And she showed me .... the Rajmahal. "It's so nice. We use it for all our needlework. We love silk. And Gretchen swears by this brand because of the sheen." [I was chuckling internally by this time]... "Natural silk," she continued to explain, "has the highest sheen."
I was in awe of her knowledge. I showed my approval by selecting the three colors above, and by agreeing with her that the thread had an extraordinary sheen. Considering there were a few other folks in the shop, I didn't want to... you know, put her on the spot!

Then I went on to look at the various ribbons, and this is where I made My Big Mistake! And this is what I get for feeling so SMUG about the "natural" silk!



I explored the various typical but darling tiny ric-racs and trims, and bought a few of those, and I picked up a couple yards of the above trim, only because it was different and rather neat. I could see it used to trim out a little something at some point.

And then I saw this stuff:



Isn't it pretty? It really is pretty! I could see it trimming out a collar on a little girl's dress or blouse. And I fell in love with it. I'm not super "up" on ribbon, types of ribbon, and whatnot. I saw it, saw that it was beautiful, and wanted some. I glanced (key word - glanced) at the casing, on which I saw marked $1.10. I had just bought some $.80/yard ric-rac, some $1.00 / yard other stuff, and even, yes, some $2.50 / yard other stuff. So I saw that, and I thought, "Wow, it's so pretty - and so inexpensive!"



The whole ribbon is actually a composite of little ribbon pieces, put together very attractively so that they look like flowers and bows.



You can buy all the separate types of ribbon, actually, and make up your own composite ribbon, if you're game for it!

This specialty ribbon, I've since learned, is Mokuba ribbon. Mokuba is a company name synonymous with high quality trims in the fashion world. I might know my silk, but I don't know my ribbon!

I decided on a yard, of course - why not? And it also came in violet - so a yard of that, too. While the clerk cut the first yard (working behind the sign that clearly read, "All cuts final"), I continued to explore. She asked how much of the violet flowered trim I wanted. "Oh, a yard is fine." She hesitated. I wondered. She measured it out. And then she said (God bless her!) "Are you sure?" I suddenly figured it out. "How much is it?" I asked. "It's $1.10 an inch."

Oh well. I swallowed my pride. I declined the violet, but in all fairness, paid for the coral flowered trim, because, after all, all cuts were final. She was just doing her job - and she did save me from a SECOND $40 mistake. She explained that most "clients" didn't purchase even a yard at a time. Well, heck -- if you're not buying a yard of ribbon, what could you possibly be using it for??? I know, I know - little things.

As I checked out, trying not to visibly wince, I did manage to mention that Rajmahal is actually viscose - as it says on the tag - and not silk. But I did concede that it does indeed have an exceptional sheen!

Labels: miscellaneous embroidery musings, pictures, supplies, threads

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, September 13, 2007
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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, August 24, 2007
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One thing I noticed when I was perusing various embroidery shops on the East Coast was that the ones I visited carried the full range of Needlepoint, Inc. Silk. So here's a little word about this silk thread...

Needlepoint, Inc. is a reeled filament silk (as opposed to a spun silk), which means that the individual fibers that make up the threads are longer and stronger. The luster of a filament silk is also greater than that of a spun silk. The threads are 8-ply, meaning they can be divided into 8 individual threads, and they come in 5 meter skeins (or really large hanks of 45 meters, for those BIG projects!). The company produces its own Chinese silk for its threads; they claim that they therefore have better control over quality and over availability, which makes sense.

What I like about the Needlepoint, Inc. threads is that the shades are carefully graded, so that you can easily select from the color card or the rack a series of colors (say blues, for instance) that will blend into the next lighter or darker shade really nicely.

When comparing the Needlepoint, Inc. silks to Au Ver a Soie's Soie d'Alger, this is what I found:

1. Needlepoint, Inc., silk is slightly more expensive - averaging around $3.80 - $4.00 / 5 meter skein, whereas Soie d'Alger averages around $3.40 - $3.75.

2. Needlepoint, Inc., silk has one more ply per strand, which means you are getting a little more thread in 5 meters.

3. Needlepoint, Inc., comes in 476 colors, whereas Soie d'Alger comes in over 600 colors.

4. Needlepoint, Inc., is "softer" thread - it does not have the same body as Soie d'Alger, and the twist seems somewhat looser

5. In my opinion, Soie d'Alger has a "richer" sheen to it.

For stitchability, Soie d'Alger always wins out with me. It may be because I'm used to it. I do use a variety of threads, though - and I do like stitching with the Needlepoint, Inc., silks. Still, I seem to get better results, and a smoother stitching experience, with the Soie d'Alger.

If you're looking for a pretty good silk, I don't think you can go wrong with the Needlepoint, Inc. silks. Try not to be bothered by their label - it's bright yellow and can really be a turn-off at first glance (like a whole rack of defective clearance items - not that I have anything against clearance items, but that much yellow on a display of colors is a bit annoying!)



If you want to see what colors they have available, check out the Needlepoint, Inc. color card. You can also browse the Needlepoint, Inc. website for needlework items, primarily (as the name implies) needlepoint. The most intriguing part of the website, in my opinion, is the furniture section - some really ambitious and beautiful stuff in there!



If you want to find out if there's a store near you that carries Needlepoint, Inc. silk, they have a convenient store locator online as well.

As soon as my camera's back, I'll post some photo comparisons!

Labels: embroidery resources, silk, supplies, threads

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, June 19, 2007
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When I stop in at a needlework shop, the most difficult thing to do is to leave without buying anything! While on vacation this summer, I visited a few shops and added to my embroidery stash. When I buy new threads, fabrics, kits, or patterns - anything, actually - I try to make certain I'm buying stuff I actually WILL use. So I'd like to share a few finds with you. Perhaps they aren't too extraordinary, but they're beautiful threads!

Since the shops I visited in the Southeast focused mainly on needlepoint or counted thread techniques, the threads I picked up are highly suited to those techniques. For the first time, I got to feeeeel some threads that I've read about but have never come across in shops.



Here's a rather disorganized pile of all the embroidery goods I bought: Silk 'n Ivory, Vineyard Silk, Soie d'Alger, good ole cotton perle, ribbon floss, Rachelette by Caron, a couple little kits, and some stretcher bar, which aren't pictured!



Vineyard Silk is a Chinese silk that's produced in thicknesses suitable for needlepoint, but its use is not limited to needlepoint! It's an excellent, lustrous substitute for the traditional wools used in Jacobean or crewel embroidery, and would do well, I think, in any surface embroidery where you want a thicker thread. If you want to read about Vineyard Silk and see what's available in their line, check out the Vineyard Silk website. The classic colors are fantastic, and the subtle shades are perfect for long and short stitch flowers, etc.



Silk 'n Ivory is one of those threads I've longed to see up close and feel, but haven't had the opportunity to do so until now. Again, another thread good for needlepoint, but not limited to needlepoint. Silk 'n Ivory is a 50% wool, 50% silk thread, non-divisible and twisted. It has a nice sheen (not as much as the 100% silk threads, but very close), and it comes in a fantastic color range. It's distributed by a company called Brown Paper Packages, and is Swiss in origin. They also distribute the thread Trio, which is similar to Silk 'n Ivory, but it is divisible.



I probably don't need to explain Soie d'Alger by Au Ver a Soie, as I write about it quite often. But for those of you who are not familiar with this fine silk thread, it is French in origin, and possibly the best silk on the market. It comes in 5 meter skeins of 7-ply thread, one strand being about the same size as one strand of DMC stranded cotton. The difference between the silk and the cotton is the beautiful natural sheen of the silk, which will last for generations and generations. Soie d'Alger is a very strong silk; it doesn't fray easily and is great for any embroidery project. It's produced in well over 600 colors, so you can imagine the variety of color and the subtle shades you can achieve in your needlework with this thread! I just love the stuff.



Here's a jumbled little pile of DMC #5 perle cotton. I guess it's not something that you'd go "WOW" over, since it's pretty commonly available everywhere. But I liked these colors, and I use the #5 perle in my summer embroidery classes for kids, so... I bought a bunch of it in colors I knew they'd like. Their first project this summer is embroidery notebook covers worked on wool felt, so these threads will be great for that.



You may be wondering what ribbon floss is, and I will tell you truthfully that I'm wondering the same thing. I gather it's a floss that looks like ribbon, or a ribbon that behaves like floss, or something along those lines! I've never used it before, and, as you can see, I haven't even unwrapped the packages yet, but it intrigues me, so I'll have fun trying it on something. It's rayon, which could be a big drawback, as rayon threads can be a pain to work with. But given the general width of the floss (or ribbon?), I don't think it will boing up the way other rayon does. It apparently is comparable to one full (6 strands) of DMC, size-wise, and it works like ribbon, with the flexibility of floss. We shall see! I imagine it makes a pretty good accent thread for any kind of project.



I thought the Rachelette by Caron looked like a cross between funky and gorgeous. It's a nylon thread, with an outer net-like thread over it, and it's got a metallic sparkle to it. Another item which will make neat accents in the right place on the right kind of piece.




And finally, I bought two little kits - The Sweetheart Tree makes some really pretty counted thread kits. They aren't all cross stitch; many incorporate specialty stitches as well. I had such plans for these little gems! I didn't take any needlework along with me, so I bought these at the beginning of my trip. The only thing the kits lack is scissors. So I bought a pair of those, too. Anyway, I left the kits behind me in Florida when I left, so as I was sitting on my balcony in Charleston, overlooking the water and enjoying the evening views, I couldn't do one stitch of anything! My sister kindly mailed them home to me. Ah well - that's life!

So those are some fun new supplies I've picked up. If anyone's used any of these threads, I'd love to hear whether or not you like them, how you use them, and if there's anything out there you prefer to them!

Labels: embroidery resources, pictures, supplies, threads

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, June 15, 2007
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The third needlework stop on our trip through the Southeast was at It's a Stitch, located on Maybank Highway on James Island, outside Charleston. The focus of this needlework shop is knitting and needlepoint.

Of the three needlework shops we visited, It's a Stitch had the most comprehensive selection of threads. Crammed into a space of some 400 or so square feet, the shop offers just about every kind of needlework fiber you could want. Right now, the shop is a bit on the crowded side, but they are moving their business a little way down the road soon, to occupy a space of over 1,000 square feet. This will be great!



The drive to this needlework shop from our hotel in Mt. Pleasant (on the other side of Charleston) was a pleasant one. The area is very typically "southern" looking and it's quite pretty! So the fact that the shop is located a distance outside the city is not at all a problem for those visiting the area. We continued our drive further down Maybank Highway after our stop and It's a Stitch, and visited the Charleston Tea Plantation - a convenient combination of sight-seeing and shopping.



Right now, you'll find It's a Stitch tucked into a little rural building that's home to a few other businesses as well. From the outside, it's inviting. There's a nice little chair on the front porch, and some baskets with daily specials.



Inside, you'll find three rooms. They are filled with fiber displays, while painted canvases line the walls and ceilings. This is the "main" room.



You'll find a whole wall of Silk 'n Ivory, Trio, and whatnot. You'll also find Needlenecessities, several different types of Au Ver a Soie, Trebizond, Gloriana, the whole range of Anchor, and on and on.



Each wall is filled with a display of fibers, the center of the room is occupied by racks of fibers - in short, if you're looking for threads, they're bound to have what you want!



Painted needlepoint canvases line the walls - and the ceiling! They have a great selection of colorful canvases. There was an absolutely gorgeous set for a child's upholstered chair. If I'd had the room.... and the budget....



They also had some great display items around the shop. This little knitted hat is precious! I had to buy the pattern! I also satisfied my thread craving by purchasing some Au Ver a Soie and a few other types of threads what will go into the general stash.

It's a Stitch is a neat little store - if you're in the area, you should swing by! Look for it further down Maybank Highway soon.

And that was our last needlework stop! I did manage to drive past the Embroidery Guild of America Headquarters in Louisville, KY, but it was too early in the morning to stop, and we couldn't wait around. Overall, it was a great trip!

Labels: needlework and travel, pictures, supplies

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Monday, June 11, 2007
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A couple other needlework stops caught my attention while I was on vacation. After Florida, our next stop was Charleston, South Carolina, where I found a great needlework shop in the historic downtown area.

Cabbage Row Shoppe has been operating in Charleston on Broad Street since the early 1970's.



It's at a beautiful location on Broad Street and State, right near the Old Exchange. There are plenty of sights nearby - the street is perfect for strolling, shopping, and sightseeing.



As you walk down Broad Street near the intersection of State, you'll see a cabbage on the wall, indicating the location of Cabbage Row Shoppe:



In case you miss the cabbage, there's also an overhead sign to indicate that you've arrived:



As you can tell from the sign above the door, Cabbage Row Shoppe specializes in needlepoint. They have an incredible variety of the most beautiful hand-painted canvases I've ever seen.



You'll find canvases lining both walls and covering racks in the middle of the store. There is also a small selection of counted thread designs to choose from, but the focus of the shop is definitely needlepoint.



All the canvases are unique and really gorgeous. I had to resist the temptation to purchase a set of beautiful Fleur de Lys squares that I would have loved to have - the difficulties being that 1. Needlepoint is not really my "thing" (though I like it, and I like the looks of it - I just don't have the time to devote to it); 2. I was searching for fibers, not designs to stitch; and 3. I would have overstepped my embroidery budget big time. Hand-painted canvases are not inexpensive, I've found, but, after contemplating their nature, I think that they are a good value. First, you're getting something unique that is a work of art; second, once it's stitched, it becomes your work of art as well; third, you can do useful and beautiful things with such canvases - from typical decor (pillows, framed works for the walls), to furniture upholstery (footstools, chair backs), to housewares (the base of covered glass trays), the needlepointed canvas can be a really beautiful addition to the home and something that can last from one generation to the next.



I loved this little elephant fellow. It's both exotic and fun.



And this camel canvas caught my eye, too! But I wasn't looking for canvas, I was looking for threads! They have plenty.



You'll find a range of colors of Paternayan Persian Wool, which is a three-ply 100% wool yarn used for needlepoint, but which can also be used for other needlework, for tassle-making, etc.



You'll also find the range of Silk 'n Ivory, a 50% Merino wool / 50% silk blend yarn made in Switzerland. The color range for the Silk 'n Ivory is gorgeous - they have 186 colors available, and the shading is wonderfully subtle, perfect for modern Jacobean and crewel work. And they carry Trio as well, made by the same company. It's a three-ply, divisible yarn made of silk and wool and can be used for fine work.

Cabbage Row also carries a variety of specialty flosses, some silks (Caron Collection, for example), the whole range of DMC, and notions and accessories, including stretcher bar frames.

They have a website, but it is not frequently updated. However, you can contact them via the website and they will help you fulfill your needs if they can. The proprietress was certainly the model of southern hospitality and graciousness. It was a pleasure spending time at Cabbage Row!

Labels: needlework and travel, supplies

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Sunday, June 10, 2007
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I'm home from a long road trip through the Southeast, where I did manage to get in a few embroidery shops along the way. I thought I'd give you the lowdown on the ones I visited, in case you're ever in the area - or looking for them online.

My first embroidery stop was supposed to be at the Japanese Embroidery Center in Atlanta, Georgia. I knew it would be the highlight of my trip, and I couldn't wait to check it out and to SHOP there! Alas, it was not to be. I thought I was lost, since the directions took me to a beautiful residential area in Dunwoody, a suburb of Atlanta. I landed at the address that I had, but it looked to me like one of the fine residences. It was 10:00 a.m., and I didn't think ringing someone's doorbell quite the thing to do, so I chalked the experience up to bad directions, and went on with my journey. When I finally had the opportunity to call to let them know I wouldn't be there for a tour (you have to arrange one with them at least 48 hours in advance), I found out that I had indeed been in the right place! So if you're ever looking for the Japanese Embroidery Center in Atlanta, it is in a residential area. Don't be shy! Ring the doorbell.

While in Florida, I made it to a little needlework shop in Altamonte Springs, called Needle Orts.



The shop is conveniently located in Altamonte Springs, just a bit outside (north) of Orlando. If you're vacationing in Orlando and love threads especially, this is a great place to stop to take a look at what they have. I was there on a Saturday morning, when they have their local stitch get-together. It looked like heaps of fun, with small group of stitches around a table, with lunch and snacks set out for all.



The shop itself (like the other shops I went into in the Southeast) specializes in hand-painted canvases for needlepoint, but they also have a good array of fabrics for (counted) embroidery, many of which can certainly be used for surface embroidery.



Painted canvases line the walls, and thread racks fill the center of the shop. They carry the full range of Soie d'Alger by Au Ver a Soie, as well as the 100/3. They have Trebizond as well. They've also got the full range of Needle Necessities silk, as well as a large selection of wools and other combinations of fibers. Caron Collection threads, DMC, and too many others to count are in abundance.



They've got plenty of little kits, too, which are perfect for the traveller looking for something to do in leisure time. I purchased a couple pretty little counted thread kits to keep me occupied, as well as selecting a bunch of Soie d'Alger colors for an upcoming guild project.



Just like many places in Florida, the shop overlooks a pretty little lake. This is a big sell-point for me. Being from Kansas, we don't see abundant water throughout the year, so I like to see it everywhere I go!

The staff was friendly. My only complaint as a shopper would be that the shop is Very Crowded! However, I think that has to do with the Saturday gathering they were having. But hey - I'd rather have it crowded with stuff I'm looking for than roomy as anything, but with a lousy stock! So this wasn't really a negative point. They had a great selection of all kinds of stuff.

Needle Orts has a website, but it isn't fully functional for shopping, although it apparently will be soon. If you're looking for something in particular, you can find their contact information online and you can order over the phone.

My next needlework stop was in Charleston, South Carolina, where I found some real gems .... I'll fill you in on that next time!

Labels: needlework and travel, supplies

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Saturday, June 09, 2007
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If you like Aunt Martha or other iron-on transfers, whether today's styles or vintage, and you're looking for a source for iron-on embroidery transfer patterns, here's a good one!

Colonial Patterns is located in Kansas City, Missouri, practically smack-dab in the middle of the US, so your orders come pretty quickly. You'll find all the typical iron-on motifs, including a whole list of soon-to-be-retired patterns.



Colonial Patterns also carries items to embroider, such as flower sack dish towels, pillow cases, and aprons. You can also buy DMC floss and needles through the website. Essentially, they carry everything you need to work up Aunt Martha's patterns on a project.

The prices are reasonable, the selection is better than I've ever seen in any retail location, and the shipping costs and speed are reasonable as well. So, if you like iron-on patterns and want to work up some quick gifts, check out Colonial Patterns!

Labels: beginner embroidery, embroidery resources, free embroidery patterns, supplies

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Monday, May 14, 2007
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Thread Express is an online embroidery supply depot where you'll find, among other things, heaps of embroidery threads.

The online embroidery shop apparently has a real-life counterpart by appointment only located in Maine. Thread Express online offers a good amount of embroidery supplies, but, as the name indicates, it's all about the thread.



What kind of threads will you find here? You've got cotton, linen, wool, blends, synthetics, silks... You'll find the full palette of Anchor stranded cotton available, at $0.59 / skein. You'll also find Anchor Pearl Cotton #5 in a few select colors. You'll find the Caron Collection threads - Wildflowers in the cottons, but all the other types as well (silks, blends, etc.)

For silks, you'll find predominantly Eterna Silk, but you'll also find Alyce Schroth silk embroidery floss, which is a two-strand, low-luster silk, along with some Au Ver a Soie, Caron Collection, Thread Gatherer (Silk'n colors), lots of Rainbow Gallery (which I hesitate to recommend - if you're looking for silk, this isn't such a great thread, and I'd avoid it!), YLI, Glissen Gloss Japanese Colorwash Silk, and J. L. Walsh Silk - and maybe even more...? The nice thing is, when you want to order more than one color of most threads, you can go to an order page and just check off the ones you want and hit the button once. You don't have to go back and forth between a shopping cart and an ordering page.

There's also a good amount of embroidery books available on the site. You'll find many of the A-Z books, as well as some specialty books in techniques like crazy quilting, etc.

You'll find patterns for redwork, punchneedle accessories and kits, and a bunch of beads and "small delights."

I'm not super-impressed with the accessories offered - I think you can find better items, less expensive, elsewhere - but I think the site is well-worth a look, especially if you like trying out different threads! Enjoy!

Labels: embroidery links, embroidery resources, supplies

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, March 15, 2007
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Stumpwork is a fascinating hand-embroidery technique, producing three-dimensional images out of embroidery stitches. If you've delved into stumpwork and liked it, or if you've heard of it but have no idea what it really is, you should check out the work of Jane Nicholas.

Jane Nicholas is an Australian embroiderer who has spent years researching stumpwork and developing gorgeous works of embroidered art, books, and kits. Her website alone attests to her appreciation of beauty and her artistic sense - it's a pleasure to look at! And you've just GOT to love the bugs!



While you're perusing Jane's site, check out her gallery! Her dragonfly specimen box is not to be missed, and her 17th century sampler is really unbelievable.

I like her stumpwork kits that correspond to the projects and designs in her books. I haven't personally worked any of her kits (I'd love to hear from someone who has!) but I think it's a neat idea to offer kits for the projects in her books. I've got hundreds of embroidery books with great ideas in them, but how convenient would it be to have all those ideas pre-packaged into kits?! While you may argue that it takes away the personal creative aspect, I think, for the learner, it's the way to go!

Jane Nicholas also offers an extensive list of supplies that can be ordered through her website. For those of us in the US, it might be a bit much to order these from Australia, but if you can't find them anywhere else, it might be worth it. From what I saw on the site, most basic supplies can be ordered here in the States.

The only thing that's missing that I'd like to see on a website like this would be a mini-tutorial or two - something that gives the reader (and beginners especially) a little taste of the technique. Just a little how-to project that one could print out and follow, that would produce maybe one simple flower or something. This would not only "sell" stumpwork, but it would probably sell people on her products, books, etc.

So if you want to take a delightful journey into the world of stumpwork, Jane Nicholas's Stumpwork Website might be just the right place to start. Enjoy the trip!

Labels: embroidery designers, embroidery resources, stumpwork, supplies

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Saturday, March 10, 2007
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Real color cards are the best way to find just the right threads for your embroidery project. By "real," I mean that the color cards are wound with swatches of the thread. This is the only way to know if you are ordering your embroidery thread accurately.

Think about it: when you view fabric online, do you really get an accurate sense of the color, feel, or weight of the fabric - unless you've used it before? Consider the variation in colors on monitors, of colors when printing, etc., and you can see why the thread you ordered that you thought was going to be just right, ended up a tad bit off.

Even printed color cards won't do. Light has an adverse affect on inks. This is why, when you want a color print job done, professional print shops will show you their color cards (which are generally kept in black cases) but will warn that the color might be slightly different in the final print job. This is also why professional printers have to replace their color cards frequently (and why a set of color cards for printing is so darned expensive!)

But back to embroidery - if you want to be accurate when you select threads, I suggest investing in palettes of color cards with actual thread samples on them.



Last summer, I bit the bullet and invested in the Au Ver a Soie (Soie d'Alger) Color Selection Guide. This guide arranges all the colors in the same manner that a painter would arrange a color palette. Rather than having the threads listed by number, they're arranged by color groups - cool and warm, hues, etc. I ordered my selection guide from Twining Thread, and along with it came a hefty amount of coupons for silk, which I immediately cashed in for Soie d'Alger.

Question: Was the purchase worth it? ABSOLUTELY! In the last year, I've used it innumerable times to confidently order the exact thread colors I wanted, saving me time and money on projects.

Today, I received my latest investment in a color palette - the Color Card from the Japanese Embroidery Center.



The card sports some 258 colors of flat silk offered by the JEC. Oh, how I wish I had it in hand a month ago! This flat silk is great to work with - I ordered several spools of it a few weeks ago to test it, and I'll do a photo comparison of it soon (like this comparison on other flat silks). If I had the time to start my sky over again, I'd switch threads! Live and learn!



I like the fact that the sleeve folds up nice and compact, and has a handy ring on the end of it. This makes it great for toting about when necessary.

If you can get your hands on the real thread sample palettes of your favorite embroidery flosses, you won't be sorry - it's a great way to ensure precision when ordering, and it will save you both time and money.

And I'm just weird enough over color selections that I like to sit and pour over the colors to no apparent end....! So they can be entertaining, too!

Labels: embroidery resources, pictures, silk, supplies

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, March 06, 2007
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Helen M. Stevens is currently one of the UK's foremost embroidery designers and educators. Her books are popular all over the world - I have four of them myself, and intend for my collection to keep growing.

Helen Stevens not only offers on-site, in-person embroidery classes, but she even offers on-line video classes through the Helen M. Stevens Website. Here, you can find an array of classes in her specialty, which is needlepainting.



Helen Stevens's online classes range from beginner to advanced, and feature needlepainting projects illustrating flowers and animals. They echo the quality projects found in her books, but I would imagine that the classes are even more effective than her books, since you can view video clips of every part of each project. If you think it's something you would like, try her free class. I like the video clips - they don't last too long, but they show the essentials.

Helen's work features Piper's silk, conveniently wound on tubes (this is a great sell-point to me when it comes to flat or softly-twisted silk). I've never tried Piper's and I'm not sure what it looks like close up. From the photos, it looks a lot like the silk from the Japanese Embroider Center, but I have no idea, as I haven't tried Piper's. Piper's Silk is located in the UK, and their website indicates that orders can take up to 21 days for shipping within the UK. I assume the wait must be longer for an order from the US! I have not found any specific purveyors in the US, although I am certain there must be, given the popularity of Helen Stevens's books. On Fritillary, the website which sells Helen Stevens "goods" (fabric, notecards, tools and accessories, threads, and fabrics), you can find True Embroideries Sleave Silk which looks like Piper's silk under a different name.



The Embroiderer's Year is one of the several books I have by Helen Stevens, and I like it very much! Although we're always advised to never judge a book by its cover, the cover is what sold me on this book, and I'm not sorry for it!

Going back to my previous blurb on kits and designers, I don't think you could go wrong withHelen Stevens's projects and designs for anyone wanting to learn and perfect the technique of needlepainting.

While you're checking out her site, be sure to check out Fritillary. There's some beautiful stuff on there! The silk cabinet and the Bobbin Joe (both found under furnishings) look like fantastic additions to any embroiderer's stock of accessories. They'd make perfect gifts. Too bad my family doesn't frequent my site - or I'd leave a really BIG hint!

Remember when ordering from the UK that there's a hefty difference between the British pound and the American dollar - and that you'll also be paying a pretty penny in shipping, with a longer wait than usual. The ideal would be to find a US distributor who sells Helen Stevens supplies and such. If anyone has any resources available, I'm all ears!

Thanks to Marilyn for suggesting the topic!

Labels: embroidery designers, embroidery resources, needlepainting, pictures, supplies

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Saturday, March 03, 2007
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Silk embroidery floss is perhaps one of the most pleasurable and beautiful threads to work with, and there are a variety available on the market. When I'm looking for "flat" silk, though, it isn't as easy to come by. Even the shops that carry, for example, Soie Ovale only carry select colors, and you have to wait for a special order if you want something out of the ordinary. I've compared two flat silks here, with photos, so that you can "see before you buy."

First of all, what is flat silk? Well, in my book it's untwisted silk embroidery threads or "amost-untwisted" (with a very subtle twist). Your standard stranded embroidery floss, if you look at it closely, has a twist to it that holds the even smaller strands together. This stuff comes in cotton, silk, rayon, linen.... etc. But the untwisted silk lies flat (more or less), and, as far as threads go, has the highest "natural" sheen, which will last for years and years and years and years. That's the nature of silk.

Compared to rayon floss (which is also shiny), the flat silk is somewhat easier to work with. The silk is also, in my opinion, "richer" - and the fact that it's a natural fiber is also a big sell point for me.

So, in searching for flat or nearly flat silk over the years, the only two "standard" brands I've ever found are the Au Ver a Soie (Soie Ovale) and the Eterna Stranded silk, which has very little twist to it. Apparently, Kreinik also, once upon a time, sold a flat silk called Soie Platte, which was also the former name of Soie Ovale by Au Ver a Soie. On some websites, I've seen Kreinik Soie Platte listed, but it's not on their official website. Now, I don't know - I think there must've been some kind of cufuffle about four or five years ago, because I recall Kreinik's label on the Soie d'Alger stuff in some shops back then. Perhaps it was a marketing glitch of some sort? Who knows!

So I've found only two readily available "flat" silks, and I thought I'd show you the difference between them with photos. Sometimes it's just nice to see what you're ordering....



First off, Soie Ovale is pretty much non-divisible, unless you want to go to a whole lot of careful trouble. The Eterna silk divides into 12 strands.



Up close, this is the end of the Soie Ovale.



And these are the ends on the Eterna. Notice there's barely a hint of a twist.



This is the "body" of the Soie Ovale. It's very smooth.



And this is the "body" of the Eterna. Note the twist - the strands twist together, but when they are separated, they are not individually as twisted.



Soie Ovale comes on a spool, with 15 meters per spool. There are 59 colors made, but I've only ever seen 54 available (some by special order) in American shops.



Eterna comes in a hank (not a pull skein - you have to take the sleeve off and snip off the knot and unwind the length you desire from the hank). There are 5 meters per hank, and it comes in 545 shades.

Basically, you get 3 times as much thread on the Au Ver a Soie spool, but I've found that 4 or 5 strands of Eterna, when worked with a laying tool, cover about the same space as one strand of Soie Ovale, so I think that the amount of coverage for the hank and the spool is pretty close to the same.

The price difference is kind of interesting: $2.50 - $3.35 for the Soie Ovale, depending on where you're ordering it, while the Eterna runs $0.95 per little hank.

Which thread do I like better? The Soie Ovale is lovely - it's so nice to work with and is such a rich, smooth silk. I like it best. BUT - for the price and for the color range, you can't really beat the Eterna. I'm not an expert in silk and its qualities as a fiber, so I don't know which one is "scientifically" better! If anyone knows, I'd love to hear about it.

You can find the best ready selection of Soie Ovale online at Needle in a Haystack, where it's $3.35 / spool. You can find the Eterna at Yodamo, Inc., where you will want to look under "stranded silk."

Hope that's helpful! I'd love to hear from others who have had experience with flat silks or who know of another brand available. I'm always game to try anything!

Labels: embroidery resources, pictures, silk, supplies

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Sunday, February 11, 2007
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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Monday, February 05, 2007
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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, June 16, 2006
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