Needle'nThread.com: November 2006

Needles for Hand Embroidery

The needle you choose for your embroidery project is rather important. In fact, it's probably the most important tool of the trade! And different projects require different needles. Unfortunately, most local craft and hobby stores do not carry a wide selection of hand embroidery needles.

I use a couple online sources for needles - Joann's (especially when I can get free shipping!) for everyday embroidery needles, and to lay in supplies for embroidery classes. When I teach children, I have two good reasons for having plenty of needles - 1. they tend to disappear, somehow and often; 2. when working with children, I like for them to have several needles threaded and ready at once, so they don't have to stop to fumble with threading. So Joann's works pretty well when I want a good supply of every day embroidery needles.

For special projects, though - especially for fine hand embroidery - I have "favorites." These are the needles I keep in a separate small envelopes, wrapped in tissue, and labeled carefully. I get them from Wendy Schoen Designs. They're "the highest quality English needles" and they come in individual packs according to type, or in variety packs. If you're interested in extra fine needles for detail work, you might want to check out Wendy Schoen's selection of hand embroidery needles. A variety pack (the purple envelope's my favorite!) would make a great birthday gift for your favorite stitcher - or an excellent stocking stuffer for Christmas!

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The Art of Embroidery - Book Recommendation

If you're looking for a great Christmas gift for the serious needleworker in your life, you couldn't go wrong with the book The Art of Embroidery by Lanto Synge. This is not a technique book - it's a history book.

Mr. Synge takes the embroidery enthusiast on a journey through the development of embroidery, packing his book with hundreds of color photos that are awe-inspiring. Yes, this stuff used to be done by hand!! Some of the work is utterly unbelievable. Thumbing through the pages is almost as good as seeing the works in person, especially since Mr. Synge gives a very readable history of the techniques, people, and places in the "glory days" of embroidery's past.

You'll get not only an in-depth look at historical embroidery in Western culture, but you'll also be instructed on the influence of Eastern countries on the textiles in the West.

The only problem with the book is the price tag, I guess. You can purchase it new through Hedgehog Handworks, for a mere $95. This is one of the reasons I think it's for the serious embroidery enthusiast! I was able to find a copy, new, at ABE Books for less than $50, but I think it was a steal! I haven't seen one since for that price.

If you've got someone who is close to you who loves needlework, textiles, or history, I think this would be a special gift. It makes a great coffee table book. At my house, people generally indifferent to the art of embroidery still pick it up and flip through it often, enamored by the photos and awed by the magnificent work of past ages.

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Checkered or Alternating Chain Stitch Video Tutorial

The chain stitch is perhaps one of the most common stitches in hand embroidery. By itself, it's pretty versatile. Add all the variations, and you can do just about anything with the chain stitch! Here's the alternating or checkered chain stitch...

With this stitch, you end up with a chain stitched line wherein two colors alternate with each stitch. In the video tutorial, I use dark purple and light purple, and I end up with a line that progresses in dark-light-dark-light loops of chain stitches.

This stitch is kind of fun, because you're working with two different colors of thread in the same needle. Don't be intimidated by the sound of it! If you can do the chain stitch, you can do this! It's just a matter of looping one of the colors of thread under your needle instead of both. You might want to check out the chain stitch video tutorial if you aren't familiar with that stitch yet.

And, on a final note, I really have to apologize for this shaky video! One of these days, I'm going to get a better tripod! In the meantime, the concept is there, so once you pick it up, you can expand the applications of the stitch.

Have fun with it!

For more video tutorials for hand embroidery stitches, please visit the Video Library of Stitches Index.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

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Heavy Chain Stitch Video Tutorial

The heavy chain stitch used in hand embroidery is a variation of the regular chain stitch, but it creates a wider, thicker chain stitch band. It's an easy stitch to execute. When you want a bolder line, you can substitute it for the regular chain stitch. This video tutorial will show you the basic concept of creating a heavy chain stitch band.

Remember that the heavy chain stitch can be used for any kind of line - whether curved or straight. In the video, I'm working it vertically in a straight line, but don't limit yourself to straight lines with this stitch! It takes curves well.

If you're not familiar with the regular chain stitch, you might want to check out that video tutorial for chain stitch.

Here's the video for the heavy chain stitch:

For more video tutorials for hand embroidery stitches, please visit the Video Library of Stitches Index.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

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Looking for a Deal on Ott Lites?

Ott Lites are great for hand embroidery - they come in all different models, for all kinds of uses. They would make a perfect Christmas gift for you or another needleworker in your family! But ... they come with a price tag, too! If you're looking for an Ott Lite with a discount, you can find them at Joann's online, believe it or not!

This is the deal. Joann's has on online coupon running for 50% off the regular price of one item. The coupon code is NOVA650. You won't find it on their website right now, but - with a little online hunting - you can usually find coupon codes for Joann's and other craft places.

This particular coupon expires November 30th, so you have to jump on it if you're interested - and hey, it's not just for Ott Lites! It's 50% off any one regular priced item. You might be looking for a sewing machine!

You can also get free shipping right now at Joann's, until November 30th as well - but, here's the hitch - you can't combine free shipping with other offers. So it won't work with this 50% off deal. But if you're interested, the coupon code for free shipping is NOVFSH6.

You can get to Joann's official website through the link in the left-hand column. You'll see the free shipping coupon there, but you won't see the 50% off coupon - you just have to put the coupon code in at checkout. It works - we just bought an Ott Lite for Christmas for my folks this way! We saved $130! But shhhh! It's a surprise!

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Embroidery Design Contest - Countdown!

Only four days left for my "Christmas is Coming" embroidery design contest! Two great prizes are offered: 1st place - $50 off an online purchase from Twining Thread, where you can find fabrics, threads, and accessories for hand embroidery; 2nd place - a $25 gift certificate to Nordic Needle, another great resource for an array of fabric, threads, kits and accessories.

The guidelines for the contest can be found here: Christmas is Coming Design Contest

All entries should be e-mailed to me at mary@needlenthread.com by midnight, CST, on November 30th.

Join in on the fun - it's a relatively easy way to pick up some extra funds for embroidery supplies!

And, to be quite honest, the competition isn't too stiff right now as the number of entries is very low, so anyone who enters has a pretty good chance of winning!

If you can drum something up, I look forward to hearing from you!

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Satin Stitch Video Tutorial

Of all the hand embroidery stitches that exist, I think the most beautiful, when done well, is the satin stitch. I love this stitch! It does take a little practice to get the hang of satin stitching, and it is true that it is not a very "forgiving" stitch.

But perhaps this adds somewhat to its beauty - because we not only admire it for the pleasure it gives us when we see beautifully worked satin stitch, but, when we know what goes into it, we can truly appreciate the "art" behind the embroidery.

Don't let this deter you if you are a beginner! In concept, satin stitch is very easy. It just takes a little practice to get the edges right and to gauge the distance between your stitches.

If you aren't familiar with what satin stitch looks like, you'll find some close-ups of a piece that is worked entirely in satin stitch and stem stitch here.

The following video tutorial is for the padded satin stitch, to be precise. However, the same concepts work with non-padded satin stitching. The tutorial is rather long (almost 8 minutes). I filmed it in stages, from outlining, to padding, to satin stitching. I hope you find it helpful!

For more video tutorials, please visit the Video Library of Stitches Index.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

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Ribbed Spider Web Stitch Video Tutorial

The spider web stitch and the ribbed spider web stitch are both "woven" embroidery stitches, either used as isolated accents or used in clusters. They aren't a line stitch or a filling stitch, and they aren't really a "small" detached stitch that can speckle a background lightly, either.

Mary Thomas, in her Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches, categorizes both stitches as "isolated" stitches. They add interest to embroidery, as well as texture.

This tutorial focuses on the ribbed spider web, or the backstitched spider web. Instead of weaving your needle merely over and under the spokes of the wheel in a constantly forward motion, with this stitch, you go forward under two spokes, and back over one, forward under two, back over one - just like a backstitch, except you're working over "spokes" arranged in a wheel shape.

Now, the spider web stitch can have any number of spokes - from 5 on up. Usually, with the regular spider web (woven in a constantly forward motion over and under the spokes, without backstitching over one), you're going to definitely use an odd number of spokes. In the ribbed spider web, it isn't as important, and an even number (8) is fairly regularly portrayed in popular stitch dictionaries (see Mary Thomas's, as well as the Embroiderer's Handbook).

In the video below, I've used 8 spokes. I've worked one with the centers crossing (the larger one used for the video), and next to it, you'll be able to see one where I've separated the spokes so that the center is empty. It's up to you, of course. You could always mount a bead in there, or work some other textured stitches, like a cluster of drizzle stitches.

Have fun with this stitch!

Here's the video:

For more video tutorials, please check out the Video Library of Stitches Index.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

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Fly Stitch Video Tutorial: Vertical Fly Stitch

The fly stitch can be worked both horizontally and vertically. In this video tutorial, you'll see the fly stitch worked vertically.

Besides working fly stitches in horizontal rows or vertical columns, the stitch can also be isolated, to create "filled" (loosely filled) background areas, or to create small accent-like stitches across a "canvas." Experiment with it! It's a fun and quick stitch!

If you'd like to see the fly stitch worked horizontally, check out the horizontal fly stitch video tutorial.

Here's the fly stitch, worked vertically:

For more video tutorials, please visit the Video Library of Stitches Index.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

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Fly Stitch Video Tutorial: Horizontal Fly Stitch

The fly stitch is another basic embroidery stitch used for straight and curved lines, seam embellishments in crazy quilting, and general surface embroidery techniques.

The fly stitch can be worked horizontally and vertically. In this video, it is worked horizontally. I'll show you the vertical fly stitch next.

Here's the video:

For more video tutorials for hand embroidery, please visit the Video Library of Stitches Index.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

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Double Feather Stitch Video Tutorial

Variations to the feather stitch make it a versatile stitch for hand embroidery. Here's a video tutorial for the double feather stitch...

Like the feather stitch, the double feather stitch is used for foliage, sprigs, greenery, etc., in all types of general surface embroidery, and is especially good for Brazilian embroidery, ribbon embroidery, etc. It works great as a seam embellisment in crazy quilting, and as an edging or border stitch on other work.

On the following video, there isn't any sound! (Sorry!) The instructions are basically the same for this stitch as for the feather stitch. The difference with the double feather stitch is that you continue one more step to the left or right as you're working down your "feather."

Here's the video:

For more video tutorials for hand embroidery, please visit the Video Library of Stitches Index.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

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Feather Stitch Video Tutorial

The feather stitch is an easy stitch for hand embroidery. It's worked vertically, from top to bottom in a kind of back-and-forth, right-and-left motion.

You can use the feather stitch in hand embroidery for edges and borders, it's used often in crazy quilting as a seam embellishment, and it also makes a good foundation of foliage or stems in flower designs, in Brazilian embroidery, etc.

Here's the video:

You'll find more video tutorials at the Video Library of Stitches Index.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

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Hand Embroidery: Sources of Inspiration

Where do you find inspiration for hand embroidery? Nature? Other textiles? Cartoon and comic figures? The animal kingdom? I guess the list could go on and on. Today, I purchased a couple books for reasons wholly unrelated to needlework... but...

I just can't help it. Pouring over them, I started thinking, "This would be GREAT to embroider! And so would this! And this!...."

Aside from embroidery, I dabble in a few other engaging pursuits. One of them (work-related) is graphics and layout for printed publications. Another (fun-related) is calligraphy.

As I was preparing a layout for our school's annual Christmas card, I thought it would be fun to incorporate some decorative calligraphy elements - which I didn't actually end up doing - but I did pick up a couple books for inspiration, and - voila! - I now find myself contemplating their uses in the embroidery world.

The first book is a Dover book called Illuminated Initials in Full Color. It's backed with around 550 colored illuminated initials and borders suitable for the art of calligraphy. But who says it's limited just to that?? While the initials may bring to mind embroidered monograms, it's the decoration of them that really captures me. The other book I picked up is the newly published Bible of Illuminated Letters, which is a step-by-step instruction book in calligraphy and illumination (filled with gorgeous examples!)

Within the pages of both books are all kinds of sources for inspiration - nature, geometric patterns, color combinations.

How the designs could actually be used might be a question - but I figure anything you would normally decorate with embroidery could easily serve as a "canvas" for a design inspired from the illuminations in manuscripts.

Can you say redwork? And monogram? Why not? I could see this embroidered in satin stitch, with tiny backstitches surrounding the initial to make the filigree border.

Crewel work, anyone? On a pillow, or in a little frame for a friend's wall (or your own!)...

How about stumpwork?

I'm pretty sure this is not a "new" idea - in fact, certain styles of illumination and certain styles of embroidery have a lot in common, doubtless because they were produced in the same age. Certain types 17th century illumination and stumpwork or Jacobean work often look a lot alike!

So many ideas - so little time!! But before the year's out, I plan to get an "illuminated embroidery" project set up (a great Christmas vacation project, perhaps?)

So where do YOU find sources of inspiration?

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Buttonhole Wheels Video Tutorial

Once you know how to do the buttonhole stitch, it's just a matter of "working it" a bit to master variations of the stitch. In this video, I'll show you how to work a buttonhole wheel, which can be effectively used in all kinds of embroidery - I like to use them for flower-like accents and for adding texture and such to designs.

If you want to see some embroidery with buttonhole wheel techniques, you can check out these hollyhocks and these other flowers embroidered with buttonhole stitch.

If you haven't tried the basic buttonhole stitch yet, you might want to check out the video tutorial for buttonhole stitch as well.

Here's the video for buttonhole wheels:

For more video tutorials, please check out the Video Library of Stitches Index.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

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Daisy Stitch Video Tutorial

The detached chain stitch, also known as the "lazy daisy" or just "daisy" stitch, is a pretty popular embroidery stitch. It's perfect, of course, for flowers, but can be used in lots of different ways.

Besides working daisy-type flowers with the detached chain stitch, you can also work the stitch as a ground stitch, to fill in parts of embroidery designs where you want a speckled effect, heavier, for example, than seeding. You can create background patterns with detached chain stitches, and play with the stitch in ways to create texture by overlapping stitches, or by "stippling" with them.

It would be interesting to hear from readers about how they have used this stitch in other ways, besides as flowers.

In the meantime, though, you can check out some embroidered flowers that use the detached chain. These embroidered daisies and the pansies on the buttonhole flowers page both make use of this stitch.

I like this example of lazy daisy stitch in action:

As you can see, these aren't daisies, but they come across pretty well with this stitch, I thought! They're worked in two strands of cotton overdyed floss.

Here's the video:

For more video tutorials for hand embroidery, please check out the Video Library of Stitches Index.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

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Great Iron-on Transfer Patterns for Hand Embroidery

Iron-on transfers for hand embroidery are a fast way to get your design onto your fabric so that you can begin embroidering right away. There are all typles of transfers available, but if you're looking for something really special, and you want to kick things up a notch in your embroidery, these are some wonderful magazines...

The magazines are called Mains et Merveilles, and yes, they're in French. However, even if you don't speak a lick of French, if you're looking for nice iron-on designs with clear instructions, these are the books for you!

There are five issues that I can find readily available in the States and that deal with different types of surface embroidery: one on cutwork, one on household linens, one on baby items, one on flowers and animals, and one on embroidered initials with all kinds of embellishment.

Not only will you find color photos instructing you on stitches, but you'll also find hints on fabric set-up and other useful points of embroidery. Worried that they're in French? Don't be! The photos give clear instructions - and, if you really get stuck, you can type the words into a free online language translater.

The thing about these magazines, though, is the magnificent selection of classy, beautiful patterns for hand-embroidery. And they're all tucked right into the center of the magazine, full size and ready to iron-on.

You can find all five magazines available at Hedgehog Handworks. They're $12.00 each, which is not bad. The first one I came across was through a different online shop, where they were charging $20.00 for it! I bought the cutwork issue for $20, then found all five of them available through Hedgehog Handworks for $12 each! One of those moments...

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Buttonhole Stitch Video Tutorial

The buttonhole stitch is used in many types of hand embroidery - general surface embroidery, crazy quilting, whitework and cutwork, Mountmellick embroidery, needle lace, filet work - you name it, buttonhole stitch fits in somehow. It's a super versatile stitch, and once you have the basic stitch down, it's just a matter of applying it in a variety of ways.

The length and pattern of the stitch can change, according to what you want to do with it. Check out this variety of tiny flowers using buttonhole stitch. These hollyhocks in wool are also worked with buttonhole.

Here's the video:

For more video tutorials for basic embroidery stitches, check out the Video Library of Stitches Index.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

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Embroidered Flowers using Buttonhole Stitch

Buttonhole stitch can be used for more than just an edging. These photos of different tiny flowers using the buttonhole stitch will give you some ideas of how the stitch can be incorporated into surface embroidery.

This first flower is a stylized hollyhock. For another example of hollylocks shaped differently, check out my hollyhocks embroidered in wool.

These pink hollyhocks are embroidered with floche, in buttonhole stitch, with French knots for the centers. The dime is included to give you an idea of the size of the flowers.

The leaves on these little flowers are also buttonhole stitch, worked on linen using floche.

The various shades of pink floche worked in buttonhole stitch here create a stalk of bell-like flowers.

This tiny bunch of pansies is also embroidered in floche, using the lazy daisy stitch for the top petals, with the base petals in yellow done in buttonhole. That's the edge of a dime in the photo. The stitches are tiny!

To learn how to work the basic buttonhole stitch, check out the buttonhole video tutorial.

Have fun with it!

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Whipped Backstitch Video Tutorial

The whipped backstitch is a simple line stitch that can be used for fine or bold lines. This video tutorial will show you just how simple it is...
First, in order to work the whipped backstitch, you have to know how to work the backstitch. The video tutorial for backstitch will help you learn this basic embroidery stitch.

Second, there are LOTS of ways to whip a backstitch - this is the most basic here. You can change the look of this stitch by whipping a different weight or color thread through your backstitchs. You can also whip the backstitch twice, once in one direction (up through the backstitches) and once in the other (down through the stitches). Use your imagination and experiment!

You can see an example of the whipped backstitch used on linen to create delicate lines in the photo of this linen pall.

Here's the video - it's a short one this time!

For more video tutorials, please visit the Video Library of Stitches index.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

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Embroidery Design Contest Revisited!

It's been a week since I announced the Needle'NThread "Christmas is Coming" embroidery design contest. So far, I have only two takers. C'mon, folks! Here's one of those rare opportunities (for some of us) to get creative in a casual sort of way, and get paid for it! The best part about the contest is definitely the prizes!

For first prize, Twining Thread is offering $50 off your order from their shop, and for second prize, Nordic Needle is offering a $25 gift certificate. Both online shops are a great place for embroidery supplies! Just think - you want to try Au ver a Soie silks, but you don't want to make the investment? Both shops carry them! Do you want a nice new piece of fine linen? Both shops have a great selection! What about some new hoops, needles, or just a reduction on a major purchase that you want to make?

Your design can be anything that remotely resembles (or can be adapted to) the holiday season - and in any type of embroidery: Hardanger, blackwork, general surface techniques, it can be an outlined design, or a filled design, it can be cross stitch (as long as it employs two more stitches), needlepainting, whitework (white on white embroidery - great for a nice snowflake table runner or something), anything at all that you can think of, go for it!

The only conditions are the size of the design (fits in an 8" x 8" perimeter), the deadline, the employment of a minimum of three suggested stitches, and the guarantee that it isn't a previously-published design. You can read the nitty-gritty details here. Though the list seems long, they're not too nitty-gritty.

A lady contacted me and told me her 13 year old daughter wants to enter, but her speciality is "drawing dragons" - could she do a dragon with a Christmas theme to it? I told her certainly! What a great idea! It really can be anything!

The fun part will be posting the designs for everyone to see! The designs, of course, remain yours - they won't be sold or used for anything commercial - but they will be displayed here on Needle'NThread.

If you've drummed up a design and want to send it in, e-mail it to mary@needlenthread.com!

Have fun with it!

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Fishbone Stitch Video Tutorial

As you'll see in this video tutorial, the fishbone stitch is an easy embroidery stitch to use for filling in leaves (and other shapes, too). The stitch is a good stepping-stone to satin stitch, as it requires you to keep a neat edge on the outside of your design.

If you vary the weight of your thread, you can make very delicate leaves or bold and heavy leaves. Here's an example of a leaf worked with this stitch:

The video is a bit longer than most, and towards the end, I switch over to working the end of the leaf. Here it is:

For more video tutorials on embroidery stitches, visit the Video Library of Stitches index.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

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Vintage Needlework Books - On Sale through November!

If you're looking for vintage needlework books - for embroidery, crochet, beadwork, bag making, you name it - you can find a huge assortment of them, all digitally remastered, from Iva Rose Productions. The Carmela Testa books on cut work are a great resource if you like whitework, and the Butterick collection books (such as "Fancy Stitches" and "The Art of Drawnwork") are great for any embroiderer's bookshelf. But the real reason I'm posting this notice now is that through the end of November, Iva Rose Productions is offering half price on all their books! Now, that's a good deal!

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Embroidered Flower Gardens: Daisies

Continuing on with some examples of flowers in hand embroidery, here are a few simple daisy-like flowers with French knot centers.

These daisy petals are worked in two strands of cotton using lazy daisy (or detached chain) stitch. In the middle of the petals formed by the stitch, I worked a long straight stitch in different colors of yellow, using one strand of over-dyed cotton. The French knots are worked in two strands of yellow.

And here you have some more daisies using the same stitches, without the straight stitch in the center. A variety of over-dyed silks and cottons are used in this part of the garden. Notice that the greenery is also worked in daisy stitch.

The daisy stitch is a simple way to make nice looking flowers for embellishment. Don't limit yourself to five or six petals, either - you can pack more around a center, make your petals long, and work some short ones over them for depth. Experiment and see what happens!

Have fun with it!

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Good Resource for Design Ideas...

The Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones was produced in the 1800's as a representative collection of the prominent catagories of ornamental art. For years, this work was considered "the" classic ornamental art resource for students and designers alike, as well as a masterpiece of color printing...

The thousands of examples of ornamental motifs in the work come from all the ages and empires of history. They can be adapted in form or style to embroidery or textile techniques.

You can order the Grammar of Ornament in different places around the web - probably the most thorough digital source being from Direct Imagination. The $199 price tag can be a bit intimidating, though.

You can also find a CD-ROM version of Grammar of Ornament through Amazon at a little more reasonable price, though lacking the extras promised by Direct Imagination.

But, if you just want to LOOK at the images, to browse through the book for ideas for borders, backgrounds, shapes, images, etc., you can do it right online for free. The images won't reproduce all that well for graphic work (if you're wanting to do this, you should invest in the Direct Imagination edition), but you get a good representation of what's in the book. You'll find it at University of Wisconsin's Digital Library for the Decorative Arts and Material Culture - where you'll find a huge collection of online book on the decorative arts throughout the ages. You'll find the online version of Grammar of Ornament here.

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Gallery - Posts with Pictures

Welcome to the Needle 'N Thread Gallery. Here, you'll find a list of posts with pictures - including works in progress, tutorials, and any posts in with photos of embroidery.

This index will expand as different articles or photos are added to the site.

Silk on Silk and Satin Stitch: A stole embroidered in silk threads on Italian silk. Part I - close ups of each section of the stole. Part II - an image of the whole stole.

Embroidered linen pouch with linens: a lined pouch, with initials and embellishment. Includes photos of linen pall.

Goldwork on Blue - this includes a photo of gorgeous goldwork on blue velvet.

Christmas Stocking - a blackwork design worked in gold on red velvet. A bit of a "tutorial" on a work in progress.
Satin Stitch - photos of satin stitch in goldwork and white work.

Basic Embroidery Stitches Sampler - a sampler made up to teach basic embroidery stitches to children and adult beginners.

Simple Stitches: Beautiful Results - whitework on linen, in very simple stitches (whipped backstitch, seed stitch, and satin stitch).

Working with Solvy - Picture tutorial

Hollyhocks - embroidered flower garden elements worked with simple stitches (buttonhole and satin).

Embroidery Pattern Index - a selection of embroidery patterns for your personal use.

French knot flowers - an example of flowers from French knots, suitable for an embroidered garden.

Embroidered Daisies - samples of flowers worked with the daisy stitch.

Embroidered Flowers using Buttonhole Stitch - a variety of different, tiny flowers worked with buttonhole stitch.

White on White Hand Embroidery Revisited - white embroidery on white linen in simple stitches.

Needlebook Project - this project is shown in progress over various stages: Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3... and it's not completed yet, so more pictures to come!

Herringbone Stitch in the Round - an experiment with working herringbone stitch in circles on plain weave fabric.

Embroidered Eyes - a series on embroidered eyes using needlepainting techniques: Article 1 (human eyes), Article 2 (human eyes), Article 3 (stylized animal eyes).

Italian Stitch - an article on stitching in flat silks, couched over with gold passing thread.

Wheat Stitch - a video tutorial, but there's a close up picture of wheat stitch worked on linen with white silk.

Textile and Embroidery Photos from Rome - some photos of different textile and embroidery tidbits from Rome.

Chevron Stitch Mini-Sampler - a small sampler of chevron stitch, showing various ways of layering, etc.

Lattice Work Sampler - a small lattice work square worked in flat silks for the background, along with the lattice work video.

Algerian Eye Variation - Snowflakes - a tiny sample of a snowflakes in white silk on blue silk shantung, worked in a variation of Algerian Eye stitch.

Agnus Dei Church Embroidery, part I - The beginnings of a work of church embroidery, with written steps on setting up a major project. Photos of stem stitch used as a filler.

Comparing Flat Silks - close up photos of two kinds of flat silk: Au Ver a Soie's Soie Ovale and Eterna Silk.

Needle Painting Sample - Close up photos of a completed needlepainting kit from Berlin Embroidery Designs - the Red Poll kit (bird).

Goldwork Up Close - some upclose photos of a beautiful piece of cloth of gold embellished with goldwork.

Agnus Dei Church Embroidery, Part II - an update on an ecclesiastical embroidery project which employs a variety of stitching techniques including needlepainting and goldwork.

Agnus Dei Church Embroidery, Part III - another update on this ecclesiastical embroidery project, with the flat silk laid in for the sky.

Comparing Silks, Part II - A comparison of flat silks: Eterna, Soie Ovale, and Japanese Silk.

Agnus Dei Update #4 - half the sky (worked in flat silk) is couched with gold passing in this photo.

Agnus Dei Embroidery Project - Update #5 - the halo and banner are completed.

Agnus Dei Embroidery Project - Update #6 - The lamb is finished. Close-ups on the wool.

Agnus Dei Embroidery Project - Completed - Close ups on the hill, flowers, and goldwork edge.

Annunciation Cope - a magnificent example of needlepainted figures, with close-up photos.

Embroidered Quilt Square - close ups of an embroidered quilt square for a baby quilt. Pattern is a little Dutch girl (in pink) with tulips. Simple pattern with basic embroidery stitches, and cute results!

Crucifixion Chasuble - another gorgeous example of historic church embroidery. The needlepainting in this one is exquisite! Lots of close-ups.

Seed Stitch - up close photos of seed stitch on the butterfly wings for a quilt square.

Whitework - photos of some whitework pieces, some worked by me, some antiques I've collected.

Sunbonnet Sue in a Garden - the completed square, worked on flannel, in a variety of stitches.

Sunbonnet Sue in a Garden - Close ups on the Sunbonnet Sue quilt square I did for our guild quilts.

Doodle Embroidery Designs - just some doodles that could work into fun embroidery sampler patterns.

Completed Embroidered Baby Quilts - these were a spring guild project this year (2007). We raffled the quilts to raise money for the guild.

Cloth of Gold Stole - here are some close-ups on a cloth of gold stole that needs repair. The stole is beautiful, but unfortunately quite damaged.

Needlework Stash - Ok, this isn't exactly a project. It's a bunch of photos of different types of threads used for hand embroidery. The colors are pretty!

Embroidered Notebook Cover - Working up a sample of the notebook cover the kids are going to make in my classes this summer; these photos are the beginnings of the project.

Completed Embroidered Notebook Cover - photos of embroidered notebook cover worked on wool felt, as a sample for this summer's (2007) children's embroidery project.

Twisted Silk Comparison - close-up photos of four different types of twisted silk threads.

Twisted Silk - Close-up stitch examples in twisted silk threads.

Silk Work Embroidery Sampler - the beginnings of our summer guild class project (Summer, 2007)

Children's Embroidery Projects - photos of embroidered notebook covers in progress during summer embroidery classes.

More Children's Embroidery Projects - some more photos from summer classes.

Children's Embroidery Projects - and still more photos of children's embroidered notebook covers. A fun and easy project for beginners at any age!

Embroidered Angel - a sample of ecclesiastical embroidery.

Summer, 2007 Embroidery Projects on Display - some photos of the display tables for this summer's embroidery projects.

Silk Work Embroidery Sampler Update - some progress photos on a silkwork sampler.

Needlework Stash Expansion - some photos of trims and such added to my needlework stash - includes photos of Mokuba trim and sari silk.

Thread painting Peony-Type Dahlia - the beginning of the project.

Thread Painting Dahlia Update - some more progress on this needle painting project.

Litany of Loreto Embroideries - ecclesiastical embroidery - some images of these embroidered panels that are both beautiful and interesting.

Mantle of the Virgin - another image of a piece of historical ecclesiastical embroidery - the beautiful hood of a cope, worked in gold and silk on a linen ground.

Peony-type Dahlia Needle Painting - completed flower, with close-ups.

Traquair House Needlepoint - some photos of a painted needlepoint canvas - not yet worked, but on my project list!

Embroidered Iris - another needle painting project underway.

Embroidered Faces Pillow Cases - this was a fun project. Here, it's not quite complete, but there are some close-ups.

Completed Opposite Faces Pillow Cases - here are photos of the whilte embroidered pillowcase.

More Pillow Case Shots - here are some close-ups on the black pillow case.

Reader's Embroidery - some photos of a reader's embroidery peice: a flower medallion.

Embroidered Crazy Quilt Piece from a Reader - some photos of another reader's work: a crazy quilt postcard with an embroidered fuschia on it.

Beetle Wing and Goldwork Embroidery, I - photos of the set-up of the project.

Complete Embroidered Iris - the finished flower!

Transferring An Embroidery Pattern - photos of the prick & pounce method of transferring an embroidery design onto fabric. This is part of the Beetle Wing and Goldwork Embroidery project.

Preparing Beetle Wings for Embroidery - the next step in the goldwork and beetle wing embroidery project.

Goldwork Underway - the stitching begins on the beetle wing project.

Beetle Wings and Goldwork - here, you'll see most of the gold complete and the wings attached.
Reader's Embroidery: Embroidered Quilt - some photos of some beautiful embroidered quilt squares from a reader.

Goldwork and Beetle Wings - finishing touches are added to the goldwork and beetle wing embroidery project.

Labels: pictures

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Embroidered Flower Gardens: French Knot Flowers

Clusters of French knots can be used to create all kinds of effects in a flower garden. Once you get the hang of the French knot, you can add all kinds of interest and dimension to a garden scene.

Don't limit yourself to the centers of flowers! Bunch them together and see what you can create. The French knot is an easy stitch to work. Check out the French knot video tutorial for help.

These flowers are stitched with two strands of overdyed cotton. The stems are worked in stem stitch, and the leaves are detached chain stitches.

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French Knot Video Tutorial

Here's a video tutorial for the French Knot. This knot is used often in hand-embroidery, but a lot of people avoid it, because it intimidates them. Once you work one correctly, you'll find that it's really easy!!!

There are different methods to making French knots. Some people twist their thread three times, some only two. I generally use two twists, but if I want a larger knot, I'll go with three. You can also achieve larger knots by changing the weight of the thread you are using. Instead of, say, two strands of DMC, you can use three or four.

The trick to French knots is to keep tension on your working thread while you're pulling your needle through so that your coils stay in their proper place on your needle.

If you want to see the French knot in application, you can check out these hollyhocks, around which you'll see some knots used for a 'stippling' effect.

Here's the video:

For more video tutorials, please visit the Video Library of Stitches.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials

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Embroidered Flower Gardens: Hollyhocks

Flowers are often the subject of hand embroidery. Individually, they make beautiful motifs for gift items, for cards, for pillows and household goods, for small accents around the home, to embellish clothing or other items - the list could go on.

I thought it would be fun to present a series on elements of a flower garden - just small snippets from little embroidery projects I've worked, usually to use up bits of thread here and there or to test new threads.

The first flower in the series is the hollyhock...

These hollyhocks are somewhat stylized - that is, they look like hollyhocks in effect, artistic form, or context - but they obviously aren't meant to be an exact reflection of the flower!

The darker flowers are worked in hand-dyed wool, and the lighter ones are worked in two plies of stranded linen floss, all in buttonhole stitch. The centers are satin stitched in different types of silk. Some are flat silk with no twist and others are regular stranded silk.

The leaves are worked in fishbone stitch in two plies of stranded silk.

The stippling around the flowers are French knots, worked in two plies of stranded cotton.

Here's a close up of the hollyhocks. The whole stalk of flowers is approximately two inches tall.

All of the stitches above will eventually be featured in the Video Library of Stitches, so stay tuned!

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Portuguese Knotted Stem Stitch Video Tutorial

Here's a video tutorial for Portuguese Knotted Stem Stitch. This is a line stitch good for outlining, especially when you want a little heavier line with some texture to it.

The Portuguese Knotted Stem Stitch can also be used for filling an area, when it's worked in closely stitched rows, with the "knots" in alternating positions.

This stitch is especially suitable to Mountmellick Embroidery, and can be used equally well in Jacobean work.

I've also got a

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Needles for Hand Embroidery

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

The Art of Embroidery - Book Recommendation

Checkered or Alternating Chain Stitch Video Tutorial

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Heavy Chain Stitch Video Tutorial

Looking for a Deal on Ott Lites?

Monday, November 27, 2006

Embroidery Design Contest - Countdown!

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Satin Stitch Video Tutorial

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Ribbed Spider Web Stitch Video Tutorial

Friday, November 24, 2006

Fly Stitch Video Tutorial: Vertical Fly Stitch

Fly Stitch Video Tutorial: Horizontal Fly Stitch

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Double Feather Stitch Video Tutorial

Monday, November 20, 2006

Feather Stitch Video Tutorial

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Hand Embroidery: Sources of Inspiration

Buttonhole Wheels Video Tutorial

Monday, November 13, 2006

Daisy Stitch Video Tutorial

Great Iron-on Transfer Patterns for Hand Embroidery

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Buttonhole Stitch Video Tutorial

Embroidered Flowers using Buttonhole Stitch

Friday, November 10, 2006

Whipped Backstitch Video Tutorial

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Embroidery Design Contest Revisited!

Fishbone Stitch Video Tutorial

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Vintage Needlework Books - On Sale through November!

Embroidered Flower Gardens: Daisies

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Good Resource for Design Ideas...

Gallery - Posts with Pictures

Monday, November 06, 2006

Embroidered Flower Gardens: French Knot Flowers

Sunday, November 05, 2006

French Knot Video Tutorial

Embroidered Flower Gardens: Hollyhocks

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Portuguese Knotted Stem Stitch Video Tutorial