Needle'nThread.com: August 2007

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Embroidery Website News...

For all you embroiderers out there who like to keep up with what's happening in the embroidery world on-line, I'm sure you've run across Sharon Boggan's embroidery (and other textile stuff!) site, Inaminuteago.

Sharon has, I think, the most thorough pictorial embroidery stitch dictionary online, and that's how I found her site years ago.

If you're familiar with her website, you may want to know that the In a minute ago blog has moved recently. Sharon's blog features much informative content for the needleworker, so if you've never checked it out, give it a look!

Labels: embroidery links

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Rosette Chain Stitch Video Tutorial

Here's a video tutorial for another hand embroidery stitch - the rosette chain stitch.

This is one of those embroidery stitches that I have always thought looks complicated in diagrams. It's a whole lot easier when you see someone work it!

The rosette chain stitch is much like the oyster stitch, but it's worked in a line, around curves, etc. The oyster stitch is more often seen, I think, individually.

You can curve this stitch really nicely around borders. You can work it close together, so that your line comes out looking like a tight, textured braiding, or you can space them out, to get a bumpy, scalloped-looking line. You can work it in circles:

However you decide to work it, the rosette chain is a nice stitch - and once you get the hang of it, it's quick, too.

In the video, I'm using Trebizond (twisted silk). Perle cotton works great for this stitch, but really, you can use any thread - the finer the thread, the more delicate the effect.

For more embroidery stitch videos, please visit my Video Library of Stitches Index.

Have fun with it!

Labels: beginner embroidery, video tutorials

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Great Little Hand Embroidery Book

I was searching for inexpensive hand embroidery books - something with basic stitch diagrams and a few patterns - that I could give away as prizes for the summer embroidery classes I taught to kids this year, and I found a little gem.

Unfortunately, the version I found is out of print! It's the Anchor Book of Free-Style Embroidery Stitches.

Anchor Book of Freestyle Embroidery Stitches

Anchor Book of Freestyle Embroidery Stitches

This is a great little book, with clear step-by-step diagrams. It is not, perhaps, as "beautiful" as the Country Bumpkin publications (those are favorites of mine!), but still - I think it's a neat little book.

First of all, it's little - about 5.5" x 6". Second, the stitches are clearly diagrammed. They are simple diagrams, but easy to read. Third, each two-page spread shows the stitch diagrams and written instructions, plus a real embroidered sample showing the stitch in application. Fourth, the back of the book has 44 patterns for tracing which match the embroidered samples throughout the book. Overall, there are about 50 stitches demonstrated.

Now, the out-of-print problem: Anchor has a "new" Anchor Book of Freestyle Embroidery Stitches that you can pick up through Amazon or other booksellers. It runs around $12.00. I haven't seen it, personally, but I imagine it demonstrates the same stitches, as it starts with Antwerp Edging and ends with Wheater Stitch, with the same number of stitches demonstrated in between. It seems the difference, though, may be in the number of patterns - according to the "new" book, it only offers 16 patterns! What happened there?

Good news on the out-of-print older one: it's available used all over the place, for as little as $3.00. I was able to pick up four of them from different used booksellers around the country, and, even with shipping, paid no more than $6.00 each for them.

So if you're looking for a good little book to teach yourself to embroider, or if you want it for a gift for someone else, you might look into this one.

Anchor has a whole series of these books, by the way. In the "old" series (like this one), they cover counted thread, canvas work, crewel work, hardanger, and ribbon embroidery. In the "new" series, they also have blackwork and pulled thread.

Labels: embroidery books

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Friday, August 24, 2007

Looking for Embroidery Needles?

Where do you get your embroidery needles? I've often been frustrated by the fact that most craft and sewing stores just don't carry a good selection of decent hand-embroidery needles. When I do find the size I want, they're usually included in multi-packs, so I end up paying for a bunch of needles I'll never use. Thanks to online ordering, that doesn't happen anymore!

I've ordered embroidery needles from Wendy Schoen Designs - her needle portfolios (especially the purple) provide a good selection of needles for hand embroidery.

But I found a source I like better - Colonial Needle. I ordered a whole array of needles from them this summer for our different guild projects. The selection is fantastic (surely the best I've ever seen), the prices on the products and shipping are reasonable, and the service was excellent. They carry the prominent brands of fine English needles: Richard Hemming, John James, Mary Arden, Thomas & Sons. If you like beading, you can't beat Mary Arden's beading needles, which come in many sizes, but the teeny ones are great - and if you're looking for tiny milliners for bullions, you'll find that the Richard Hemming company produces every size from 1 - 11, or you can buy packs of assorted sizes.

Remember, needles are numbered like wire - the higher the number, the smaller the shaft of the needle.

So if you're looking for hand embroidery needles, check out Colonial Needle Company. You're sure to find what you're looking for!

Labels: embroidery resources, supplies

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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Embroidered Drawstring Pattern: A Little Sampler

This is the last of the four embroidery patterns the kids chose from for their drawstring bags. It's a little sampler, employing many of the stitches learned in their embroidery classes this summer.

If I remember correctly, only one student chose this pattern. It's a little more complicated than the other three patterns (see cirles, daisy garden, daisy wreath), but I thought it would be fun to work, since it employed different stitches.

The irony is that the one kid who picked it, didn't really work the stitches learned. Ah well. I think she had fun working on it, anyway.

Here it is. You can click on it for a larger image, then save it to your computer and resize it. Sorry about the scratchy look - it was drawn on graph paper and scanned.

The first row is fly stitch, tipped with a bead or a French knot. The long sides are simply straight stitches, or they could be daisy stitch. The second row is stem stitch stems, and then whipped daisy stitch, to cover the petals with a ribbed edge, like the ribbed spider web. The third row could have been fly stitch, or even a double herringbone, with daisy stitch or bullion knots, which should cross over and "couch" the fly stitch down - and French knot centers. The bottom row: flowers worked in lazy daisy stitch, with French knot centers and chain stitch stems, set in a row of herringbone or fly stitch.

Labels: beginner embroidery, embroidery for children, free embroidery patterns

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Sunday, August 19, 2007

Simple Daisy Wreath Pattern

Another pattern that the kids in my summer embroidery classes used on their drawstring bags was this very simple daisy wreath pattern. They embroidered an initial inside the wreath.

This was probably the most popular pattern for the kids' embroidered drawstring bags. The other patterns include circles of sorts, a dancing daisy garden, and a little "sampler" pattern, which hasn't been featured yet.

You can click on the image below for a much larger version, which you can save to your computer and shrink to the size you want!

Daisy Wreath Pattern for Embroidered Drawstring Bags

Shortly, I'll be adding some more photos of completed work by the kids. The bags are turning out really pretty!

Labels: beginner embroidery, embroidery for children, free embroidery patterns

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Church Embroidery Book Online

I'm a huge fan of historical needlework. One of my greatest interests is historical ecclesiastical or church embroidery, which is worked on vestments or vesture for the church. I'm always on the look-out for old books and any instructional materials, patterns, and whatnot for ecclesiastical embroidery.

What captivates me is the intricacy of the designs, the beautiful materials used, the symbolism, and the variety of techniques employed to create what are absolutely amazing works of art. Most textile museums of worth will feature ecclesiastical embroidery as a noteable - and even vital - part of the history of textiles.

Angel on a Miter, from Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Clyde, MO

Angel on a Miter, from Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Clyde, MO

The above is a photo I took of a gorgeous miter in the museum of the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde, Missouri. It was apparently made in the early 1950's, the last piece worked by hand by the nuns in Clyde.

New ecclesiastical embroidery like this is hard to find these days. Even books detailing techniques and patterns are hard to come by. I'm an avid collector of such books, and have many from the turn of last century (early 1900's) in my collection. They can be pricey - I paid arolund $100 for one book, which is in perfect condition except for the slight discoloration from age. I grimaced at the price, but it was a rare find, and I haven't seen it (in good shape) available for less since then. I have found photocopies of it, but a photocopy is never as good as the original, especially when it comes to detailed pictures. So I saw it as an investment, bit the bullet, and paid the price.

But guess what? It's now available online! This particular book is by Lucy Vaughn Hayden Mackrille, and it's called Church Embroidery and Church Vestments. It's available on the Digital Archives of Weaving and Related Topics, a project of the University of Arizona. It comes in five parts, in PDF. You can find them here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.

I'm still glad I bought the book. I've poured over it for ideas and for inspiration many times. I've replicated some of her patterns, like the one I used for this embroidered pall, worked in white on linen - though in the book it was worked in color, red on white, and in satin stitch and stem stitch:

Hand Embroidered Pall design from Mackrille's Book

Hand Embroidered Pall design from Mackrille's Book

Lucy Mackrille also has an image of it worked in white on linen, though the stitches used are slightly different. But this is where I took the overall concept for the pall I made.

Hand Embroidered Pall design from Mackrille's Book

I was really happy to find the book online, in case others are interested in browsing through it! I'm going to add it to my list of Needlework Books Online - I think it's a gem of a book for people interested in historical textiles or church embroidery.

Labels: book review, ecclesiastical embroidery, embroidery books, online needlework books, pictures

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Saturday, August 18, 2007

Textile Museum Exhibits Online

While doing a little research on historical textiles, I came across two websites that I find very interesting:

The first is CIETA, Centre International d'Etude des Textiles Anciens - "an international association founded in 1954 in order to coordinate work methods used by specialists in ancient textiles." The site itself is dedicated to telling people about CIETA. It offers both a French and English version for readers.

CIETA: Organization Dedicated to the Study of Historic Textiles

CIETA: Organization Dedicated to the Study of Historic Textiles

Essentially, CIETA is devoted to the study of historical textiles, and, as a world-wide organization, it has "fine-tuned" the language of textiles in order to provide consistency in the examination, documentation, and study of historic textiles. CIETA offers technical courses, where the student learns techniques of analysis of textiles. The members of the organization apparently meet every other year in an international congress, and the organization also has several departments for specialized groups within the realm of historical textiles. For those interested in making their life work the study of historical textiles, this looks like a great organization.

But what was more fun was the link on the site to the Museum of Textiles in Lyons, France. I have to admit, the site itself is rather irritating - it requires activating a lot of controls, if you have pop-ups blocked, you might have to unblock them, it doesn't allow regular forward-back movement on your browser, and on and on. BUT - despite all that - it's worth checking out.

Museum of Textiles, Lyons, France

Once you get into the site, you'll have a choice between English and French. Under the English option, there's a link for the Textile Museum Collection. In the menu bar across the top of that page, you'll have choices of different textiles from around the world, as well as a collection of costumes. The pictures are fun to browse through, even though they are rather stingy with the images - they're small, and even the enlargements are small. And you can't maximize the page and get a better view, either!

BUT - again - despite that, I enjoyed browsing through the textiles. They have beautiful examples of European, Eastern, Coptic and Egyptian, and local (Lyons) historical textiles. The costumes they have featured on the site are worth looking at, too.

So, if you're interested in historical textiles, here are two sites worth checking out!

Labels: historical needlework

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Friday, August 17, 2007

Library of Needlework Books Online

If you're like me, you like needlework books. I especially like older needlework books, many of which are out of print, but which are generously made available online by different people involved in different special online textile projects. But, if you're like me, you can't necessarily spend lots of time sifting through the books to see which ones you might be interested in.... or, like me, you might spend the time sifting, only to regret it when you have other things to do!

So the purpose of this post, which will be available in the left side bar under "Online Needlework Books" is to help reduce the hours of searching for specific books online. I'm just going to create a casual "catalog" of online books devoted solely to needlework of various types that may be of interest to the hand embroiderer. I'll include a short description, so that you can see if you'd be interested before you spend too much time browsing.

I'll update the list as I sort through my links. If you know of any online books that are favorites of yours, feel free to let me know so I can add it to the list!

The Encyclopedia of Needlework
by Therese Dillmont
Made available by Project Gutenberg
Description: A comprehensive book on needlework, covering a whole range of techniques. You'll find photos of stitches and techniques, with text describing how they are worked. Some of the topics covered: surface embroidery of all types, crochet, knitting, lace-making, etc. If it's needlework, you're bound to find a reference for it in this book!

Jacobean Embroidery
by Ada Wentworth Fitzwilliam and A.F. Morris Hands
Made available by Project Gutenberg
Description: This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in crewel work, needlepainting, or, of course, Jacobean embroidery. It includes a brief history, followed by plenty of information on techniques and a whole slew of designs that provide inspiration for the embroiderer.

Beeton's Book of Needlework
by Isabella Beeton
Made available by Project Gutenberg (HTML format) and Antique Pattern Library in PDF form (links below)
Description: This is another comprehensive needlework book. It contains instructions and pictures of different techniques, as well as patterns and - the part I like best - some very nice monogram alphabets. The Antique Pattern Library supplies the book in PDF format (from Project Gutenberg), in three files: Part I, Part II, Part III. I like the 3rd file best, as it contains very nice coverage of needlelace techniques, including embroidered net (guipure), as well as the extensive index, which will help you find other stuff throughout the complete work. You'll find the section on monograms in the second file, starting on page 118 of the PDF.

Sajou Pattern Albums
by Sajou House (Maison Sajou)
Description: A wonderful collection of scans of old Sajou albums, which feature beautiful monogram alphabets and other designs for embroidery. They are not offered online as typical online books, but rather as scans of the original pamphlets. Great resource, especially if you're into counted thread techniques.

Art in Needlework (PDF - 24MB)
by Lewis F. Day
Available on American Libraries Internet Archive
Description: Another comprehensive resource, this one is made up of a good bit of text, but has some nice illustrations in it. There are some good descriptions of technique, but what I like about it is the dated commentary that runs through the book. "Linen is a worthy ground-stuff...Cotton is hardly worth embroidering." I like the section on "A Word to the Worker," starting on page 250 of the PDF. Much of what is said in this short chapter still holds true, and there are some very good tips for the embroiderer.

The Needles Excellency
by John Taylor, published in 1631
Made available by Godfrey's Bookshelf
Description: The first part of the book is a long poem called "The Praise of the Needle," after which you'll find a bunch of samples of patterns that can be used for petit point, cross stitch, filet, etc., and then heaps of needle lace designs which are very nice and would be easy to use, as they would simply require enlarging or tracing. As a very old needlework book, it's fun to browse through.

The Art of Modern Lacemaking
Published by Butterick in 1891
Made available by Project Gutenberg
Description: People who like to embroidery don't necessarily like the idea of making lace, admittedly - just because you like the one art doesn't mean you like the other! - but it's true that lace making and embroidery cross boundaries once in a while. Browsing through this book, you'll find some great patterns and some techniques that can be used in surface embroidery as well as lace making. Note the section on darning, for example. In the patterns, you'll find some really pretty inspirational pieces. The point lace butterfly pattern could be easily adapted to surface embroidery.

Assisi Embroidery
by Therese Dillmont
Made available by the On-Line Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving and Related Topics (hereafter, Digital Archive)
Format: Two PDF Files: Part One & Part Two
Description: Added at the beginning of August, 2007, this contribution to the digital archive will interest anyone who likes counted thread techniques and historical embroidery. The booklet has numerous magnificent examples, in color. The first part of the work is where you'll find the technique explained, and the second part is devoted primarily to color plates.

Church Embroidery and Church Vestments
by Lucy Vaughn Hayden Mackrille
Made available by Digital Archives
Description: This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in ecclesiastical textiles - whether you're interested in making them yourself, or you just like historical needlework, etc. While some of the terminology and materials are a little outdated, the majority of the book is priceless when it comes to technique, design, etc. It's an enjoyable book just to flip through, to see some inspiring needlework. The separate links to the PDF files are listed in my brief blurb on the book.

Embroidery and Tapestry Weaving
by Mrs. Archibald Christie
Made available by Project Gutenberg
This is a great book covering embroidery techniques, with plenty of pattern and design ideas. Fun to browse through!

I've still got a few more links to add, so check back for updates! And please don't hesitate to suggest additions!

Labels: online needlework books

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Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Beetle Wing & Goldwork Embroidery Links

Anyone interested in silk embroidery thread and silk as a textile in general would probably be interested in Michael Cook's website, Wormspit. That's worm spit, not worms pit, by the way. It's a great website that details how silk is produced by the silk worm, along with information on processing the silk, resources for cocoons, and all that kind of stuff.

Now, the casual embroiderer (that would be me) probably won't go to the extent of breeding moths and raising their cute little larvae for the sake of spinning one's own silk, but ... I cannot deny the utter fascination I have for the whole process. I have spent hours on wormspit.com. I have shared it with people. I have talked to fellow teachers (biology & science teachers) about doing a school-wide silkworm project (they see a mercenary motive, I think)... but what I didn't know about the creator of wormspit is that he isn't just the silkworm guy. He has a blog, and he does some pretty incredible and creative stuff. He also contributes to Gossamer Strands, which has a great illustrated explanation of processing and spinning polyphemus silk.

I thought readers interested in needlework, and especially in goldwork, might enjoy seeing Michael's beetle wing & goldwork embroidery.

Beetle wing embroidery is embroidery - either in threads or incorporating goldwork - around beetle wings that are sewn onto the fabric as part of the design. The wings are iridescent shiny things, in greens and blues and golds. The whole idea of beetle wing embroidery seems to have come from the East (Japan & India, especially), and was rather popular in Europe in the late-1800's (makes sense, as England's colonization undoubtedly brought an Eastern & Indian influence to fashion). For those who could afford it, it was not uncommon for dresses, bags, and accessories to be decorated with these bug parts.

You can see other examples of beetle wing embroidery online here and there.

Example of Beetle Wing Embroidery on Bug Bios

On bugbios, for example, there's a gorgeous example of a turban worked on muslin with gold and beetle wings.

Beetle Wing Embroidery on Dress - on Show Me UK, from the Museum of London

On Show Me UK, you can find a great link to a larger photo of this dress found in the Museum of London. The dress is elaborately adorned with beetle wings and gold. On this site (geared towards kids), the appeal is that the dress is decorated with bugs' wings. Regardless, the workmanship is stunning.

Michael worked up a beautiful example of goldwork and beetle wings. If you get a chance to look at it, do. If you want some tips on how to work with beetle wings, read his remarks in the comments at the bottom of the post.

Labels: goldwork

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Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Embroidery Projects - More Photos

Here are some photos of the kids' latest embroidery projects - the designs on their drawstring bags. I think they're doing a really good job! Some of the patterns turned out nicer looking that I realized they would!

The way we did it was this: I drew up the embroidery designs on graph paper, photocopied them, taped them to the classroom windows, and then let the kids pick the color of fabric they wanted to use for the outside of their bag. We taped the fabric to the pattern in the window, and they traced the patterns with water soluble markers.

Many of the girls finished their projects and decided to do the back of the bag as well, since they have one more week to work on the embroidery. Here are some photos of the work they've done so far.

Kids Embroidery Project - Drawstring Bag

Kids Embroidery Project - Drawstring Bag

For the kids who picked the daisy wreath (like this one above), I drew their initials onto the pattern. The water soluble marker will (hopefully) disappear after I've soaked the pieces. When they're dry, I'll starch and iron them and sew up the bags.

Kids Embroidery Project - Drawstring Bag

This is the sampler pattern. It's a bit more complicated. The girl who is stitching this bag decided to do the same pattern on the back, which means that I'll have to line up the seams very carefully so that they match.

Kids Embroidery Project - Drawstring Bag

Another initial in the daisy wreath. This one is going to look really nice with the lining, which is the same color as the initial!

Kids Embroidery Project - Drawstring Bag

Here's the little dancing daisy garden underway. This and the daisy wreath are perhaps the quickest patterns as far as stitching is concerned.

Kids Embroidery Project - Drawstring Bag

And yet another daisy garden. She decided to take the quicker route and backstitch the leaves rather than fill them.

Kids Embroidery Project - Drawstring Bag

I like the variegated threads used for the stems and for the daisies!

Kids Embroidery Project - Drawstring Bag

Here's one of the circle patterns being worked. It looks like a fun pattern to stitch - there can be a lot of variation in the stitches used. You can see a ribbed spider wheel there in the small circle below the hoop.

Kids Embroidery Project - Drawstring Bag

Another daisy wreath with an initial - this was a very popular design, and I thought that, by the time we finished, we'd have practically the whole alphabet!

Kids Embroidery Project - Drawstring Bag

And another "C" embroidered here - it's very pretty, I think!

Kids Embroidery Project - Drawstring Bag

And, finally, an "M" in green and white! I love the colors on these. They're very delicate. I can't wait to see them sewn up into bags!

So there's some progress so far. Only one more week of classes - it's been fun, but it sure makes for a hectic summer!

Labels: beginner embroidery, embroidery for children, pictures

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Monday, August 13, 2007

Daisy Garden Embroidery Pattern for Drawstring Bags

Continuing with the subject of the drawstring bags that the kids are makingn in our summer embroidery class, here's the second of the four patters we're using. It's a daisy garden.

This is the second most popular embroidery pattern for this project. The kids like it for a couple reasons: they love the lazy daisy stitch, the pattern is simple and doesn't require many different types of stitches, and therefore, it's quick to work. This morning, we have our second class since starting these projects, so I'm eager to see what they've accomplished at home in a week!

Here's the embroidery pattern. It's another sketched-on-graph-paper-then-scanned deal, so it's a bit scratchy, by you can still get the idea. If you want to save it, you can click on the image to get a larger size, then right click on that and save it to your computer. Then you can resize it however you wish.

For this design, the stem stitch works great on the stems (!), the lazy daizy works for the flowers (although you could dress them up with other stitches as well, like bullions worked in loops, which would give more texture), and the center of the flowers are French knots or beads. The leaves are fishbone stitch, or they can simply be outlined in stem stitch. For the younger children, the backstitch is preferred to the stem stitch, but the design looks really nice with the stem stitch.

This pattern looks really good on the light green, the light blue, and the light purple bags, especially because the linings on those have daisies or other flowers on them and the colors of the flowers are easy to coordinate with the colors of the lining.

Stay tuned for photos of the kids' work - I'll snap a few pictures during class today!

Labels: beginner embroidery, embroidery for children, free embroidery patterns

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Sunday, August 12, 2007

Embroidered Drawstring Bag Pattern: Circles

In my kids' summer embroidery class, the last project is a drawstring bag. I thought I'd share the patterns that we're using to embroider the front of the bags. I just made quick sketches on graph paper, so this is a scan of a sketch - nothing fancy, but fun anyway.

This particular embroidery pattern for the front of the drawstring bag matches (at least a little bit!) the lining I picked out for the pink drawstring bags. It's not a great sketch at all, admittedly, but it served the purpose. We taped the patterns to windows and taped the fabric over the patterns, and the kids traced them using water soluble markers.

Here's the pattern. If you want to use it, you can click on it for a much larger version, and then resize it.

Embroidery Pattern for Drawstring Bag - click for larger version

Well, it doesn't look like much, does it? The stitches used in it are the stem stitch for circle outlines, the buttonhole wheel, the lazy daisy, and French knots or beads where the dots are.

Here's the photo again of the pink bag with the lining. We selected threads that match the overall color scheme, and some of the kids added a few "extra" colors to brighten things up.

The bags are about 7 inches across, so the pattern should be about 6.5 inches wide when sized correctly.

As soon as we start sewing up the embroidered bags, I'll take photos and put together a little picture tutorial. They're surprisingly simple and really fun!

Labels: beginner embroidery, embroidery for children, free embroidery patterns, pictures

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Saturday, August 11, 2007

Embroidery Equipment: The Ultimate Needlework Stand!

I'm a huge fan of using a stand for needlework - whether it's a lap stand or a floor stand, for needlework projects larger than 10 inches in any direction, I think the stand is a necessary tool for the embroiderer. So I've been on a quest, searching for a good one.

My current embroidery stand is a wooden one from Lacis. You can see it on their main catalog page. It's the floor stand on the right in the photo below.

When I first got it, I liked it well enough. It was nice to have a floor stand that adjusted in height. I soon found one noteable drawback: it doesn't adjust in position, so when I use it while sitting in the living room on the couch or in a comfortable chair, I have to pull it towards me and balance it on two of its legs. That's not so convenient. After a few years of use, of having to tighten and loosen the wooden ends every time I wanted to turn my work over, it has lost its appeal. The accessory for holding a hoop or a stretcher bar frame is actually a pain in the neck.

So the search was on for a good needlework stand, and to that end, I went to Kansas City, where there are a couple needlework shops that carry different lines of stands and frames. K's Creations is probably the most common line in most needlework shops. I checked out their stainless steel stand, which is featured on their website:

K's Creations Stainless Steel Floor Stand - Site opens in another window

There are things I like about it and things I don't. The base, for example, while heavy, is not proportioned for larger needlework projects. If you accessorized with everything they offer, including the optional light attachment, the stand would be top heavy. Add a larger project to it, and it seems to me the whole set-up would be prone to toppling if someone brushed against it in passing. You can hold your foot on the base to stabilize it, but I often leave a project up when I'm not sitting at it, and I wouldn't want to risk the whole thing falling over.

Then I checked out the Lowry stand, which is a stainless steel stand much like K's Creations. The base seemed heavier, but really, they were very similar, and I figured the same thing would happen with the Lowry stand if it were loaded with a larger project. What I did like on both of these is that the clamp for stretcher bar frames is also stainless steel, as opposed to plastic or wood.

I tried the Mark 2 Needlework Stand (here's a picture of the Mark 2 Needlework Stand, if you scroll down the page), and, while I like the sturdiness of having the project mounted on both sides, I don't like the largeness of the thing in general. My workspace simply isn't big enough! On this one, though, you can rotate your work without adjusting the wooden knobs, which is a plus. However, if you want to adjust the stand to a new position, you have to adjust knobs on both legs of the stand. And then if the position isn't quite right, you have to do it again...! And all this makes for eventual wear on the wood.

I saw other stands and frames as well - American Dream products, which were wood and, while sturdy at first, prone to that same loosening and wear that I've experienced on my Lacis stand. I wasn't really impressed with these products - at least, not if I am going to make an investment in a piece of equipment that I want to last!

And then... I found it. It's the Rolls Royce of Needlework Stands. Oh golly, I want one. I tested and tried it and liked it, and I tested and tried it and liked it again. It's called the Needlework System 4.

It's somewhat strange looking, but it works! It slants down towards you if you're sitting in a lounge-type chair or on a couch, or you can position it straight up and down. You can clamp your work on the top, or on the side. The clamp (disadvantage) seems to be made of plastic, but it's very sturdy and seems really durable. (It has a lifetime warranty, which is great!) I mounted a large project on it to see how it would hold, and it does! I'm don't usually like the idea of top-mounting my needlework, because I don't like "straddling" the stand, but it was comfortable, and I even had a skirt on and it didn't bother me.

The front leg is long, but it is not very high, so it slides underneath furniture well. The long leg compensates for a larger or heavier needlework project, or any accessories such as lights that you might add to the stand. No wobbly feeling on this stand! And although the work is mounted only on one side, the frame I tested it with didn't feel wobbly or insecure, either.

And the whole construction of the stand part is steel - no wood rubbing down, etc.

Oh, yes. I like it. But the price! Holy Cow! To get the stand and the clamp attachment, you're looking right away at anywhere from $250 - $300. On the bright side, you'd never have to replace it! But the front-end investment is a bit steep.

If you want to use scross frames, by the way, you can. But you have to buy at least one of theirs, so that the sides will mount on the frame. You can use other dowels, as long as you have the side mounts.

I was pretty impressed with the System 4 Rug Floor Stand for Really Big Needlework Projects!! But that one doubles the price, since you need two of the floor stands to set it up!

Anyway, there it is. I didn't buy one. But perhaps someday....!

Labels: embroidery resources, needlework products, needlework tools

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Friday, August 10, 2007

New Book! Goldwork Embroidery: Designs & Projects

Goldwork Embroidery Designs and Projects by Mary Brown hit the market this year (2007), and if you're into surface embroidery and goldwork, it's an essential edition to your library! Even if you've never dabbled in goldwork yourself, this book is great for information, wonderful photos, good techniques, and lots of inspiration. Better yet, even if you don't intend to dabble in goldwork, but you're a textile enthusiast or a history buff, you'll find a lot of information in this book for you.

Goldwork Embroidery Designs and Projects is, from the outside, already a stunning book. It's heavy (it's 208 pages on glossy, high quality paper), and it's got a gorgeous cover in dark burgundy displaying a stunning piece of goldwork. Once you open the book.... you're stuck! At least I was.

Mary Brown Goldwork Embroidery Designs and Projects

Mary Brown Goldwork Embroidery Designs and Projects

Mary Brown begins the book with acknowledgements to the Royal School of Needlework where she received her training. (I always love to see people acknowledge their teachers!) Section I of the book covers a rather thorough and fascinating history of goldwork embroidery punctuated with photos from the various eras (a real treat!), then proceeds to talking about metal threads, materials, and the techniques of metal thread embroidery. Here, you get great up-close, clear photos of the techniques, which are really essential if you don't have a face-to-face instructor. The instructions are clear, the photos are great. It's a perfect learning tool for the beginner and beyond.

But then, here's the great thing. Section I of the book covers about 90 pages. They're great pages. I didn't find one that I could skip with the "same-old-stuff" attitude. Sure, you see most of the same techniques in other goldwork books, but her photos and her precise instructions are good, so it's useful to read them and study them. BUT - (this is what I was getting at) - what comes next is 100 pages devoted to projects. There are 15 projects detailed in the book, all with design, supply list, step-by-step instructions, illustrations, photos of the steps along the way, and photos of the finished project. Talk about thorough. And the projects are absolutely gorgeous. All levels are well-represented.

This is a gem of a book! Thanks, Mary Brown, for the hard work that certainly went into it. It's a masterpiece!

You can visit Mary Brown's website Mary Brown Designs to see her work. You can also order goldwork supplies through her, but if you live in the US, beware that shipping is pricey, as she's in Australia!

You can find the book through Amazon, where it's $16.47. If you're ordering $25 worth of goods from Amazon, you'll get free shipping. At Barnes and Noble online, it's $19.96, unless you're a member, then it's $17.96.

Labels: book review, goldwork

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Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Embroidered Drawstring Bags Underway!

This week in my kids' embroidery class, we began our second summer project, embroidered drawstring bags. I picked out five colors of cotton broadcloth, and four patterned cottons to use as lining.

The embroidered design will be worked on the front of the bag only, since we don't have time to do a front and back pattern. So I drew up four patterns, which I will scan so you can see them, and I'll work up a short tutorial so you can see how easy it is to put together a lined drawstring bag, with "finished" seams on the inside.

I searched all over online for just the right pattern, but I didn't find anything that was exactly what I wanted. There was one pattern in particular that caught my eye, and I remember liking it, but I can't find the website! So I stuck with the simple rectangle, folded in half, with the lining tucked in, and actually, I like this pattern better. It's the perfect size for the kids to embroider, without being too big to take too long.

This is basically what the bags will look like when completed, although I'm going to do double drawstrings, so that they are easy to open and close. They'll have two strings coming out on the other side of the bag as well, then. They'll also be embroidered! This was just the sample I worked up to make sure the idea would work!

This is the lining in the light pink bag - I love the bright fabric! For the casing for the drawstring, I worked a backstitch around the bag in two parallel lines, so you're seeing the back side of the backstitch inside the bag there.

I think my favorite part of the bags so far is the fabric!

I've got a light blue with a purple and light blue flowered lining (although most of the linings can be mixed and matched).

Then there's a light purple with a yellow lining, with little purple flowers and pink roses.

And the same lining looks great with the dark pink bag, too! I also like the bright yellow and pink lining in the light pink bag above, with the dark pink.

I've got an aqua broadcloth as well, which looks incredibly good (believe it or not!) with the purple flowered lining.

My 13-year old niece helped me pick out the lining fabrics, which was good. I didn't want to end up with anything "fuddy duddy" that the kids wouldn't like! She did a great job, and the kids are really excited about their last project.

The designs I drew up are relatively simple - a wreath of lazy daisy leaves and flowers, to put their initials in; a row of daisies; a geometric "sampler" type pattern for the girls who like to dress things up a lot (and who spend time at home stitching!); and a pattern of random circles (worked in buttonhole wheels and stem stitch, etc) with lazy daisy flowers, to match that bright yellow lining on the bag above. I think (I hope!) they are all quick to work - and I think they are, as most of the kids not only traced all their patterns in class today, but got a good bit of stitching done.

Only two more weeks of classes (two a week, for two different age groups), so all in all, this summer, we will have had nine weeks of classes, or 18 classes altogether. Not bad!

I can't wait to take photos of the whole display of completed bags and notebook covers! It should end up being 76 completed projects! WOW!

Labels: beginner embroidery, embroidery for children, pictures

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Friday, August 03, 2007

Speaking of Free Embroidery Patterns....

I'm always on the lookout for free embroidery patterns, designs, and tutorials online. I'm pretty well convinced that, if you want to embroider something, you don't have to spend a lot of money on a kit or a pattern - you can probably find enough resources online to set up your own project pretty easily.

Whoops! I better clarify, though - I do like kits and such. And obviously, sometimes it's just easier to have the preliminary work done for you. But still, hand embroidery is a great do-it-yourself art, and with a little searching, you can probably find all the tools you need to do it yourself for free, online -- with the exception of the necessary material goods, of course!

Anyway, the latest copy of Inspirations is out (Issue 55), and every time I receive mine, I end up popping in at their website to see what's new. They've got some great free patterns on there - I think I've already mentioned the smocking pattern - but I happened to notice a few more nice ones while browsing yesterday.

First, there's a beautiful little stumpwork pattern called Magic Mushrooms. This pattern is straight out of the A-Z book on stumpwork. It features a couple colorful mushrooms, some berries, and - of course - a spider! Stumpwork looks difficult, but if you're proficient with just a few basic stitches, it's easy to pick up. There are two things I love about stumpwork: the dimensional look and the botanical subjects. Granted, not all stumpwork is botanical, but a lot of it is. The pattern, by the way, has step-by-step instructions, so, if you've wanted to give stumpwork a try without investing in a book right off the bat, this might be the way to do it.

The other free patterns that caught my attention are Christmas-related. If you're planning on hand-made Christmas gifts featuring embroidery, you might want to check out the Christmas bullion designs. They offer five - two Christmas trees, a Christmas pudding, a holly, and a Father Christmas design. All the little designs feature bullion knots, and are really darling!

So, if you get a chance, check out Country Pumpkin's Free Embroidery Design page... and get inspired! Have fun with it!

Labels: embroidery resources, free embroidery patterns

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Thursday, August 02, 2007

Embroidery Patterns: More Online Resources

Two websites that offer great embroidery resources for patterns and techniques were brought to my attention by a reader this week.

The first is the Online Digital Archives of Weaving and Related Topics, hosted by the University of Arizona. I had previously mentioned this particular site, as it makes available all kinds of resources related to textiles, but for the embroiderer especially, there are quite a few gems. My favorite "find" on this site is Ladies' Guide to Needlework, which is a book full of embroidery patterns and techniques. That link will take you to an index page - scroll down until you find the Ladies' Guide to Needlework, which is downloadable in three separate PDF files.

The book begins with an inscription from a poem by William Cowper, called "The Winter Evening."

But here the needle plies its busy task,
The pattern grows, the well-depicted flow'r,
Wrought patiently into the snowy lawn,
Unfolds its bosom; buds, and leaves, and sprigs,
And curling tendrils, gracefully dispos'd,
Follow the nimble finger of the fair;
A wreath that cannot fade, or flow'rs that blow
With most success when all besides decay.

The whole poem is beautiful, but I always thought it would be fun to design an embroidery pattern around these lines. So when I found it in the front of the first section of the Ladies' Guide to Needlework, I fell in love with the book!

You can literally spend hours browsing the resources on the Digital Archive. And the embroiderer will find all kinds of old books in full, with plenty of technique and design for inspiration.

The second recommended website is the Antique Pattern Library. I've mentioned individual finds on this one before, too, but haven't added them to my list of free embroidery patterns online, either. (But I will now!) Strictly, these aren't those quick pages you can jump to when looking for an embroidery pattern - you have to do a bit of browsing to find what you want - but oh! the browsing! You'll find heaps of great stuff on this site, too.

You'll want to go straight to the Antique Pattern Library "Card Catalog" since that's where you'll find a listing and description of the books available. Generous folk have done all the scanning work and made these wonderful resources available to the public.

There are all kinds of great needlework books there, from lace-making to crochet to cross stitch to general embroidery. Browse through the books, and you'll find yourself inspired to pick up your needle 'n thread and get stitching!

Thanks to Sytske for the prompting to add these to the list!

Labels: free embroidery patterns, historical needlework

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Sunday, August 26, 2007

Embroidery Website News...

Rosette Chain Stitch Video Tutorial

Great Little Hand Embroidery Book

Friday, August 24, 2007

Looking for Embroidery Needles?

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Embroidered Drawstring Pattern: A Little Sampler

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Simple Daisy Wreath Pattern

Church Embroidery Book Online

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Textile Museum Exhibits Online

Friday, August 17, 2007

Library of Needlework Books Online

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Beetle Wing & Goldwork Embroidery Links

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Embroidery Projects - More Photos

Monday, August 13, 2007

Daisy Garden Embroidery Pattern for Drawstring Bags

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Embroidered Drawstring Bag Pattern: Circles

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Embroidery Equipment: The Ultimate Needlework Stand!

Friday, August 10, 2007

New Book! Goldwork Embroidery: Designs & Projects

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Embroidered Drawstring Bags Underway!

Friday, August 03, 2007

Speaking of Free Embroidery Patterns....

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Embroidery Patterns: More Online Resources

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