Posted By: Mary Corbet on Saturday, August 30, 2008
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You'd think that, in my endeavor to reduce my embroidery stash by giving little snippets away each month in my "stash contests," I'd refrain from adding anything else to it, right? Last week I went shopping.

And I bought THREADS!! Whoooohooooooo!

But I don't consider them stash. I'll tell you why...

I define stash - needlework stash, fabric stash, crafting stash - any kind of "stash" - as those supplies that build up from years of collecting because Someday I will use them.

Stash is essential to serious hobbyists who indulge frequently in their hobbies. Stash can be a source of inspiration; it can also be a source of innumerable headaches.

"Where do I store all this?!"

"I'm running out of space!!"

"I've got to Get Organized!!!"

I bet you know what I'm talking about!

Stash is build up. It is stuff we buy that we don't need "right now," (but we might some day). It's that new silk on the market we just want to try. It's the book that catches our fancy that we might work a project from [later]. It's that gorgeous piece of fabric that would be perfect for _______ (when I get around to it). It's that little accessory that isn't entirely necessary, but gosh, wouldn't it be nice to have? It's also that leftover thread from that little project... you know, the one where you bought enough thread to wrap around Texas, just in case they ran out of that dye lot?

Stash, I think, makes the hobbyist feel secure. Isn't there a certain sense of ownership when you think of your stash? And don't you like the idea of knowing that, at a moment's notice, you can pull out something that will give you the delight of creativity in the midst of the travails of everyday life?



Oooh. Loooooook. Threeeeaaaad.

I went shopping on Saturday and I bought some threads. The bulk of these threads are not stash - they are for immediate use on a current project, and it is likely that there won't be any leftovers to add to the growing mountains in my cupboards. So you can't have any of these threads! ... yet.

When I thread shop, I'm at a huge disadvantage, and I think a lot of readers have this same problem. For specialty embroidery supplies, most of my shopping is done online. I can't see the threads or feel the fabric. Colors are rarely accurate when seen through a monitor. Thread weight, size, twist, sheen - these are things you can't determine while sitting at your desk staring at a screen. So when I do venture the two hours one way to the closest needlework shop, I take my time and sort out threads, matching them to my fabrics and project design. But I also end up buying threads that I "hope" are what I want for the project at hand, because at least with these threads, I've felt them.



The time I spend in the shop may get annoying for shop owners (I would hope not, because I also spend a lot of money in their shops!), but it is really important to me in those circumstances to spend the time well, to make sure I get what I need, and not to feel pressured into buying the wrong stuff.



Sometimes, I buy one color of two different types of threads (like I did with the blue you see above). I take both home and try the different choices, actually stitching them on my project or on a scrap. I pick the one I like best and then I place the order online....

And that brings me back to stash. Guess where the thread that didn't work ends up?

Eventually, I will show you this project. I think there's only one person out there in Needlework Land who could guess exactly what project these threads are for - and I don't know if she's reading this!

Oh, yes. Before I forget. I did buy some other stuff. You know, they had this silk I just had to try.... and one of those pretty magnets that I just knew I'd use... someday. Oh, and that Ever-tite frame. Not the one for any particular project - you know, the one for just in case?

Labels: canvas stitches, needlepoint, pictures, silk, threads, wool

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, August 28, 2008
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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, August 27, 2008
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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, August 26, 2008
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Despite wear and tear, this is a gorgeous piece of ecclesiastical needlework. In fact, most of the wear and tear, from a distance, isn't noticeable - but when you look closely at the piece, you realize that there are parts that really need attention if it is to continue in use.

Christiana has undertaken the formidable task of repairing this cope hood so that it can be used again. I thought I'd show you some photos she sent along. I never tire of studying this type of work up close - the details always amaze me!

So this is a hand-embroidered element mounted on the back of the hood of a cope, which is a garment (like a cape) used in liturgical ceremonies. The image on the back of the cope is a representation of the Trinity - God the Father, the Holy Ghost (the Dove), and God the Son (the Lamb of God, or Agnus Dei).



Here's a view of the whole piece of embroidery.



This is a close up on the face. I love examining faces. Look at the difference between the face from far away (in the first photo above) and the face close up. Who would've ever guessed there was a red line down the side of the nose and above the eyes?



Here's a close-up on the crown and nimbus. It looks like the goldwork here is in very good repair, as you can see in the photo below:



But as you travel downwards in the design, the need of repair becomes more obvious, as seen below:



You can see the loose gold threads around the feet of the lamb, and the red cording hanging down (visible in the first picture above as well). You can also see in this photo - if you look in the colored folds of the garment - that some of the line stitching is loose there.



Here's the face of the lamb up close. I have to agree with Christiana - I love the way they did the wool! You can see on the left side of the nimbus (halo) one of the threads tweaking off.



And I think this is great! This is Christiana's set-up for repairing the cope hood. First, she had to separate the hood from the lining, picking out by hand all the little stitches in the fabric around the hood (which is cloth of gold - not an easy task!). Then she had to contrive a way to mount the piece so that she had both hands free to work, without mounting it in anything that would damage the fabric or the embroidered piece. She's using a frame her dad made for her, which she's wrapped in fabric to protect the cope hood and also, I imagine, it provides a bit of friction to keep the work in place. She clamped the sides of the frame together to hold the piece while she works, keeping an even tension on the piece, but not so tight that it's pulling anything that's already stitched.

By the way - yep, she's stitching through the cloth of gold on which the piece is mounted. Talk about sore fingers!!

Keep up the good work, Christiana! I can't wait to see the finished product! (I wish I could see it in person!)

Labels: ecclesiastical embroidery, goldwork, historical needlework, needlework care, needlework pictures, pictures, silk

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, August 26, 2008
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Last year, I posted a little blurb about Helen Stevens and directed readers to her two websites, one which offered online classes in thread painting and the other, called Fritillary, which offered a variety of goods for the embroiderer or anyone who appreciates beautiful embroidery and fabrics...

Just recently, Helen's two websites have combined into one: Fritillary and True Embroideries. So now you can browse through the different goods Helen offers to those interested in really fine needlework goods, or you can glean information and instruction - all at the same site.

If thread painting (aka needlepainting, long and short stitch shading, etc. etc. etc.) interests but intimidates you, perhaps you should take a look at Helen's online classes. She offers a basic class on the Champagne Rose for free. The classes include the pattern and instructions, suggested materials (you can buy a materials pack for each course), and video instruction.

While you're squizzing around the site, stop in at the virtual exhibition page, where you can enjoy a slideshow of Helen's work.



There are two items on Helen's website that I really do drool over - the bobbin joe and the cabinet for silks. You can find them on the furnishings page. Both are slightly out of my accessory price range, though, especially considering the exchange rate! But if you have a dear friend who's a stitcher, or a mom, or someone very close to you who loves to embroider, I would imagine that either of those would make an excellent Christmas or birthday gift, if they're within your price range!



This autumn, I'm planning (and hopefully executing - but that's a Whole Nuther Story!) to work a piece of figure embroidery. I have the collection of Helen's silks, and will be using some of them for the eyes and other elements. They're the only flat silks I've found that are really tiny, and really flat. I think they'd be perfect for doing a small set of human eyes. I'll let you know how that goes!

I hope you enjoy browsing Helen Stevens's new website - there's lots there to inspire, that's for sure!

Labels: embroidery designers, embroidery resources

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Monday, August 25, 2008
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I'm not sure what it is about me and whitework lately, but here I am, back on another whitework subject! I received a really nice book this past week, and I wanted to tell you about it.

The book is called Schwalm Embroidery Techniques and Designs, by Christine Bishop. Even if Schwalm embroidery doesn't seem to be your thing, I discovered a couple good aspects of the book that would make it useful for those who enjoy other surface embroidery techniques.

But first, a little information on Schwalm embroidery. It's a whitework technique hailing from the Schwalm region of Germany (think Hansel and Gretel and other fairytales...). The characteristics of Schwalm embroidery are basically bold outlines and delicate fillings. Schwalm whitework creates a lacy look, but it isn't properly lace. Some stock shapes are typical to Schwalm embroidery - hearts, tulips, birds, leaves, etc. - but the technique is not limited to just these shapes. The shapes are outlined with a bolder line, made up of coral stitch and chain stitch, and then they are filled. The filling is the thing that amazes me - the range of filling designs is limited only by the stitcher's imagination, really. The fillings are executed on the fabric with threads drawn out, to lighten the look of them, or to enhance the pattern.

As far as materials go, Schwalm whitework is worked on high-count linen (32 count and higher, generally, with 50+ count being standard and even preferred for intricate designs). The thread employed is coton a broder, something I've been mentioning a lot lately. This is a non-divisible 4-ply mercerized cotton that comes in sizes 12 (large) to 40 (small). Actually, here in the States, it's easier to find 16 through 40 - sizes 16 through 35 are produced by DMC, and Anchor seems to be the only available size 40. You can find coton a broder in the US through specialty shops - I usually order mine through Lacis.



If you want to see what Schwalm whitework looks like and read a little more about it, check out the Essay on Schwalm Embroidery at Heritage Shoppe. There are two really pretty pictures there.

Many of the websites devoted to Schwalm embroidery are in German, and even if you don't read German, it's still worthwhile to check them out. For example, the site of Margarete Grandjot, Stick-Atelier, has an excellent gallery on it, where you can see some beautiful examples of Schwalm embroidery. Scroll down to about the middle of the page, and you'll see a fantastic circular linen (it's really shaped like a doughnut, with a hole in the middle!). There are close-up photos underneath the main picture, showing the different motifs around the piece. There, you'll get a good sense of the variety of fillings used in Schwalm embroidery.



Another website on the topic of Schwalm embroidery is Hessenstickerei, the site of Renate Fernau. Unfortunately, the site is still under construction, and the last evident date on it was 2005, BUT - on the German version of the website, it has a decent gallery, though the photos don't enlarge very large! The thing I like in particular about this website is that, on the English version, under catalog, you will find a section on patterns for Schwalm embroidery. You can get a good sense of the "look" of Schwalm patterns here.

One thing you'll notice about Schwalm embroidery is that it looks rather "folk-ish," and there's a reason for that. Schwalm developed among the peasants of Germany, as a decorative embroidery for the "average" person, rather than for the wealthy. The "wealthy" counterpart of Schwalm whitework could perhaps be considered Dresden whitework, which looks more like lace and was worked by professional houses to supply the stuff to those who could afford it. Dresden whitework reached its zenith of production and popularity in the mid-1700's. Strangely enough, it was worked on muslin (very, very fine muslin, imported from India). Schwalm was generally worked on linen by the peasants, for their own personal decoration - household linens, clothing, etc. It's quite a bit "rougher" than Dresden work.

Funny how things turn around - linen is a much dearer fabric today than muslin or cotton! Of course, you have to consider the sheer fine-ness of the muslin then, and that it was woven by hand. An interesting story is told in a pamphlet published by Lacis on their whitework museum (PDF): "The story is told that when a Nawab reproved his daughter for allowing her skin to be seen through her clothes, she demonstrated that she was wearing no less than eleven thicknesses of such material." So - very fine stuff! If you haven't read that pamphlet (linked to above) and you're interested in whitework, you might give it a look - you'll find heaps of photos of different types of whitework and lace.

Now - I've strayed from the point - back to Schwalm and the book at hand.



Schwalm Embroidery by Christine Bishop is a great introduction to the techniques of Schwalm whitework. It's perfectly suited to a beginner, with techniques and designs of varying degrees of difficulty throughout the book.



I particularly like the sampler that's presented in the book. Samplers such as this one are great for those interested in trying out the various techniques within a particular type of embroidery before launching into a major project involving those techniques.



You'll also find some really nice project ideas in the book. See the needlelace on the edge of the cushion? The author goes into detail on creating that edge, and the instructions are clear and accessible for the beginner.



Notice that the projects in the book are not all executed on white linen. I really like the look of the white on the natural linen, as in the sampler above. While I was out shopping yesterday, I went to Two the Point, a little needlework shop in Kansas City (where I bought some goodies I'll tell you about later!). While I was there, I picked up a remnant of a high count natural linen that would be perfect for such a sampler. I've tucked it away, though - too many other projects coming up - but I plan to go back to it, with this book in hand, before the year's out. We'll see!!

Finally, as last point on Schwalm embroidery - I like the fact that it involves various techniques that carry over into other styles of embroidery: pulled thread, drawn thread, satin stitching, a variety of surface stitches - all are used in Schwalm embroidery. So if you play around with Schwalm embroidery, you'll pick up skills useful in other types of embroidery, too. And this book by Christine Bishop will help you learn those skills!

The book is part of the Milner Craft Series, and is available through Amazon for $14.00 new.

Labels: beginner embroidery, book review, pictures, regional embroidery techniques, whitework

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Sunday, August 24, 2008
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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Saturday, August 23, 2008
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Here we are, at that moment in the month to unload some bits of needlework stash. The focus this month isn't fibers, though there are some. It isn't bits of embellishment, either (though there are some of those, too!)... nooooo... it's better than all that!

For those of you new to concept, during 2008 I decided to reduce bits and pieces of my needlework stash and little odds and ends useful to the embroiderer, and to do this, I've established a kind of monthly "contest." Oh, it's not much of a contest - you don't have to do tooooo much hard work to have a chance to win!

This month, there are a few threads in the give-away:



From left to right, there's some yellow floche, followed by some blue floche and some blue Danish flower thread. I compared the floche and Danish flower thread a few days ago, if you aren't familiar with either of them.

Then, on the right, screaming at you in Really Bright Pink, is a nice skein of Au Ver a Soie's Soie d'Alger. This is absolutely my favorite stranded silk to stitch with - ok, maybe not in that color, but golly - I love this thread.



Then, for the fun of it, some embellishments - some Mill Hill frosted glass beads in a dark red (very pretty), and a little heart-shaped-lock-sort-of-charm thingy.

But here's the icing, and the whole cake, too -----



Yes, your very own copy of A-Z of Embroidery Stitches 2, wherein you will find step-by-step photo instructions for about 145 stitches, in true Country-Bumpkin style. It's an excellent book...



...packed with photos of stitches and tips and tricks for working them, as well as nice pictures of inspirational embroidery stuff. Oh yes. There is nothing you won't love in this book.



The book features more of the "unusual" or uncommon stitches, and a lot of composite stitches (which are stitches comprised of two or more kinds of stitches). It's a fun book, and would be a great resource for anyone into any kind of surface embroidery. To buy the book new here in the States, it's anywhere from $25.00 - $33.00. This book is new - I pulled the sticker off when I got it, but haven't used the book itself. It's been sitting on a shelf.



So there's the little heap.

Now, to win this, you have to do something...

(My brain is actually running dry on ideas right now!)

SO, this is what I want you to do:

Comment below, and suggest a needlework-related question that would be suitable to these stash contests. That way, you're helping me a little bit by setting me up for the next contest!

The nitty-gritty:

Your comment must be made on the website, not replied to via e-mail or the newsletter. To leave a comment, click on the heading of this article. You'll end up on the article's page on Needle'nThread. Scroll to the very bottom of the article, and find the link that says "Click to Comment." Click it. You may choose to comment "anonymously" (that way, you don't have to have an account), but in your comment, please leave some sort of identifying name or initials or something, so that I can count you in!

Suggest a needlework-related question in your comment - if you need ideas of the types of questions I ask, check out the other stash contests I've had on needle'nthread. You'll notice the questions aren't all that original - maybe you can come up with something really clever and exciting! I like questions that elicit information or ideas for other needleworkers, the answers of which would provide helpful information, instruction, or inspiration.

The contest is open to all readers, regardless of your location. I will ship overseas via the least expensive airmail method. I've shipped to several countries - Hungary (I never heard if that one arrived?), Germany (never heard back from that one, either), Australia several times (always heard back from the Australians!), and around the States. I'm really open to shipping anywhere, so don't be shy!

And the contest ends next Wednesday morning, August 27th, at 4:00 am Central Time (US), because I usually post by 6:00 am. I will pick the winner using a random number picker.

I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, at which point, the winner has to contact me. If I don't hear from the winner within two days, I'll draw another name.

I'm actually very excited to give this book away because I like it so much. I have a duplicate copy that was given to me, so I'll keep the given one and give away the bought one!

Good luck!

Labels: pictures, stash contest

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, August 22, 2008
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I've managed to work up a few more stitches on Breath of Spring, which is really turning out to be a super-fun project! Here are some photos of progress and plans!

When I last posted photos for this project called "Breath of Spring," I hadn't quite finished the French knot flowers that look like butter mints. But I finished those up late last night, and you know what? I really like them!!

I'd say I'm a little more than half finished with the piece:



The little blue forget-me-nots stand out a lot more than I realized they would. I'm not quite so keen on the really dark undersides of the foxglove (the bell-shaped purple and yellow flowers on the left), because they Really seem to stand out. But ... I still like them!



This is my favorite section so far - I like the butter mint flowers and the angelica (the other "white" French knot flower burst on the right of the photo).



Over all, the angelica looks white, but you can see that it, too, is worked in a variegated thread of pastel colors. I'm glad - if they really were white, they'd be too stark. I like the subtle shades of color.



A new ladybug - I like this one better than the first, but he's got a little antenna thing going on there, like the tip decided to disconnect. Funny, it took an up-close photo to make this clear. I didn't notice it until I saw the picture!



Here are the "butter mint" flowers. I don't know what else to call them, because I don't know what they're supposed to be! They are worked in slightly darker shades of pastel than the angelica. I like them, after all. I didn't think I would, but I really do!



And this is where I'm going next - the thistle and the caterpillar. I can't wait! That thistle looks fun.



And then, after that, the grasshoper. I'm kind of getting into this bug thing. Embroidering bugs is great fun. Kind of weird, but really fun. "I'm going to go embroider a bug, if you'll excuse me." Not something you say every day, you know?

So that's my progress so far. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to be able to sit down later in the evening, after long days at work, and just stitch for a half an hour or so before going to bed. It's great relaxation. I'm so thankful to have stitching as a hobby, aren't you? It's just... the Best!

Labels: Breath of Spring, Embroidery Projects, Inspirations Magazine, needlework pictures, pictures

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, August 21, 2008
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Jeannine sent along pictures of her third-ever embroidery projects... she sent these a while ago, so by now, she must be on her hundredth-ever projects!! (Maybe?) These are quilt blocks of the month, and I think they're pretty darned cute - not to mention really well done!

One reason I like these types of hand embroidery projects is because they are filled with a variety of stitches, and you have pretty much an unlimited choice of colors. I think these types of blocks are excellent for beginners, and are a great way to make something that can be treasured by family or friends for a long time to come.

Here are her blocks:



I love the seed stitching in the flowers, and the variety of leaves, don't you?



Again, the seed stitching is great for filling! I can't decide what I like best on this one - I think I like the sand!



It's easy to pick a favorite aspect of this block - I love the turkey's feathers!

Good job, Jeannine! These are great - what a lot of fun! And it's wonderful to be able to see what others are doing out there in the embroidery world... seeing other people's work is a great way to get inspired!

If you've been working on something lately and want to send along a progress report, I'd love to see your current project. Contact me, and I'll e-mail you back, so you can send an attachment!

I hope everyone's having a great week - I, personally, am work-swamped. But this, too, shall pass!

Labels: needlework pictures, pictures, readers embroidery

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
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Christiana sent me several pictures of some of her embroidery projects, so I thought I'd show them to you. I didn't know how to group them together, so I decided to stick with a somewhat "opposite" theme on this one. If you happen to like Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe, you'll know why I was thinking in terms of opposites...

First of all, here's a pretty cool piece of Celtic knotwork that Christi stitched for her brother. He found the design somewhere and liked it, so she decided to convert it into an embroidered piece. He calls them "Saxon Dogs," and if you follow the intricate lines of the knotwork, you can finally arrive at the part that looks like a dog! Click on the image for a larger version, if you want to see it up close. It's worked in satin stitch and (I think?) stem stitch on muslin, with black DMC stranded cotton.



I love the knotwork - I think it looks great in black. I especially like the way the design flows so smoothly.

So that's the Saxon part of the post...

The "Norman" part of the post is a little fleur de lys that I think is really pretty:



I like the seed stitching for the shading, and I love the colors!

Christiana is in the process of repairing a piece of ecclesiastical needlework right now - the hood of a cope, worked in gold metal threads and silk. I think she was rather valiant to take the job on, and I hope she's surviving it!

Labels: needlework pictures, pictures, readers embroidery

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, August 19, 2008
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If you embroider, chances are you're familiar with stranded cotton, which is probably the most popularly used cotton embroidery floss (or thread). Next popular is likely to be perle (or pearl) cotton. These two cotton threads are widely available, so most stitchers are familiar with them. But there are other cotton embroidery threads out there! Here are two that I like - floche and Danish flower thread.

I've talked a bit about floche before, and have already written up a comparison between floche, perle cotton, and stranded cotton. This time, I'm throwing Danish flower thread into the mix.

First, let's take a look at the two types of threads in pictures...



Above, a pile of floche....



... and here's a (smaller) pile of Danish flower thread.



And here are the two together. Right off, you can see a difference between the two threads. The Danish flower thread is in the foreground. Notice that that there's no real sheen on it like there is on the floche.

Floche is mercerized cotton, so it has a nice shine to it. Danish flower thread is matte cotton, so there's no shine to it.



There are two similar blues as far as colors go - but they look distinctly different, for two reasons. One is the sheen from the mercerization on the floche. The other is the twist of the individual thread. If you look at the floche, in this picture you can see that the individual threads (each ply that makes up the strand) are not too tightly twisted. On the Danish flower thread, the plies are twisted relatively tight, compared to the plies on the floche. The twist definitely has a lot to do with the reflection of light on a thread, so it isn't just the shine of the mercerization that makes floche and flower thread different.

But twist and finish (matte vs. mercerized) aren't the only differences in the two threads.



Here, I've lined the two threads up next to a #8 pearl cotton. Actually, a #12 would have been closer in size - but I only have white in #12, and it didn't show up as well.

If you look at the construction of the threads, you can see that the pearl and the flower thread look alike, but the floche looks a lot smoother. This is because the pearl and the flower thread are only two plies twisted relatively tightly, while the floche is five plies, and the twists that hold the plies together are much longer than the twists on the other two threads. I'm sure there's a technical name to the length of a twist... but... I don't know it!



I stitched two petals on a flower on a tea towel, each with a different thread.



Now, to test your attention span and observation skills so far, here's the quiz:

Which petal is floche, and which is flower thread?

If you said the top one is the flower thread, you're right. When you see them side-by-side, it's really easy to tell the difference between the two threads. Besides the obvious sheen on the floche, it is a "softer" looking thread.

Danish flower thread is a non-divisible thread (that means you don't separate it into smaller threads to work with), equal to about 2 to 3 strands of regular stranded cotton. As mentioned before, it's not mercerized, so it's got a matte finish, which makes it look, in a sense, "dull." To me, it almost feels like crewel wool, but with a tighter twist and not as much "fuzz." It feels sort of dry, if that makes any sense! Flower thread has been around for a while - the original Danish thread was produced in the early 1900's, when the thread was dyed to mimic plant dyed threads used in Scandinavian needlework. DMC eventually picked up the idea, and produces a flower thread as well, but the "original dyed" flower thread is Danish flower thread.

You may wonder what Danish flower thread is used for - why would a matte finish thread be popular enough that DMC would decide to produce a line of it, for example? The matte threads are wonderful for creating the look of historical embroidery - if you want a really old look to your work (if you're creating an historical sampler, for example), Danish flower thread is great for that.

Also, the contrast you can achieve in stitching with a matte finish thread now and then adds interest to a project. Imagine if you're stitching on a crazy quilt seam, for example, and you're using a fabric with a high sheen to it. A matte finish thread would stand out well on it. Think Mountmellick embroidery - it's the same concept. The contrast between the matte threads and the cotton sateen is characteristic of Mountmellick embroidery, and really very beautiful.

So there's yet another cotton thread to consider giving a try! You can find the original Danish flower thread through Hedgehog Handworks, where it's $1.20 per 21-ish-yard skein. I also get my floche through Hedgehog. It's beautiful stuff, isn't it?

Well, stay tuned this week - the August stash contest will feature both of these threads, along with... oh, a really good book!

Labels: danish flower thread, floche, pictures, threads

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Monday, August 18, 2008
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After finishing the whitework on the linen pouch, and doing whitework monograms on the embroidered guest towels this summer, I decided it was time to dig out something colorful to embroider! Better yet, something colorful that was already set up...

So, I took out "Breath of Spring," a project from Country Bumpkin's Inspirations Magazine, issue #56. I mentioned this particular project previously, when I was planning to finish it as a gift. But, you know, time just got away from me! So I've picked it up now, to (hopefully) finish relatively soon (boy, doesn't that sound non-commital!!??)



There are lots of things I like about this project!! For one thing, it's Colorful. Some of threads, when seen in isolation, might not strike you as Super Colorful, but when taken as a whole project, the colors are pretty varied, and very pretty!

Another thing I like is that the project employs a variety of stitches, so you never really get bored doing the same old stitch over and over again.

Finally, each separate element in the design is small enough to handle in one sitting, more or less. And once I near the completion of one little element, the excitement builds to move on to the next!

Overall, the piece is easy enough - I'd think any moderately advanced beginner could work it, as long as you had a good stitch dictionary (although I think the stitches are covered in the issue of the magazine...) But there are no really "advanced" techniques - the hardest stitch in it is the bullion knot. But this isn't to say I'm not learning anything as I work the project, because I am! Let me show you some close ups here, and tell you a couple things I've learned along the way.



This is the left side of the piece - the bell-shaped flowers are supposed to be foxglove. The butterfly is a duplicate of one on the right side of the piece. I like the one on the right side Much Better. Now, you might wonder how that could be, if they are duplicates...



This is the one on the left side (seen in the photo above). It's the second of these twin butterflies that I worked. I followed the directions on this one to the "T" - and I used 4 strands of floss on the bullion body and French knot head. For the most part, the whole design is worked in one strand of cotton. But this butterfly's bullion body called for 4 strands.



On the first one I worked, I didn't think 4 strands was quite the thing, so I worked the bullion in one strand - and I tapered the end, down to a longer straight stitch. As far as butterflies go, I think this one looks quite a bit more delicate and butterfly-ish. The one above (on the left side of the design) looks chunky and bulky and thick. I may go back and alter that, but I'm not sure if I dislike it that much!



The parts of the piece that catch the eye first, I think, are the buttercups. They're two shades of yellow.



They're worked in a closed buttonhole on the outside of the petal, and then long-and-short-stitch filling, to add the darker shading in the middle.



I like the side-view buttercups, too. There's just something about bright yellow flowers that's so cheeeeeery.



Ok, I love the lady bugs. But I really flubbed this one up! I'm definitely going to take out the French knots and re-work them. I have no excuse - just sloppy stitching at that point. Three of them look all cock-eyed and silly. I'll take those out and re-work them.

The ladybug bodies are stitched in closely worked fly stitch, which forms a seam down the body between the wings. I like that! Clever thinking on the designers part, methinks. The little head is just a few satin stitches.



I'm a little confused about these fellows.



And the more I work of them, the more confused I get. I like them.... but on the instructions, they are listed as "white flowers," and I checked and double-checked my labeling on my threads to see if I made a mistake. They aren't really what I'd call "white flowers"! I think the colors are pretty. But they sure aren't white. They remind me of baby shower butter mints.



And finally, worked here and there among the flowers are these clusters of forget-me-knots. I jumped in to work a few, so I could see how the blue sets things off. I like them! They'll have a little French knot in the middle of them when they're finished.

I'm really enjoying working this piece! The only drawback I've encountered so far is some of the thread used in it. I purchased this as a kit from Country Bumpkin, so all the threads came with it, although they did make some substitutions for threads they didn't have on hand. The substitutions were ok, and I have no problem with tje idea of substitutions at all. But I didn't like some of the threads in the kit, which is unusual.

This piece calls for some over-dyed threads from House of Embroidery (of South Africa). I have never used their silks (they hand-dye silk and cotton), but I'm not very impressed with their cottons! I love the colors - they're really nice. But the thread itself - a 6-stranded embroidery cotton - pills, snags, frays, and knots a lot. After using about a 16 inch length, I finally cut back to 12 inch lengths, because the thread was just falling apart. Strangely enough, though, not every color did so. The foxgloves (the bell flowers on the left) didn't, but they were worked in larger stitches, and not small stitches that required a lot of passing through the fabric, so perhaps this made the difference. But the the thread used on the wheat and the grasses definitely did. I don't like cotton threads that pill up and shred apart. But maybe I'm just being picky?

I'd love to know if anyone else has used this particular brand of thread, and if so, if you've had similar experiences - or if maybe I'm just doing something wrong. I switched to a larger needle, too, so that there wasn't as much contact between the fabric and the thread. That helped a little bit, but not much.

So that's my colorful project right now. I've got it set up on a stretcher bar frame, and I'm using my Needlework System4 floor stand. When I have time after work, it's all there, just waiting... a perfect palette of colored embroidery bliss! Ahhhhh......

I have two more projects I'm dying to set up before Labor Day weekend, so that I have projects to work on during the first semester of the school year without having to set aside large chunks of time for design and set-up work. So ... here's hoping! I'll keep you posted!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Labels: Breath of Spring, Embroidery Projects, Inspirations Magazine, needlework pictures, pictures, threads

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Sunday, August 17, 2008
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The importance of good lighting while you're doing your needlework just can't be underestimated. For the avid needleworker, your eyes are probably your most important tool! And to save them - to make your work easy on the eyes and to reduce eye strain - good lighting is essential. There's nothing I like better than a Good Light. I got a "deal" on one last week. So I thought I'd tell you about it...

I have a couple lights I use for needlework - one is an Ott Light Plus, that can either sit in a heavy base on the table or can clamp to a table. It was my first needlework light purchase, and I've used it too many hours to count. I keep it in the 'garage-gone-studio' in the back of the house.

I also have in the living room one of the "decorative" variety of Ott lights that looks ok (when it's off). I'm not particularly keen on the blue-ish-bright glow that comes from Ott lights, as they aren't very "decorative" or warm looking when they're on. From outside looking in, they make the room look kind of cold. But still - for stitching under, the decorative ones like this are ok. They don't have the same "light coverage" as the long, wide, functional ones, though. The light shines in a pretty direct circle right where it's pointed, and that's it. Still, it's ok!

Now, for a good light, you're bound to spend quite a few bucks, right? Those links are all to Ott lights at Joann Fabric and Craft stores. When they're on sale for 40% off, you can get an ok deal on them.

But check out this light:



Though it looks like the Ott Light with the flexible arm, this is actually an Ultralux 55W floor lamp, by Full Spectrum Lighting. It differs from an Ott light in a couple ways, but the most notable way in my mind is that it has a dimmer. With Ott lights, you can either turn them on, or turn them off. With this Ultralux, you can adjust the range of brightness.



Now, the Ultralux floor lamp is rather expensive, too - this unit sells for around $180. The replacement bulbs are about $30.

It just so happens that a friend of mine was ducking into thrift stores last week, though, and she came across this Ultralux floor lamp... for a whopping whole $2. It didn't work but she bought it, thinking I might interested in it (thanks, Irene!), and realizing it could just be the matter of the bulb.

At first, when I realized the replacement bulb (it's that 4-tube bulb in the picture up there) was $30, I hesitated about buying one. After all, what if it wasn't the bulb? What if it was the lamp? I found a place with a good return policy, and decided to take the risk. To invest a little bit in shipping would be worth it, after all, if the light works.

Guess what?

It does!! And it's wonderful!

The moral of the story, then, is this: shop around! If you're looking for a good light for stitching, drop in regularly at well-stocked, well-frequented second-hand stores. You never know what you'll find!

And that brings me to the final question: What kind of lighting do you use for stitching, and why do you like it? I'd love to hear some reader resonse on this subject!

A little note on this week's book give-away: I'll be posting that later next week, combined with the August Monthly Stash Contest. I'm going to give away the A-Z of Embroidery Stitches 2, plus some threads and such. So keep an eye out for that!

And now, finally, after a busy week and a busy Saturday - I'm going to go spend some time with my needle 'n thread!

Have a great weekend!

Labels: embroidery resources, lighting, needlework tools, pictures

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Saturday, August 16, 2008
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Finally! My first alphabet of monograms for hand embroidery is finally finished! The letter Z completes the set! Here it is...

I still have a little tiny bit of work to do on the monogram alphabet. Thanks to Margaret, I've got the first half of the alphabet traced in vectors, so they'll have the same smooth lines. I just need to replace the fuzzier letters - so I'll be doing that in the next couple days!

I have a Celtic-like alphabet I'm thinking of doing next. The letters are smaller than these, and a little more intricate, but I like the alphabet! I've got it on my list of Things to Do... you know the list - the kind that keeps growing!

Here's the Z:



And for the rest of this particular alphabet, you can visit my Index of Monograms for Hand Embroidery, and you'll find them all there!

Labels: free embroidery patterns, monograms

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, August 15, 2008
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A little late on this one - I should have posted the winner yesterday morning! Whoops! Well... I know you're just dying to hear, so ....

Last Saturday, I posted a give-away for the book Wool Felting Workshop. It's a cute book - it doesn't get into the nitty-gritty of real felting, but rather it concentrates on working with wool felt in a variety of ways. Felting, I think, is touched on, but it isn't the focus. The focus is stuff you can make with felt.

This time, I tried something different. I counted the number of posts that were entries, and went to a random number generator, took the generated number and counted down the number of comments that were entries (so, I had to skip one comment, as it wasn't an entry.)

This is the number that was generated (no comment on ill luck!):



Yep, it's a 13. If you count down 13 entry comments, then, you'll see that the winner is... Mary Grace McNamara (MGM)!! And so, MGM, congratulations - please contact me with your shipping address, and I'll send that book to you!

I'm thinking about a stitch dictionary this weekend - I haven't quite convinced myself to let it go, as I could reasonably give it as a gift.... or just keep it, and hoard it, because I like it so much.... BUT.... I have duplicate copies of A-Z of Embroidery Stitches 2, and I was thinking..... aaaaack.

Isn't it hard to part with things we Really Like? Even if we have more than one of them? But I think it would make an appropriate give-away for a book on here! And of course, there's always the argument that the gift means more when it's harder to give.

But there's that little wicked selfish side of me that's saying "nooooooooooo, it's Mine...." I guess you'll have to check tomorrow to see what side wins out!

Labels: Book Give-Away

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, August 15, 2008
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Guess who has published a new embroidery website? Read on, and I'll tell you....

Trish Burr has published a website - but it's not just "any" website. It's really pretty!



The site promises a free project, too - so that's something to keep an eye on while it's being developed.

What's really nice is Trish's gallery. You can see thumbnails of her work and click on them for larger versions. The larger versions are wonderful - you can see the individual stitches, which is great for developing an understanding of stitch direction and color combinations.



If you want to know a little bit more about Trish, you can read the article I posted on her and her book publishing adventures. The article is in two parts: Trish Burr, part 1, and Trish Burr, part 2. You'll see some of her works in the articles, too, but you can see them Even Better on her website!

Trish is a master at the whole long-and-short stitch / thread painting technique. Her works are featured in Country Bumpkin's Inspirations Magazine, and she's published four books, three of which are on long and short stitch techniques. If you're interested in this form of embroidery, but have perhaps been intimidated by its look of complexity, you may just be inspired enough by looking at Trish's work to plunge on in!

While you're browsing about, then, do check out Trish Burr online - you're bound to be impressed!

Labels: embroidery resources, needlepainting, Trish Burr

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, August 14, 2008
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I'm still rather elated to have the linen pouch finished. It's been delivered, so that project is completely behind me. I'm going to start on Something (???? so many ideas !!!!) with color in it now. Or perhaps dig out an old project! Whatever the case, my embroidery thread will be COLORED. But, anyway, I still want to show you how the pouch finished up...

After getting all the pieces together - the embroidery was finished, the piece was ironed, the cord, tassel, and button made, and the lining cut - it was time to put the pouch together. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures at every single step, but I'll do my best to explain it!

First of all, the lining is the same as the outside piece of fabric, so I don't suppose you would actually call it a "lining." It's just two pieces of linen (Alba Maxima by Legacy), the outside piece being embroidered.

I turned the embroidery to the inside of the two pieces, and pinned together the part of the pattern that comprised the flap (where the embroidery is) and the very base of the pattern - but not the actual sides that comprised the bag. At the center point of the flap, underneath the tip of the embroidered cross (so they lined up), I pinned in the cord and tassel and left them between the two layers of fabric.



So right there, you're looking at the back of the embroidery. Notice that the flaps of the pouch have angled corners. That was a last minute decision, but I think it improved the looks of it.



This is the base of the pattern. Think of the pattern as just one looooong rectangle, with the flap at one end - with the embroidery and angled corners - and this straight edge at the other end. I pinned the base together, but didn't sew the whole thing, as I needed a turning hole. So the red line in the photo above represents the turning hole.



I sewed the base together (except the turning hole - and the top flap together (wrong sides facing). Now, refer to the diagram above, and I'll explain what I did next:

I pinched together the outside layer of the bag at the folding line between sections B and C, so that sections B and C of the outside layer were now folded with the right sides of the fabric together for that piece of linen (not the lining) only. Then I did the same with the lining linen, creasing it at the folding line between sections B and C, and putting the right sides of the fabric of the lining face-to-face.

I pinned those carefully, up the point where they met the end of the seam of the flap (section A), which was already sewn together. So the base line of the fabric (where the turning hole is) was now meeting just below the seams on the flap.

Then I sewed up the folded sides, almost to the seam on the flap, but not sewing into it.

Then I turned the whole darn thing inside out through the turning hole, which was no small accomplishment! Next time, larger turning hole!!! In fact, I wonder if the base actually needs to be sewn together at all, until the rest of the seams are sewn up - that's for further experimentation later.



But, it wasn't that much worse for wear after turning.

Then, once turned out, I pressed the seams and pushed the lining down into the bag (which turned it "inside out" again, but only now it was "right side out, going inside.") So the seams on the inside of the bag are completely finished. You don't see any turned-in fabric edges or anything inside the bag.



So there it is, ready to iron out...



...which I did, and then I decided to add a little knotted detail along the inside seam, in Palestrina stitch...



...which I did. I took the stitch horizontally and extended the leg, to overlap the seam. Actually, the way the stitch was worked, it becomes the "knotted pearl stitch," which is exactly the same (in movement) as the Palestrina stitch.



And you can see there the back of the flap on the right side of the picture, and the bag itself on the left side, with the detail of where the seams meet to form the bag, and the decorative stitching.



And that's the seam on the right side of the bag, with the Palestrina stitch.



And now you know which button I picked - the mother of pearl one. I just couldn't see using plastic on this! (Though I liked the stitching on the other button better!)



The finished piece is 10" wide and 8" high.

So that was a fun project, in a way, but a little tense, as I wanted it to be "perfect." It isn't, though. There are definite flaws, which is always good because: 1. it keeps me realistic, as it's a bit humbling, and 2. it marks it as handmade by me! I've never made anything that's "flawless"!!!!

But I'm glad it's finished. Not only am I looking forward to working with color again, but I'm also looking forward to working on something that's not got a pressured deadline on it. After I rumage around a bit, I'll let you know what I came up with!

Labels: ecclesiastical embroidery, linen, needlework pictures, pictures, whitework

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, August 13, 2008
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The results of this summer's children's embroidery classes keep trickling in! This project is another towel, embroidered with a butterfly and flower design. The project was worked by Josephine, in the age 7-9 class, and I think she did a terrific job! You just have to check out her chain stitch...

The towel below is embroidered with perle cotton #5. The kids picked out their own colors, though some had a little help with coordinating colors, if they tried to get a little too ... whacky!



I like the bright colors that Josephine chose! On the towel, the kids worked six kinds of stitches: stem stitch (around the butterfly), backstitch, French knot, chain stitch, daisy stitch, and straight stitch.



She did a perfect job with her stem stitch around the butterfly. On the lines inside the butterfly, I had them work backstitches to cover the lines, rather than longer straight stitches, which would have been the normal choice for the lines. I was afraid that, if the towels were used, long straight stitches might catch on things.



The petals on the flowers were worked with daisy stitch, and then filled with a straight stitch in a contrasting color. Adding a straight stitch helps hide the pattern marking. On this pattern, which I traced on each towel using a light box and micron art pen, the petals for the flowers were marked with a straight line. The daisy stitch "surrounds" the straight line, leaving it visible - hence, the straight stitch! Besides, I like the "full" look of the petals with the contrasting color inside, don't you?! And, right smack dab in the middle - a French knot! The kids did a good job with French knots!



My favorite part of the towel is probably the base of the design here, because I associate it with a remark made by one of the kids in the class: "They look like cacti." Cacti? You're 8, and you're pluralizing cactus into cacti? I thought it was funny! And she was right, they do, in a thickish sort of way!

BUT - check out her chain stitch! Isn't it nice? It's so even and snuggly fitted!

Excellent job on the towel, Josie - now.... what's your NEXT project?

Labels: beginner embroidery, embroidery for children, needlework pictures, pictures

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, August 12, 2008
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