If you've been around the online needlework scene for a while, you may have run across the Tristan Brooks Design website. It's been around for a while, but lately has undergone a facelift!

Tristan Brooks Design is the place where folks in the US can find Pearsall's Silks and Heathway Crewel Wools. You can also find some beautiful crewel kits there, with several that are suitable for beginners.



If you're not familiar with crewel work, all you have to do is visit Tristan Brooks, and you'll immediately see how beautiful it can be! The website is built around the look of crewel work, and the picture in the banner (as well as the photos of the various kits) are really sumptuous!



My favorite aspect of the overhauled website is the shopping feature, though. Although not all the shopping aspects are functional (the fabric page isn't up yet, for example!), the threads section is Terrific! You can see the colors of the threads you're buying, and there's an easy drop down box for color, then you just click into your cart, and you're done. You don't have to write down product numbers and submit an order form or anything like that. This is very nice!

You can also find slate frames at Tristan Brooks. I haven't tried them from there (yet), but they look nice, though a bit pricey. A 10" frame is a whopping $63, but a 20" is only $69. (The latter isn't so bad...)

So if you're out and about looking for some crewel projects or embroidery accessories, stop in at the Tristan Brooks Design website to see what they have. I'm looking forward to watching the site develop a bit further!

Labels: crewel work, embroidery resources, needlework websites

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, April 30, 2009
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Last week, I mentioned the Long Dog Sampler that I'm using to teach my niece how to do counted cross stitch. Here's an update on our progress...

The Long Dog Sampler, Angel Pavement, is proving fun to work, due to the variety of little motifs. I'm glad we chose 28 count linen to work the sampler on - it is ending up looking like little petit point squares, which is nice.

By the end of the weekend, we had both worked several of the designs within the squares on the sampler, leaving the backgrounds blank. I don't know if this is the "best" way to go about this kind of work. I was thinking it might be a better idea, stitch-wise, to have several working threads going at one time, and simply stitching in rows. If we did this, I think the stitches would end up much more precise.

However...........

It just seems more fun to work the design in the square first, then fill in around it with the background. Any avid counted cross-stitchers out there? Is there a "right" or "wrong" way to approach stitching completely filled areas? Let me know!



You can see in the first square at the top that the background has been filled in. In the subsequent squares, the design is being worked first, and then we're filling in the backgrounds.



So far, I haven't made any changes in the sampler, except on this square. On the original design, the date is 2007, but I thought it appropriate to change the 7 to a 9!

Last night, I did start stitching in the background on this purple bird fellow. The background is a pale yellow. It's amazing how the color of the background really changes the look of the motif, and I'm eager to finish the background so I can compare a before and after, with the yellow background stitched in.

On the third block down in this strip, the background is black. I think that will drastically change the look of that square.

Anyway, so far so good. That's pretty much where we are right now, though my niece may be a bit further ahead than I am at the moment! I need to meet up with her some time this week so we can compare results!

Other than that project going right now, I've been doing some studio cleaning and book organization, and planning another project which I will share with you soon. After a very rainy weekend, I was hoping for a sunny week to film two videos I want to make for you. Unfortunately, the rain lingers! But all the green things are growing - so when the sun does show itself next time, I'm sure it's going to be a brilliant spring world out there!

I'm still debating about this needlework shop hop for the coming weekend. Six hours of driving?! I'm not sure! Now, if I had a chauffeur and I could embroider the whole time, that would be decidedly different!

Enjoy your Wednesday!!

Labels: counted thread embroidery techniques, needlework pictures, pictures, sampler

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, April 29, 2009
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Last week, I mentioned Sampler & Antique Needlework, a very nice needlework magazine published by Hoffman Media. There's another needlework magazine out there called Piecework, published by Interweave Press, and I wanted to bring it to your attention today because of a very nice article in the current issue.

Piecework Magazine calls itself the "leading historical needlework magazine." It's a nice magazine, and it focuses on such a wide variety of needlework interests that almost any needleworker will certainly find something appealling in it during the course of a subscription year.



It isn't a hefty magazine, though. Of all the needlework magazines to which I've subscribed over the years, Piecework is the lightest on content and projects. But their content is certainly quality content, and their subscription rate is very fair in relation to the quantity factor.

Piecework often focuses on a theme of sorts in each issue. In the current issue, "Amazing Lace," the theme is historical lace.



One of the projects featured in the magazine is this beautiful needlelace insert. I was really excited to see this project! You know I've set aside my whitework sampler for a little bit due to other projects that have come up - but I don't want my interest in the sampler to fizzle! I want to finish it! And seeing this piece of needlelace in Piecework rejuvenated my determination to get back to that project as soona s possible.



The project is laid out with step-by-step instructions, so it would be an excellent way for a beginner to try a piece of needlelace. The piece is small enough to be very manageable.

If you're interested in Piecework Magazine, you can check out Interweave's website, where you'll find their "new subscriptions" deal. And while you're visiting their website, take time to browse around a bit. They have some really excellent articles available, such as this one on the wooden spool industry in Maine (PDF), and their current edition of Textile Travels, which focuses on Mexico City and Oaxaca (PDF). I love articles like these! Interweave's website also features a free projects and articles section. Currently, under new projects, they are offering this beautiful little biscornu project (PDF), focusing on punto antico (antique stitch), an Italian drawnthread technique that features geometric embroidery patterns. It's quite pretty! They've also got a bunch of other embroidery projects available, as well as projects in other needlework techniques.

Interweave's website is one that keeps me lingering, especially the Piecework section. So if you're looking for somewhere to browse around for a while, give them a visit!

Labels: historical needlework, needlelace, needlework magazines, pictures

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, April 28, 2009
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This weekend, as usual, I had "plans" to get a goodly amount of stitching done, but sometimes, plans and "plans" tend to conflict! It was a busy weekend, and I got a lot accomplished, but not necessarily with needle 'n thread! One thing I did manage to do was make a card.

I like embroidering on paper - I think it's a great way to make a card that doubles as a simple gift. This weekend, I attended a 25th anniversary party ("no gifts, please") and took along this card:



Though simple enough, I'm always surprised that embroidering greeting cards takes longer than I initially think it will! I spent about 2.5 hours on this one. But the end results are worth it - most people I know are delighted by hand made cards, and this is a great way to make them!



For thread, I use machine embroidery thread (Sulky or whatever brand I happen to find that's not too expensive). Machine embroidery thread comes in a magnificent range of colors, and it's a perfect size for very delicate designs on hand embroidered cards, though it can easily be doubled if you want a bolder line. I doubled the thread for most of the elements on this card

Little accents like these silver beads add a nice touch to embroidered cards. These little adhesive half-beads are available in the scrapbooking section of most large hobby stores. Surprisingly enough, you may find a better supply of them at places like Michael's or Hobby Lobby than you would at specialty scrapbooking shops (that's my experience, anyway).



For metallic threads that have a nice sparkle, that are easy to stitch with, and that hold up well to passing through the paper, use machine embroidery metallic threads. They're much more supple than metallic threads (like the metallic stranded DMC) made for hand embroidery. They stand up to passing through the holes in the paper with nary a fray! For the "25," I used two strands of metallic silver (by Sulky, I think).

Design-wise, I generally scout through the books I have on the subject of embroidered cards. Sometimes, I might make my own design, but normally it's just quicker to find a nice pattern in a book and then combine it with other elements.

One of these days, I'd like to spend a week or so just making and embroidering cards. It'd be really nice to pre-make a bunch of cards for various occasions throughout the year instead of doing this last minute, I-need-a-card-now thing. It occured to me that a "workshop" over several days with youngsters (12 - 15 year-olds), concentrating solely on card-making, might be fun, too. I might consider that for one of my summer activities this year. Any suggestions or ideas for that kind of thing for kids?

I've got a few posts on embroidery on paper here on Needle 'n Thread, if you're interested in reading further. If you want to design your own card, check out this tutorial on designing your own embroidered cards. You can also check out any of the Erica Fortgens books listed in my bookstore, if you're looking for good design resources, idea books, or specific instruction on making embroidered cards.

Labels: embroider on paper, needlework pictures, pictures

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Monday, April 27, 2009
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Next weekend, several needlework shops in the Topeka / Kansas City area are sponsoring a needlework shop hop. I'm thinking about this, musing, contemplating, wondering....

I love needlework shops - and I love supporting local needlework shops when I have the opportunity. I strongly encourage supporting your local needlework shop, by the way, because if you don't, some day, it may not be there, and supplies will become harder to find and more expensive. Also, there's something to be said for helping your local economy!

Anyway, enough soap boxing! About this needlework shop hop in the Topeka / Kansas City area... Do you realize how much trouble I could get into, going into FIVE needlework shops in one weekend? It would be a serious glut. It would also be a whole lot of fun!



The five shops are located along the purple path indicated above. All told, the circle is about 200 miles (specifically, 199.6 miles).

The Shop Hop begins on Thursday, April 30th, and lasts through Saturday, May 2nd, so there are three days in which you can make the journey to all five shops. This is the way it works:

In the first shop you visit along the route, you pick up a "passport," which you have marked for each shop you visit along the way. If you visit all five shops involved, then you can turn your passport in at the last shop, to be eligible for prize drawings (in this case, $250-worth of gift certificates). Along the way, the needlework shops also have their own "specials" going on, for people doing the shop hop. So it's an opportunity to become familiar with some local needlework shops and at the same time, to enjoy some special deals.

The shops participating in the Heartland shop hop are:

The Sunflower Seed - Topeka, KS
Stitch-On - Lawrence, KS
Old Mill Stitchery - Liberty, MO (I couldn't find a website)
C.C. & Co. - Blue Springs, MO
Two the Point - Overland Park, KS

I list them in the above order, because that's the route I'd travel. I live quite a bit west of Topeka, which adds a goodly amount of mileage on the above treck.

I've been to three out of five of the shops, and am keen to visit the other two. Still, it's quite a drive!

To hop, or not to hop - that is the question?

I'm definitely leaning towards "hop." If I go, I'll actually have to leave on Friday afternoon, visit the shops in Topeka and Lawrence before they close at 6:00, and then spend the night in the KC area. Then I could visit the shops around Kansas City in a more leisurely fashion, methinks, between 9:00 am - 5:00 pm on Saturday.

If you're in the Kansas City or Topeka area, venture out along the route, and maybe we'll meet up!

Labels: needlework news, personal

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Saturday, April 25, 2009
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It's always useful to write about the embroidery and needlework products that one is interested in! I actually never have any "mercenary" motives when I write about the things I like - but I did manage to land a nice needlework kit for my birthday this year - the Bayeux kit I mentioned when I told you about the French Needle!

So, here I am, musing over this kit. The kit allows the needleworker to recreate a small section of the famous Bayeux tapestry - and I've since learned that there are many of these kits available, featuring different parts of the tapestry. I like the one I received, and I think I'd also like (eventually) one with ships on it. BUT - that remains to be seen! I'll let you know if those sentiments change after working this kit!



This is the kit I received. You can see at the top of the picture the design printed on the fabric. The fabric is a sturdy cotton, and all the lines of the design are printed on it in black. In fact, it's a lot like an almost-cartoonish-looking linedrawing of this section of the tapestry, and it looks strange in just lines - until you realize that it really is exactly what the tapestry looks like, minus the colors!



Besides the printed fabric, the kit contains wool for embroidering (seems about the weight of crewel wool, maybe slightly heavier) and a chart of the embroidery project, indicating what colors go where.

Note: there are no stitch instructions, really. The whole piece is supposed to be worked in Bayeux stitch, which is a laid and couched stitch. Even though there are no stitch isntructions, the kit should be pretty easy to work! Time consuming, but fairly simple.



What struck me as strange was the limit of browns. In fact, for the elements in the tapestry that seem "brownish," there is only one brown and one rust color. There's also a navy blue - apparently, some the horses are to be worked in navy blue.



See the dark horses? They look black to me, but apparently, they are navy blue. Check out their red legs!



Well, to get some better insight into the project before undertaking it, I thought I would drag out David Wilson's book on the Bayeux Tapestry. It's a nice book - besides getting the history of the tapestry and the story translated and explained, you also get very close up images of the entire tapestry.



And, in fact, in opening the book to the pages corresponding to my kit, I found a very helpful resource for working this kit. The individual threads and stitches are crystal clear! You can even see that the blue is really blue. Notice the color changes in the work. Apparently, the stitchers weren't too concerned about color changes. When their thread ran out, it is surmised, they merely took up another color.



And the colors didn't always match, even if they were the same.

Still, it seems to me that in this section, there is at least one more shade of a tannish brown color. I suppose that could have come about from fading and what-have-you, but even so, I'm thinking I might invest in one more color of thread before I work this kit.

In the original tapestry, no more than 8 colors are used throughout the whole piece. But I would imagine that dye lots would have provided slight variations within the colors, whether these variations were desirable or not.

I love the kit, and am looking forward to working on it ... some day! In the meantime, I'll keep an eye out for the opportunity to go thread shopping in person, to see if I can come up with one more compatible shade of tannish-brown.

If you want to see what the Bayeux Stitch is, you can check out Bayeux Stitch, Ancient and Modern (PDF), supplied by the Embroiderers' Guild of the UK.

If you're interested in these kits, you can find them at The French Needle - and if you want to order a different scene of the tapestry, you can contact The French Needle to find out what other scenes are available. Also, if you read my previous post about the French Needle, you can find out how to save 10% on any order during April.

Labels: embroidery kits, embroidery resources, historical needlework, pictures

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, April 24, 2009
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Are you familiar with the magazine Sampler & Antique Needlework? It comes out five times a year - quarterly, plus one special holiday edition. The magazine is devoted, firstly, to historical samplers of a variety of types. Within its pages, you'll also find lots of informative articles, pictures, and insights to embroidery tools and techniques, and to the needlework trade in general throughout history.

I just recently began subscribing to the Sampler & Antique Needlework, because I was enchanted by an article I saw in a friend's copy. The article was about a specific historical sampler worked by a seven-year-old. The sampler was beautiful, and it amazed and inspired me that it was worked by a child seven years old! Wow! Flipping through the copy of the magazine, I found many interesting articles to read, some neat facts about different needlework tools, and plenty of patterns to recreate various historical pieces or try various techniques.

When I had the opportunity, I looked the magazine up and found that I could order a slew of back issues, too. In fact, Wyndham Needleworks carries many back issues and they detail on their website the contents of each issue - a very handy reference, if you have something specific you're looking for!

This is my collection of back issues of the magazine so far:



It's a goodly little stack of interesting and valuable needlework information! What I particularly like about the magazine is that it focuses on a variety of needlework techniques and samplers, beyond simply the "ABC" style samplers that we tend to associate with the word "sampler." That's not to say there aren't plenty of those, too, as there are - and I find them fascinating. Looking at them is like looking at a little clip of a needleworker's life long ago. I love that!



The focus project or sampler of each magazine is usually featured on the cover. This is a beautiful crewel work piece made into a needlebook. Inside the magazine are all the instructions to make the piece, using materials available today. (Oh, and don't worry - there are lots of other projects in there, too!)



Some issues of the magazine focus on a theme, such as the issue above, which explored birds in antique needlework. I'm a bit of a bird lover myself, so this issue was really fascinating for me.



The focal point of this issue is the sampler featured on the cover. Inside, you'll find the chart to recreate the sampler. You'll also find all kinds of information about this historical piece, from its creator to its conservation.



Each magazine features many projects, and some of the featured projects (like the one above) are relatively small, so they can be completed in a relatively short period of time, as opposed to some of the larger samplers that can take ten forevers to complete! So there's a nice variety of projects within the magazine...



All types of historical needlework find voice in Sampler & Antique Needlework - including beadwork!



Aha! Now we're arriving at the pieces that hooked me into collecting some back issues - this stumpwork sampler...



... and this little goldwork piece...



... and this fantastic piece of needle lace! Wow!



The inside of the magazine is nicely laid out, which beautiful pictures, plentiful articles, and clear instructions for the projects featured within the issue.



In some cases, the instructions are drawn diagrams; in other cases, they're photos.



Above in a section of instruction on the stumpwork sampler. You'll probably recognize the plaited braid instructions, and you can also see detached stitches and stitch direction and color change being demonstrated.



The articles on historical pieces, needlework tools, and so forth are scholarly and well-written, with citation of sources and insights from experts in the field of needlework and in other related fields. Clear and close-up photos abound!

I wanted to introduce you to this magazine, if you weren't already aware of its existence, in case you might find it as interesting as I do. I've subscribed to several needlework magazines over the years: Inspirations, which is the nonpareil of needlework magazines as far as projects, quality, & aesthetic appeal are concerned; Australian Smocking & Embroidery; Piecework; Stitch; Classic Stitches; Threads; Embroidery & Cross Stitch; and a variety of others. The only subscription that I have consistently kept is Inspirations. Content and quality-wise (for my interests, anyway), as long as Sampler & Antique Needlework maintains its present quality, it'll definitely be a magazine to which I consistently subscribe.

If you're interested in back issues of this magazine, I'm sure there are several online needlework shops that have them. I know Needle in a Haystack carries them. I ordered mine from Wyndham Needleworks. They're reliable, but don't expect fast service. If you want to subscribe to the magazine, you can subscribe through Hoffman Media. I'm not at all affiliated or anything like that - just passing on the information in case you're interested in the magazine, too! Right now, it seems that the "one year subscription" on their website is listed as "out of stock." I'm not exactly sure what this means, but I've inquired and should receive a reply soon. I sincerely hope it doesn't mean they're not publishing it anymore! (Wouldn't that be ironic?!)

Note: For those who might become twitterpated with any particular cover project featured above - for example, the stumpwork project - keep in mind that some larger projects (like the stumpwork one) are serial features in several issues, so you might want to check the contents of each issue before ordering back issues.

Enjoy!

Labels: embroidery resources, historical needlework, needlework magazines, pictures

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, April 23, 2009
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When I was embroidering that spring garden corner on the flour sack towel before Easter, I mentioned that I was using Q-Snaps. In the comments, a reader asked, "What are Q-Snaps?" I postponed answering (sorry!) until I could explain and show you what they are.

Q-Snaps = Embroidery Hoop, only different. Q-Snaps are frames made out of round plastic tubes, over which fit half-circular "snaps" of PVC-like plastic. The inside of the snaps have ridges that are supposed to grip the fabric.



Q-Snaps are square. The inside of the frame is made up of corner pieces (somewhat rounded) that attach to straight pieces, to make up the square.



On each of the four sides, a long, tight-fitting, half-circlular "cuff" of plastic, ridged on the inside, snaps into place. These are the "snaps." You can see in the photo above, the four snaps alongside the plastic frame.



To put the snaps on the frame, you just push them on. They hug the frame. In the photo above, the snap is not pushed all the way on yet - so you can see the ridges, and how they fit onto the frame.



You mount your fabric on the Q-Snap frame about the same way you do a hoop - laying the inside frame part down first, placing your fabric over it, and then snapping the outside half-circle plastic snaps over the fabric.

Then, you "roll" the snaps outwards, to establish the amount of tension you want on your fabric.



Here, I've mounted a cotton kitchen towel on the Q-Snap frame, and rolled the snaps outwards to make the fabric flush with the top of the frame and to tighten the tension on the fabric.



That's a corner up close...

So, that's a Q-Snap frame.

After using this 11" square Q-Snap frame for the spring garden towel, I tried it on various weights of linen and cotton to see how it worked, and decided that, although I like it for the flour sack towels, I'll probably stick with a hoop or stretcher bars for other fabrics.

What about you? Have you tried Q-Snaps? What is your experience with them? Do you have any tips or tricks for using them?

Labels: needlework tools, pictures

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, April 22, 2009
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I've received lots of questions lately about the Bohn Ceramic Pencil that I wrote about a year ago last February! I think someone must be recommending them for certain projects (besides me!) and so people are looking for them!

I use the Bohn Ceramic Pencil to transfer embroidery designs on darker fabrics, and even on white fabrics such as silk. The chalk, though white, is matte, and it shows up quite well on shiny white silk.



The pencil is pictured there on the right. It's a mechanical pencil, and fine enough for good lines for stitching over. I like it very much!

But, it is hard to come by! I don't know of any online sources for it, though Erica's does carry the yellow ceramic refils (but strangely enough, no pencil!).

I bought my pencil at Sarah's Fabrics in Lawrence, Kansas. While they don't sell notions on their website, I have heard from another reader that they were very gracious about selling it over the phone and mailing it to her. Their website is mostly in Flash, so I didn't link you directly to their contact information. You can find it by entering past the introduction.

I think the pencils are a nice tool and worth having in your toolbox. If you come across them anywhere while you're out shopping, pick one up! You'll be glad you did!

Hope that helps, Robbie, Kassandra, and Julie! And of course, everyone else looking for a good white transfer pencil!

Labels: embroidery resources, needlework tools

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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Oh, that title is SO misleading! I should clarify! "Rather Rare Needlework Pursuits.... for ME." There are types of needlework that I really get into (and I'm always game to try anything), there are types of embroidery that I love. You've probably noticed that most everything I do falls in the realm of surface embroidery of some sort - and often into what's called "free style" surface embroidery. But, lately, I've taken up a project that doesn't.

This project belongs to a category of needlework that is not so rare - in fact, I'd venture to say it is the most commonly worked type of needlework, as far as volume goes! Yes, it's true. I've taken up a counted cross stitch project.

I'll admit - and I mean no offense to any needleworker out there - that I'm a bit of an embroidery "snob." I am not a huge fan of counted cross stitch. In fact, if I were to nail down my feelings about counted cross stitch, I'd go so far to say this about it: I do not like counted cross stitch. Period. It is simply not my "thing."

My first ventures into any needlework as a kid in the 1980's began with counted cross stitch, and because of that, I do owe a certain debt to this type of needlework. Still, it wasn't long before I branched out into regular surface embroidery and got away from The Grid. I prefer - vastly - the variety offered by other surface embroidery techniques, and I find counted cross stitch rather boring!

Still, admittedly, counted cross stitch has changed quite a bit since the '80's - styles, types, looks, materials, etc., for counted cross stitch have become much more varied since those earlier years of Aida Cloth and DMC. And the resurgence of interest in "antique" needlework sampler styles adapted for counted cross stitch has a certain amount of appeal for me. Still... I'm not a counted cross stitch fan.

Oh, boy. Then why, you might ask, have I taken up a counted cross stitch project - and not just any counted cross stitch project, but a rather large and time-consuming one? Well, it's like this:

My niece is taking a home economics-type course in high school (9th grade) that has a needlework component. In the first semester, they focused on surface embroidery, and in the second they are focusing on counted cross stitch. And she was disliking the experience greatly! The 14-ct Aida cloth, the rather mundane '80's style pattern and colors were just not her. Also, it seems they were not instructed well on gridding up the design, centering things, and forming their cross stitches in consistently the same direction. She was frustrated! At first, I was inclined to smuggly think, "That's ok - I don't like counted cross stitch either!" but then I thought this was not a fair approach! Besides, knowing the ins and outs of working a charted design is helpful, so the knowledge would be good for her.

And so, the whole situation put me in mind to instruct her correctly on counted cross stitch techniques, and to show her the vast world of patterns and materials available so that she would not be left with a bad taste in her mouth over the experience. We started looking at samplers and so forth, and she got more and more interested in historical samplers and recreations. Eventually, we fell across a Long Dog sampler that she tought would be "really fun" to work. It is called "Angel Pavement," and it looks like this:



She liked all the little squares with different designs in them, the variety of motifs, and the colors.

Having piqued her interest in this type of design, even though it is a bit of a daunting undertaking for a beginner, I asked her if she wanted to work it. She was darned eager. I suggested that we both work through the sampler at the same time, to keep each other on track. She agreed enthusiastically, so I ordered the sampler charts, linen (28 count Cashel from Zweigart), and the threads (regular DMC - silk would be too expensive for something this large, and, to tell you the truth, I can't bring myself to use silk on counted cross stitch...)



We began by gridding out our fabric. With any counted cross stitch design, it is always desirable to at least mark the center of your fabric so that the design lines up properly in relation to the center point. In more complex designs, it is a good idea - and saves a lot of time and frustration later on - to mark off even intervals on the fabric as well. So we worked lines of running stitches over every ten threads on the fabric, to give us a graph on the fabric that would make referencing the chart a lot easier.



Often, 28-count linen is worked over two threads, but we're working over one, which will make the design small, but which also reduces a bit the "pixelized" look of counted cross stitch. The little individual squares are less than an inch square, which is small. However, their size doesn't really reduce the time it takes to work each square. The stitching is small and... well.... monotonous. Cross stitch. What can I say?



This is about as far as we've both gotten. But don't think this was only a few minutes of stitching! There are 729 of those tiny X's in each of those squares. It does take time!

We mounted our fabric on Evertite frames, and are using magnets to hold the part of the chart onto the fabric next to our stitching. To make the stitching go as quickly as possible, I use two hands - one above the work and one below.

Unfortunately, to be able to mount both samplers on frames, I had to dismantle my whitework project! Ugh! I gave up whitework for counted cross stitch? It almost seems sacrilegious! (Kidding, kidding!) But, I have another project I must start (a commissioned ecclesiastical piece), so I wouldn't be able to devote time to the whitework right now, anyway.

So that's what I'm up to! Don't worry - Needle 'n Thread is not changing into a counted cross stitch website! Aaaaack! But to be fair, counted thread techniques are certainly legitimate forms of needlework, and there are some aspects about this project that I really do like. I like working with colors, for example, and this project has plenty of color in it! And I like to see things develop. And I like the fact that it's giving my niece something to work on with enthusiasm.

There you have it, then! Any comments? Do you think I'm totally nuts?

I'm beginning to wonder, personally....

Labels: counted thread embroidery techniques, needlework pictures, pictures, sampler

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Monday, April 20, 2009
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Aha! I bet you thought I'd given up on expanding my video library of hand embroidery stitches! I finally managed to re-video (if that's a word) turkey work!

Turkey work, also called ghiordes knot, is an embroidery technique that creates a plush pile. It's great for dimensional embroidery, stumpwork, and the like. I've seen many a bumblebee embroidered using Turkey work, as well as thistle tops and other grass / flower motifs.

The term "Turkey work" has nothing to do with the bird, by the way. It's from Turkey, the country - it's a rug stitch commonly used there, and the technique has been adapted into surface embroidery. This is a fun technique - not so much in the stitching, which is rather bland (more or less, just a backstitching technique, where every other stitch is left in a loop), but the trimming and fluffing is Great Fun!



This is a clump of Turkey work from the top. It's four rows of loops. In the video, I only stitched two rows, to show you the technique.



This is the pile from the side. Pretty, fluffy stuff, isn't it? I used a whole piece - all six strands - of DMC stranded cotton. You can use any kind of thread for Turkey work, but I like stranded cotton, and as many strands as feasible, because it separates into a nice, thick carpet when fluffed.

A couple points:

1. The closer you work the rows and the smaller your "locking" stitches - and the closer together your loops are - the thicker your pile will be.

2. An eyebrow comb is a handy thing to use for fluffing, but if you don't have one, just run your needle through it until you get the fluffy look you want.

3. In the video, I worked both rows from left to right, but you can work the rows in either direction as you return on each row. Just reverse the way the stitch goes. Once you get the hang of the movement of the stitch, you'll be able to figure that out, no problem!

By the way, I'm back to considering whether or not I should script these videos before I actually open my mouth and start yammering...

Here's the video:



For more hand embroidery stitch videos, check out my Video Library of Hand Embroidery Stitches!

Labels: embroidery tips and tricks, Hand embroidery stitches, needlework pictures, video tutorials

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Saturday, April 18, 2009
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Before Easter, I was playing around with the idea of embroidered Easter eggs. Thing about it - spring colors, Easter egg decorations - a great combination for fun embroidery (and something I thought the kids would like!) Because of time constraints, I didn't get very far, but I thought I'd show you what I threw together and how easy it can be to stitch on a stuffed anything.

The Easter egg - which actually looked more like a football at first - is made out of some wool remnants I had lying around. I cut out four marquis-shaped sections, using two colors. Taking one of each color, I sewed them together, right sides facing, then I did the same with the remaining two colors, then placed the two sewn together pieces right sides facing, and sewed those together, leaving a little turning hole in the last seam. All this was done by hand - it would go a lot faster by machine and would look a heck of a lot better! Anyway, this was just an experiment.

Next time, by the way, I'll use six sections and hopefully the finished product won't remind me of a kid's stuffed football!



This is the egg, with a few layers of embroidery worked on it. Next time (next year?) I'll work a few more rows and do something more elaborate with the tips. The possibilities are really endless as far as the embroidery goes - you could get really elaborate with something like this! Beads, ribbon, a variety of stitches...



From top to bottom, I used fly stitch, double feather stitch, herringbone, daisy stitch and French knots, and buttonhole wheels.



Embroidering on a stuffed figure is pretty easy, actually. You begin with a knot in the end of your thread, take the needle in some distance away from where you intend to start...



...wiggle the needle around a bit in the filling, then pull the thread through, so that the knot catches inside the filling and secures the thread.



Work your stitches in a "sewing" method - that is, taking the needle in and out of the piece in one swoop - and then, when you get to the end of your stitching, anchor the end of the stitch as you normally would....



...bringing the needle either out in a seam, or out underneath a stitched area...



...and take a small securing backstitch, to anchor the thread. It's best if this can be done in a seam, where the backstitch can't be seen, or, again, inside some stitched area where it will be hidden.



Bring your needle out of the stuffed figure anywhere, and cut the thread close to the surface, pulling a bit on the thread so that, when it's cut, it is pulled into the inside of the stuffed thing.



See! It's gone. Wow. Those seams are really ugly. A sewing machine will eliminate that messy look, I think!



You can see here a view of the egg on a "corner." To ensure relatively straight paths along which to embroider, I first used regular white thread and basted a running stitch line around the egg. Once the line was embroidered, I cut the white thread and pulled it out. You could probably even use something like a fabric masking tape to mark the line and then baste, to get a really straight line.

I'm pretty sure I'll do this again, but next time, I'll make a pattern for a six-panel egg, and I'll use a machine to sew up the seams. I suppose any fabric would work - wool felt would probably work great!

Another option would be silks and brocades and fancy fabrics, for a dressier look. And, of course, you're not limited to egg-shapes. You could do spheres... think Christmas ornaments and so forth. I'm contemplating a similar project for my kids' embroidery classes this year.

So that was my stuffed egg adventure. I love the colors! But now that Easter is over, I think I'll move on to other needle 'n thread adventures!

Labels: embroidery tips and tricks, holiday stitching, needlework pictures, pictures, wool felt

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, April 17, 2009
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If you like goldwork embroidery and you like butterflies, this project might be just up your alley!

Jane Zimmerman has a really beautiful goldwork project featured on her "what's new" page: a goldwork butterfly, only the butterfly is voided, and the goldwork surrounds it.



Jane describes the technique used to create this piece and offers an instructional booklet for it, too, if you want to check it out.

I love the circular patterns in the passing thread - really stunning!

From what I understand, this is a "limited offering," so the instructional booklet won't be available for long.

It's fun to squiz through Jane's website - there are some really beautiful projects on there, and lots of fun pictures to look at! If you have a chance, give her a visit!

Labels: embroidery designers, embroidery resources, goldwork

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, April 16, 2009
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Elissa sent along photos of her beautiful cutwork and needlelace pillowcases she's currently working on, so I thought I'd share them to you!

Elissa made the pillowcases herself, from an extra sheet from her bed set. The edge is stitched with a diamond quilting pattern that reflects the cutwork motif. The cases are made extra long, so that the edge of it can drape and show off the needlework.



The cutwork diamonds are taken from one of the Variety magazines that feature Italian cutwork. Elissa plans to work some surface embroidery around the cutwork diamonds.



She's adding a little scalloped trim worked by hand. This needle lace is really well done! The picots are made from bullions, and each scallop takes her about ten minutes to complete.

Gorgeous, isn't it? Doesn't it just make you want to make up a whole crisp set of gorgeous hand embroidered linens??!

Thanks, Elissa, for sending along the photos!! Beautiful work! Congratulations!

Labels: needlework pictures, pictures, readers embroidery

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, April 16, 2009
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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
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Last week, I set up a "grab-and-go" embroidery project that materialized into a fairly nice Easter gift for my sister's family. The project was an embroidered flour sack towel, with a spring garden design on the corner. I ended up using it to line a matching basket, which I filled with Easter candy and took to the fam. Here's the completed project.

As Easter approached, I didn't think I was going to finish the embroidery on this. By Thursday, this was the extent of my progress...



...and I still had to work the tulip in the corner and the other side of the design.

The bulk of my stitching time actually came on Easter morning, when the world (at least at my house!) was relatively quiet. After going to church very early, I went home and started stitching. By 11:30 am, family and friends started popping in, but I was determined to keep stitching - I was too close not to finish!



The corner tulip ended up mostly purple, with pink highlights (opposite of the two end tulips)



I only finished the one corner. When I first set out on the project, I was wanting to stitch two opposite corners. Ha. Well, I'm perpetually an optimist on that kind of thing - I never gauge correctly how long it takes to embroider something!



I chose a rectangular woven basket in bright pink, to match the flowers. After finishing the towel, I washed it and, being in too much of a hurry, I only let it dry part way, then I tried to iron it dry the rest of the way!

Have you ever ironed something dry? I do it to linen all the time. But the strange thing about ironing something dry is that the thing can feel dry, when it isn't actually dry-dry.

Yep. That's what happened here. The towel was still just the slightest bit damp here and there when I arranged it in the basket. I know, because the jelly beans took on a kind of clammy skin after a bit. "Oh, that's just from kids rummaging through..." No, no! The m&m's - you know, those things that melt in your mouth and not in your hands? They melt on damp towels!

When I realized what had happened, I pulled the towel out of the basket! But not before I got a shot of it with this little fellow:



... and not before the towel was completely bespeckled with pastel-colored-candy-syrupy-sticky-splotchy-gunky mess!

Did I take a picture of THAT?

No.

Remember what your mother always told you: Haste makes waste! And learn from my experience! Rumor has it that the Laundry Queen at my sister's house (that would be my niece Julie, who likes doing laundry for some bizarre reason) has removed the stains, and all is well again with the towel.

Now, isn't that bunny just the cutest thing in the whole wide world?

Labels: beginner embroidery, Embroidery for the Home, needlework pictures, pictures

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, April 15, 2009
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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, April 14, 2009
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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Monday, April 13, 2009
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Happy Easter! To celebrate the day, I want to share with you another piece of ecclesiastical embroidery - this time, an elaborate super frontal for an altar.

In Catholic and Anglican churches, the altar in the front of the church would sometimes be adorned with an antependium, or frontal. If made of cloth, the frontal was usually embellished, either embroidered or appliquéd. In some churches, especially larger churches, a super frontal would also be used ("super" actually from "supra," meaning "above" the frontal) in addition to the frontal. The super frontal was a long decorated piece, not very high, but wide enough to span the width of the altar. Sometimes, it was "built into" the frontal (separated, for example, by trim, to mark off the super frontal area), but more often, especially in more elaborate churches and chapels, it was a separate piece. Think of it like a valance, almost, floating above the frontal.

This super frontal was embroidered by the Benedictines in Clyde, MO, before the 1950's. If you've been reading Needle 'n Thread for a while, you will probably recognize the look of it, as it was a source of inspiration for me when I embroidered an ecclesiastical piece a few years ago.



The piece is very long - I would guess at least 10 feet in length, perhaps longer. The center medallion is the Agnus Dei symbol. The Lamb with the banner is a representation of Christ, sacrificed and triumphantly risen from the dead. Around the central medallion are many colorful scroll designs featuring plenty of stylized pomegranates, which, in ecclesiastical embroidery, symbolize resurrection and new life.

The embroidery on the center medallion is worked on a dark gold-colored cloth. It's not shiny silk, though it might be silk. It has a kind of noticeable weave to it. When I first saw it, I thought it was a strange color for the background - but, in relation to the colors in the rest of the super frontal, I think it works really well.



From this side view, you can also see that there are banners with text embroidered on them.



Here, you can get a better view of the scrolls, acanthus leaves, and stylized pomegranates. The leaves and vines are worked in chain stitch.



The stylized pomegranates are worked mostly in long and short stitch, although the undersides of the turned up leaves are worked in satin stitch.



Across the entire length of the top of the super frontal, there is a goldwork strip, punctuated by lettering satin stitched in red. The gold background threads are evenly couched in a pattern, and on top of the gold, inside and around the lettering, are scrolls worked with a wavy gold thread, like rococco. I have heard that the Sisters at this convent, and at the (no longer functioning) convent in O'Fallon, MO - where the Benedictines also made elaborate ecclesiastical pieces - had machines that couched the gold background threads two at a time. I've never seen a couching machine, but I've heard from someone who was fortunate to receive one of the machines from O'Fallon before they disbanded their embroidery workshop, that the machines do indeed couch two laid threads at a time with precision, without damaging the threads. It'd be interesting to see that in action!



At the base of the Lamb is a book with the Alph and Omega on each page. I really liked this symbolism, so I was sure to include it in my Agnus Dei.

Here's the piece that I worked a few years ago, taking some inspiration from the super frontal featured above:



The lamb I drew is not as angular, and the banner is a bit less angular as well. The wool on the lamb on the super frontal above is what really caught my eye - it is the most realistic wool I had ever seen embroidered, so I wanted to imitate that. It was fun, figuring it out, and it turned out well. I'd love to do another piece like this - not the same piece, but similar - one day soon!

If you want to read about the progress of this piece from beginning to end, you can check out my gallery. It's near the top of the list, under ecclesiastical embroidery. You can also see close-ups of different elements in it, including the wool.

I wish you all a very joyful Easter!

Labels: ecclesiastical embroidery, historical needlework, needlework pictures, pictures

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Sunday, April 12, 2009
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Two years ago on Good Friday, I posted photos of a magnificent piece of ecclesiastical embroidery, a chasuble featuring the Crucifixion.

The work on this piece is stunning - if you haven't had a chance to look at it, you should! You'll find amazing detail in the faces, especially.



The color range used to embroider the faces is amazing - from regular flesh tones, to reds and greens. From far away, these blend together and are not discernable as separate colors.

You can read about the chasuble on the original article. It's worth looking at - such pieces of ecclesiastical needlework are quite rare.

Labels: ecclesiastical embroidery, historical needlework, needlework pictures, pictures

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, April 10, 2009
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I've managed to get at least one of every element in the Spring Garden Corner design embroidered so you can see what stitches I'm using, in case you want to embroider the design yourself and don't know what stitches to use. Keep in mind that there are really no absolutes on this kind of project - you can use whatever stitches you want, and whatever stitches will work!

I didn't plan out my stitching before I started - I pretty much worked whatever embroidery stitch came to mind as I got to any particular part of the motif. This has worked well overall, except in one area that I picked out. I'll tell you aaaallll about it...



Here we are so far - the colors are pretty bright and cheery...



Here's one of the "tulips" up close. I'm doing the two end tulips in pink for the outline, but the middle (corner) tulip has a purple outline.

Concerning the buttonhole scallops on the edge, I suggest penciling in the shape of the inside of the scallop - it'll help keep your scallops a bit more even. I didn't bother, but I probably should have.



In order from left to right, you'll see two backstitched rows in yellow, with a green running stitch between them.

The next line is a purple fly stitch following the zig-zags on the pattern, and between the zig-zags, three straight stitches kind of fanned out to fill the valleys of the zigs and zags.

The next line is chain stitch in yellow, interlaced with green.

Then you see another green running stitch - that line's not on the pattern, but I stuck it in there while I was stitching...

And finally, at the tip there, you'll see some buttonhole scallops worked far apart at the base (where the scallops are on the design), but closed at the top.



For this little guy, work the buttonhole wheel first, leaving a large-ish hole in the center. The center is filled with French knots. A chain stitch line is worked around the outside of the buttonhole wheel, and the little petals are daisy stitches.



This is the larger flower, and this is the one I tried something different on and then picked out. I was going to satin stitch the round petals, but it takes too long and it's too solid, and so I changed my mind. Start with the inside - the buttonhole wheel. The center is filled, again, with French knots, and outside the buttonhole wheel is another chain stitch circle. Next, work the petals, and then work the single French knots (they're the yellow ones) last.



I ended up working the petals in a chain stitch spiral, starting on the outside and spiraling in. I didn't work the spirals really close and tight - I didn't want it quite that solid.



Ok, this thing is really weird. I don't know what I was thinking, but this is what it ended up looking like. The easiest way to do this bud thing would be to work large daisy stitches for the flower buds and leave it at that. I worked bullion knots for the two side bud petals, then the middle one is fly stitch, worked vertically and close together. The stames are long straight stitches with a French knot at the end. I couched over the long straight stitch with the same thread, to secure it. On towels, it's not a good idea to have longish stitches floating about...

The green part of the bud is satin stitched in three sections. The two outside sections slant down towards the middle, and the inside section is stitched vertically.



The large leaf is worked in stem stitch, just like the rest of the stems. Stem stitch the longer parts of the leaf outline, but where the leaf juts in to the middle, just use a little straight stitch. The veins are also stem stitched.



All the other leaves are worked in fishbone stitch.

So there it is!

Thank you all for your very kind birthday wishes yesterday! I had a nice birthday, and your good wishes made it even better! Thanks! If you haven't signed up on my birthday give-away post yet, please check that out and join in the fun! I'm going to send one lucky commentor a surprise birthday package to help me celebrate!

Also, just a reminder that The French Needle is running a 10% off special for readers of Needle 'n Thread through April. Check out their kits and charts! They have some really beautiful stuff! (By the way, I'm not affiliated or paid by The French Needle - I'm just pointing out a good resource for embroiderers!)

Hope you have time for your needle & thread today!

Labels: beginner embroidery, Embroidery for the Home, Hand embroidery stitches, needlework pictures, pictures, stitch along

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, April 09, 2009
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Sounds a bit self-centered, doesn't it - a "Happy Birthday to Me" give-away? I guess as long as I'm giving away the gift, I can get away with the title within the bounds of decent etiquette!

I've been chuckling over this give-away idea for a few days, wondering just how people would react to it. I realize I may get very little participation! But I can't help it - my curiosity has the better of me, and now that I'm locked in on this idea, I feel compelled to try it! Besides, it's my party, and I'll try if I want to!

Oh, gosh. I'm cracking up!

What is she babbling on so about, you ask?? Well, read on....

Here is my Happy Birthday to Me Give-Away:

The charm of birthday gifts is the surprise. What's the fun in telling your family or friends, "This is what I want for my birthday," and then getting it? Oh, there might be a mercenary comfort in doing that (we don't have to pay for something we want, and no one wastes money on something we don't want), but where's the delight and unexpected pleasure? Where's that tickling anticipation as the gift is opened up? In short, there's no surprise! The best gifts are the ones you don't expect, after all!

So, for my birthday give-away, I'm going to send a surprise gift to someone!

In the past, I've had some pretty good give-aways:



They often include some fibrous, thready assortment...



... and sometimes they include embellishments.



Sometimes, they have nice needlework accessories in them!



Sometimes, books...



... of various kinds.



Sometimes, they are rather elaborate...



...and other times, they are very simple.

Whatever the case, you can be assured that the package will contain enticing stuff for the needleworker, and a few little extras!

To enter the give-away, please do the following:

1. Here, at the bottom of this post (on the website, not in the e-mail newsletter, not by return e-mail, or not on another post), leave a comment answering the following question:

2. What's your notion of the best gift?

3. If you use the "anonymous" posting feature, please make sure to include a name on the post itself.

4. Check back Monday, April 13th, for the winner. The contest ends Monday, April 13th, at 5:00 am CST. If you win, you'll need to contact me by Wednesday, April 15, with mailing information. I'll post instructions on the winner's post on Monday.

Well, what do you think? Are you game to trust my taste in gifts?

Have a terrific day!

Labels: stash contest

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, April 08, 2009
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Yesterday, I showed you my "grab-and-go" embroidery project, a little Spring design for the corner of a towel that I'm going to use as a basket liner. Here's the embroidery pattern for that piece.

This embroidery design comes from a stack of hand embroidery transfers that I got at a garage sale. Most of the designs were loose; the few that were in booklets came from the 1950's, so I'm assuming this one is about the same time period. The original was a mess, so I scanned it and worked from the scanned image, cleaning it up into a vectorized image, which I've saved as a gif file (you can click on it to make it larger, then save it to your computer and resize it if you wish), and also as a PDF file, which you can also resize and print.

The design on my towel corner is about 8 inches wide - just wide enough to print on regular paper. The PDF should work out to about the same (hopefully!)



Here's the PDF:

Spring Garden Corner Design for Hand Embroidery

If you are interested in using the same colors I'm using, here's a list of DMC numbers:

Purples: 208 & 209
Green: 907
Yellow: 743
Bright Pink: 602

I have a blue, too (DMC 794) but so far, I haven't used it, and I'm not sure if I will. It doesn't seem "quite right" somehow.

Of course, you are more than welcomed to use any colors you want!

As I stitch, by the way, I'm just improvising. I'll try to finish enough of the design tonight so that each element is stitched, and then I'll explain which stitches I'm using.

In the meantime, if you want to stitch along, feel free. You can always get started with the leaves - they're all worked in fishbone stitch, except for the largest open one, which is outlined in stem stitch - and the stems, which are worked in stem stitch. The center of the flowers are worked in buttonhole wheels, then filled with French knots. You can see these up close on the introduction to this little project.

For a flour sack towel, I suggest using a better quality one, if you can find one. Some of the flour sack towels out there are very flimsy and seem almost like cheesecloth.

Labels: beginner embroidery, Embroidery for the Home, free embroidery patterns, stitch along

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, April 07, 2009
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Yesterday, I set up a grab-and-go embroidery project. "Grab and go" projects are those "quick" projects that can be taken anywhere or can be picked up for a few quick stitches when you're on the go. I know this week is going to be hectic, like last week, and admittedly, I'm going nuts without simple and quick to work on.

At first, the whitework sampler was providing ok 15-minute stitching "fixes," but the cutwork part is rather tedious, and since it's the same stitch over and over and over again, it does get a bit on the boring side.

For grab-and-goes, I like color and simplicity! I also like cheap materials! If I'm working on this type of project in the car, in waiting rooms, or outside on the front porch, I don't want to be using expensive linen and silk threads. So, cotton on cotton is great!

This particular Spring Towel is a flour sack towel to use as a basket liner for Easter. Flour sack towels make great liners for large baskets that you might serve bread in - or, in this case, that you might arrange Easter eggs and candy in. You embellish at least one corner (I think I'm going to do two on this one), and then you arrange the towel so that the decorative corner hangs over the edge of your basket. If you're putting bread in a basket to serve a crowd, you would arrange the towel so that the decorative corner folds over the top of the bread.

Because it is likely that the towel will come in contact with food and will need to be washed, use colorfast threads (DMC or Anchor work great).



Here's the corner. I've already started stitching. It's a rough and chunky design, and fun to work. I'm not shooting for "perfection" here as much as just a fun, colorful corner. The design extends about 8 inches from each corner.

I transferred the design by tracing it with a regular pencil. All the lines will be covered - and if they're not, that's ok. They'll wash out.



The embroidery pattern is mostly just a series of strange flowers and leaves. The design came from an old transfer I salvaged from some garage sale junque. I altered the design a bit to turn it into a corner pattern.



I was musing a bit over the colors - at first, I thought pretty pastels would be the thing for Spring, but they didn't seem to go with the bold design. So instread, I picked out a selection of colors reminiscent of bright Easter baskets.



I'm pretty sure I'm going to do all the leaves in fishbone stitch. I just love this stitch! I was going to work with two shades of green, but I have a feeling I'll reduce the whole project to as few colors as possible - just bright and bold. We'll see...

This is also my first complete adventure using Q-snaps. I'm a hoop person, personally, but so many people rave about Q-snaps that I thought I should give them a try. I did try them briefly on a piece of linen a while ago, but ... sheesh... no, I didn't like that! Thinking I didn't quite give them a fair trial, I decided to use them from start to finish on this project. I'll let you know my thoughts once I've given them a fair run!

Now, the question is - should we place bets? I'd like to finish this and the opposite corner (same design) by Easter. Do you think I'll get it done?

Labels: beginner embroidery, Embroidery for the Home, Embroidery Projects, Hand embroidery stitches, needlework pictures, pictures

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Monday, April 06, 2009
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I can hardly restrain my blissful giddiness over the fact that I'm almost finished with the Celtic monograms for hand embroidery! After this one, I think only four more to go! You're probably just as glad as I am, because these monograms are getting kinda... well... old. But then, after all, they are old. :-)

Here's the long and really short of it on the Celtic monograms: for stitch suggestions, check the Celtic A!

Here's the small version of the Celtic U:



And here's the large version:



Now, today, if all goes well, I will at least manage two things: setting up a simple embroidery project (for a grab-and-go project), and stitching a bit on my whitework sampler! Keep your fingers crossed for me, that I get something accomplished, because otherwise, I just may go nuts!

But, before I can launch into that, I have to frost my own birthday cake to take to my sister's for a birthday party this evening. It's somewhat strange, to make one's own cake, but hey - it's just dessert! I'm thinking about doing something really bizarre so that my sister officially proclaims that I shall never make the dessert again! Something like... oh, Pink Mountain Icing on a chocolate cake. That'll gross her out (but the kids'll love it!).

And, by the way, it's not my birthday (yet) - that's Wednesday, the 8th, which will be the perfect day for a give-away! So stay tuned for that on Wednesday. You can help me celebrate!

Have a terrific Sunday!

Labels: free embroidery patterns, monograms

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Sunday, April 05, 2009
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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Saturday, April 04, 2009
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Here's a little needlelace pattern for you - it's oval (not quite egg shaped, but close enough) and perfect for decorating something Eastery.

It seems there are many names for this kind of lace. I call it needlelace, which is a more general term. In some books, it's also called point lace or reticella, and I've even seen it called needlepoint lace.

Needlelace is worked independent of fabric. In fact, it can be worked over paper, removed from the paper, and then added to fabric. When I venture into needlelace like this, though, I generally work it over my fabric, then cut the fabric behind it in an X shape, then turn the fabric back to the edges before working the final buttonholing or overcasting around the motif, catching the fold of the fabric. Then I cut the excess fabric away.

Still, I have worked it on paper, and it works up fine! The last step when working it on paper is overstitching it to the fabric (buttonhole or overcast on the outside lines) and then cutting away the fabric beneath it.

Mostly, needlelace is worked in conjunction with whitework. That's not to say it has to be worked on a whitework piece - no way! You can make little pieces of lace to decorate anything you want, really!

A very long time ago, I featured a tiny sample of needlelace here on Needle 'n Thread. If you want to see some nicer examples of needlelace, check out Textile Dreams, especially the reticella heart. There's also a very nice needlelace tutorial on Textile Dreams!

An excellent online book on needlelace is Therese Dillmont's Needle-made Laces, which you can find in two PDFs hosted at the On-line Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving and Related Topics (that's a mouthful!) In the first PDF file, you'll find clear step-by-step directions for this type of needlelace. Here are the direct links to the PDFs:

Needle-made Laces, Part I
Needle-made Laces, Part II

This particular design is cleaned up from an old Variety magazine pattern. The original booklet was printed in 1926 by Carmela Testa & Company. If you come across any of these old booklets, they're really nice to have! (But they're not always in the best shape!) Still, snatch them up! They're worth it - a great addition to a needleworker's library. Keep in mind, though, that sometimes these old booklets - though full-up with wonderful little patterns like this - lack clear instruction, especially when compared to today's step-by-step photo books! They assume the stitcher has already achieved a certain level of skill.

Well, without further ado, the egg. Below it, you'll find a link to a PDF version.




Needlelace Egg (PDF)

Enjoy!

Labels: embroidery resources, free embroidery patterns, needlelace, whitework

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Friday, April 03, 2009
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I know I've been on an embroidery-kit-writing trend lately! I hope you don't find it a "turn-off," but I do like to see what's available in the needlework world, and I'm very interested in what designers are marketing these days.

I call it trend-mapping. The trend I'm currently mapping is interest in the traditional, or classic, surface embroidery kit. There aren't a lot of them available, you know. Classic surface embroidery kits are not the most popular of needlework-related kits. Compare the number of surface embroidery kits you see available on the market with the number of cross stitch kits, and you'll understand what I mean!

But I have noticed in the past few years an increase in interest in regular surface embroidery kits, and, answering that increase in interest, suppliers are beginning to include surface embroidery more frequently among their selections.

So, I like it when I find another place that offers what look to be nice surface embroidery kits!

Do you know about The French Needle? Mostly, they specialize in cross stitch kits and charts, but Lisa of The French Needle is "on a mission" to push surface hand embroidery, and is now offering some interesting hand embroidery kits.

If you go to her Boutique page, you'll see she has a page of surface embroidery kits that feature, predominantly, monograms - and they are really beautiful monograms! I'd love to work all of these 7x7 monograms - I love the A, the V, the W, and the Y, especially! These would make terrific gifts for weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays (already worked and framed, or as kits for your needle-working friends). Note that they don't come with thread - they come with the design stamped on linen, instructions, and suggested color lists for different thread manufacturers.



But besides the monograms, it's the Bayeaux Tapestry kit that caught my eye! Now, I think this would be fun! If you like historical embroidery, you might be especially interested in this kit, and if you don't like historical embroidery, I think it would be a neat framed piece for a home - a conversation piece! It'd also make a great gift, finished and framed, for a lover of history, art history, literature, and so forth.



Besides the monograms and the Bayeux kit, you'll find a couple really nice floral pieces - a very bright one on a dark background, a pillow sham with flowers and bugs and garden creatures on it, and a couple more natural-looking flower pieces, like these Graminees. There are also a couple fun alphabet samplers, too, for surface embroidery, which is nice. Normally you see alphabet samplers in cross stitch, so it's fun to see a few in surface embroidery for a change! The ABC Fruits looks fun!



Besides surface embroidery offerings, The French Needle has a long list of popular cross stitch designers' charts, such as Long Dog Samplers, Rouge du Rhin, and others - lots of Quaker-look samplers, many European designs, some sampler reconstructions, and other pretty offerings. I especially like the sampler kit, Dutch Beauty. If I were going to work a cross stitch sampler, that would interest me.

I like the Long Dog Samplers a lot, too. In fact, I'm getting ready to work Angel Pavement with my 13-year-old niece on 28 count linen (over 1). Sound strange? You bet! (I'm not a cross stitcher!) Well, she wants to learn on something "fun," so that's what she picked out! Charts at the French Needle are reasonably priced, too - at least $1 below other places, from what I can tell. And I paid $3 more elsewhere for Angel Pavement!

Discount for Needle 'n Thread Readers! (For April!)

Lisa is generously offering a discount to Needle 'n Thread readers! For the month of April, you can get a 10% discount on all kits and charts, by typing "Mary sent me" in the special instructions box at checkout. Lisa will adjust your order on her end at the time of processing, taking off 10% from your purchase! Isn't that great? The discount's only available for this month (April, 2009), though - so if you're in the market for a new project and any of her kits, charts, etc., appeal to you, now's a good time!

Labels: counted thread embroidery techniques, embroidery resources, needlework websites

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Thursday, April 02, 2009
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Well, I know we weren't just speaking of them, but the other day, I rambled a bit about embroidery kits...

... and here's another designer whose kits I would add to the list! Helen Stevens has embroidery kits on Fritillary now!



Check out these kits, featuring the four seasons. I like them! And they'd be a great way to familiarize yourself with Helen's beautiful techniques.

I like the Autumn and Spring best - I love the birds!

While you're there, check out the bunnies on the Fritillary homepage. If that were a kit, that's actually the one I'd go for!

Her greeting cards, by the way, look beautiful, too! They'd be great to have on hand for special birthdays, Mother's Day, and so forth.

Enjoy browsing Fritillary!

And thanks, Margaret, for the heads-up on the updates!

Labels: embroidery designers, embroidery kits, embroidery resources, needlework websites

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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Wednesday, April 01, 2009
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