May 8, 2026

Beeswax: Let’s Meander to The Blue Shelf

A couple times a year, Anna and I take some time to produce our Beeswax Petites for the shop. Recently, we made a whole bunch – including a couple new sizes and styles for those who can’t get enough of the good stuff!

These delectable morsels of 100% pure soft, supple, enticingly aromatic beeswax are ideal for strengthening thread in various embroidery and sewing applications. We use all cap wax (no brood comb or the like) that’s been quadruple filtered.

It is not a brittle beeswax – it doesn’t flake and break off like the pale yellow or white cakes you buy on the notion aisle at a sewing or craft store. You know it’s good stuff because it smells divine, it feels wonderful, and it’s dense but softens beautifully for applying to thread.

Beeswax Petites for embroidery, beading, sewing, and more!

Uncategorized

May 6, 2026

U is for Unicorn

You might be asking yourself, When did we ever embroider unicorns here on Needle ‘n Thread?

Well, technically, we never did. Not that I have anything at all against embroidered unicorns. But I’ve never embroidered one myself.

I have, however, created a series of small projects that are an appreciative nod to some of my favorite works of textile art from the Middle Ages – the Lady & the Unicorn tapestries of Cluny.

And so, with a little bit of a stretch as we continue the ABC Archives series, I’m going to say that U is for Unicorn.

Uncategorized

May 4, 2026

What’s a Duchess Hoop?

Over the years, I’ve written a lot about hoops and frames for embroidery. If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that these wood hoops with sturdy brass hardware are my favorites. I combine them with this fine cotton twill tape for wrapping the inner ring, resulting in a life-long tool that I can use again and again and again.

My hoops haven’t failed me yet!

But there are all kinds of hoops on the needlework market, and there have been all kinds of hoops in the past, too, that we don’t necessarily see today.

When I wrote about Belding’s Revised Needle & Hook last week, I highlighted a passage in the booklet about hoops, where they specifically mention Duchess hoops.

Are you familiar Duchess embroidery hoops? I’ll show you what they are. Or were.

Uncategorized

May 1, 2026

Weekend Diversion: That Gorgeous Dress!

This year marks the 100th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II of England, RIP.

I don’t really get into the whole nitty-gritty tabloid-esque following of the royal families of any nation. But I do appreciate the role royal houses across nations have had in the whole history of the world, and … more to the point… I appreciate the exquisite embroidery that has come into being because of royalty.

The history of embroidery would not be what it is – and we would not have what we have today in the embroidery world – were it not for the connection of royalty with needlework.

Putting things in historical context, in fact, the whole historical development of needlework owes much to two institutions: to the Church, and to royal houses around the globe.

One of the most exquisite examples of royal-related needlework in modern times, in my opinion, is the coronation dress of Queen Elizabeth II. It is Stunning – from the dress design, to the materials, to the embellishment, it is truly a crown jewel in the history of needlework and dressmaking.

So, for your weekend diversion, here’s some interesting reading about that gorgeous dress – and an opportunity to learn more about it through an upcoming online presentation.

Uncategorized

April 29, 2026

T is for Turkey Work – plus A Quick Book Sale!

Quick Announcement: the new Handpicked Collection #6 is on sale this week! You can find my review for this book here, and you can find the book available here, at the lowest price you’ll see it in the US. If you want to add it to your library, now’s the perfect time!

As we continue exploring the Needle ‘n Thread Archives, I struggled with T, even though it’s a pretty common letter.

I realize I could have done “tea towels” for “T” – but these really cute Tea Time towels just came out last year. That doesn’t seem too archival to me.

And I could have just done thread, but good grief! Highlighting all the posts on the website having to do with thread would be a gargantuan task.

So instead, I went to stitches (again – we just did “Satin Stitch” for S!), and, after considering a few of them – trellis, twilling (which is just another name for Palestrina stitch), twisted chain, tambour, tulip, Turk’s head knot… I settled on Turkey Work, which is also called Ghiordes Knot Stitch.

Why this particular stitch? Because it’s so very archival – I published a video tutorial for Turkey Work way back in 2009, when Needle ‘n Thread was just a wee three-year-old.

Uncategorized

April 27, 2026

Threads from the Past: Belding’s Revised Needle & Hook

I love old needlework books.

I love needlework history.

I love old needlework threads.

I love old needlework designs and instructions and tips and other delectable tidbits.

And I love it when all of these come together in one tidy package in one way or another!

Often, these topics did come together in the needlework pamphlets, catalogs, and promotional materials published in the late 19th – early 20th centuries by thread manufacturers.

Belding's Revised Needle and Hook - threads from the past on Needle 'n Thread

Uncategorized

April 24, 2026

Split Encroaching Satin Stitch: Up or Down?

There’s a stitch called “encroaching satin stitch” that’s used in different types of embroidery. Essentially, encroaching satin stitch involves filling a space with rows of satin stitch, with the beginning of the stitches of each new row encroaching back between the ends of the stitches on the previous row.

The encroaching happens by coming up (or going down – depending on the instructions) between the satin stitches of the previous row.

You can also split those stitches in the previous row, even though technically, that wouldn’t be encroaching satin stitch. It would be more of a split encroaching satin stitch.

My point in explaining all this is to further illustrate the up-and-down question from Monday’s article about long and short stitch. Today, I just want to offer a further illustration on the difference you can achieve by choosing to split stitches going up or going down.

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

Beeswax: Let’s Meander to The Blue Shelf

U is for Unicorn

What’s a Duchess Hoop?

Weekend Diversion: That Gorgeous Dress!

T is for Turkey Work – plus A Quick Book Sale!

Threads from the Past: Belding’s Revised Needle & Hook

Split Encroaching Satin Stitch: Up or Down?

Connect with Mary

How-To Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos