March 5, 2021

Natural Linen Fabric Sampler Pack

Do you ever ponder the question of what fabric to use for your hand embroidery projects? Do you ever wish you could try out fabrics that you’ve heard of or seen, so that you can learn what you like and don’t like to stitch on?

In embroidery, we often think about embroidery thread more than we think about fabric, but believe it or not, the choice of ground fabric is as important as the choice of thread!

The right ground fabric makes a huge difference – sometimes, the key difference – between a-raging-success-of-a-project or a-ho-hum-it’s-ok-ish sort of project.

In the interest of giving folks the opportunity to try out different ground fabrics so that they can make informed choices, I’ve decided to put together sampler packs of various linens that I like, that make beautiful ground fabrics for hand embroidery.

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March 3, 2021

Ready to Stitch Some Strawberries? Introduction

Last month, we explored together a collection of tutorials on how to embroidery wheat five different ways.

This month, we’re going to embark on another little stitching expedition together, focusing on how to stitch strawberries. And yes, five ways! For some reason, five was the Magic Number. (I think the next collection will feature six ways to embroider a Certain Something…)

The purpose of these little vignettes are two-fold: to help generate ideas for your own stitching, and to give you confidence in making choices when you stitch. Sometimes, it’s useful to see that things can be embroidered in more than one way.

At the same time, they provide nice little embroidery projects that are kinda pretty (ok, I might be biased) and that are relatively quick.

Before we launch into the strawberries formally next week, I want to cover some background information and some queries that came up during the wheat adventure.

How to Embroider Strawberries - Introduction

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March 1, 2021

Sampling Along on Stitch Fun 2021

Just a little Stitch Fun 2021 sampler update this morning, to kick off the week and the month of March!

Over the past couple weeks, I’ve been fiddling with a new camera – certainly no great, complicated thing. I just use a point and shoot for most of my blog photos. And often, I just use my phone.

But I need a regular camera for certain situations. And for the most part, it has to be a small, quick camera. If I have to tussle with a monster camera every time I needed to take a photo, I’d get nothing done.

My favorite all-time camera over these blogging years has been my trusty-rusty Canon G12. But I think I’ve practically used it to death. It’s starting to limp. So I invested in a new point and shoot – one of the latest in that line of Canon cameras – and galldernit, it has a learning curve. I think it’s going to be a great camera, as soon as the Interface to the Chair (that would be me) can figure out its nuances.

That’s my excuse, if you’re not keen on the images posted today!! I’m working on it!

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February 26, 2021

Stitching a Striped Shell – Again and Again

I’ve been struggling with embroidering one little tiny seashell for almost two weeks now.

It has become a gargantuan sea monster in my head. It’s time for me to tackle the beast once and for all!

Today will be the day! Do or die, says I!

Hand Embroidery Books

February 24, 2021

Piled High & Deep: Stitch Dictionaries on my Table

I’m a huge advocate of SDO – Stitch Dictionary Ownership.

You don’t have to own a gazillion stitch dictionaries. But I do think that every person who goes beyond the initial dabble into embroidery to pursue it as a developing interest should invest in at least one good stitch dictionary.

I won’t go so far as to say in at least two stitch dictionaries, since we have such easy access to the internet and a million online tutorials. But it’s always good to have one, as well as one or more other sources (including online) for cross referencing.

Right now, I have stitch dictionaries piled high and deep on my work table. You’ll find out why later!

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February 22, 2021

Embroidery Magazine Winner and the Bayeux Tapestry

Today’s quick little article contains two somewhat unrelated subjects: who won last week’s give-away for a collection of beautiful, new copies of Giuliana Ricama… and a fun resource for anyone who wants to get a closer look at the Bayeux Tapestry.

I’m going to be quick so that we can all tackle Monday with vim and vigor!

(If I find any vim and vigor, I’ll let you know…)

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February 19, 2021

Embroidered Wheat Five Ways, Part 4: Last Stalk & Leaves

In this previous installment of our series on how to embroider wheat five different ways, we stitched the two stalks on the right side of the bundle using bullion knots in different ways.

Today, in the last of the four tutorials in this collection, we’re going to work a relatively quick satin stitch for the kernels on the middle stalk in the bunch of wheat, and then we’ll stitch the leaves.

I’ll be referring you to some tutorials here on Needle ‘n Thread to help you out, if you’re a beginner, so please feel free to follow the links to various tutorials that go into detail on the stitching techniques. It’s a good way to pick up little embroidery tips!

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

Natural Linen Fabric Sampler Pack

Ready to Stitch Some Strawberries? Introduction

Sampling Along on Stitch Fun 2021

Stitching a Striped Shell – Again and Again

Piled High & Deep: Stitch Dictionaries on my Table

Embroidery Magazine Winner and the Bayeux Tapestry

Embroidered Wheat Five Ways, Part 4: Last Stalk & Leaves

Connect with Mary

How-To Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos