I learned to embroider when I was a kid, when everyone was really into cross stitch (remember the '80s?). Eventually, I migrated to surface embroidery, teaching myself with whatever I could get my hands on...read more
Contact Mary
I learned to embroider when I was a kid, when everyone was really into cross stitch (remember the '80s?). Eventually, I migrated to surface embroidery, teaching myself with whatever I could get my hands on...read more
Contact Mary
March 20, 2026
Happy Friday, my friends!
I thought I’d share with you some photos of the finished runner that I’ve been working on from home lately. It’s always nice to finish the week with a project finish, after all!
Also, there’s a little reminder below about next week’s kit launch for Plique-á-Jour, and the beginnings of my latest “at home, night time, something-to-do” project.
March 18, 2026
Continuing on with the ABC Archive Dive here on Needle ‘n Thread, I’d like to introduce you to O for Orts!
Orts, if you’re not familiar with the term, are leftover scraps of thread. Way back in the history of philology, orts were leftover scraps of food, but somehow, at some point, the word was adopted for thread.
And I know not when, nor why, nor where.
Nor do I care.
I like the word orts. And I like the fact that my laptop tries to auto correct the spelling of it. Oh, you ignorant piece of technology!
March 16, 2026
My “home project” that I’ve written about here and here over the past many weeks is finished, except for the hem. The hem is almost finished, and hopefully, by the time you read this, it will be completely finished.
I haven’t taken as many photos as I normally would since I’m working on this at home. But we’ve done this type of work before here on Needle ‘n Thread, so I can refer you to previous tutorials, if you want to do the same thing on any of your own projects!
March 13, 2026
We’ve been diving through the archives of Needle ‘n Thread since September of 2025, using an A-B-C format to pick out various topics that I’ve covered on the blog over the 20 years I’ve been writing it.
This index will give you a place to find the links to all the A-B-C highlights from this series.
You can find the Index under Tips & Techniques in the main menu here on Needle ‘n Thread, and you can also bookmark the index for future easy access.
As the series continues to develop, I’ll add the new link to each new article in the series.
March 10, 2026
There’s no surprise I’m highlighting Needles for the N feature in the ABC Archives series we’ve been exploring here on Needle ‘n Thread!
Needlework, after all, would be pretty difficult without needles. They’re about the only tool you have to have for embroidery. You could get away with no scissors, no hoop. But could you embroider (as in, regular embroidery) without a needle?
I don’t think so.
March 4, 2026
I just have a quick bit of news for you today, and an announcement in which I beg your patience…!
For those who don’t know, my dad (who is 95 this year), lives with me and I take care of him (right now, with lots of extra family help, thankfully!).
He has lately taken a turn for the worse and things are pretty demanding, mentally, physically, and of course, time-wise. This is taking a toll on work at Needle ‘n Thread – which takes a toll on, well, pretty much everything for Anna and me!
March 2, 2026
Continuing with my A-B-C dive into the archives here on Needle ‘n Thread, we’re tackling the letter M today.
I had a hard time deciding on this one. Should I do the Marian Medallion? This was a very thorough step-by-step project, which included all kinds of techniques – and a smaller project (this Tudor-style goldwork and silk rose). There’s a lot to learn from that project!
But I decided instead to focus on Monograms, because I’ve touched on them so many times over the years. There’s a good collection of them here on the website, as well as very serviceable tips on how to stitch monograms in all kinds of ways.
