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Mary Corbet

writer and founder

 

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

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Nifty Needlework Stuff from Around the Traps

 

Amazon Books

Yes, it’s true. I complained yesterday about lack of time, and now here I am, pointing out some needlework tidbits online – which means I’m encouraging you to … uh… well, I don’t want to say “waste” time (because that would be bad of me!), and it also implies that I … uh … spent time squizzing around for needlework stuff online. Tsk tsk.

Strawberry Crewel Pillow

Looking ahead to this fall, I want to tackle another crewel project. With that in mind, I was meandering through some favorite crewel haunts online, and I came across this kit at Thistle Needleworks. It caught my attention right away because, strangely enough, I was toying with the idea of strawberries in crewel work. It’s been done before, I know! And strawberries are almost becoming one of those cliché-ish needlework motifs.

But, by golly. I love ’em! I’m not sure I love them because it’s summer, or because they’re red, or because they’re just strawberries. But lately, I’ve had strawberries on the brain! I don’t mind confessing that this is one of the reasons why, and I apologize in advance for the non-needlework-related photo. But this was the best strawberry tarte in the world:

Strawberry Tarte

See the problem? And hence, I’ve been thinking about strawberries. Will I go with a strawberry design for the next crewel-ish project this fall? I don’t know! By then, I might be over it. But in the meantime, if you’re not familiar with Thistle Needleworks, and if you like crewel work, you might want to check out their range of crewel kits and supplies. They’ve got some good stuff there!

Embroidered Strawberry Tutorial

Speaking of strawberries, have you seen this neat little tutorial for an embroidered strawberry made from lazy daisy stitch, French knots, and woven picots? It’s cute & clever!

YLI Silk Ribbon & Floss Colors

Are you a smocker? If you are, or a ribbon embroiderer, or an embroiderer in general, you might want to know that Creative Smocking is having a close-out on their YLI silk ribbon and silk floss, at 25% off until it’s all gone. I’ve used both YLI floss and ribbon, and I like them both. YLI floss is very fine, and good for tiny details (great for eyes). The only drawback is that their color palette on the floss is somewhat limited. I think YLI makes something like 84 colors of silk embroidery floss.

I suppose this will have to do for this morning (and it’s only about 1/4 of my list!) But I wouldn’t want you to spend too much time on here – not when you could be stitching!

Enjoy the day!

 
 

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(6) Comments

  1. I also never have enough time 🙁

    Still ….. always find time to come here! It’s lunchtime in the UK so reading your posts is not stopping any sewing (and as I’ve eaten, I’m not tempted by that strawberry tart!) 🙂

    Thanks for posting the link to the embroidered strawberry. It’s reallly cute.

    Elaine
    Cheshunt, Herts, UK

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  2. G’day Mary,

    Mmmm, as in yummy. There’s a store in Australia called Chocolate Coated (Because the fabrics are so yummy I presume). What about Strawberry Sauce Coated Embroideries! The S-S-C-E sounds rather nifty. 😉

    The smocking site is special. (actually they have a pattern for a strawberry appliqued ladies collar in their clearance items! It’s really nice too.) They have all these gorgeous doll’s clothes patterns and matching ones for children as well. Not just smocked ones. I recently made a pinafore for my 15mth grandaughter and one to match for her doll. Just made up both patterns myself, skirt with bib and strapes type of thing, but they looked so sweet matching.

    ‘Squizzing around for needlework stuff online’ is just a way of stopping to smell the roses. Go for it.

    Love the strawberry cushion. Wouldn’t mind seeing you do that one.

    Cheers, Kath.

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  3. Mary, I looked at the site you mentioned with the free strawberry tutorial. It is really cute, and I’d love to do it, but she mentions a stitch she used to do the leaves called a “NEEDLEWOVEN PICOT” Do you have instructions for doing that stitch?? I have no idea what it is, and she doesn’t explain it on the site. Thank you.

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  4. Oh, one more thing. About that strawberry tart (YUM!), did you make it and, if so, can we have the recipe??? Please? I’m always looking for the yummiest of anything!!

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  5. Dear Mary,
    Thank you for the site to Thistle Needleworks. I am looking into this kind of work and was needing an idea of where to buy my supplies. Thanks a bunch 🙂
    Maria in Kansas

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