About

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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Jacobean Sea Embroidery Project: Troubleshooting the Stem

 

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Oh golly. I really wanted to show off some serious stitching today. But in fact, I ran into one of those road blocks this weekend, and I couldn’t muster the courage to plow through it or leap over it. I came to a halt.

Brain muddle.

Let’s take a look…

Jacobean Sea Embroidery Project: Troubleshooting the Stem
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Needlework Snips & a Quick Catch Up

 

Goodness gracious, Happy Saturday! I don’t normally pop in on a weekend, except when I want to share a few links and online explorations that have to do with needlework.

So that’s what we’re going to do today – take a short little stroll out into the ether of the interwebs and explore just a few needlework-related links.

So grab a cuppa (tea for me!) and let’s kick back for a little meander!

Needlework News Snips April 2020
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Scrolly Designs: Stitches, Colors, Tips

 

On Monday, I shared a weekend embroidery finish with you – this scrolly design embroidered on the corner of a cotton towel – and I got flooded with a heap of email with questions.

If I spent as much time as I’d need to answer every question that comes in from the website, I’d have to live on my computer. So I generally peruse through questions and try to group together the questions that people ask, that are relevant and that are not already clarified in the original article. Then, I cover those in a blog post, including some stitch tips and whatnot that we can all benefit from.

So here’s a conglomeration of information on the project I posted on Monday, with some stitch talk, color information, and tips.

Embroidered Scroll Designs: Stitches, Colors, and Tips
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New Color Palette – Not-New Embroidery Project

 

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that it’s always a good idea to pick colors you enjoy embroidering with. If you Absolutely Cannot Stand a certain color palette, it would be difficult to carry through an entire project working with those particular colors.

Now, I love a blue-and-white, or a blue-and-yellow, and even a blue-and-natural color palette. And that’s what I had in mind for a Jacobean design that I have now started (and stopped on) twice.

Third time’s a charm?

I was having a hard time nailing down a range of blues I really liked. I tried to mix in some yellows to see if that would help. And then I tried blues and natural tones. And I was just never satisfied.

Then I kicked everything aside with a resounding harrumph (metaphorically speaking), and sat on it all for a while (equally metaphorically speaking).

Pulling new silk threads for embroidery project
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The Leafy Tree – a Project E-Book

 

Well, at long last, for those who have been waiting for The Leafy Tree in e-book form, it is finally available! Yay!

If you’re familiar with the Leafy Tree project as it was presented on the website, please note that there are significant changes in this e-book, which is sold independently from any kit.

So please read everything below so that you understand what you’re receiving with this e-book. I don’t want anyone to be disappointed!

Leafy Tree Project E-Book
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Happy Easter – with a Spring Puzzle & a Game

 

To all my Needle ‘n Thread friends, Happy Easter!

In my family’s traditions, Easter has always been a very joyful holiday. After Lent and the solemn days of Holy Week, on Easter Sunday, we normally have a big gathering of family and friends, Easter egg hunts, a good meal, and fun all around.

Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ, which for Christians has always been the ultimate sign of hope. Regardless of the present crisis, this doesn’t change. So even if my family can’t all be together, we are still reveling in the joy of the day and celebrating as circumstances allow.

For me, today is a glorious day, despite the separation and the modifications to our normal Easter festivities. And I hope that you are seeing some of that glory and joy in your life, too!

For your Easter Entertainment, here’s another seasonal Eye-Spy game for you, as well as a link to a coordinating jigsaw puzzle. I hope they bring you a smile!

Spring Eye-Spy Needle 'n Thread, 2020
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