December 19, 2018

A Stitcher’s Christmas 2018: Silk & Metal Specialty Threads

Oh boy, oh boy! We’re rapidly nearing the end of A Stitcher’s Christmas for 2018!

While I find this pretty exciting, I also find it a little alarming that Christmas is less than a week away. I’m not exactly sure how that happened!

Today’s give-away, courtesy of Lamora at Access Commodities, features some gorgeous new specialty threads that have come to the needlework market in the past year. Created as part of the ongoing revitalization of interest in 17th century embroidery techniques – thanks especially to the research, online classes, and projects of Tricia Nguyen over at Thistle Threads – these threads are perfect for stitchers interested in metal thread embroidery, silk work, stumpwork, and mixed media textiles.

It’s pretty exhilarating when new threads appear in the needlework market, so I’m thrilled to be able to offer some of these new beauties in today’s give-away!

Specialty Threads from Access Commodities

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December 17, 2018

A Stitcher’s Christmas, 2018: Needlework Tools for Two!

Good morning, and a Happy Monday all around!

Time’s a-ticking, and this week will see the end of A Stitcher’s Christmas!

Today, it’s all about tools – and a wonderful array of them, too!

Imagine toddling down the stairs on Christmas morning at 5:07 am in your fuzzy sleeper, your blanket dragging behind you and your bunny slippers scuffling along. As you rub the sand from your eyes, suddenly you behold, in the glow of the Christmas tree, your Christmas stocking, bulging with embroidery treats!

Well, you’ll have to supply the stocking (and the blanket, the fuzzy sleeper, and the bunny slippers), but Needle in a Haystack is supplying the embroidery treats – a whole collection of useful and fun tools for the stitcher. In fact, for two stitchers, as I’ll draw two winners who will each win a collection!

Embroidery Tools for Two from Needle in a Haystack

Hand Embroidery Patterns

December 14, 2018

Holly & Evergreen: Stitching Details and More!

I know we’re getting a wee bit close to Christmas, but if you have it in you to stitch something Christmassy over the next week or so, perhaps this project will tickle your fancy!

Remember last week when I showed you the holly & evergreen design that I had altered and started stitching?

These designs are now part of a three-towel ready-to-stitch set available in my shop, here. In the set, you’ll find three variations on the design: a large design, a medium design, and a lighter design.

The design is also available here as a single-towel full kit, including threads, needles, instructions, and high-quality cotton towel with the design pre-printed and ready to stitch.

You’ll find more details below on each of these products – the three towel set and the full kit.

Today I’m going to share a few tips with you on how I stitched the design, along with a thread and stitch list.

Holly & Evergreen Embroidery Design - Free Pattern & Stitch Tips

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December 12, 2018

A Stitcher’s Christmas, 2018: Wool Thread Collections!

If you’ve been embroidering for a while – or even if you’re just recently indulging in the practice for the first time – you’re probably very aware that, these days, there are innumerable threads for hand embroidery!

But when it boils down to the actual fibers used to make hand embroidery threads, in the natural fiber arena, you have four main contenders: silk, wool, linen, and cotton. Lately, it’s true, there are some upstarts (like bamboo fibers), but those four are the widely used natural fibers in the embroidery (and actually the entire textile) world.

Today’s give-away focuses solely on wool thread, specifically crewel wool hand dyed at Renaissance Dyeing, where they use the traditional dyes and mordants available in the 16th century to produce their colored embroidery wools.

Read on, and I’ll tell you a bit more about today’s give-away and I’ll also announce the winner of last Friday’s installment of A Stitcher’s Christmas, which included some beautiful silk and scissors from Tres Chic Stitchery.

Crewel Wool Thread from Renaissance Dyeing on Needle 'n Thread

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December 10, 2018

A Stitcher’s Christmas, 2018: Themed Needlework Book Bundles!

I’m a needlework book fiend. I love good needlework books, both old and new!

One thing I love about today’s needlework books is that we can really enjoy the details of embroidery, up close and personal, in glorious color, in lovely formatting, and accompanied by clear and extensive instructional diagrams or photos. These days, excellent instructional books are accessible and affordable, bringing greater possibilities of needlework knowledge straight into the hands of anyone who wants to learn.

Search Press is a big mover and shaker in the craft book industry, and they publish a fantastic line-up of all kinds of needlework books, as well as books for other crafts, too. Their website is worth exploring for anyone who loves craft and hobby books. It’s organized by topic and sports a terrific search function, so you can find books that interest you or the crafty people on your Christmas list.

Working with the folks of Search Press North America, we’ve put together a fun and interesting line-up of four themed book bundles, each for a different winner of today’s give-away.

Themed Needlework Book Bundles from Search Press

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December 7, 2018

A Stitcher’s Christmas, 2018: Sajou Silk & Scissors

Today, it’s all about some of a stitcher’s Favorite Things: thread and scissors! Silk thread and scissors!

There’s nothing quite like luscious colors of silk and beautiful scissors to make my little heart go pitter-pat.

(Well, that, and chocolates…)

Today’s installment of A Stitcher’s Christmas comes to you courtesy of Tres Chic Stitchery, the US distributor for Sajou threads and other Sajou needlework treats.

Before we get to this give-away, I’ll announce the winner of Monday’s give-away (gorgeous overdyed threads from Colour Compliments). Then I’ll pass on the details about today’s give-away, along with the guidelines for entering. Read on, read on…

Sajou Silk and Scissors, A Stitcher's Christmas 2018

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December 5, 2018

Holly & Evergreens: A Stitching Break – and a winner!

Sometimes, you just need a stitching break!

Now, don’t get me wrong. By stitching break, I don’t necessarily mean a break from stitching! I mean a project that’s a stitching break. It breaks up more demanding projects; it’s relaxing; it’s comfortable; it’s fun. And it might even serve a good purpose!

That’s the kind of project I’m working on right now. It’s my stitching break, between some more demanding needlework. It’s very simple. And the finished embroidery will make a terrific addition to a Christmas gift basket.

So let’s take a look at my “stitching break” project! I’ll tell you a bit about it and why it’s perfect for this time of year.

I’ll also announce the winner of last Friday’s Stitcher’s Christmas give-away at the end of the article, so read on through, because it just might be you!

Holly & Evergreens Christmas embroidery corner design

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A Stitcher’s Christmas 2018: Silk & Metal Specialty Threads

A Stitcher’s Christmas, 2018: Needlework Tools for Two!

Holly & Evergreen: Stitching Details and More!

A Stitcher’s Christmas, 2018: Wool Thread Collections!

A Stitcher’s Christmas, 2018: Themed Needlework Book Bundles!

A Stitcher’s Christmas, 2018: Sajou Silk & Scissors

Holly & Evergreens: A Stitching Break – and a winner!

Connect with Mary

How-To Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos