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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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    Over 75 Embroidery Stitch Videos to Help You Learn

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January 4, 2019

Got Tulip Needles? (Or Bead Tubes?) – Organizational Tip

 

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What do embroidery needles and Q-Tips (or cotton swabs) have in common?

Sounds like the beginning of a dumb joke, doesn’t it? Well, there’s no punchline…

As you can see, I’m not kicking off the stitching part of the New Year just yet, but I hope you are!

In the meantime, though, this is a fun little tip for organization, especially if you use Tulip needles or small tubes of beads and you want to pack them up for easy organization. This storage solution works great for travel purposes, too!

Tulip Needle Storage and Organization Tip
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December 21, 2018

A Stitcher’s Christmas, 2018: An Exquisite Pair of Scissors!

 

Happy Friday, my friends!

In honor of the Shortest Day of the Year, I’ll try to keep today’s give-away short – but even if I don’t, I promise it’s oh-so-very sweet!

There’s a short turn-around on this one, so if you want to join in, do it soon! I’ll be announcing the winner on Monday.

First, I’ll announce the winner’s from last Monday’s give-away, and then I’ll present the final give-away in this year’s series of A Stitcher’s Christmas.

I hope you all enjoyed this year’s series. Perhaps it introduced you to some new products, maybe new books you weren’t aware of, or maybe you’ve now discovered a new favorite needlework business to patronize when you need embroidery supplies? It’s been fun!

Now… onto the last installment!

Roulot scissors give-away on Needle 'n Thread
Continue reading “A Stitcher’s Christmas, 2018: An Exquisite Pair of Scissors!”

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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
Continue reading “A Stitcher’s Christmas 2018: Silk & Metal Specialty Threads”

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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
Continue reading “A Stitcher’s Christmas, 2018: Needlework Tools for Two!”

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, full-color 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
Continue reading “Holly & Evergreen: Stitching Details and More!”