How To
Tips & Techniques
Patterns
Members Books
Shop Patreon Search
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

Contact Mary

Connect with Mary

     
Types of Hand Embroidery  
Pictures of Hand Embroidery  

Archives

2025 (78) 2024 (135) 2023 (125) 2022 (136) 2021 (130) 2020 (132) 2019 (147) 2018 (146) 2017 (169) 2016 (147) 2015 (246) 2014 (294) 2013 (294) 2012 (305) 2011 (306) 2010 (316) 2009 (367) 2008 (352) 2007 (225) 2006 (139)

Tags

See All Tags

  • How-To
    Videos

    Over 75 Embroidery Stitch Videos to Help You Learn

  • Embroidery Tips & Techniques

    A Collection of Instructional Articles

 
Hand Embroidery Patterns

July 12, 2018

A Hearty Kaleidoscope: Free Hand Embroidery Pattern

 

Amazon Books

A couple weeks ago, I prepared this embroidery pattern for you, and I was going to share it sooner, but time slipped away from me!

It worked out well, though, because I can give it to you while I’m away for a bit.

Appropriately, the design features several heart motifs, just so you know that I’m thinking of you and holding you in my heart, even if I’m not behind the computer screen this week.

This is a kaleidoscope pattern, much like those in my pattern e-book, Favorite Kaleidoscopes.

And as usual, I’ve chosen a rather cheesy title for the design.

Heart Kaleidoscope pattern for hand embroidery - free embroidery design
Continue reading “A Hearty Kaleidoscope: Free Hand Embroidery Pattern”

Uncategorized

July 10, 2018

Flour Sack Towels for Embroidery: Why & Wherefore!

 

Embroidered flour sack towels have been a Thing in America since the first half of the 20th century.

Today, we’ll talk a little bit about their history, why they work great for embroidery, and why they’re still a favored item in the home and in the commercial kitchen.

I’ll also share some resources for flour sack towels that I think work well for hand embroidery. I’m always on the look-out for the best flour sack towels, so I’ve run into both the good and the bad over the years.

Flour Sack Towels for Embroidery - Tips & Resources
Continue reading “Flour Sack Towels for Embroidery: Why & Wherefore!”

Uncategorized

July 7, 2018

Needlework News Snips – July, 2018

 

It’s been a long time since we’ve taken a little browse together through bits of needlework information, inspiration, and instruction populating the online world.

This weekend, there’s quite a line-up of Interesting Stuff for you.

Before we get started, though…

A Website Notice

This coming week, from Sunday, July 8 – through Sunday, July 15, I will not be able to answer emails.

I have a few articles scheduled for you, but I will have comments turned off on those just for the week. I’ll turn them back on when I return. I’ll be completely unplugged while away. I’ll explain more at the end of today’s article, for the curious.

In the meantime, grab your favorite beverage – this summer, ice water sounds pretty good! – and let’s go for a stroll!

Needlework News Snips - July 2018
Continue reading “Needlework News Snips – July, 2018”

Hand Embroidery Tutorials

July 6, 2018

Goldwork Embroidery Frame: Linen, Felt Padding, Silk & Gold

 

Friday at Last! Happy weekend!

Today I’m going to show you a little progress on my goldwork frame project that I started a few weeks ago. We’ll talk about what I’m doing, how I’m doing it, and what I’m doing it with, while sharing a few tips along the way.

And, if you’re keen to try goldwork, or you want to read more about it, you’ll find some links at the end of the article for further explorations.

This is the bit that we’ll be talking about and looking at up close:

Goldwork Embroidery - Round Frame with Gold and Silk Threads
Continue reading “Goldwork Embroidery Frame: Linen, Felt Padding, Silk & Gold”

Uncategorized

July 4, 2018

Happy Fourth! & a Little Christmas in July for you!

 

Happy Fourth of July! Even if you’re not in the US, you can celebrate the fourth of July – we all have it on our calendars, after all. Just pick any reason to celebrate, and you’re good to go!

Independence Day here is the quintessential small-town-USA summer holiday, but since most interesting things don’t get underway until closer to evening, I’ll be spending most of the day in front of the computer, taking care of loose ends that have been piling up. No stitching! *Sigh*

But even though I’m not stitching today, that doesn’t mean you can’t! And to help you along, it strikes me as a great day for a Christmas sale.

Even if it is 100 degrees out…

Since Christmas is barely six months away, I thought I’d offer a little Christmas in July sale, just for the fun of it!

12 Trees for Christmas embroidery projects
Continue reading “Happy Fourth! & a Little Christmas in July for you!”

Uncategorized

July 2, 2018

Sweet & Simple Embroidery: A Delicate & Easy Monogram

 

Last week, I shared with you this floral corner embroidery project, which is the “big” project for the younger kids’ embroidery classes I’m hosting this month.

Before the younger kids launch into the floral corner design, they’ll work a simpler, smaller project, using fewer stitches, but guaranteed to give a nice, satisfactory result that they will (hopefully) be quite proud of and that will (hopefully!) encourage them to move on with enthusiasm to the next project.

The simple project is a monogram. All age levels are doing a monogram, but the younger children’s is their first project.

It’s very basic, compared to the monogram planned for the older youth, but it is quite sweet and really pretty in its simplicity – from which point, we can draw some very good lessons about embroidery!

Let’s take a look, shall we?

simple floral embroidered monogram
Continue reading “Sweet & Simple Embroidery: A Delicate & Easy Monogram”

Uncategorized

June 29, 2018

Goldwork Frame Project: Selecting Goldwork & Silk Threads

 

On Monday, we chatted about setting up this slate frame for a goldwork embroidery project that I’m starting.

The project is quite simple in concept, as you can see below. Once the frame was set up, I gathered supplies so I could jump to the fun part as quickly as possible!

These are the supplies I gathered, although I’m not sure I’ll be using them all. Let’s look at the supplies, chat about them a bit, and then discuss my quandary. I just can’t seem to make a decision on part of the frame!

I’ll also share resources with you, so you can find some of the supplies I’m using in your own country.

Goldwork Embroidery Supplies for an embroidered frame
Continue reading “Goldwork Frame Project: Selecting Goldwork & Silk Threads”