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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Free Hand Embroidery Design: Hinda Hands, Small I

 

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Today, a quick little embroidery design!

This is a design I’ve re-worked from Hinda Hands’s book, Church Needlework: A Manual of Practical Instruction.

Even though the book is on church needlework, the design can be worked for secular embroidery, too. In her book, the author presents several designs that are perfect for practicing types of embroidery typical in church needlework, but also perfectly suitable for other decorative embroidery as well.

Hinda Hands Embroidery Design for Goldwork and Silk - Small 1
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Embroidered Garden Flowers – Book Review

 

Today, let’s talk embroidered flowers! I want to show you an embroidery project book I’ve had for a while, that I think is utterly charming.

Hopefully, if you’re in the same hemisphere I’m in, you’re finally enjoying some spring weather. It’s been slow coming this year, hasn’t it? No matter where you are, though, Embroidered Garden Flowers will certainly put you in the mood for All Things Growing!

Let’s take a look at it!

Embroidered Garden Flowers - Book Review
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Revisiting the Loreto Embroideries and Anichini

 

Last year, I wrote this article about finding the illustrator behind the Loreto Embroideries in the Royal School of Needlework’s collections.

Today, for enthusiasts of historical embroidery and art in general, I’d like to share with you, with permission from the author, a short article by John Shaffer, retired Director of Arts Programming at the State University of New York, Oswego.

John is also a fan of Anichini’s illustrations. We’ve corresponded back and forth for a little while about Anichini, so I was thrilled to read his insightful article. I think you will enjoy it, too, especially if you’ve experienced the Loreto embroideries at the RSN.

Mother of Christ illustration by Anichini
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Oh, those Knotty Stitches! 12 Knot Stitches, Terrific for Texture

 

When you think “knots” in embroidery, does your mind automatically fly to the French knot? Or perhaps the colonial knot is more Your Knot Thing?

It seems that, when it comes to knots, French knot is the best known knot stitch, followed by colonial knot, which some stitchers prefer to the French knot.

But there are other knot stitches and knot-like stitches out there, and if you’re keen to add a lot of texture to your embroidery, you might try a few of them. They’re all super fun, and, with the linked tutorials, you’ll find it easy to add them to your stitching projects!

So, here they are – twelve knot stitches to add to your embroidery repertoire! Try them!

12 knot stitches for hand embroidery
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Ecclesiastical Embroidery: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

 

It almost seems irreverent to refer to any church embroidery as ugly. But … the fact is, some church embroidery is ugly. The case in point: parts of an old vestment I’m going to show you.

While overall, the vestment has its ugly aspects, there are still several commendable elements on this old piece. And there’s a lot to look at, think about, and study in it.

But oh! There are several things that really bug me about it!

Christ and Angel - Embroidered Chasuble - Church Embroidery
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Tulips & Blooms – Free Hand Embroidery Design

 

Today, a rather exuberant hand embroidery design for you!

This is no small embroidery pattern. If you were to undertake it as a project, I think it could occupy you for quite a while! But it depends, really, on how it’s worked.

I have some ideas on how Tulips & Blooms can be interpreted in embroidery, from simple to complex projects, and I’ll share those with you below. I’ll also talk about the pattern itself, its origins, how I’ve changed it up a bit, and then, if you want to chime in with some stitching ideas, that would be great, too!

Tulips & Blooms Hand Embroidery Design
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Joyful Stitching – Book Review

 

Happy Monday! Or should I say, Joyful Monday?

Because today, I’m going to show you a delightful little embroidery book for folks especially interested in folk-style embroidery on wool.

The book is full of bright, cheery color, fun stitches, instruction, and happy projects to stitch!

The book is called Joyful Stitching, and it’s by Laura Wasilowski, of Artfabrik. We’ll take a look at the book up close, and I’ll give you pros, cons, and resources! Come along…

Joyful Stitching - Book Review
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