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

     

Archives

2025 (69) 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)
 

My Case for Silk in Hand Embroidery Projects

 

Amazon Books

If you can embroider it in cotton, you can embroider it in silk.

That is, if you can embroider something in cotton and end up with good results, you can embroider it in silk, and end up with equal, and even quite possibly, better results.

I thought we should have a chat about silk embroidery thread, since I’ve received a few questions lately about using silk on Tulip Festival, this embroidered kaleidoscope series we’ve been working through together.

I’ve also received a few questions about silk in other embroidery applications, but that’s an article for another day! I’ll be addressing a particular argument that’s been surfacing a bit in the needlework world, to see if we can overcome some hazy notions about silk in needle painting.

Today, though, we’ll just talk in general about silk. Hopefully, if you’re wavering between the cotton vs silk thread question, this will give you something to think about and perhaps, with some, it will overcome a fear of using silk.

Silk Hand Embroidery Thread - Collection of different types of silk
Continue reading “My Case for Silk in Hand Embroidery Projects”

Tulip Festival II: Embroidering Outward

 

On Monday, I shared the beginnings of Tulip Festival, a Hand Embroidered Kaleidoscope. We looked at the project set-up and embroidering the first center layers of the design.

Today, I’ll take you through the next several layers on the embroidered kaleidoscope, discussing embroidery stitches and colors. I’ll also talk a bit about thread substitutions, and share some tips!

Tulip Festival: An Embroidered Kaleidoscope - Working Outwards
Continue reading “Tulip Festival II: Embroidering Outward”

Tulip Festival Embroidery Project I: Getting Started

 

For those of you eager to stitch your own embroidered kaleidoscope, whether you’re using designs from Favorite Kaleidoscopes which I launched last week or using your own drawings, I’m going to share the whole process of Tulips Festival – an embroidered kaleidoscope – with you in short series of articles here on Needle ‘n Thread.

Even if you might not be into stitching these types of blossoming, repetitive designs, that’s ok! I’m hoping you’ll still find a little inspiration and plenty of tips for your own projects, no matter what they may be!

So, today, the first part of Tulip Festival – Getting Started! We’ll talk about the fabric and threads I used in my interpretation of the project, how I set the project up, and we’ll cover the first inner circles of stitches used on the design.

Tulip Festival: A Hand Embroidered Kaleidoscope Step-by-Step - getting started
Continue reading “Tulip Festival Embroidery Project I: Getting Started”

Why Switch Embroidery Needles?

 

Have you ever been stitching along, when suddenly you notice that your embroidery needle isn’t passing through your fabric quite as smoothly as it should be?

This happens to me now and then. Even the best quality embroidery needles can go amuck after hours and hours of usage. When a needle isn’t delivering the same performance that you’re accustomed to, it’s quite ok to switch out for a new needle and throw the old one away!

But when a brand new needle acts up on you, it helps to inspect it closely.

This happened to me the other day. I was using a relatively new needle that I had taken out of its package only a couple days before, and suddenly, I felt like every stitch I took had a little pull or snag to it as I pulled my needle through the fabric.

Upon inspection, this:

Embroidery Needle Flaw
Continue reading “Why Switch Embroidery Needles?”

Favorite Kaleidoscope Embroidery Patterns – Reader Special

 

For all of you who have been hankering to stitch up your own embroidered kaleidoscopes, today I’m releasing my collection of favorite kaleidoscope embroidery patterns!

I’ve also added some information for you in my previous article on my interpretation of Birthday Bash, this embroidered kaleidoscope that I showed you last week, for those who want to stitch it up using the same colors I used.

So, read on and learn all the details…

Kaleidoscope Designs for Hand Embroidery
Continue reading “Favorite Kaleidoscope Embroidery Patterns – Reader Special”

Bridging the Stitches, Virtual Threads, the EAC, and a Give-Away!

 

Have you heard of Virtual Threads? Or the EAC?

I’ve written many times about the Embroiderers’ Guild of America and I’ve mentioned their online chapters (Cyberstitchers and Rocky Mountain Web Stitchers).

And I’m sure I’ve also written at some point about the Embroiderers’ Association of Canada (the EAC), too! But I don’t know if I’ve written about their online embroidery group, Virtual Threads.

The groups are certainly not mutually exclusive. You don’t have to live in the US to be a member of the EGA, nor do you have to live in Canada to be a member of the EAC. You can actually be a member of both groups, no matter where you live.

The EAC has some noteworthy things going on in the near the future – one of which is their 2018 seminar, which is hosted in part by Virtual Threads. I thought I’d give a quick shout-out about the seminar today, and follow that up with a give-away for some of their fundraising calendars, which are more than just your typical stitching-related calendar…

Prince Edward Island
Continue reading “Bridging the Stitches, Virtual Threads, the EAC, and a Give-Away!”