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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Embroidered Kaleidoscope – Birthday Bash Finish!

 

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I finally finished Birthday Bash, my embroidered kaleidoscope in a repeat paisley design.

Actually, I finished it twice.

Last week, I finished it the first time – or so I thought. I took photos and cleaned up my stitching mess. All the leftover threads were tidied and tucked away; the piece (thankfully still on the frame) was covered and set aside, and the whole thing was, in my mind, complete. All I had left to do was edit some photos so that I could share the finish with you.

And then I started editing the photos. It’s amazing what you’ll catch in photos, that you don’t catch in real life!

Somehow, I had forgotten all the French knots.

So this week, I finished it again.

Today, I’ll share the finish with you and a quick run-down on how I interpreted the design, with the why’s and wherefore’s of what I was trying to produce. And then next week, the pattern will be available for those who want to stitch your own interpretation or dabble with the same approach I took.

Kaleidoscope Embroidery Project: Paisley Design
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Art Supplies I Use for Embroidery Related Stuff

 

When it comes to hand embroidery, the only supplies you really need to accomplish a simple embroidered piece are fabric, thread, and a needle.

But for those who really get into the art of embroidery and who like creating and stitching their own designs (not using a kit, for example), there are lots of tools that will help you do just that.

I’m not talking so much about stitching supplies, but rather art supplies in general, that I use for embroidery-related stuff. If you’re interested in pursuing your own designing or you like to dabble in mixed media, you might find some of these supplies handy.

So here’s a look at some of the art supplies I use most frequently and how I use them.

Art Supplies for Hand Embroidery Design
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The Shenandoah Valley Tapestry – A Journey Through Time

 

Perhaps the most famous and best-preserved expression of a significant historical event through the medium of embroidery is the Bayeux Tapestry.

While the Bayeux Tapestry is perhaps the most celebrated embroidered tapestry in the world, it’s not the only embroidered tapestry in the world. In recent decades especially, many communities have joined together to tell their own stories with needle and thread.

If you’ve been following along with me over the years, you may already know that I have A Thing for these community tapestry projects. I’ve written about a number of them here on Needle ‘n Thread.

Community heritage tapestries are grand initiatives that involve a lot of different people in various levels of the community, from historians, to artists, needleworkers (whether skilled or beginners), educators, fundraisers, and other volunteers. These embroidered tapestries develop over several (or more) years. The result is often a museum quality piece that becomes a springboard for other community initiatives. In many cases, heritage tapestries become an attraction that draws people to visit and learn about communities that they might not otherwise encounter.

Heritage tapestries are a powerful way to get a whole community involved and enthusiastic not just about needlework and art, but about their own history, their own story, their own particular struggles and triumphs as a community, and to hand that story down to future generations. They have a unique way of binding a community together.

Not long ago, Linda Suter reached out to me to tell me about a tapestry developing in the Shenandoah Valley, in Winchester, Virginia, that celebrates the story of their community from the Civil War to contemporary times. I asked her if I could share their journey with all of you, and they kindly sent along a write-up and photos.

So, sit back, relax, and let’s delve into their story of how their tapestry developed, where it is now, and where it’s going! The following guest article is written by Linda Suter, with very little editing. I hope you enjoy it! (You can click most of the photos for larger versions.)

Shenandoah Valley Tapestry Project - Original Painting as inspiration
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Boost Your Embroidery Stash! A Thread Give Away!

 

It’s Friday! And that’s as good a reason as any to celebrate!

And what better way to celebrate anything, than with embroidery threads?

So, today, complements of Colour Complements, I’m giving away five skeins of your choice of beautiful overdyed threads.

If you want to join in the fun and have the chance to increase your embroidery stash a bit and try out some new threads, read on!

Embroidery thread give-away - Colour Complements on Needle 'n Thread
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Needle Weaving & Needle Lace Techniques & Bookish Stuff

 

Last year, I reviewed Hazel Blomkamp’s handbooks on needle weaving and needle lace techniques, which she was offering on her website as self-published booklets.

Just a heads up! Both books are now being published by Search Press! I’ll show them to you here, let you know what’s different about them and where you can find them, and then we’ll chat a bit about needlework books in general and I’ll share a bit of upcoming news with you. Read on, read on!

Needle Weaving and Needle Lace Techniques
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Chain Stitch Corners & Sharp Points: Embroidery Tip

 

Let’s start off the week in a good way, with a little embroidery stitch tip!

Have you ever wondered how to make a really pointed tip or corner when working a line stitch like chain stitch?

We’ve previously covered embroidering stem stitch corners, but chain stitch is different.

If you employ the same method used with stem stitch when chain stitching, pointy tips and corners will end up being just slightly bulkier than they need to be.

So today, we’ll look at how to embroider chain stitch lines into a nice pointy tips and sharp corners.

Embroidery Stitch Tips: Chain Stitch Points & Order of Stitching
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Needlework News Snips – October 14, 2017

 

I have Big Stitching Plans this weekend. By Sunday night, according to this weekend’s schedule, I will have spent 15 hours on embroidery, plying my needle and pulling my thread too many times to count.

And by Sunday night, Birthday Bash will be – must be – finished. And then I’ll take you step by step through the stitches, materials, and project in general.

What about you? Any stitching plans?

Perhaps it’s too early to start binge stitching on a Saturday morning. No problem! Pour up a cup of something nice and warm (it’s chilly here in Kansas), and let’s go for a little browse through some needlework news snips for this first half of October!

Needlework News Snips: October 14, 2017
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