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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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Hand Embroidery Tutorials

November 6, 2017

Tulip Festival Embroidery Project I: Getting Started

 

Amazon Books

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
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November 3, 2017

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
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Hand Embroidery Patterns

November 1, 2017

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
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October 30, 2017

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
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October 27, 2017

Embroidered Kaleidoscope – Birthday Bash Finish!

 

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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October 25, 2017

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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