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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E is for…Embroidery!

 

Amazon Books

Lately, I’ve been sharing with you all kinds of ways you can embroider monograms, using techniques that are accessible for beginners and beyond, and highlighting different lettering styles from my recently released e-book, Favorite Monograms.

The purpose of these sample monograms is to show you that you can embroider beautiful monograms in a variety of stitches – that monogramming isn’t limited to any one kind of stitching technique.

So far, we’ve looked at several styles of voided monograms: this voided confetti monogram, this simpler voided monogram in just three colors, and this rather elaborate floral voided monogram featuring lots of color and texture.

Just last week, we looked at this monogram, embroidered with a few simple stitches in a few colors.

Today, I want to show you the beginnings of a filled monogram that’s easy to stitch and that incorporates a little bit of shading. The results: a classy, pretty monogram that’s a little more intricate than last week’s simple monogram, but that’s still super accessible.

E Monogram embroidered in shaded stem stitch filling
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Embroidering a Pretty Monogram with Simple Stitches

 

Today, I want to show you a really simple approach to embroidering a pretty, classic monogram. Nothing overly fancy, and nothing difficult to stitch!

I’m going to share with you exactly what I did on this monogram, including everything I did wrong and the solutions.

This way, you can learn from my mistakes. The overall concept here is very simple and it makes for a nice, neat monogram that anyone – including beginners – can stitch up in just a matter of hours.

A Pretty Monogram with Simple Stitches
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Talliaferro Crewel Kit Winner and an Update!

 

Happy Monday!

Here in the States, it’s Labor Day, which means many folks are enjoying a three-day weekend. If you’re one of them, I hope you have a chance to kick back and relax – and maybe spend some quality time with your needle and thread!

A three-day weekend is always a perfect excuse to get some stitching in, don’t you think?

Today, as promised, I’m announcing the winner of the Kashan crewel embroidery kit by Talliaferro Classic Needleart, sold exclusively through Wooly Thread.

At the end of the article, you’ll find some updates – a short personal one for those who are interested, and some upcoming stuff on Needle ‘n Thread.

If you’d like to read about the Kashan crewel kit, you can find more information about it in the original give-away article here.

Kashan Crewel Embroidery Kit
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A Tale of Two Books…err, Three Books. No, One Book.

 

I love stitch dictionaries, don’t you?

I think everyone should have at least two on their reference shelf. Why at least two? Because when you have two stitch dictionaries, you can learn one very important lesson…and I’ll tell you what that lesson is at the end.

What I really want to talk to you about today is a book. It is one book. But it’s causing some confusion!

I’ve had some requests to review a “new” book that’s out, called Embroidery: A Step-by-Step Guide to More Than 200 Stitches.

Sounds great, doesn’t it? And really, there’s nothing better than a good step-by-step stitch dictionary that will help you learn a boatload of stitches!

But there’s a funny thing about this book…

Embroidery: Step-by-Step Guide to More Than 200 Stitches
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A Simpler Approach to a Voided Monogram – E

 

Here’s the last voided monogram I’ll bother you with for a while! After this – besides sharing with you another project or two on the list – I’ll be dabbling with different, more classic approaches to monogramming and sharing some tips with you along the way.

This is a monogram that was meant to be a slightly simpler approach to the Confetti Monogram I showed you earlier – fewer threads, larger stitches, to work up faster – but part of that didn’t work out as planned.

Never fear – I’ll tell you how to adjust your approach to speed up your own voided monogram project.

Voided Monogram E - Seed Stitch, Chain Stitch
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RSN Applique – Techniques, Projects & Pure Inspiration – Book Review

 

Appliqué is a needlework technique that involves adding smaller fabric shapes onto a larger piece of fabric, usually in some kind of ornamental way.

While we often hear the term appliqué in association with quilting, it’s also a technique that’s closely associated with embroidery. Some embroidery books out there address the very basics of appliqué, but finally, there’s a new book on the market that delves very (and I mean very) thoroughly into appliqué as it pertains to hand embroidery.

The book is called Appliqué: Techniques, Projects & Pure Inspiration, a Royal School of Needlework book by Kate Cross and published by Search Press.

If I had to pick one word to describe this book, it would be thorough. It is a Gem of a Book, full of precise, clear instruction, plenty of inspiration, and some nice projects to get you started in pursuing the wonders of appliqué with embroidery.

RSN Applique: Techniques, Projects & Pure Inspiration - Book Review
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