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
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
August 1, 2016
Happy August, everyone!
Today’s the day! Time to announce the three (out of some 1400+ folks who signed up) winners of the Inspirations Embroidery Kit Give-Away!
Let’s jump right to that, and then I’ll share some news of what’s coming up on Needle ‘n Thread in the near future.
July 28, 2016
If you’ve been hanging out with me on Needle ‘n Thread for a while, you already know my secret love for the stem stitch!
But if you’ve just jumped on the Needle ‘n Thread wagon in the last year-ish, my infatuation with stem stitch might be news to you, since I haven’t extolled the virtues of this underrated stitch for quite a while.
With the advent of the Kaleidoscope designs I’ve been sneak-peeking to you lately – like this one worked with DMC cotton floss, and this one worked in Au Ver a Soie silk – I’ve received a jolly influx of email about stem stitch, some of which expressed real frustration and angst over the stitch.
July 26, 2016
Today, I want to touch on a subject that may change your approach to hand embroidery forever!
This just might be the secret you’ve been looking for, to vastly improve the finished results of your embroidery projects.
The topic is lining your embroidery ground fabric with another fabric – why to do it, when to do it, what to do it with, and how to do it.
For many of you, I’m sure this tip is Old Hat. But newbies to the embroidery scene might not even know they have the option of using a lining behind their ground fabric, and that doing so can make a huge difference in the outcome of an embroidery project.
July 23, 2016
I’ve fallen victim to a new stitching addiction, and it’s making it very hard to tear myself away from embroidery these days, even to concentrate on other website-related and workroom-related activities.
There’s a new version of Needle ‘n Thread coming out, for example. Yesssss! The All-New Needle ‘n Thread is almost ready to launch!
But have I been paying attention to that lately?
Noooooo. I’ve been stitching!
And my workroom! Remember that book mess? Have I figured out how to conquer it yet?
Noooooo. Because I’ve been stitching.
I can’t seem to stop stitching.
July 20, 2016
It’s Wednesday – and a good day to make your embroidery dreams come true!
Have you been hankering to stitch something really special?
Well, here’s your chance to have a gorgeous embroidery kit mailed directly to your door, courtesy of the folks at Inspirations Magazine!
This is a fantastic give-away for three winners – and the best part about it? The winners get to select their own prizes!
Couldn’t get any better than that, could it?
Read on for the details!
July 18, 2016
It’s been a long time since I’ve embroidered a whole project in silk threads.
But the fact is, I love silk embroidery threads, and if I could, I’d embroider the entire world with silk thread!
So you can well imagine how excited I am to launch into another little (bigger) kaleidoscope project, this time worked entirely in silk. I’m in Hog Heaven – Silk Hog Heaven, that is!
I picked out a four-color, multi-shade palette to work with for this particular design. I found myself sucked into the project, dreaming about it at night and waking up extra early to get stitches in. You know how it is…
So, today I thought we could chat about these particular silk threads, because I love them so.
July 15, 2016
You might have noticed I’ve been reviewing quite a few hand embroidery kits lately.
Back in April, we discussed designer’s embroidery kits – that is, embroidery kits directly from the designer, as opposed to embroidery kits that you might find at a big box craft store or similar.
Since then, I’ve been reviewing some kits that I plan to work so that you can get a close-up look at them and maybe make a decision on whether you want to work any of them, too.
You see, I love kits. I might design my own stuff, but that doesn’t keep me from loving other people’s designs and the kits that come from them. I consider stitching someone else’s kit almost like eating dessert. Dinner may be really good and it certainly sustains you, but dessert – ahhhh. Dessert! It’s a source of decadent pleasure!
I always feel a bit luxurious when I work a kit. I suppose it’s because all the really hard work is already done – I just have to sit back and enjoy the fruits of someone else’s labor while I indulge in the pure pleasure of stitching.
Today, I want to show you a kit involving silk embroidery with some tiny gold accents. The finished products are gorgeous and useful embroidery accessories.
