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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Needlework News Snips – March 5, 2016

 

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Good morning, and a Happy Saturday all around!

Spring is springing here in Kansas – the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and out amongst the dead grassy remnants of winter, my crocuses are blooming. Now all we need is a little rain!

It’s been a while since I’ve written up any news snips. These are little collections of embroidery-related bits I’ve come across online that are either informative, inspirational, or instructive.

So I thought today would be a good day to compile a list that you can enjoy meandering through over the weekend.

Go pour yourself a cup of something and join me! Let’s explore!

Needlework News Snips on Needle 'n Thread, March 2016
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Battlement Couching, Bullions, Beads & Progress

 

I love battlement couching! If you’re not familiar with what it is, you’ll find a tutorial for it right here on Needle ‘n Thread.

While I’d used battlement couching in crewel work with wool threads, it wasn’t until I made use of it in my Lattice Jumble Sampler that I really fell in love with it. It really is a magnificent filling technique for surface embroidery of all types.

Well, needless to say, I was pretty happy that Hazel makes use of battlement couching in Late Harvest. It fills the center of the pomegranate in the middle of the piece, and it shows up on a couple other elements out on the sides of the design.

I’ll show you one of those elements today, and tell you the good (and the bad!) about my work on it.

Battlement couching, beads, bullions on Late Harvest embroidery project
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Stumpwork Masterclass by Alison Cole – Book Review

 

Oh golly! I’ve been wanting to write this book review for Alison Cole’s new book, The Stumpwork Masterclass: Raised and Embossed Embroidery, for a long time!

If you acquire this book – and you must, if you have any interest in stumpwork, historical or contemporary – you’ll understand the delay. It is not your typical book. It is a tome, and I wanted to read it cover to cover before writing about it.

Well, I finished it, and now I’m going to tell you all about it!

Stumpwork Masterclass by Alison Cole - Book Review
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La Serenissima Winner – and a Personal Update

 

Today, I’m announcing the winner for the La Serenissima crewel embroidery instructional guide from Talliaferro give-away from last week!

One lucky winner will receive the instructional guide and pattern for this gorgeous design, thanks to Anna at Talliaferro.

And, since I’ve had a lot of inquiries lately on how my personal adventure with cancer is going, I’ve also included a link to a little update at the end of the article, for those who want to read it.

La Serenissima crewel embroidery from Talliaferro Classic Needleart
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Embroidering Flat Back Crystals onto Late Harvest – the Grapes

 

Of all the different embroidered elements on Late Harvest, the grapes were the Wow Factor that really sucked me into this project!

Made from bunches of flat back topaz crystals attached to the surface of the project with a clever combination of detached buttonhole cinched with a whip stitch, the grapes add a massive amount of sparkle and texture to the project.

Lately – and I admit it freely! – I’m a sucker for bling, and these grapes definitely feed my growing penchant for adding a bit of blingy brightness to my embroidery projects.

So, needless to say, I was super eager to get on with the grapes. Alas, it wasn’t smooth going at first! Initially, in fact, it was pretty hard going – most of which has to do with the leaf that I showed you last week and the fact that I switched up the recommended order of work.

I’ll explain…

Embroidering Flat Back Crystals onto Embroidery Projects - Late Harvest Grapes
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La Serenissima Crewel Embroidery Give-Away!

 

Last week, I reviewed La Serenissima, the new crewel embroidery instructional guide from Talliaferro. At the end of my review, I promised you a little surprise, and here it is!

Today, thanks to Anna, the artist behind Talliaferro, I’m giving away one complete instructional guide to one lucky stitcher out there who wants to take on this gorgeous project!

Read on for the details on how to join in the fun!

La Serenissima Crewel Embroidery instructional guide Continue reading “La Serenissima Crewel Embroidery Give-Away!”

Late Harvest: A Lavish Leaf & Retrospective Tips

 

Good Morning and a Happy Tuesday all around!

I’ve been making pretty good progress on Late Harvest recently, and I’ve concluded that one of the things I like best about this project is that every bit that I do is a learning experience.

Many of the lessons I’ve absorbed from this project are negative lessons – what not to do, the next time I’m in similar situations. Negative lessons are sometimes the best lessons, because they stick with us longer.

The negative lessons I’m experiencing here have nothing to do with the instructions or the kit itself – instead, they have to do with decisions or mistakes that I’ve made while working my way through the project.

Today, I want to show you one of my favorite elements of Late Harvest so far, and I’ll share with you some negative lessons, so that, if you’re ever in a similar stitching situation, you can avoid making the mistakes I’ve made.

Here’s the leaf:

Late Harvest: Long and Short Stitch Leaf with Lattice Stitching & Beads
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