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
November 17, 2025
Just a quick announcement! In Part 2 of Twinkle, Twinkle that posted today, the DMC thread colors are incorrect. The … Continue reading Errata on Twinkle, Twinkle #2: Thread Color Numbers!
November 17, 2025
Welcome to the second installment of Twinkle, Twinkle: A Christmas Star Ornament, the current stitch-along here on Needle ‘n Thread.
If you’re just joining in and would like to follow along with this project from start to finish, you’ll find all the lessons for this stitch-along listed here, in the Project Index for Twinkle, Twinkle.
For members of the Needle ‘n Thread Community on Patreon, we have already covered this content in the PDF I posted last week on Patreon. I’ll be posting some video over there later this week, for Avid Stitchers, and our next PDF installment, which will move us a little further ahead).
November 14, 2025
Good morning, Happy Friday, and welcome to the weekend! November is slipping away, isn’t it?
Here’s a short video tutorial for the beaded cable chain stitch. It’s been a loooooong, long time since I’ve added a stitch video tutorial to Needle ‘n Thread, but this one will come in handy shortly, for all those who are following along with
Twinkle, Twinkle, the latest stitch-along that we’re working through together here on Needle ‘n Thread.
November 12, 2025
Welcome to Part 1 of Twinkle, Twinkle, a Stitch Snippet stitch-along here on Needle ‘n Thread, where we will explore together how to create a very pretty Christmas Star ornament.
The stitch-along will be published here on the blog in installments. Unfortunately, we are sold out of materials kits, but of course, you can source your own materials or make substitutions if you want to follow along.
And even if you don’t want to make the ornament itself, you can certainly follow along for stitching tips that you can use in any of your own embroidery projects!
If you’re a member of the Needle ‘n Thread Community on Patreon, you have already received this installment, plus the next one (with the first stitches), all in one PDF.
Today, we’ll talk tools and materials, design and set-up.
November 10, 2025
Here’s the Project Index for our current stitch-along here on Needle ‘n Thread!
As the stitch-along for Twinkle, Twinkle progresses, I will add each lesson to the list below, in chronological order, so that you can easily find each lesson as you need it.
This project index will be available under “Tips & Techniques” in the main menu on Needle ‘n Thread. If you’re following along and working this project, you might consider bookmarking the Project Index page, so that you can easily find it.
November 7, 2025
Needle ‘n Thread Archives from A – Z is a series I’ve been running over the past may weeks, popping up here and there, to share articles, projects, tutorials, and more that are hidden deep in the website archives and that haven’t seen the light of day in a while.
We’ve done A through F so far, and today, we’re on G.
G is for the Granito – a great little stitch!
The granito is what I consider a rather undervalued stitch, especially when you use just the right thread for it. Let’s look at it!
November 5, 2025
Woohoo! I’m excited!! Today, we’re launching the materials kits for Twinkle, Twinkle: A Christmas Star Ornament, so we can get our last stitch-along of 2026 underway!
If you’re wondering what a stitch-along is all about, I’ll explain below how they work. I’ll also show you what’s in the kit.
Additionally, we’ll chat about a new aspect of this particular stitch-along – exciting news!
Here we go!