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
September 11, 2015
Remember this watermelon gingham embroidery tutorial that I wrote up for Commonthread by DMC and told you about last month?
Well, I’ve teamed up with Commonthread again to present a new tutorial for you. This particular tutorial is the reason I stitched up this shisha embroidery piece with beads, to use as a sample:
September 10, 2015
I’m really excited about this! And I think many of you will be, too, especially if you’re a Linen-Lover!
I wanted to work up a nice little sample project to show off this new linen for you, but instead, I worked up a rustic little (read: pathetic and tiny) few stitches to help illustrate what I really like about this linen. I have a small project planned for this particular linen, and it will show up some time before Christmas.
In the meantime, without further ado, let’s move on to the introductions!
September 9, 2015
Several weeks ago, Ros Clarke, a reader here on Needle ‘n Thread, dropped me a line to let me know she’d be taking a class at the Royal School of Needlework. She offered to write up her experience for us – kind of an insider’s scoop.
I thought that sounded like fun! After all, who doesn’t like an insider’s scoop?
So I’m going to turn you over to Ros and let her chat with you about her recent RSN visit and class. I hope you enjoy it!
September 8, 2015
If you’re a connoisseur of old embroidery publications, you’ve probably heard of Thérèse de Dillmont, who was DMC’s featured embroidery expert for many of their embroidery publications produced in the 1800’s.
Though writing for DMC (a French company) and sporting a French name, Thérèse was, in fact, Austrian. She is perhaps best known for her Encyclopedia of Needlework, which can happily still be found in print through used book sources and can also be found online for free through places like Project Gutenberg.
Besides the Encyclopedia of Needlework, there are a ton of other publications with her name on them, including pattern books, technique books, books dedicated to specific regional embroidery techniques. I’ve been collecting publications with her name on them for many years, and I still stumble on one here and there that I had no idea existed! Many of her works are available online for free through Antique Pattern Library, too – they’re well worth exploring!
September 7, 2015
It’s Labor Day here in the US, and one of those treasured three-day weekends! You know the type!
Once upon a time, this day used to mark the official end of summer vacation for kids going back to school. Now, it falls somewhere in the second or third (or fourth) week of the school year and is welcomed as the first three-day weekend of the academic year.
When I was a kid, our family celebrated Labor Day by…laboring. We cleaned the garage and wallowed through the last big yard clean up before winter. We knew how to have fun!
One thing I love about Labor Day is that it signals that autumn is coming. It’s time to anticipate the imminent change of seasons by planning out how to spend the shorter upcoming days and darker evenings stitching.
Maybe you’re looking for a new project? Maybe you’re contemplating stitching up some Christmas gifts?
Well, to that end, I have a little 12-hour break for you…
September 4, 2015
For your weekend reading pleasure, here’s a little round-up of needlework-related links that I’ve come across lately that I thought were inspirational, interesting, or just fun!
So, grab a cup of something satisfying, and come browse with me!
September 3, 2015
Oh, oh, oh!! Here’s some exciting news for embroiderers who want to learn the basics of goldwork embroidery!
Lucy Barter, a Royal School of Needlework-trained embroidery instructor in San Francisco, has teamed up with Craftsy to produce Goldwork Embroidery: Essential Techniques.
