April 2, 2015

Embroidered Stories: Heritage Tapestries

Several weeks ago, we started exploring embroidered stories – tapestry projects that, in some way, tell stories that are significant in some way. Most of these tapestry projects are community efforts, embroidered by volunteers.

First, we saw the Prestonpans Tapestry, and then we looked at tapestries, embroideries, and textile art relating to World Wars I & II.

For your perusal and further exploration, here’s a group of tapestry projects that I call “heritage tapestries.” For the most part, they have to do with the settlement and development of communities, or the cultural, artistic, religious, or historical heritage of the communities or individuals involved in making them.

Some of the tapestry projects may be familiar to you; hopefully, you’ll find some new gems among them to explore further on your own! And maybe, just maybe, you’ll find out that there’s a tapestry near you – or in the vicinity of some future travels – that you can see in person!

Embroidered Stories: Heritage Tapestries

Hand Embroidery Tutorials

April 1, 2015

Printing on Fabric: an Embroidery Pattern Transfer Solution

I’ve spent the last week pondering how to get a highly detailed but very small hand embroidery design onto a piece of linen, with the least amount of grief possible.

The Least Amount of Grief Possible is the operative phrase.

For me, the transfer process of any embroidery design is always a bit of a hurdle. I don’t mind doing it, as long as I know it’s going to be successful. And once I’m doing it, even if I’m unsure, I’m ok.

It’s just that whole Gearing Up to do something I’m unsure of, that gets me. It looms. It swells into a mighty mountain. I turn in twenty different directions just to avoid looking at it.

Which is all rather silly, isn’t it? It’s not as if I haven’t transferred embroidery designs to fabric before! But, when it’s a project I want to be extra-careful about; when it’s a project that presents some logistical difficulties; when it’s a project for someone else… there’s always a little fear.

(True confessions here…)

So, this is the situation: I was asked to embroider a prayer book cover for a little girl making her First Communion next month.

I couldn’t say no. After all, it’s for my niece. And she adores me… well, she adores me, the way a six year old does when she wants something. Know what I mean?

This is what she wants on her prayer book cover:

Hand Embroidery Books

March 31, 2015

Stumpwork Embroidery – Book Review

If you’re keen to learn a variety of approaches to stumpwork embroidery – from figures to scenes to animals and flowers – you’ll definitely be interested in Stumpwork Embroidery by Kay and Michael Dennis.

Stumpwork Embroidery, published just last year by Search Press, is a hefty instructional book that teaches the basics of stumpwork and how to apply them to all kinds of projects. The book is a combination of Kay & Michael Dennis’s other books that are no longer in print, so if you have one or more of their previous books (like Stumpwork Figures, Beginner’s Guide to Stumpwork, or Stumpwork Seasons), you’ll recognize some of the content.

Let’s take a look at what Stumpwork Embroidery has to offer the stumpwork enthusiast, shall we?

Stumpwork Embroidery by Kay & Michael Dennis

Uncategorized

March 30, 2015

Embroidery Tool Talk: What’s an Aficot?

When we chatted about our favorite embroidery tools a couple weeks ago, some readers brought up a tool called an aficot, which raised some virtual eyebrows out there and brought up a few questions.

Here in the States and among embroiderers, the aficot is not really a super well-known tool. It doesn’t come up in embroidery conversation much. It’s not a highly marketed tool. And it’s not that easy to find a nice aficot.

The aficot is more commonly used in lace-making, but it has its uses in embroidery, too. If you do a lot of whitework that involves satin stitching, or you love to satin stitch monograms or the like (in any color), you just might find an aficot very useful!

It’s also one of those tools that’s fun to have lying around, because people look at it and can’t help asking, “What is that thing?”

So, here’s a shot of my aficot. I’ll tell you a little about how it’s used and where you can find your own.

Uncategorized

March 27, 2015

Embroidered Feathers – Up Close & a Full Shot

I’m not sure how we arrived at Friday already. I’m pretty sure that, if Friday hadn’t arrived so soon, I would have gotten more done this week!

I’m happy to report that I have accomplished some of the things on The List for the week.

And I’m also happy to report that some things never change: I have not accomplished most of the things on The List for the week.

But Some is better than None. And I’ll tell you this – committing to a daily goal goes a long, long way in getting at least Something accomplished.

Yep – through thick and thin, in sickness and in health, come hell or high water, I have embroidered One Feather a Day on the Secret Garden Hummingbirds.

Gosh, what an accomplishment.

Or not. But at least it’s Something.

Here’s my update on the Secret Garden Hummingbirds Project, with a close-up of the latest feathers, a full shot of the project so far, and some stitch talk.

Secret Garden Hummingbirds Embroidery Project

Hand Embroidery Patterns

March 26, 2015

Floral Cross Medallion – Free Hand Embroidery Pattern

This morning, I’d like to share a free hand embroidery pattern from a series of old designs that I’m cleaning up and altering a little bit so that they’re suitable for hand stitching on smaller projects.

This particular medallion features a cross shape, tipped with fleurs-de-lis, with stylized floral elements between the four arms.

Free Hand Embroidery Pattern: Floral Cross Medallion

Uncategorized

March 25, 2015

Embroidered Stories: World Wars

Following up on last week’s excursion into embroidered stories and the Prestonpans Tapestry, here are a few embroidered stories that I hope you will enjoy exploring.

Great events in history, and especially great conflicts, have been retold with needle and thread since the Middle Ages. The Bayeux Tapestry is the first example of this.

The two great conflicts of the modern era – World War I and II – have been retold in stitches through a few well-known and lesser-well-known projects that should be well-known.

Don’t be misled into thinking the stories told here are meant to glorify war. On the contrary, they commemorate the spirit of the people whose lives were profoundly changed because of the horrors of war. Sandra Lawrence, on her web page devoted to the Overlord Embroidery, quotes Lord Dulverton, who commissioned the embroideries. He explains:

The Embroidery is a tribute to our Country and Countrymen over the part played in defeating a great evil that sprang upon the Western World. It is not, and was never intended to be, a tribute to war, but to our people in whom it brought out in adversity so much that is good, determination, ingenuity, fortitude and sacrifice.

As Time distances us from these massive conflicts that affected all of our ancestors (and hence, us) in one way or another, the stories below serve as a good reminder.

Art & Remembrance: The Fabric of Survival

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Embroidery Tips & Techniques

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Embroidered Stories: Heritage Tapestries

Printing on Fabric: an Embroidery Pattern Transfer Solution

Stumpwork Embroidery – Book Review

Embroidery Tool Talk: What’s an Aficot?

Embroidered Feathers – Up Close & a Full Shot

Floral Cross Medallion – Free Hand Embroidery Pattern

Embroidered Stories: World Wars

Connect with Mary

How-To Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos