March 4, 2015

How to Make Curly Hair for Stumpwork Figures & Small Dolls

Yesterday, I reviewed Salley Mavor’s new book, Felt Wee Folk: New Adventures, and you met my new stitching companion, who still doesn’t have a name.

For those of you who receive the Needle ‘n Thread daily newsletter in your inbox, you might have missed the give-away. I’m also giving away a copy of the book, courtesy of C & T Publishing. If you did miss that, you’ll find the details on yesterday’s book review, and you still have plenty of time to join in!

Sorry about that – I added the give-away later in the morning, after the newsletter had already flown the coop!

Throughout the day yesterday, I received a slew of email about the curls on the doll, many from folks working on stumpwork figures: how did I work them, are there instructions in the book, are they attached to the head first, is there a pattern for that bonnet, and so forth.

So today, before we get too far away from the subject, I’ll explain how I added curls to my doll’s head, so that those of you immersed in creating stumpwork figures can play with the techniques.

Adding curly hair to figures in stumpwork or small dolls

Hand Embroidery Books

March 3, 2015

Felt Wee Folk & Dabbling with Dolls (and a Give-Away)

Are you familiar with the Salley Mavor’s wee felt folk?

Quite a while ago, I fell in love with Salley’s artwork, through her book illustrations. (I reviewed her book, Pocketful of Posies, here). On exploring her artwork, I discovered her website and blog, and her book Felt Wee Folk, reviewed here.

Salley’s approach to her doll making and the creation of her little scenes struck me as very adaptable for embroiderers who are particularly interested in dimensional embroidery and stumpwork – especially stumpwork figures.

Ever since my first encounter with Salley’s work, I’ve longed to dabble with doll making.

I never gave into the longing. After all, I’m an embroiderer, not a doll-maker, right?

But earlier this year, my sister and I got into a few discussions on doll making and we found ourselves exploring all kinds of options for making little dolls. When Salley contacted me about her upcoming new book, Felt Wee Folk: New Adventures, and asked if I’d like to review it and participate in a “blog tour” of book reviews for it, I thought it was serendipitous. I said, You Bet!

It seems like the best excuse in the world to throw off my inhibitions about making dolls!

So, today, I’m going to review Salley’s new book for you, and then I’m going to introduce you to my new stitching companion and offer you a chance to win your own copy of the book!

Felt Wee Folk: New Adventures - by Salley Mavor

Uncategorized

March 2, 2015

Long & Short Stitch with Floche

Now and then, I like to post questions from readers, especially when the answer may open up some embroidery options for others, too.

Janet wrote a while ago, asking if floche can be used for long and short stitch shading:

I have the whole set of DMC floche and I’m not sure what kind of stitching to do with it. I want to embroider some flowers and practice long and short stitch needle shading, but can floche be used for that? I appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks!

Here’s my answer:

Using floche embroidery thread for long and short stitch

Hand Embroidery Patterns

February 28, 2015

Stylized Thistle for Hand Embroidery – Free Pattern

Happy Saturday!

This morning, a free pattern to add to the collection of hand embroidery patterns here on Needle ‘n Thread! This one is a highly formal, stylized thistle.

I love thistles in hand embroidery – there are so many ways they can be embroidered! I’ve seen puffy, hairy thistles, worked in turkey work; I’ve seen needle painted thistles in long and short stitch; I’ve seen thistles worked with very long chain stitches, like the one in Breath of Spring; thistles worked with pistil stitch, and thistles worked with very effectively with plain old straight stitches. Lots of options!

Hand Embroidery Books

February 27, 2015

The New Face of the A-Z Series of Embroidery Books

A little news first, after hearing from some readers: I updated information on yesterday’s article regarding Alba Maxima linen for hand embroidery, adding some more resources and a good substitute if you can’t find the bright white Alba Maxima. You can always try “Old White” linen, which is the same linen, only not as bright white. It’s just as nice!

And now, let’s talk about some new old embroidery books!

The A-Z Series of Needlework Books

When Country Bumpkin first began publishing the A-Z Series of needlework books, I was in Hog Heaven!

The A-Z Series is a fantastic series of instructional books for different needlework techniques, featuring step-by-step photo instructions in beautiful books that are perfect for reference.

Last year, the rights to publish the A-Z Series were acquired by Search Press.

This is Extremely Good News for needleworkers all around the world, for a number of reasons.

Search Press is well-known for their excellent instructional books in all kinds arts and crafts – from embroidery to painting and drawing, paper crafts, knitting, cake decorating – you name it! They’re a strong, quality publishing company, and their acquisition of the rights bodes well for the future availability of the series, as well as for the continuation of it.

Some minor things have changed with the new reprints of the books. So let’s look at the alterations, talk about what’s coming up, and compare two series of instructional needlework books.

Hand Embroidery Tutorials

February 26, 2015

Redwork Runner – Beginning the Hem

Well, I’ve not gotten very far on the Redwork Runner hem – but I’ve started withdrawing some threads.

Withdrawing threads for a little drawn thread hem stitch around the whole hem of the runner takes a lot of time! It’s fiddly work, and admittedly, it’s not the most exciting part of any embroidery project. Besides, it always makes me a little nervous, to start cutting and pulling out threads.

If you haven’t seen it yet, you can take a look at the finished embroidery on my Hungarian Redwork Runner here. It’s a lot of embroidery! Wouldn’t it be just a crying shame to cut the wrong threads in the hem work?

I’ll show you how I go about preparing for this type of simple hem – it’s really a fool-proof method, so there’s not too much to be worried about. The key is taking your time and looking two, three, four, or ten times before you snip the first threads.

Hungarian Redwork Runner - preparing for a drawn thread hem

Hand Embroidery Tutorials

February 25, 2015

Stitch Fun! Alternating, Laced Mountmellick Stitch

Oh, let’s have some Stitch Fun today, shall we?!

Several years ago, I wrote an article about why it’s important to play with your embroidery stitches now and then. My views on that haven’t changed, not a jot or a tittle.

Playing is necessary with any craft, hobby, or art. When you play around – when you loosen up a bit and try new things – that’s when the juices flow and the Muses sing. Playing is a creative catalyst.

Plus, it makes you better at what you do. The more you play with embroidery stitches, the better you get at stitching in general. Think of it as practice – not the drudging practice of the kid who never wanted to take piano lessons in the first place. Think of it as practice for the adult, who desires, enjoys, and embraces the lessons!

So, there’s your excuse to play with your embroidery stitches! It’s good for you.

Today’s Stitch Fun starts with Mountmellick stitch as the foundation, worked on alternating sides of the design line. If you’re not familiar with Mountmellick stitch, this how-to video will help you out!

This alternated and laced Mountmellick stitch would make a great addition to crazy quilt seams – and really, anywhere you want a slightly spiked, festooned stitch.

Mountmellick stitch, alternating and laced - tutorial

Connect with Mary

How-To
Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

How to Make Curly Hair for Stumpwork Figures & Small Dolls

Felt Wee Folk & Dabbling with Dolls (and a Give-Away)

Long & Short Stitch with Floche

Stylized Thistle for Hand Embroidery – Free Pattern

The New Face of the A-Z Series of Embroidery Books

The A-Z Series of Needlework Books

Redwork Runner – Beginning the Hem

Stitch Fun! Alternating, Laced Mountmellick Stitch

Connect with Mary

How-To Videos

Embroidery Tips & Techniques

Connect with Mary

The A-Z Series of Needlework Books

How-To
Videos