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
February 24, 2015
Last week, we looked at this pretty little vintage handkerchief adorned with violas stitched in tent stitch.
One question that came up was how to tell if an embroidered handkerchief is stitched by hand or by machine.
I’m not really an expert on this subject, but there are a few indications that I look for, that point to machine embroidery instead of hand embroidery on vintage pieces.
February 23, 2015
What happens when you step away from a particular embroidery project for a long, long time?
For me, I lose the groove of the project. The touch. The feel. The rhythm and instinct that comes with repetitive methods.
Usually, it takes me a little bit of stitching to get just the right rhythm and flow of work going again.
But sometimes, you know, it’s not bad to develop a new groove altogether! Let me explain…
February 21, 2015
If I had to pick an embroidery stitch that I have mixed feelings about, it’s the satin stitch.
I love it – I consider it the Queen of Embroidery Stitches. It screams elegance. Refinement. Style.
But on the other hand, there’s one thing I don’t like about it: sometimes, it’s a hard stitch to get right!
There have been times when I’ve been satin stitching along, all perfectly happy, when suddenly, I notice my direction has shifted. Or my stitches aren’t as silky smooth as they should be. Or the edge is wobbly.
Satin stitch is one of those stitches that either looks absolutely terrific….or not very terrific at all.
When it looks good, it looks good.
But when satin stitch looks bumpy and clumpy and wobbly ….wellllll. It just doesn’t sing the same way.
If you’ve experienced difficulties with satin stitch, these ten tips will help you produce a sensational satin stitch!
February 20, 2015
Good morning – and, depending on where you are, good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight!
Well, today I’m announcing the winner for last week’s give-away of Trish Burr’s new book, Miniature Needle Painting Embroidery, which I reviewed a couple weeks ago.
And then I’ll regale you with news, in case you want a little browse over your coffee.
And then…and then…
I’ll tell you another little secret about me. I write my articles from my bedroom. Yes, my bedroom and office are one. It’s a dangerous situation. I have to make my bed right after I crawl out each morning; otherwise, it becomes a Siren, luring me to the Pillows of Self-Destruction. Right now, the sun is not up. The lure is strong.
February 19, 2015
I have a confession to make. Several, actually.
I haven’t finished embroidering the hummingbirds.
I haven’t finished hemming the redwork runner.
I haven’t finished re-organizing my workroom. (This is a never-ending occupation. Know the feeling?)
I haven’t finished the Stitch Sampler Alphabet e-book.
But I have, regardless of the other prioritized items on my To-Do List, been sneaking in some stitches on Late Harvest.
February 18, 2015
I’m still cleaning up my great big folio of ecclesiastical embroidery patterns from the early 1900’s. It’s quite a task!
Occasionally, I come across some little excerpts or individual elements that I like to share here on Needle ‘n Thread. Some are obviously ecclesiastical in design, while others can be used for secular embroidery pursuits, too.
I’ve already posted several patterns that I’ve cleaned up from the same folio: this fleur-de-lis frame, the bloomin’ branch, this lily in a diamond, this wheat bundle, this rococo bud, and others. These are all excerpts from larger ecclesiastical designs, but I thought, taken individually, they make nice patterns for embroidery in general.
This small stylized passion flower is also an excerpt from a larger collection. The way many old folio collections of patterns were laid out, you could mix and match small vignettes from different designs and work them into other, larger designs. This provided a huge variety of possible embroidery designs, published in a smaller space.
Anyway, I thought the design was appropriate, since it’s Ash Wednesday. Maybe you can find some use for it!
February 17, 2015
I mentioned last week, when announcing this give-away for Trish Burr’s new book, Miniature Needle Painting Embroidery, that there is a discrepancy between the color numbers for Gütermann’s threads available in the US and those available in other countries.
I don’t know why that is. But alas, it is! And so, armed with a list of DMC thread numbers that correspond with the Gütermann threads Trish uses in her projects, I went on a little hunt to try to match up thread colors and put together a workable list of Gütermann thread numbers for US stitchers working on Trish’s projects.
My search took me not too far afield – I just needed a store that stocked all of Gütermann’s Sew-All polyester threads and the full line of DMC.
Oh, I suppose I could have taken the DMC colors with me, or purchased them elsewhere and then found the Gütermann’s, but I figured it would be easier to have all the threads under one roof. And I found them, at JoAnn Fabrics. Indeed, I am told that they have the full line of Gütermann Sew-All thread colors that are available in the States.
Here are some hints on color matching and the results of my search.
