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 26, 2014
How many strands of embroidery floss should I use on my project?
When you say one strand, you mean one strand of all six, right?
Are you stitching with all six strands of floss, or are you stitching with just one?
November 25, 2014
Remember the hummingbird beak from the last update on the Secret Garden embroidery project?
Well, here’s the second one, embroidered in the same colors, with long & short stitch and some long split stitches.
November 24, 2014
Golly, it’s been a long time since I offered a free hand embroidery pattern to you all, that isn’t a monogram!
Today seems as good a day as any to share one of the embroidery patterns I’ve been playing with this year.
This particular pattern was inspired by a design from a very old folio of full-sized ecclesiastical patterns that I was able to buy from a used bookshop in Belgium.
November 21, 2014
Lately, I’ve been needled a lot about hand embroidery needles – lots of questions from beginners and beyond about this mysterious tool that we certainly can’t live without.
Today, I want to share a few points about hand embroidery needles, so that you can make a good choice when you select the needle you’ll use on your next embroidered masterpiece.
November 20, 2014
How to transfer embroidery designs to fabric is one of the most frequently asked questions from beginner embroiderers and beyond.
We’re always seeking the “magic solution” for easy embroidery design transfer, and, in most cases, there is no perfect solution. Eventually, we get used to the design transfer process, and we end up with our own pet methods for transferring embroidery designs to fabric.
Now matter what transfer method we use, I think we can all agree that the notion of an iron-on transfer is pretty appealing, because it’s quick and it’s easy.
With iron-on embroidery transfers, you can be stitching complex designs in a matter of minutes, without all the hassle of tracing, pouncing, tacking – whatever design transfer method you like to use – and with no specialty tools beyond a household iron. What a deal!
The problem is finding iron-on patterns for hand embroidery that you really want to stitch. Sure, you can find playful, retro, subversive, and juvenile iron-on options out there through various companies, but it’s harder to find classy, pretty designs that are not overly faddish, with a style that will withstand the test of time a bit better.
And rarely do you find iron-on transfers and good instruction in one package.
November 19, 2014
Stitch Fun is a series of hand embroidery tutorials that concentrates on stitch combinations, composite stitches, and more obscure hand embroidery stitches. The purpose of the series is exactly what the name implies: to have fun playing with embroidery stitches!
To get the most out of the Stitch Fun tutorials, it’s helpful to know the basic stitches that make up the composites. For example, today we’re going to look at the buttonholed cable chain stitch accented with bullion and French knots. Throughout today’s tutorial, I’ll link to other tutorials here on Needle ‘n Thread that cover the basic stitches you need to know.
If you know the basic stitches, putting them together to create a composite stitch is no big deal! In fact, it’s… it’s…. (wait for it!)…
It’s Fun!!
So, let’s start! Here’s today’s Stitch Fun tutorial, the buttonholed cable chain stitch with knot accents.
November 18, 2014
Remember a couple weeks ago, when we looked at progress on the stalled but not forgotten Hungarian Redwork Runner?
My plan was four hours of stitching a week. It hasn’t really happened. But I have made progress on it, and I’m pretty sure the stitching will be finished by the end of November, according to plan.
Unfortunately, every time I pick up this particular piece of embroidery, a nightmare unfolds.
