How To
Tips & Techniques
Patterns
Members Books
Shop Patreon Search
About

Mary Corbet

writer and founder

 

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

Connect with Mary

     
Types of Hand Embroidery  
Pictures of Hand Embroidery  

Archives

2025 (78) 2024 (135) 2023 (125) 2022 (136) 2021 (130) 2020 (132) 2019 (147) 2018 (146) 2017 (169) 2016 (147) 2015 (246) 2014 (294) 2013 (294) 2012 (305) 2011 (306) 2010 (316) 2009 (367) 2008 (352) 2007 (225) 2006 (139)

Tags

See All Tags

  • How-To
    Videos

    Over 75 Embroidery Stitch Videos to Help You Learn

  • Embroidery Tips & Techniques

    A Collection of Instructional Articles

 
Uncategorized

November 11, 2014

More Hardanger: Tips, Tricks & Fix-Its – Book Review

 

Amazon Books

Today, we’re going to look at one of those books that’s so chockfull of good needlework wisdom, you’ll wish the book had been in your hands from the first day you started your journey with needle and thread.

More Hardanger: Tips, Tricks and Fix-its, Plus Care and Feeding by Carol Pedersen is a self-published volume of information pertinent not only to fans of Hardanger embroidery, but to all needlework enthusiasts, collectors, embroiderers, and textile lovers in general.

Sounds like a big promise, doesn’t it? That a book written specifically about Hardanger would apply across the board?

Well, let’s take a look at the book, and I’ll explain…

More Hardanger: Tips, Tricks and Fix-its
Continue reading “More Hardanger: Tips, Tricks & Fix-Its – Book Review”

Uncategorized

November 10, 2014

17th Century Embroidered Costume – Burrell Collection

 

There’s nothing quite so fascinating in the historical clothing line as the elaborately embroidered costumes of wealthy women of the 17th century!

It’s no wonder, then, that the folks at the Burrell Collection in Glasgow are currently recreating this 17th century embroidered waistcoat.

Here’s a Monday morning treat for you – a glimpse, via video, of the embroidered 17th century garments at the Burrell Collection.

17th century embroidered jacket detail - Burrell Collection, Glasgow
Continue reading “17th Century Embroidered Costume – Burrell Collection”

Uncategorized

November 7, 2014

Economic Alternative for Embroidery Stands

 

Several weeks ago, I reviewed this hand embroidery hoop stand – a hoop on a stick – and it prompted quite a few emails and comments from readers.

Most readers were chiming in to report great things about their sit-on hoop stands. Many readers hadn’t heard of them before, or didn’t know they could be found in the US.

And several readers wrote in with a very legitimate question, which I want to address today.

Condensed, the questions posed boiled down to this: “I would love to have a way to embroider with both hands free, but I just can’t afford to purchase a stand right now. Do you have any suggestions for a less-expensive alternative?”

Embroidery Question: Economic Alternative to Embroidery Stands
Continue reading “Economic Alternative for Embroidery Stands”

Uncategorized

November 6, 2014

A Bird in the Hand…

 

You know the saying, A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush? It means that what we already have is more valuable than what we hope to get some day.

I’m thinking we could apply this to the Secret Garden Hummingbirds, now that one of them is completely finished. I learned a lot when embroidering the first bird – and I suspect the future hope of having the second bird eventually finished will not be quite as interesting a journey.

But … it will certainly be a faster journey!

So, I finished all the embroidery on the first hummingbird, including the bird’s beak, which I’m still debating about. Perhaps you can help me?

Hand Embroidered Hummingbird
Continue reading “A Bird in the Hand…”

Hand Embroidery Patterns

November 5, 2014

The End

 

If you’ve been collecting the letters for the Daisy & Rings monogram alphabet, you’ll be happy to know that today, we’ve reached The End.

Sometimes, The End is a great place to be!

For those of you just joining in here at Needle ‘n Thread, you’ll find this complete alphabet of monogram letters available here.

Each letter has a free PDF printable with three sizes of letters on it. And many of the articles that accompany the letters offer stitching tips and ideas, links to monogram resources, and so forth.

Without further ado, here’s The End of the Alphabet – letters Y and Z.

Monogram for Hand Embroidery: Y
Continue reading “The End”

Uncategorized

November 4, 2014

I Believe in UFOs!

 

No, really. I do.

If you’re new to the embroidery / quilting / needlecrafting world, you might think I’m a little off my nut here. But if you’ve been in the game for a while and you’ve had contact with other people in the hand crafting and needle arts world, then you’re probably familiar with the term UFO, and you know what I mean by it.

A UFO – strangely enough – is an UnFinished Object.

This particular moniker has always irritated me a little bit. Why do we call it a UFO?

Firstly, unfinished is one word. So, if anything, it should be a UO. But I realize that sounds equally silly.

Secondly, who calls their embroidery work an object, anyway? I generally call it an embroidery project. If I don’t finish it, it’s an Unfinished Project.

An UP.

Hand Embroidery UFO's & Why We Have Them
Continue reading “I Believe in UFOs!”