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
September 30, 2014
The other day, I promised further details on the live-stream event from Muncaster Castle, where Phillipa Turnbull will be giving a talk and unveiling some of the seldom-seen embroidery treasures of Muncaster as part of the Lady Anne’s Needlework Retreat.
So, here they are, the promised details and the embedded video for viewing later!
September 29, 2014
Continuing on with this daisy & rings monogram alphabet for hand embroidery, here are the S and the T.
It’s perfectly understandable if you look at these two letters and say, Huh?
The S is an old scripted S, as is the T – although the T is somewhat reminiscent of an uncial-type T. Both of these styles are often seen in old alphabets for embroidery.
At first, for modern audiences, they can be somewhat difficult to get used to.
Just preparing you!
Here’s the S:
September 28, 2014
Good morning and a Happy Sunday all around!
I’m popping up here on Sunday (somewhat unusual) to pass along some embroidery news so that you can plan ahead to take advantage of it, if you’re interested.
You might recall that, earlier this year, I mentioned the Lady Anne’s Needlework Retreat going on in the UK (this coming week), hosted by Phillipa Turnbull and The Crewel Work Company.
One of their planned visits is to Muncaster Castle, on the west coast of the English Lake District. Muncaster is home to the Pennington family, who have collected over the years (over the centuries, really) an impressive array of textiles that are seldom seen by the public.
September 27, 2014
If you already dabble in dimensional embroidery, you’re probably familiar with the drizzle stitch. It’s a fun little dimensional embroidery stitch.
Somewhat twisty, kind of bouncy – you can add instant personality to your drizzle stitch by topping it with a bead.
And today, I’ll show you how!
September 26, 2014
Happy Friday!
Today, a book review for a unique instructional book for an equally unique style of embroidery, called “Estense embroidery” – a style hailing from northern Italy, modern in its concept but with roots in the 14th through 16th centuries.
If you’ve been hanging around on Needle ‘n Thread for a while, you might remember that I reviewed Elisabetta Holzer’s first book, Ricamo Estense, back in 2010.
After several years of hard work, Elizabetta has produced an extensive manual that catalogs all the stitches and techniques she incorporates into this enchanting style of embroidery.
September 25, 2014
As autumn settles over the Northern Hemisphere foreshadowing chillier days to come, my embroiderer’s outlook generally turns to heavier fabrics, wool threads, felt, dense stitching, deeper colors…and crewel embroidery.
To celebrate the arrival of autumn, then, what could be more appropriate than a give-away of a crewel-esque sort of book?
September 24, 2014
There are embroidery tools that we treasure because they are beautiful and functional, like the scissors we were talking about yesterday.
There are embroidery tools that we treasure because they’re fun and functional! I particularly like my frog button needle minder because it’s fun, or my clip-on scissor pulls because they’re fun and functional.
There are embroidery tools that we treasure because they are rare and unusual. Think: antique etuis, or hard-to-find, unique tambour hooks.
There are embroidery tools that we treasure because they have sentimental value. I can’t count the number of stories I’ve heard over the years about lucky folks who have inherited needlework supplies from a beloved mother, aunt, grandmother…
And then there are those embroidery tools that we treasure purely because they serve a specific purpose. They aren’t necessarily attractive. They might even be a dime a dozen. But hey, they work, and who’s to scoff at that?
Today, I’d like to introduce you to my eraser. I’ve been using it for years and years.
