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
August 12, 2014
Lately, I’ve come across some little snips of needlework news that I think are worth sharing with you – just bits here and there that I thought I’d pass on.
You might find a little gem of information here that you didn’t know about – upcoming classes, a sale, supply news, another interesting video.
August 11, 2014
Last week, I added the Daisy & Rings monogram alphabet to the patterns page here on Needle ‘n Thread, and introduced the alphabet with the A and B.
Today, I’m adding C and D to the list for you!
I really love this alphabet – but the reason I’m sharing it now has more to do with the fact that, in the “near-ish” future, we’ll be looking at monogramming a little closer, and in case you decide you like monogramming, too, I want you to have access to some easily printable monogram patterns.
Near-ish is such a relative term. Right now, with the Secret Garden still progressing, I don’t want to move off on a monogramming tangent.
But just so you know, it’s a-comin’…
August 8, 2014
Good news for those wishing to learn the ins and outs of shaded blackwork!
Tanja Berlin is running an online embroidery class for her Blackwork Love Birds. Registration is open now and ends on September 2. The class runs September 12 – November 21st.
August 7, 2014
Ahhhh – It’s Thursday! The perfect day to introduce to you a new collection of free monograms for hand embroidery!
This is one of my favorite old alphabets – it’s so pretty, and I have a thing for daisy-looking flowers.
And there’s a lot to this alphabet, design-wise, which opens up all kinds of embroidery possibilities, from simple to complex.
August 6, 2014
Just in case you really think I’m some kind of maven of organization, some kind of neat-nik needleworker, it’s time to burst your bubble!
There are days when everything – and I mean everything – in my work space gets away from me.
When I walked away from my worktable the other day, I snapped this photo:
August 5, 2014
The last time we looked at the Secret Garden embroidery project, I had finished (for the time being) with the hummingbird’s upper body.
The Next Step: Tackle the the Top of the Tail!
August 4, 2014
Embroiderers love their scissors!
I’m no exception. I am easily infatuated by scissors, but only under certain conditions.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I am not really a collector of scissors. I don’t collect embroidery scissors just to have them. If they’re just cute or pretty, that’s not quite enough for me.
This doesn’t mean I don’t have a small collection of favorite scissors. I do. They just aren’t collectibles. They’re functional tools that I use over and over and over again, and I don’t care if they are trendy, cute, beautiful.
To me, when it comes to scissors, the beauty is in the functionality and workmanship that makes them a Good Pair of Scissors.
