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
March 5, 2014
You will find small leaves in great abundance on the Secret Garden Hummingbirds project!
And while stitching too many of one shape in an embroidery design can become tedious after a while, the nice thing about leaves is that there are So Many Options for embroidering them.
Today, since some of you have expressed interest in starting the leaves, I thought I’d give a brief overview and some pointers, so you can plow full speed ahead.
March 4, 2014
Occasionally, I like to go strolling about online for little needlework browses. Usually, these are prompted by blog posts of other needleworkers, by newsletters, or just by my own curiosity, to see what’s going on with other embroiderers or needlework-related enterprises that I’m interested in.
When I do this, I keep a list of links that I think would be of interest to you, too, and when I have the chance, I like to mix them all up in an article, so that you can go browsing, too.
Not that I would ever advocate Procrastination or any similar Heinous Habits … but really, sometimes, it’s just Fun to procrastinate! Think of it as Relaxing. Think of it as Garnering Inspiration.
Ah – the Justification of Procrastination! I could write a book on the subject.
So, pour yourself a delectable cup of coffee or tea, and let’s go meandering together!
March 3, 2014
Before moving onto the leaves on the Secret Garden embroidery project, I wanted to show you how I muted some of the vines on the project, by adding a little twiggy brown into the mix.
March 1, 2014
If you were the type of person to daydream about embroidery thread, what type of thread would you dream about?
For me, it’s silk.
I can dream about silk embroidery threads all day long, if I let myself.
Today, I’m going to let myself.
Ok. I don’t mean I’m spending my day with my head in the clouds, staring out the windows, picturing the world enrobed in silk threads. I’m not going to have conversations with imaginary skeins of silk. (Well. I don’t think I’m going to, anyway…)
But I am going to think about silk. I’m going to sort silk. Test silk. Touch silk. Group it, organize it, mix it up again. And I might even dabble with some preliminary stitches with silk threads. My goal today is to make decisions about silk, and so – poor me – to do that, I have to surround myself with silk embroidery threads.
I know. It’s such a tough way to spend the day.
February 28, 2014
Today’s mini tutorial on stem stitch curls and spirals was prompted by some questions that have come in recently via email and in the comments on the various articles on stem stitch.
Some of the questions concerned me enough to reschedule today’s planned article. It seems some of you are really struggling with stem stitch on curls and spirals. On top of that, there’s some erroneous information out there about working curls or spirals with stem stitch.
A couple readers mentioned that they have attended classes in which the instructor taught that the working thread is always on the outside of a circle or curl, no matter what direction you’re stitching in, because that’s only way the circle will look smooth and the stitches will hold in place.
Wellllllll…this isn’t exactly true. I thought we better clear that point up, just in case others suffer under the same impression.
So, in this tutorials, I hope to answer questions on working curls in stem stitch without the stitches looking spiky, and I hope to clarify the relationship between the needle and the working thread when working into a curl.
February 27, 2014
I’ve had a few questions this past week about stem stitch filling in general, mostly in conjunction with the Secret Garden embroidery project.
So today, I want to show you some close ups of stem stitch filling underway and go over a few tips about how to successfully fill an area with the stem stitch.
The stem stitch is a really versatile stitch, so whether you’re working the Secret Garden project or not, hopefully, you’ll find these tips useful for other surface embroidery projects as well.
February 26, 2014
The Royal School of Needlework and Search Press have published a series of Essential Stitch Guides for different needlework disciplines.
These are very handy reference books to have in your needlework library. They cover the basics and a little beyond in each technique, giving the beginner a place to start and a direction to move in when learning various aspects of the needle arts.
So far, eight Essential Stitch Guides are available on the following needlework techniques: Crewelwork, Blackwork, Whitework, Silk Shading, Stumpwork, Goldwork, Bead Embroidery, and Canvaswork.
I’ve reviewed seven of them (the links above will take you directly to my previous reviews), and today, I’m reviewing the eighth – the RSN Essential Stitch Guide for Canvaswork, by Rachel Doyle.
Canvas work and needlepoint are synonymous terms. Here in the US, needlepoint has been the more commonly used term for stitching on canvas, though more and more, the term “canvas work” is becoming more widely used here, too.
