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

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Stitch Fun: Beetle Wings & Shisha!

 

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Perhaps it’s the time of year. Things are very Sparkly this time of year, aren’t they?

I like Sparkly! I love rich jewel tones, and I especially love them when they are combined with gold.

So when a reader asked about the possibility of doing shisha with beetle wings, a lightbulb went off. Why not? Shisha embroidery can hold practically any-shaped, flat-ish anything onto fabric. And beetle wings! Well, they are magnificently rich in color, and they can be trimmed to practically any shape.

If you’ve never heard of beetle wings being used with embroidery, you’ll find some magnificent images online. I’ve worked a beetle wing and goldwork project and written a few articles on beetle wing embroidery here on Needle ‘n Thread, including tips on preparing beetle wings for embroidery.

Shisha embroidery with beetle wings
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The Wemyss School of Needlework – Scotland

 

Oh, ye’ll tak’ the high road, and I’ll tak’ the low road…

But whatever road you take, if you end up in Scotland, and if you love needlework and all things historical-needlework-related, perhaps you should schedule a stopover in Coaltown-of-Wemyss, perched just north of the Bonnie Banks of the Firth of Forth, to visit the Wemyss School of Needlework.

I recently wrote to the Wemyss School of Needlework to get on their newsletter mailing list. This led to an exchange of emails and an offer to write an article about them. You see, I find this little school and what it is doing now quite fascinating, and I think you’ll find it equally as fascinating. Hopefully, you can help me spread the word about it!

The Wemyss School of Needlework is perhaps not as well known as the Royal School of Needlework to the south; nevertheless, it has a worthy history, it houses an impressive historical collection, and it is recently “making a comeback” in needlework education.

Wemyss School of Needlework
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Christmas Embroidery Patterns

 

If you’re determined to whip up some Christmas stitchery this year, you might find some of the following free embroidery patterns useful.

Though I do try to keep everything on Needle ‘n Thread easily indexed in one way or another, it’s easy to miss some of the content from previous years, so here’s a quick recap of some holiday-related (or holiday-adaptable) stitching patterns for you.

Free Embroidery Pattern: Quaker-inspired Bird in Tree
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Be Ye Thankful – Free Hand Embroidery Pattern

 

Do you do a lot of holiday-specific embroidery?

Beyond the occasional Christmas ornament (like this goldwork ornament), or the occasional Easter / Spring-related embroidery (like this basket liner and these hand embroidered eggs), I don’t, really.

I love the idea of a whole tree full of hand embroidered Christmas ornaments; I love the idea of a whole basket full of beautiful embroidered eggs; I love the idea of a hand embroidered tablecloth and matching linens for the Thanksgiving table.

But I really don’t think it will happen in my house, in my lifetime. There are too many other projects, and holiday-specific embroidery rarely takes top priority.

Well, it never does, until right before the holiday – as in, the day before, or the morning of! That’s when I start thinking, Golly, it would be nice to take a hand embroidered gift along to the festivities!

But by then, it’s too late.

Thanksgiving Embroidery Design
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